Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour. Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!
My take is that both dogs have correct behavior for the job each dog was bred for. I also think the Lab would be more suitable for the weekend warrior who gets to hunt waterfowl on the weekend a few months a year. You can be the responsible dude that works a normal job most of the week taking care of your family. Then sometimes on the weekend/day off you get to reward yourself by going hunting for a few hours. The GSP however,I think it would suit the serious hunter who gets to hunt on a fairly regular basis/maybe daily. And gets to hunt most of the year. Something I'm curious about, it sounded to me like you was saying that the GSP was a Jack of all trades. Well just how good are they at them trades? Are they just passable,fairly good, extremely good or can they Master all trades? Well maybe I better point out whats Probably obvious. When I say Jack of all trades I'm NOT including catching hogs. I think that's asking to much of anything that's not a specialized catch dog.But I think you can figure out what I'm trying to ask. After all,you are a fellow Kentuckian. Although the thought of you being deeper in Kentucky,while I"m up here in Grant County would make me jealous if it wasn't for the Church I go to.
Great video. My Golden Retriever behaves like Herman. He stays close if another Retriever is with us, one who stays close. So he can hump her constantly! She gets completely covered in slobber from him. I hoped the other dogs would discourage his advances, they don't. For me, the long distance ranging isn't a problem when we are on a trail far from a road. The humping other dogs is limiting his friend base. Should I be stopping him? How? His best friend is a vizla, because she is too fast for him to line her up, lol.
As an owner of a 3yr old GSP this video was not only informative but 100% accurate of a German Shorthair Pointer. I absolutly love these extended videos from you and it helps me with expectations of what i can expect from my gsp. She is an integral part of our family and is it a REQUREMENT to run her EVERYDAY otherwise i pay for it. The only thing i didnt hear you mention is that GSPs are velcro dogs. When you take them trail hunting they love to be on their own but will ALWAYS come back because they love their people. My girl will get nervous if she cant find me in the field and she wont stop searching for me till shes found me. Also at home she wont leave my side, shes is with me constantly and i absolutely love it. She is also a huge cuddle bug, loves to cuddle under the covers in bed (my husband has gotten used to it haha). I am a lover of labs and gsps, and Herman and Corra were so fun to watch. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge with the world Stonnie!
GSP owner and SSOOOO accurate. DNA/Genetics are fascinating. I love how Herman took off in one direction, just when you think he is lost, comes flying back from the complete opposite direction. Story of my life. On weekends we are very fortunate to be able to run him with an ATV, snowmobile, bike etc. They are incredible athletes and I never get tired of watching them do their thing.
My GSP was similar but also extremely obedient and focused. He was extremely smart and picked up things very fast, easily trained. He knew when it was ok to runabout and play and time to work. Almost as good as my chocolate lab. Both breeds are incredible dogs. I didn't need to put a leash on either one for 12 years and they went everywhere with me.
I have a 2 yr old GSP. Prey, not food, driven. Won't fetch but can sniff with the best. Rises up on his back legs to sniff the higher air currents. I had trouble obedidnce training him as a pup. He didn't respond as he was 'supposed' to. I could have used this video back then because my boy is just a classic GSP. Off leash, long hunting range but always checks in. All in all, I think I won the dog lottery :)
I can’t believe I just spent 36 minutes watching this video! Saw Herman and that was it. Growing up in the country in the 60’s/70’s we had a GSP, Chip was a great dog! We had an acre & a half of wooded land and neighboring fields, woods, a creek and a pond. When we’d be off on an adventures, hiking, swimming or sledding, Chip was always there and just like Herman, he would be off with his nose down hunting. Chip was a very good hunter pheasant in particular and when my dad could no longer hunt, some men asked if they could take him- Chip was going in circles with excitement seeing them in their hunting gear. Thank you for the video it brought back wonderful memories - im a bit teary eyed now,lol.
Love that you listen to viewers and help us understand dog behavior!! Herman and Cora are good looking doggos! “It’s hard to believe they sell you guys when labs are available” I died laughing
Nice video. GSPs and Vizslas, or versatile dogs, are bred to ‘hunt to the gun,’ so they do range out but are always aware of the hunter (owner) and automatically adjust to the movement of the owner to hunt IN FRONT of the owner. They do not put they noses down and just GO without looking back like an English Pointer, but instead they keep their owner in sight and periodically check-in as the pointer in this video demonstrates perfectly. Versatile hunting dogs are a joy to hike with because they are intelligent enough to do their own thing but also are always in contact with their owner-so no need to worry about them getting lost or getting too far out of range to call them back.
This is so funny, I have two GSP’s and we at 3 yrs old are still working on some of the basics, they know what they are supposed to do and hiking, well one comes and checks in, the other one if he wants to. The retrieving toy demonstration was so funny, one will bring it to you the other one well, sometimes, ours is just play we do not hunt with them! They are wonderful dogs but we walk them a deal and still work with them! By the way you comments on the two dogs are hysterical!
I think you have a better life than a doctor. I'm glad you are a dog trainer I've learned things I never thought of before. I'm 65 and have trained a few dogs over the years. Thank you for sharing.
I have an almost 3 year old GSP who is in the 1% and is a fetching machine, but a game of fetch is the only time I can fully keep her attention. My husband and I joke that she is an energizer bunny with ADHD. However, she is super sweet and fun to be around, doesn’t meet a stranger, and loves to swim. We live on acreage, so she gets multiple off leash romps around 20+ acres of property per day. I appreciate your videos and the reminders that I can’t expect her to behave any differently then she is bred to do, and she is bred to always be on the hunt! While I love her to death, I do think a lab is the our next dog. Same fun-loving, friendly, outdoor adventure dog, but with a little less energy and a little more focus.
I’m thinking the same. I have an English pointer. The most adorable dog ever, but I’d like to see if a black lab is easier to train. I love them too. My pointer always loves playing with black labs. Everyone we meet. They are always up for a play. Getting broody for one recently
Another great video. Izzy just turned 4 this week, hard to believe it’s been 3 1/2 years since she was at your kennel for training. Good news is that she still has great recall and has great social skills thanks to your training. Her ears perk up every time she hears your voice too, she remembers Uncle Stonnie! Keep up the good work!
