New on Shy dog

[Cripple Creek]

I have a 4 year old German Short hair Pointer. He has been very shy since a puppy. He remains to this day. The gentlmen who has owned him since a puppy gave him to me to try and bring him around and make him hunt. So far, not successful. He is a beautiful dog, and would make someone an excellent stud dog. If anyone interested let me know.

[kninebirddog]

No offense but He does not have the traits to be a good stud dog if he is truly a soft dog with not enough drive to become a bird dog ..This need to be culled from any breeding program as it could further produce more soft low prey drive non hunters. So if he really is soft and such Do the breed a favor find him a nice pet home To many people spend a lot of time and effort into building up breeds trying to weed those very weak traits out.

With that said next question Is he truly soft? OR Has he been coddled and sheltered allowed to have this soft dog manner towards life?
Was he ever taken into the field allowed to find birds and with the handlers mouth shut not talking to distract the dog from what he was involved with in effect quickly shutting him down not being allowed to figure life is cool on his own.. Many people feel the need to talk and in a nurturing way " Good dog go find the bird ..It's OK ...COme one lets have fun? Dogs to not relate this it is distracting and seriously it only furthers a dogs insecurities. I see this over and over and then listen to owners making excuses for the dog so the dog never stands a chance to become the real dogs they could have. I have also seen those dogs which come from poor breeding programs and never do care about a bird as it came from a program of other mediocre dogs that make nice pets.
I have also seen where owners finally give up excuses and allowed their dog to be come dogs and enjoyed watching as owner and dog become much happier and more confident. I watched a couple dogs and owners this weekend transform through the Rick Smith Seminar. One was a late start pup that had gotten her way the other a mixed breed that would at least look at a bird and like to chase by the end of the seminar with a few little things here and there the late start pup she now will pick up birds chase bird carry a bird around proud and happy which day one she had no idea or cared about a bird at all and owner has something to work with now and the other mix breed was also allowed to figure out a bird allowed to chase until the fire was built and then was starting to stop on scent by the end of the seminar both these owner devoted a foundation and Intermediate on their dogs to get them there also It is awesome to watch and experience .

Either way. Would be interesting to see what the dog is made of if it is just a learned behavior to get his way out of something he thinks he doesn't want to do and that shy behavior was being nurtured indirectly all along or if he really has no desire to be a bird dog which again would not be a candidate for any respectable breeding program But could make a great pet for someone.

Sorry so long in post but I honestly mean well for our bird dogs and producing pups with all the desired traits is a very important step. Good Luck

[Cripple Creek]

To give you an idea, I and my hunting partner went Saturday with him and an English female. We let them out of the box, and he and her were running around. I loaded my O/U and when I closed it, he cowarded down ran off. We started hunting. A little while later he showed back up, came to us then ran off. He did this 3 more times. When we got back to the truck, and I opened up his kennel he immediately jumped in.

[kninebirddog]

How was he exposed to birds and the field ?

has he ever had any formal training ?

[Cripple Creek]

He and a female litter mate were purchased by a guy I know. The litter mate was a very good dog, until she was accidentally shot. They both were trained by him, and a friend who trains dogs.