GSP training tips???

[BearStrike2010]

I am trying to train my female German Shorthaired Pointer. She is still very young but i have seen younger dogs start pointing. ive tried dragging a quail wing and hiding a pigeon but she doesnt seem to interested. She is about 2 1/2 months old. is she still too young or am i doing something wrong?? any advise is usable. thanks a lot.

[jeepntx]

My brothers GSP didn't really start showing interest in pointing/birds until around 6 months. But keep with it, she'll come around.

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[BearStrike2010]

Thanks alot. and do you think a johnny house might help too? though about building one

[Shane]

Pointing is instinct. You can't really teach a dog to point (with any great success). They pretty much either point or they don't. When you drag a wing, does she chase it and catch it? If so, she isn't feeling the need to point. She just wants to catch the wing. Tie it on a string on a stick or a fishing rod or something and then "fly" the wing around in the air so she can watch it without catching it. She'll likely stop chasing and will point it then. When she stops chasing it, let it fall to the ground out of her reach. If she moves toward the wing, "flush" it and let it fly away. Do NOT let her catch it. When she stops and points and holds for a few seconds, look for a good opportunity to ease over and praise her and give her a treat. Do this while she's holding point. Don't reward her after she breaks point. Don't punish her for that either, but just don't reward her for that. Don't do this more than a handful of times in a day, and I wouldn't do it daily either. You really don't want to make pointing birds something she does only when she sees something to point. You really are just wanting to see if she has pointing instinct at this point so you feel better about the prospect later. Eventually, you'll want the pointing instinct to kick in when a bird is either seen or smelled. The best part of the wing on a string thing, I believe, is that you can train them that chasing a bird makes it fly away and they get rewarded only when they hold point.

[BearStrike2010]

Thanks a lot. All the information is greatly appreciated.