I have a gsp. Just turned 3. your video, having a young gsp out running around in the wild, reminds me of how many deer beans my GSP cleaned up on our farm as a pup. Every walk she would find a pile and be nibbling before I could call her off of them. She grew out of that thankfully. GSP's are runners though. Most of her exercise is me on the UTV driving and her running 70 yards in front of me. if you are not prepared for their energy it can be a problem. For me I just loved watching her grow and admired the athleticism rather than being bothered by it. we also have lots of property for exercise so that breed worked for us.
I appreciate this video so much! My 2 year old mutt is 50% GSP (her dad is a GSP, mom is a husky-pit mix). Learning more about GSP tendencies from Stonnie has helped me be so much more patient and understanding while training her. She’s a sweetheart and has great basic obedience, but walking her on the leash was very challenging, and I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t fully trust her off leash. She has improved on both fronts significantly since I started learning from Stonnie and changed my training approaches and adjusting my expectations. We are fortunate to have a large yard for her, and we have her pull us on the bikes and longboard to tap into those husky genes! 😂 Our bond is so much stronger now. Thank you for everything, Stonnie!
Loved this video Stonnie. We use lots of labs in search and rescue. GSP’s have only recently been finding their way into it. In both wilderness SAR and rubble disaster work, which have their differences. I run GSP’s myself and this reinforces what I’ve seen in training up GSP’s for wilderness SAR work. SAR trainers are mostly use to labs and pointy ear dogs. GSP’s definitely need to be trained up differently. I might need to make this required viewing for new people trying to select a new candidate!
I've had a lab and 2 GSP's, all bird hunters. Your video is spot on. My experience showed me the most important training is spending time in the real world with them, LOTS of time. One of my shorthairs was an unbelievable hunter, almost like she was born trained to hunt birds. She only needed some refinement in a few areas, the other gsp was mediocre. My personal opinion - I'd take a GSP over a Lab any day.
Yesterday, watched a video of a guy who works in conjunction with a shelter to find homes for shelter dogs. They had received a Chocolate Lab who was completely shut-down due to fear. He growled when someone came near his pen, didn't want to make eye contact, hugged the wall/corner while frozen in fear. The poor feller was filthy dirty and had a raw spot on his ear (probably due to flies). It took the guy about half an hour to get the boy to let his guard down and begin to interact. He just sat with him inside the pen, didn't make a lot of eye contact, and offered treats, eventually able to gain enough of the boy's trust to accept petting. A bath was next, and the groomer spent another half hour just comforting him before his bath. He demonstrated loads of fear in the process, but seemed to come out of his shell quite a bit once bathed/dried/brushed and his ear dressed with some salve and began to play with the guy in a larger pen. Sadly, reverted to the shut-down/growl behavior when people walked through to look at various dogs in their pens. I can't imagine what must've happened to that good boy to cause him to shut down like that. He didn't appear to have lost ALL hope in life, but sure was demonstrating signs of a lot of neglect, loneliness. He would probably do great if he had a month with Stonnie and some mentor dogs. When he did let his guard down, he played and wagged his tail like a Lab should. It's a real shame how some people treat their dog and then just dump them like trash.
😢 Two of my kids rehabilitate dogs after human beings do their best to destroy the poor dogs. They’ve had good success, but it takes a lot of effort and patience. Special place in hell for some people.
Yay! Another "Ringo" !😉🐾🇨🇦 I'll now watch the video😁 Spot on analysis. You make me a better person and dogs better dogs. Thank You so much!! I started Ringo climbing at 8 weeks, now he's a climbing machine and is such a source of amazement, amusement and joy when people get to see him in action on our daily hikes! He especially loves steep hills, cliffs and some people worry that he won't be able to get back up!! I just smile.😉
I’d like to think posts like this will help prevent dogs ending up in shelters and we all know the inevitable end some face there. People need to be educated on matching the right dog to their environment, abilities and life-style rather than on the aesthetics of the dog. No one should buy a dog without subscribing to your channel and absorbing your invaluable, common-sense advice.
Very accurate video. I have two GSP’s. They do not retrieve, one loves water, and one won’t get past her feet. We hunt upland game birds and neither one has had formal training, other than introducing a gun. Their natural hunting ability is amazing to watch. We live in the mountains, so they get plenty of daily exercise. Recall is excellent. In the house both are couch potatoes and literal lap dogs. Great with my kids and other animals, minus the chickens! My son is teaching them to horn hunt with good success. I’ve been around a lot of labs over the years and for us and our active lifestyle, these dogs and their athleticism are a better fit.
Stonnie thank you so much! You just helped me understand my high drive Labrador. I have 3 Labs, 2 of them are easy going and just enjoy hanging out with me. My 3rd one never stops I did not understand how to work with her until you explained the traits of the Short hair pointer. My Lab is exactly like that.
I grew up with labs, as my dad used them with hunting, and then when i got married, i got a weimaraner. Had him for 14 years. A big difference between the 2 for sure, and this video says it exactly as it is. I could walk my weim off leash in trails, he would be way ahead of me, sniffing in and out of the trail, but every 2 or so minutes, he would come running back to me to check in. Our labs would always stay close by.
Great video. Love my GSP. They roam and always check back. I have an e-collar I trained him with, only use the sound setting...it beeps to call him back. Works great.
I developed an interest to keep English labrador at my home after watching so many videos of you. But since I have less time to spend on an everyday basis with dog, I chose to go with Dachshund. I adopted a one year old female Dachshund.
Great Video Dennis!!! love the labrador retriver, and will always have one in my life. For extremly active people that LOVES hiking, skiing, biking etc, I find theese pointers to be GREAT pullers!!! Here in Norway They also have the Greyster that is a mix usually off GSP and a Greyhound and the Scandinavian hound that is a mix between alaska husky and any of a number of pointing breeds. They are both absolutely working machines. Great for this kind of sport. Pure muscle and endurance😅 "Again thanks for a great video😊
Happy Saturday Stonnie Working with our five month old yellow male on fetch. Our silver she is most of the time on point. Driven and motivated by food for sure. We try and use that to our vantage. Thanks so much for your amazing skills and talents and patience with these dogs. I learned a lot from you. Matt. Idaho.
