Hunting/Flushing/Retrieving GSD's???

[nhstadt]

Hey been looking around on here since I got Max from the Rescue about 4 months ago, great site, been very helpful getting him adjusted to his new home. Now on to my question....

Anyone ever know of a GSD that hunts? Had a buddy tell me it "simply could not be done" I feel the need to prove him wrong. Max is very intelligent, picks most things up within 5-10 repetitions (if he doesn't figure it out himself when I'm not looking, i.e. opening peanut butter jars, tupperware containers, etc), and has a pretty high prey drive, fetches pretty well, likes to smell EVERYTHING and is always chasing critters and birds outside. not wanting to turn him into a pointer or even a GREAT retriever/flusher, just wanna see what he is capable of/prove my buddy wrong. would be mostly dove and upland birds. Anyways, anyone have a tips or know of any successful GSD retrievers? Pretty sure Max is capable of just about anything I can reasonably ask a dog to do, and this is pretty reasonable I think.... Thanks.

[MaggieRoseLee]

WOW, that's a great question. You'd think someone was hunting their GSD.

[carmspack]

historically there are accounts of gsd hunting wild boar . GSD used in protection of the flock against boar, bear, wild canid. It was never a primary use though.
I had a dog that was used on a golf course and on a small regional air strip to chase away birds particularly the larger Canada Geese. This dog was owned by a professional falconer . The dog , man, and his birds of prey were the feature of many fairs, demos , and school visits.
Another one "Allycia" (UD) who just passed away days shy of her 15th birthday was owned by a competitive field trial person . I have pictures of Allycia performing - she took to retrieving birds as if it was natural to her , doing as well as some of the labs.

[JakodaCD OA]

I would suggest looking for a 'retriever' type club in your area, speak to them and maybe they can point you to someone who can help train !!

[nhstadt]

Thanks. We have started some basic retrieving with scented bumpers/plastic training birds, he really seems to enjoy it. Been trying to find him a "job" since I got him, think this may be it.

[likatiger]

I am starting to train smudge in tracking for deer on the chance that I shoot one and it gets out of sight as I hate to think that I was not able to finish the animal off or it gets into thick scrub and goes to waste

[jocoyn]

Well our search dogs *hunt* (for people) and the stakes are pretty darned high if they miss their quarry, unlike a hunting dog where it is all recreational (at least in today's society)

Actually I was working a little air scent dog and being followed by someone who hunted with bird dogs and she said...."why that's how OUR dogs work" ..I think they all have the instinctive hardwiring but a bird dog is genetically keyed into birds and has a soft mouth etc.

My little female GSD, Cyra would freeze and point just like a pointer -- problem is-- she would then proceed to the next phase of the hunt sequence - which is the chase. [had to fix that]

[doggiedad]

if i wanted my dog to hunt birds i would have him
trained by someone that trains hunting dogs. with
the proper training i think your dog will hunt with the
best of them.

[jocoyn]

I bet the hardest thing would be the soft mouth. My dogs always like to CRUSH and squeeze whatever they are carrying.

[phgsd]

There was an article not too long ago (maybe 6 months?) online about a guy who successfully hunted ducks with his GSD - I think the dog was black, not that it matters! But I can't seem to find it