Pointers?

[alicesmith]

I've been looking for a while for a dog that I can take riding and running with me. We live in quite an average sized house (not tiny at all, but not a mansion!) with a medium-large garden, but there are so many places to walk and run, as well as the whole forest to ride on! I've been most recently interested in Pointers - they would get on with our Cockerpoo and cats, have the perfect amount of energy for a riding / running companion, and seem to be a great fit for our family. However, I have seen one or two sites that say Pointers should rarely be let off leads as they have a tendency to follow their nose and forget how to listen. Not great in the New Forest!
Is this something that people have experienced, or are Pointers able to be trained to go and return off lead? I would never risk letting a young puppy off the lead, but if this seems to be a common habit in all Pointers regardless of age or training, maybe I should look at other breeds.

 

[flurrydor]

I've got friends with both English Pointers and GSPs.................and their recalls are absolutely 100%.

 

[Biglets Mummy]

I've got friends with both English Pointers and GSPs.................and their recalls are absolutely 100%.

I've got 2 GSPs who, after the correct training as pups , were fantastic on recall. They are the most wonderful dogs in temper and health and I wouldn't have another breed. Just love them. Cant speak highly enough about them. They are 12 now and I have had 12 fabulous years with them and hope for a few more yet !! Good Luck and put some pics up if you get one.

 

[alainax]

Our pointer was 99% on recall most of the time, but once chased a seagull along the beach, until he disappeared over the horizon! He did come back, and seemed to have enjoyed his run!

Lovely dog though

 

[Jade75]

I have a GSP, shes very well trained but out on walks she has a lot of selective hearing. She gets carried away with her nose and takes off, often not coming back to the whistle for half an hour or so. On the other hand, she is an absolute angel for my dad (master) he doesn't believe me when i say she runs off and that halo remains above her head! I think it all depends on the dog and who takes her/him out the most which can tend to determine who they listen to and who they completely ignore. If trained from day one and not letting them slack off i don't see it being a problem at all! Good luck x

 

[Dry Rot]

It depends on the strain and how good a trainer you are. When I had pointers, I would never sell to pet homes as they were too hyper. Once they realised there was game out there, there was no holding them. Frankly, that is essential in a hunting dog bred to gallop for long periods in search of game. When it comes to dogs, it is very dangerous to generalise! Get a pup from stock doing what you want as adults and you may be alright. But, then again, you may not be!

 

[alicesmith]

Okay, thanks all! I'm definitely going to avoid working strains as much as possible! It will be puppy classes and consistent training all the way I think, just got to convince my dad that we definitely need another dog in the house (my mum was on board before I even thought of getting a dog!)
Will be keeping the board updated if I get one!

 

[TrasaM]

I've got a German shorthaired pointer who is a Cyprus rescue. He's about 18 months old and I've had him here in the uk for two months now, although I did get to know him in Cyprus. I knew nothing about the breed before I met him but I did do a lot if reading up on the breed before I decided to adopt him. Despite his very very bad start in life and fear aggression he is turning into a fabulous dog. He never goes far from me when we go for walks and will keep checking on where I am. As far as I know this is actually a GSP trait as opposed to english pointers who are more inclined to roam further from the handler. (Supposedly ?)
His recall is good bearing in mind the amount of time I've had him. He could probably keep going all day but he seems happy with our two walks each day and in between he lazes about. I'm on the GSP Facebook site and it seems that canicross? Sp? Is very popular with owners. There are loads of pointers and x bred available for rehoming at the moment so please pm me if you want any further information. They really do have a wonderful personality. Love my big loon

 

[Wella]

I ran with my last dog a Weimaraner x GSP he was fantastic never left my side. I borrowed my friends Vizsla when I lost Charlie and she was brilliant smaller and much lighter on the lead. Fantastic off the lead. Jimmy my rescue GSP is getting there he is very focused when we are running doesn't pull towards people or dogs. In fact his recall is much better when we are on a run.

 

[dressagelove]

We have a 9 month old GSP, and have hammered recall since day dot. He has now hit hormonal teenager months and is starting to ignore us a little bit more (mainly when sniffing a good smell!), but we have been assured to keep up the training and he will be fine. I think with the correct training they are fine, not sure how they have gotten such a bad rep for running off, i think those that do, haven't been sufficiently trained.

Absolutely amazing dogs, we are completely smitten with our boy, a wonderful breed and would highly recommend them He tries so hard to please and love people so much, get one!