Funny. I am lucky to have the rare GSP retrieving machine. Not to mention one that lives to water retrieve. They do love to range farther away, but mine always checks in often. My Covid pup was lucky to get a lot of training time, Stony style. Best dog ever and fits my active lifestyle perfectly. Perfect family pet as well. Either dog will make a great companion but you have to put the time in.
I just discovered your channel. I loved your explanation about dogs bred to hunt and range vs retrieve. That helps explain my Mountain Cur (hunt and range)! Although he’s always on a leash, if it was up to him, he’d not be walking by my side, he’d be ranging up ahead, nose to the ground with an occasional look back to see where I am.
Great video. It's funny how you say some people complain to you about 30 yards or 50 yards. I'm coming from a Husky to a GSP pup. My Husky's natural distance from me had to be 300 yards to around 400 yards, too much. Had a lot of days just looking for her for hours and seeing that she was tracking me and not the other way around from very far. 30 Yards sounds beautiful.
I do appreciate what you do and how you train. I have GSP they are amazing GSPS who I trained horses with: my dogs a GSP always found me no matter what as well brought me the bird to hand the GSP never lost sight of me as well is a 🐟 in water dives naturally and retiring is perfect!
We have a Aussie (just short of 2 years old) she is fabulous We hike regularly...looking for squirrels rabbits and deer...when we find on she goes after them...and if I give her a command...she will break off the chase and return to me.. so very rewarding. She is an off leash dog 99% of the time
I can only say that Roscoe, my WPG will retrieve endlessly on land as water. I have to make him take rest breaks. I’m no genius trainer at all, but a good wpg will work with German intensity and obedient behavior. Best dog ever, but must be exercised twice a day. Thanks for your work!
I really like this explanation. I have what I would call my first Dog of my adult life right now (A female lab) All the other "Dogs" have been Hounds over the last 40 years. I think I needed more training then Tempest (The Lab). A lifetime of hounds has cause an expectation of independence that just isn't in the nature of a Dog.
Thank you for another very informative video. I have a yellow field lab age 4. She has characteristics very similar to the GSP. Your video has given me insight to my lab’s characteristics and reinforces the enrichment that I provide her - off leash adventure hikes both locally and in the Adirondacks. I always learn so much from your videos. Thank you!
Our GSP goes for his 2 week training camp next week. It's a very reputable place. Just a little training to help us with helping him focus on his impulse control.
Great video. I have an 11 month lab like yours but she’s more like the pointer off lead and loves to pull on lead. What are we doing wrong or more importantly what can we do to keep her close? She loves other dogs and her recall is poor when she has other dogs in the area.
Another great video by Uncle Stonnie! Stonnie, I'd love to see some you work with some bull breeds. Bulldog, American Bully, Boxer ect. Keep up the great work!
Thank you.! Unfortunately, those types of dogs take too much labor and oversight. From a business standpoint, we are talking about at least a 4 to 1 labor differential.
9:05 wow lmao. i never would have guessed that most GSPs weren't inclined to retrieve well....our family had two, and both we barely had to teach how to fetch and return. they were just so excited to have us throw the toy again (and again and again...) they'd immediately drop it at our feet and start running for the next throw haha.
I had an English Pointer, too. I've never seen a dog that loved to hunt more than her. Too bad most people that have Pointers don't hunt with them, so they never get to see how truly special they are.
You make the best videos and I learn sooo much from you! I’d love to get a gsp because of their looks and how athletic they are but recently have been really thinking that maybe a chocolate field lab may be more appropriate for our family. We are active, run daily a few miles and have kids around 10 year old who absolutely want to and will fetch with the dog. We also have an acre to play in and plenty of waking space in the neighborhood. We can sustainably provide two 30 -45 min sessions of exercise a day and so maybe a lab is more appropriate. In truth my preference is for a Doberman but given the social challenges and fear associated with having one, we probably won’t choose that breed. But their obedience, athleticism, and appearance is attractive. A chocolate lab maybe the best next choice! Thanks so much!!
An hour and a half of exercise per day isn't really that much time for any young, strong dog (except perhaps for puppies and very small dogs), let alone for athletic and energetic ones. No offense intended of course!
Really enjoy your videos. I would love to hear your views on the Flatcoat Retriever. You have said previously it’s hard to find a good one. My girl is awesome but very different from the flatcoats I worked with 20 years ago. She is smart, funny, boisterous and quick to learn but much more skittish and suspicious of new things than I remember them being.
Great video. We have a chocolate lab named hazel and a gsp named Whoopie so this one hit home for us. I always say hazel is the taco and Whoopie the Ferrari. Our gsp is addicted to the frisbee and is a far superior retriever, much to my surprise. Thanks again for a cool video. Have a happy Thanksgiving Stonnie!
LOL....@10:55.....aint it the truth. Love my chocolate lab. He's a monster, but he loves loves love the retrieves. Hes 1.5 now, and we did some dove hunts this year. He ate a few, but brought back most of them intact and is getting the hang of it. Hoping to work with him some in the quail fields next and do some flushing. He did some instictive pointing as a pup, but I havent trained it into him yet. Curious how the quail hunts will go. I think he will flush more than point, but we will see. Either way, its a good training and exercise opportunity for the dog more than anything.
Hiya I got a 7month Munsterlander x Springer x collie, he will do the same as the short hair pointer, go off and do his own thing but also comes back to check in. Trust the dog to do the right thing. I was brought up with bird dogs so I am use to this and don't panic, sometimes with my heart in my pants but I know he will only go so far and will come back to the whistle.
Stonnie...the thing that maybe was missed, but would be interesting is the ability and comfort of the GSP with water.....swimming, desire for the water (thinking Lab or Golden compared to the GSP).
interesting to note zero reinforcements given to the lab over obstacles and still maintained perfect focus, reminds me of all of my labs over the years- their sole focus in life is their person over everything else even food!
Cool video! Would love to see a video around managing an intact male lab, especially in terms of excessive sniffing and marking when out in the field for a training session.
I’ve just gotten a 3 month old GSP. We walk twice a day and have been working with just basic commands. She listens very well in the house, but not so much in the back yard. We have 3 acres. I’m so glad I ran across this video! I was starting to get discouraged with why she doesn’t seem to listen to me when outside. I got her not for hunting, but for going hiking on trails with me. I’ve seen these training collars such as Sport Dog and other name brands. They have 3 different warning signs before a little shock. What do you think of these collars? I just want my girl to come back to me when I let her off least when we hike. Thank you!
Thank you for this video. We've had labs before our gsp, and I wanted another lab, but in our area, they were so expensive. My husband heard about a 4 month old purebred (no papers) gsp,for a couple hundred dollars, we saw her and decided to get her. After bringing her home, I researched gsp dogs, and thought dang, I should have spent a little more and got a lab because of the energy! I'm having a very hard time with recall with our little Miley, any suggestions on how to go back to the drawing board? We have many deer and she takes off after them too, so I purchased an e collar. Now when she starts to chase, I'll call, whistle, no response, like I'm not even there. So I'll tone her first, nothing, then stimulation, 1, then a 2 then a 3, that works. I don't want to have to do this, so looking for some help. I feel guilty for not loving her yet, just liking her. She's such a cutie and very sweet ::) Maybe we need to take her to a trainer? Just need advice on Recall please! Thank you
Interesting videos stonnie. I work from home mostly, like to go for a country walk everyday and go to the beach frequently. I have an average size garden and a park opposite. But I'm really looking for a dog to take night fishing, to act as early warning for strangers and keep rats away. What breed would you choose for someone who never owned a dog before? Thanks
I love both. Have grown up in the English shooting scene and am surrounded by labs. I always liked GSPs in terms of their character and the job they could do in the field, but disliked how they can be a bit stubborn and more individualistic. Then I met the Vizsla. The perfect dog for me. Otis picks up at driven shoots, hunts on walked up shoots, did his first field trial at 5 months old and beat the rest of the adult competition (reluctantly entered him after a friend said it would be interesting to see how he was getting on). It sounds like I've hammered him with training from too young an age, but he honestly picks everything up the first time. If I'm inconsistent with training he let's me know that I'm doing it wrong! Goes everywhere with me and thinks he's my actual child, but as soon as he's in the field he becomes a different dog - sheer focus. He's for a different purpose than a lab and horses for courses, but my god I won't be going back
My GSP couldn't get tired. LOL. He would run 10+ miles when we took him four wheeling and retrieve for 2 hours and jog with my wife 5 more miles. Couldn't wear him out. My GSP was also very focused on the task, and easily trained. He loved to run a bout but he knew when to and when not to. He actually retrieved better than my lab did. But as you say Stonnie, my lab was definitely more in tuned with me 100% of the time. My lab wouldn't get 10ft from me without checking in or waiting for me.
Stoney I’ve been watching your videos for some time both before having a dog and now since recently adopting a rescue who appears to have GSP markings, nose traits and build. She is 11 months old)we got her 1 week ago) is very smart and knows basic commands like sit; some stay; and ok at come, however I have not felt comfortable off leash yet. She pulls very hard on leash and is very reactive to animals she senses. Any initial thoughts on our first steps in training her for better recall and how we might ultimately get to off leash trail work?
My field lab is a hell of a lot like that gsp off leash 😅 Go explore away from us and then stop and wait and when we catch up he looks at us like, “come catch up guys!” Half the time he goes off and periodically checks back in and half the time we have to call him back to check in. He definitely can play fetch for an hour and be unphased! I do that for his own enjoyment but have never used it to tire him out. Lol.
My Chocolate Lab loves to retrieve his ball for me, but that is not his only exercise. He loves our walks and adventures. He's a field lab from hunting lines.
Are you a fan of my training style, but can’t travel to Kentucky to see me in person? No worries! I offer an awesome online dog training course, which includes access to an array of exclusive videos and content, personalized coaching, journaling, and in-depth mentoring and evaluation by yours truly! If you just need some an advice or have a couple questions you need answered, I also offer professional consulting by the hour.
Both of these great services can be found here: www.kentuckycanine.com
Thank you all for your remarkable support over the years! I cannot express enough how grateful I am for your appreciation and patronage of this channel, my training style, and my kennel. Always remember, it’s a great day for a puppy-sized adventure!
My take is that both dogs have correct behavior for the job each dog was bred for. I also think the Lab would be more suitable for the weekend warrior who gets to hunt waterfowl on the weekend a few months a year. You can be the responsible dude that works a normal job most of the week taking care of your family. Then sometimes on the weekend/day off you get to reward yourself by going hunting for a few hours. The GSP however,I think it would suit the serious hunter who gets to hunt on a fairly regular basis/maybe daily. And gets to hunt most of the year. Something I'm curious about, it sounded to me like you was saying that the GSP was a Jack of all trades. Well just how good are they at them trades? Are they just passable,fairly good, extremely good or can they Master all trades? Well maybe I better point out whats Probably obvious. When I say Jack of all trades I'm NOT including catching hogs. I think that's asking to much of anything that's not a specialized catch dog.But I think you can figure out what I'm trying to ask. After all,you are a fellow Kentuckian. Although the thought of you being deeper in Kentucky,while I"m up here in Grant County would make me jealous if it wasn't for the Church I go to.
Great video. My Golden Retriever behaves like Herman. He stays close if another Retriever is with us, one who stays close. So he can hump her constantly! She gets completely covered in slobber from him. I hoped the other dogs would discourage his advances, they don't.
For me, the long distance ranging isn't a problem when we are on a trail far from a road. The humping other dogs is limiting his friend base. Should I be stopping him? How? His best friend is a vizla, because she is too fast for him to line her up, lol.
As an owner of a 3yr old GSP this video was not only informative but 100% accurate of a German Shorthair Pointer. I absolutly love these extended videos from you and it helps me with expectations of what i can expect from my gsp. She is an integral part of our family and is it a REQUREMENT to run her EVERYDAY otherwise i pay for it. The only thing i didnt hear you mention is that GSPs are velcro dogs. When you take them trail hunting they love to be on their own but will ALWAYS come back because they love their people. My girl will get nervous if she cant find me in the field and she wont stop searching for me till shes found me. Also at home she wont leave my side, shes is with me constantly and i absolutely love it. She is also a huge cuddle bug, loves to cuddle under the covers in bed (my husband has gotten used to it haha). I am a lover of labs and gsps, and Herman and Corra were so fun to watch. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge with the world Stonnie!
GSP owner and SSOOOO accurate. DNA/Genetics are fascinating. I love how Herman took off in one direction, just when you think he is lost, comes flying back from the complete opposite direction. Story of my life. On weekends we are very fortunate to be able to run him with an ATV, snowmobile, bike etc. They are incredible athletes and I never get tired of watching them do their thing.
Yes, a GSP is like a sports car compared to the other dogs...family sedans. They need ALOT of exercise and yes...fun to watch.
My GSP was similar but also extremely obedient and focused. He was extremely smart and picked up things very fast, easily trained. He knew when it was ok to runabout and play and time to work. Almost as good as my chocolate lab. Both breeds are incredible dogs. I didn't need to put a leash on either one for 12 years and they went everywhere with me.
Respect Your German Shepherd Call Him What He Or She Is!
GERMAN SHEPHERD Not GSD, YOU MUST BE A YOUNG DIAPER SNIFFER!
“Hard to believe they sell you guys when labs are available” I laughed out loud when Stonnie said this.
Me too!
Me three lol
Also I 😂
Me four!
I own 4 gsp so no laugh for me @thencnelsons 😂
I have a 2 yr old GSP. Prey, not food, driven. Won't fetch but can sniff with the best. Rises up on his back legs to sniff the higher air currents. I had trouble obedidnce training him as a pup. He didn't respond as he was 'supposed' to. I could have used this video back then because my boy is just a classic GSP. Off leash, long hunting range but always checks in. All in all, I think I won the dog lottery :)
Another not boring video for those who want to learn. Stonnie is the Paul Harrell of dog training videos.
(Meant as a compliment)
I can’t believe I just spent 36 minutes watching this video! Saw Herman and that was it. Growing up in the country in the 60’s/70’s we had a GSP, Chip was a great dog! We had an acre & a half of wooded land and neighboring fields, woods, a creek and a pond. When we’d be off on an adventures, hiking, swimming or sledding, Chip was always there and just like Herman, he would be off with his nose down hunting. Chip was a very good hunter pheasant in particular and when my dad could no longer hunt, some men asked if they could take him- Chip was going in circles with excitement seeing them in their hunting gear. Thank you for the video it brought back wonderful memories - im a bit teary eyed now,lol.
Love that you listen to viewers and help us understand dog behavior!! Herman and Cora are good looking doggos! “It’s hard to believe they sell you guys when labs are available” I died laughing
Nice video. GSPs and Vizslas, or versatile dogs, are bred to ‘hunt to the gun,’ so they do range out but are always aware of the hunter (owner) and automatically adjust to the movement of the owner to hunt IN FRONT of the owner. They do not put they noses down and just GO without looking back like an English Pointer, but instead they keep their owner in sight and periodically check-in as the pointer in this video demonstrates perfectly. Versatile hunting dogs are a joy to hike with because they are intelligent enough to do their own thing but also are always in contact with their owner-so no need to worry about them getting lost or getting too far out of range to call them back.
This is so funny, I have two GSP’s and we at 3 yrs old are still working on some of the basics, they know what they are supposed to do and hiking, well one comes and checks in, the other one if he wants to. The retrieving toy demonstration was so funny, one will bring it to you the other one well, sometimes, ours is just play we do not hunt with them! They are wonderful dogs but we walk them a deal and still work with them! By the way you comments on the two dogs are hysterical!
I think you have a better life than a doctor. I'm glad you are a dog trainer I've learned things I never thought of before. I'm 65 and have trained a few dogs over the years. Thank you for sharing.
I have an almost 3 year old GSP who is in the 1% and is a fetching machine, but a game of fetch is the only time I can fully keep her attention. My husband and I joke that she is an energizer bunny with ADHD. However, she is super sweet and fun to be around, doesn’t meet a stranger, and loves to swim. We live on acreage, so she gets multiple off leash romps around 20+ acres of property per day. I appreciate your videos and the reminders that I can’t expect her to behave any differently then she is bred to do, and she is bred to always be on the hunt!
While I love her to death, I do think a lab is the our next dog. Same fun-loving, friendly, outdoor adventure dog, but with a little less energy and a little more focus.
I’m thinking the same. I have an English pointer. The most adorable dog ever, but I’d like to see if a black lab is easier to train. I love them too. My pointer always loves playing with black labs. Everyone we meet. They are always up for a play. Getting broody for one recently
Same. Love my GSP like crazy but think the next might be a lab!
Another great video. Izzy just turned 4 this week, hard to believe it’s been 3 1/2 years since she was at your kennel for training. Good news is that she still has great recall and has great social skills thanks to your training. Her ears perk up every time she hears your voice too, she remembers Uncle Stonnie! Keep up the good work!
I have a gsp. Just turned 3. your video, having a young gsp out running around in the wild, reminds me of how many deer beans my GSP cleaned up on our farm as a pup. Every walk she would find a pile and be nibbling before I could call her off of them. She grew out of that thankfully. GSP's are runners though. Most of her exercise is me on the UTV driving and her running 70 yards in front of me. if you are not prepared for their energy it can be a problem. For me I just loved watching her grow and admired the athleticism rather than being bothered by it. we also have lots of property for exercise so that breed worked for us.
LOVE IT, THEY ARE ALL GORGEOUS
This video was the most eye opening thing I have ever seen on the different dog behaviors. I’ve read about it but to see it in action was impactful!
I appreciate this video so much! My 2 year old mutt is 50% GSP (her dad is a GSP, mom is a husky-pit mix). Learning more about GSP tendencies from Stonnie has helped me be so much more patient and understanding while training her. She’s a sweetheart and has great basic obedience, but walking her on the leash was very challenging, and I was getting frustrated that I couldn’t fully trust her off leash. She has improved on both fronts significantly since I started learning from Stonnie and changed my training approaches and adjusting my expectations. We are fortunate to have a large yard for her, and we have her pull us on the bikes and longboard to tap into those husky genes! 😂 Our bond is so much stronger now. Thank you for everything, Stonnie!
I follow a lot of trainers but I love your videos the most.
You’d have been wasted as a doctor Stonie! You are the best rainer I have ever encountered! From a retired doc.
Loved this video Stonnie. We use lots of labs in search and rescue. GSP’s have only recently been finding their way into it. In both wilderness SAR and rubble disaster work, which have their differences. I run GSP’s myself and this reinforces what I’ve seen in training up GSP’s for wilderness SAR work. SAR trainers are mostly use to labs and pointy ear dogs. GSP’s definitely need to be trained up differently. I might need to make this required viewing for new people trying to select a new candidate!
I've had a lab and 2 GSP's, all bird hunters. Your video is spot on. My experience showed me the most important training is spending time in the real world with them, LOTS of time. One of my shorthairs was an unbelievable hunter, almost like she was born trained to hunt birds. She only needed some refinement in a few areas, the other gsp was mediocre. My personal opinion - I'd take a GSP over a Lab any day.
🇮🇪 brilliant video sharing its wonderful such amazing scenery and you're dogs 🐕 🐕 so adorable very cute
As a teacher, I love your parallel to dogs , puppies in particular!
So True! Thanks. Wonderful channel!
Yesterday, watched a video of a guy who works in conjunction with a shelter to find homes for shelter dogs. They had received a Chocolate Lab who was completely shut-down due to fear. He growled when someone came near his pen, didn't want to make eye contact, hugged the wall/corner while frozen in fear. The poor feller was filthy dirty and had a raw spot on his ear (probably due to flies). It took the guy about half an hour to get the boy to let his guard down and begin to interact. He just sat with him inside the pen, didn't make a lot of eye contact, and offered treats, eventually able to gain enough of the boy's trust to accept petting. A bath was next, and the groomer spent another half hour just comforting him before his bath. He demonstrated loads of fear in the process, but seemed to come out of his shell quite a bit once bathed/dried/brushed and his ear dressed with some salve and began to play with the guy in a larger pen. Sadly, reverted to the shut-down/growl behavior when people walked through to look at various dogs in their pens. I can't imagine what must've happened to that good boy to cause him to shut down like that. He didn't appear to have lost ALL hope in life, but sure was demonstrating signs of a lot of neglect, loneliness. He would probably do great if he had a month with Stonnie and some mentor dogs. When he did let his guard down, he played and wagged his tail like a Lab should. It's a real shame how some people treat their dog and then just dump them like trash.
😢
Two of my kids rehabilitate dogs after human beings do their best to destroy the poor dogs. They’ve had good success, but it takes a lot of effort and patience.
Special place in hell for some people.
Yay! Another "Ringo" !😉🐾🇨🇦 I'll now watch the video😁 Spot on analysis. You make me a better person and dogs better dogs. Thank You so much!! I started Ringo climbing at 8 weeks, now he's a climbing machine and is such a source of amazement, amusement and joy when people get to see him in action on our daily hikes! He especially loves steep hills, cliffs and some people worry that he won't be able to get back up!! I just smile.😉
I’d like to think posts like this will help prevent dogs ending up in shelters and we all know the inevitable end some face there. People need to be educated on matching the right dog to their environment, abilities and life-style rather than on the aesthetics of the dog. No one should buy a dog without subscribing to your channel and absorbing your invaluable, common-sense advice.
I really appreciate your support!
True rabbit true
Very accurate video. I have two GSP’s. They do not retrieve, one loves water, and one won’t get past her feet. We hunt upland game birds and neither one has had formal training, other than introducing a gun. Their natural hunting ability is amazing to watch. We live in the mountains, so they get plenty of daily exercise. Recall is excellent. In the house both are couch potatoes and literal lap dogs. Great with my kids and other animals, minus the chickens! My son is teaching them to horn hunt with good success. I’ve been around a lot of labs over the years and for us and our active lifestyle, these dogs and their athleticism are a better fit.
What a wonderful place to hike
Great comparison and thorough video and well presented. Thank you!
Stonnie thank you so much! You just helped me understand my high drive Labrador. I have 3 Labs, 2 of them are easy going and just enjoy hanging out with me. My 3rd one never stops I did not understand how to work with her until you explained the traits of the Short hair pointer. My Lab is exactly like that.
I grew up with labs, as my dad used them with hunting, and then when i got married, i got a weimaraner. Had him for 14 years. A big difference between the 2 for sure, and this video says it exactly as it is. I could walk my weim off leash in trails, he would be way ahead of me, sniffing in and out of the trail, but every 2 or so minutes, he would come running back to me to check in. Our labs would always stay close by.
Great video. Love my GSP. They roam and always check back. I have an e-collar I trained him with, only use the sound setting...it beeps to call him back. Works great.
I developed an interest to keep English labrador at my home after watching so many videos of you. But since I have less time to spend on an everyday basis with dog, I chose to go with Dachshund. I adopted a one year old female Dachshund.
Great Video Dennis!!! love the labrador retriver, and will always have one in my life. For extremly active people that LOVES hiking, skiing, biking etc, I find theese pointers to be GREAT pullers!!! Here in Norway They also have the Greyster that is a mix usually off GSP and a Greyhound and the Scandinavian hound that is a mix between alaska husky and any of a number of pointing breeds. They are both absolutely working machines. Great for this kind of sport. Pure muscle and endurance😅 "Again thanks for a great video😊
I recently got a lab/pointer mix. I am excited to spot the behavior queues she demonstrates between the two breeds.
Happy Saturday Stonnie
Working with our five month old yellow male on fetch. Our silver she is most of the time on point. Driven and motivated by food for sure. We try and use that to our vantage. Thanks so much for your amazing skills and talents and patience with these dogs. I learned a lot from you. Matt. Idaho.
Funny. I am lucky to have the rare GSP retrieving machine. Not to mention one that lives to water retrieve. They do love to range farther away, but mine always checks in often. My Covid pup was lucky to get a lot of training time, Stony style. Best dog ever and fits my active lifestyle perfectly. Perfect family pet as well. Either dog will make a great companion but you have to put the time in.
I just discovered your channel. I loved your explanation about dogs bred to hunt and range vs retrieve. That helps explain my Mountain Cur (hunt and range)! Although he’s always on a leash, if it was up to him, he’d not be walking by my side, he’d be ranging up ahead, nose to the ground with an occasional look back to see where I am.
Another awesome video stonnie .
Great video. It's funny how you say some people complain to you about 30 yards or 50 yards. I'm coming from a Husky to a GSP pup. My Husky's natural distance from me had to be 300 yards to around 400 yards, too much. Had a lot of days just looking for her for hours and seeing that she was tracking me and not the other way around from very far. 30 Yards sounds beautiful.
wow such a good clip comparing the two distinct breeds..
I’m loving your technique ❤
I have a GSP and 2 labs and this comparison is so accurate
The abundance of delicacies on the trail, a dog’s wonderland. 🐾🐾
I do appreciate what you do and how you train. I have GSP they are amazing GSPS who I trained horses with: my dogs a GSP always found me no matter what as well brought me the bird to hand the GSP never lost sight of me as well is a 🐟 in water dives naturally and retiring is perfect!
We have a Aussie (just short of 2 years old) she is fabulous
We hike regularly...looking for squirrels rabbits and deer...when we find on she goes after them...and if I give her a command...she will break off the chase and return to me.. so very rewarding. She is an off leash dog 99% of the time
Great video! Thanks
Thanks for watching!
I can only say that Roscoe, my WPG will retrieve endlessly on land as water. I have to make him take rest breaks. I’m no genius trainer at all, but a good wpg will work with German intensity and obedient behavior. Best dog ever, but must be exercised twice a day. Thanks for your work!
I really like this explanation. I have what I would call my first Dog of my adult life right now (A female lab) All the other "Dogs" have been Hounds over the last 40 years.
I think I needed more training then Tempest (The Lab). A lifetime of hounds has cause an expectation of independence that just isn't in the nature of a Dog.
Thank you for another very informative video. I have a yellow field lab age 4. She has characteristics very similar to the GSP. Your video has given me insight to my lab’s characteristics and reinforces the enrichment that I provide her - off leash adventure hikes both locally and in the Adirondacks. I always learn so much from your videos. Thank you!
God I love GSPs. Best friend in the field. Or in the house. So smart and sensitive.
Our GSP goes for his 2 week training camp next week. It's a very reputable place. Just a little training to help us with helping him focus on his impulse control.
Thank you!
What a great vid
Two very fine dogs. Would love to have them both!
Love your channel. Especially when you show GSP’s!
Jerry from Carlisle County, KY
GO COMETS!!!!🏀⛹️
Great video. I have an 11 month lab like yours but she’s more like the pointer off lead and loves to pull on lead. What are we doing wrong or more importantly what can we do to keep her close? She loves other dogs and her recall is poor when she has other dogs in the area.
Another great video by Uncle Stonnie! Stonnie, I'd love to see some you work with some bull breeds. Bulldog, American Bully, Boxer ect. Keep up the great work!
Thank you.!
Unfortunately, those types of dogs take too much labor and oversight. From a business standpoint, we are talking about at least a 4 to 1 labor differential.
Very nice video!
Thank you!
9:05 wow lmao. i never would have guessed that most GSPs weren't inclined to retrieve well....our family had two, and both we barely had to teach how to fetch and return. they were just so excited to have us throw the toy again (and again and again...) they'd immediately drop it at our feet and start running for the next throw haha.
Having had a pair of English Pointers, I can attest that everything said on this video is true. They are wonderful and beautiful animals.
I had an English Pointer, too. I've never seen a dog that loved to hunt more than her. Too bad most people that have Pointers don't hunt with them, so they never get to see how truly special they are.
Very informative! Thank you for sharing.
Hey Stonnie 👋 I love all of your videos keep up the great work! Could you make a video comparing labs and golden retrievers?
I am grateful to have found this video. I have a silver lab and am thinking of a GSP and I loved watching a master at work. Thanks
You make the best videos and I learn sooo much from you! I’d love to get a gsp because of their looks and how athletic they are but recently have been really thinking that maybe a chocolate field lab may be more appropriate for our family. We are active, run daily a few miles and have kids around 10 year old who absolutely want to and will fetch with the dog. We also have an acre to play in and plenty of waking space in the neighborhood. We can sustainably provide two 30 -45 min sessions of exercise a day and so maybe a lab is more appropriate. In truth my preference is for a Doberman but given the social challenges and fear associated with having one, we probably won’t choose that breed. But their obedience, athleticism, and appearance is attractive. A chocolate lab maybe the best next choice! Thanks so much!!
An hour and a half of exercise per day isn't really that much time for any young, strong dog (except perhaps for puppies and very small dogs), let alone for athletic and energetic ones. No offense intended of course!
Thanks for this video. For apartment which one is better?
Herman is a smart guy and quite handsome! He definitely needs to be busy. Cora is equally smart and quite engaged with you.
I'm wondering what small breeds Stonnie would recommend if you would like a dog like a show bred lab, but want a dog under 40 lbs.
boykin spaniel
Really enjoy your videos. I would love to hear your views on the Flatcoat Retriever. You have said previously it’s hard to find a good one. My girl is awesome but very different from the flatcoats I worked with 20 years ago. She is smart, funny, boisterous and quick to learn but much more skittish and suspicious of new things than I remember them being.
Would love to see you do a breed review and/or lab comparison with a Dobermann next time you have one in!
Thanks Stoney
You are welcome!
Had a retriever/gsp mix. So dang smart. Think he trained me lol
Both of those dogs sure are adorable. I have a female English "champion" lab who looks just like Cora. Cora is a great dog, BTW.
Great video. We have a chocolate lab named hazel and a gsp named Whoopie so this one hit home for us. I always say hazel is the taco and Whoopie the Ferrari. Our gsp is addicted to the frisbee and is a far superior retriever, much to my surprise. Thanks again for a cool video. Have a happy Thanksgiving Stonnie!
LOL....@10:55.....aint it the truth. Love my chocolate lab. He's a monster, but he loves loves love the retrieves. Hes 1.5 now, and we did some dove hunts this year. He ate a few, but brought back most of them intact and is getting the hang of it. Hoping to work with him some in the quail fields next and do some flushing. He did some instictive pointing as a pup, but I havent trained it into him yet. Curious how the quail hunts will go. I think he will flush more than point, but we will see. Either way, its a good training and exercise opportunity for the dog more than anything.
If you ever get a chance to compare a German wire haired pointer to wire haired Griffon. (Or a lab and I’ll work it out). Always enjoy your videos.
Love these long videos! Wondering if you could do one on beagles please!
Hiya I got a 7month Munsterlander x Springer x collie, he will do the same as the short hair pointer, go off and do his own thing but also comes back to check in. Trust the dog to do the right thing. I was brought up with bird dogs so I am use to this and don't panic, sometimes with my heart in my pants but I know he will only go so far and will come back to the whistle.
What whistle do you use to recall the dogs
Stonnie...the thing that maybe was missed, but would be interesting is the ability and comfort of the GSP with water.....swimming, desire for the water (thinking Lab or Golden compared to the GSP).
interesting to note zero reinforcements given to the lab over obstacles and still maintained perfect focus, reminds me of all of my labs over the years- their sole focus in life is their person over everything else even food!
Cool video! Would love to see a video around managing an intact male lab, especially in terms of excessive sniffing and marking when out in the field for a training session.
The majority of dogs you see in my videos are intact.
Do you sell dog whistles or have a link? Love your videos. Thanks.
I’ve just gotten a 3 month old GSP. We walk twice a day and have been working with just basic commands. She listens very well in the house, but not so much in the back yard. We have 3 acres. I’m so glad I ran across this video! I was starting to get discouraged with why she doesn’t seem to listen to me when outside. I got her not for hunting, but for going hiking on trails with me. I’ve seen these training collars such as Sport Dog and other name brands. They have 3 different warning signs before a little shock. What do you think of these collars? I just want my girl to come back to me when I let her off least when we hike. Thank you!
Cora is a beautiful dog!
Thank you for this video. We've had labs before our gsp, and I wanted another lab, but in our area, they were so expensive. My husband heard about a 4 month old purebred (no papers) gsp,for a couple hundred dollars, we saw her and decided to get her. After bringing her home, I researched gsp dogs, and thought dang, I should have spent a little more and got a lab because of the energy! I'm having a very hard time with recall with our little Miley, any suggestions on how to go back to the drawing board? We have many deer and she takes off after them too, so I purchased an e collar. Now when she starts to chase, I'll call, whistle, no response, like I'm not even there. So I'll tone her first, nothing, then stimulation, 1, then a 2 then a 3, that works. I don't want to have to do this, so looking for some help. I feel guilty for not loving her yet, just liking her. She's such a cutie and very sweet ::) Maybe we need to take her to a trainer? Just need advice on Recall please! Thank you
Interesting videos stonnie. I work from home mostly, like to go for a country walk everyday and go to the beach frequently. I have an average size garden and a park opposite. But I'm really looking for a dog to take night fishing, to act as early warning for strangers and keep rats away. What breed would you choose for someone who never owned a dog before? Thanks
that sounds like a pretty good life for a dog
I love both. Have grown up in the English shooting scene and am surrounded by labs. I always liked GSPs in terms of their character and the job they could do in the field, but disliked how they can be a bit stubborn and more individualistic. Then I met the Vizsla. The perfect dog for me. Otis picks up at driven shoots, hunts on walked up shoots, did his first field trial at 5 months old and beat the rest of the adult competition (reluctantly entered him after a friend said it would be interesting to see how he was getting on). It sounds like I've hammered him with training from too young an age, but he honestly picks everything up the first time. If I'm inconsistent with training he let's me know that I'm doing it wrong! Goes everywhere with me and thinks he's my actual child, but as soon as he's in the field he becomes a different dog - sheer focus. He's for a different purpose than a lab and horses for courses, but my god I won't be going back
My GSP couldn't get tired. LOL. He would run 10+ miles when we took him four wheeling and retrieve for 2 hours and jog with my wife 5 more miles. Couldn't wear him out. My GSP was also very focused on the task, and easily trained. He loved to run a bout but he knew when to and when not to. He actually retrieved better than my lab did. But as you say Stonnie, my lab was definitely more in tuned with me 100% of the time. My lab wouldn't get 10ft from me without checking in or waiting for me.
Stoney I’ve been watching your videos for some time both before having a dog and now since recently adopting a rescue who appears to have GSP markings, nose traits and build. She is 11 months old)we got her 1 week ago) is very smart and knows basic commands like sit; some stay; and ok at come, however I have not felt comfortable off leash yet. She pulls very hard on leash and is very reactive to animals she senses. Any initial thoughts on our first steps in training her for better recall and how we might ultimately get to off leash trail work?
@stonniedennis would you be willing to share what do you feed your Labrador dogs? Thank you
What do you think about talking buttons for dogs?
Where'd you get your bumper?
My field lab is a hell of a lot like that gsp off leash 😅 Go explore away from us and then stop and wait and when we catch up he looks at us like, “come catch up guys!” Half the time he goes off and periodically checks back in and half the time we have to call him back to check in.
He definitely can play fetch for an hour and be unphased! I do that for his own enjoyment but have never used it to tire him out. Lol.
GSPs are great dogs. Mine will throw the retrieved item at you to get you to throw it again already! Drop it at your feet and sometimes in your hand.
Would you ever do a video on little dogs like daschund, shi tzu and westies?
hi, how is your backpack/utility vest called?
how does the weimaraner compare to the lab and german shorthaired?
Our dogs love to get into the "deer candy" that gets dropped in our backyard.
My Chocolate Lab loves to retrieve his ball for me, but that is not his only exercise. He loves our walks and adventures. He's a field lab from hunting lines.
Do you have a hiking video with a cocker?