Training a German Shorthaired Pointer to Walk on a Leash

When starting dog leash training with your dog the #1 goal is to make your dog understand that you’re the center of the universe and the one in control. The Alpha of the pack per say.

This is especially important with a smart working breed like German Shorthaired Pointers, Spanish Pointers, English Pointers and so on. Dog leash walking takes patience to start, and it’s totally worth putting the time in now for training as it’s something that will go along way in building a new bond between you and your new best friend.

We all know that these breads need vigorous exercise, but equally as important is learning how to calming walk with a dog on a leash. The training actually works both ways, your not just training the dog to walk on the leash. More importantly your training yourself on how to properly walk with a dog on a leash.

No Pulling Allowed in Dog Leash Training

This may be challenging at first as your new GSP dog will be excited by all the sights and smells around them, especially a working dog breed with high energy levels like gun dogs. And of course they’re going to “test” you.

Keep in mind – a dog that pulls on the leash or pulls on lead should be trained to follow your lead. When you see someone being pulled behind their dog on a walk, it’s bad for the dog and owner creating horrible habits that can be hard to break. Who is walking who you should ask yourself?

Training Humans to Walk Correctly with Leash

Training seems to be 30% about the dog and 70% about the human. It’s extremely important to control your emotions and energy around German Shorthaired Pointers or any dog for that matter. At times I will get frustrated when I’m being pulled and yanked in different directions or when the dog just simply chooses to ignore my “come” command. You’re not alone, and even the best of dogs will test from time to time.

Learning what to do when your dog does not react to a command takes time. Our instinct is to raise our voice, just like our parents would do. That doesn’t work, not does being physical. It will end up hurting you more than your dog as the old saying goes, this will hurt me more than it hurts you.

Speak calmly and firmly when giving your dog commands and before you know it you will have a best friend and pal that respects your voice.

Dog Leash Training to Walk with a Loose Leash

German Shorthair Pointers are incredibly strong muscular dogs. Getting pulled on the leash is not uncommon with a German Shorthaired Pointer, or any working breed. However, this can, and needs to be changed!!!

I have started to come to a complete stop anytime the dog try’s to pull. I simply call her to me and reward her with a treat. I have found the Loose Leash Positive reinforcement is the best way to train a German Shorthaired Pointer. If she pulls we don’t walk, if it becomes too much, simply turn around and go back.  Don’t get frustrated or angry. The dog will pick up on your emotions and once you let go and head home they will know something is up especially if they are waiting for their daily exercise.

Types of Leashes

The type of leash you pick comes down to personal preference and how well behaved your dog is. When first starting out, I’m a huge fan of choke collars. When used properly they really limit the dogs ability to pull and mimic the movement a mother dog would do with their pups. After a few weeks or months walking like this you’ll be ready for a more traditional style of collar. But be warned once the choker is off your dog will try and test you and pull some more. That’s why I don’t like retractable leashes at all for working dogs, strong dogs or really any dogs for that matter.

Instead I like a longer check cord style leash that allows the dog room to room if I allow, and can easily be shortened to a shorter length to better control your dog near streets, other dogs or even people. After some time training this way you can switch back to a shorter more traditional style leash and then eventually learning to have your dog walk at your side or recall back to you.  With GSP’s allowing them to run is important, and having them obey your commands even more so.

How to Train a German Shorthaired Pointer to Walk on Leash or Heel

Start by having your dog sit in front of you, ideally you have already mastered this part of the training. If not you can use words and then apply pressure to the top thigh bone which will make your dog sit, reward them, use word sit and good. Eat, sleep, repeat.

Once sitting has been mastered, with a loose leash and a treat in your hand slowly take a few steps backward, as the dog follows stop and if they sit or stop, reward them with a treat. Simply loose leash walking games like this are fun, yet challenging for the dog and owner alike.

I like to train with the Ruffwear Roamer Dog Leash this the best leash for walking a dog and training a GSP to walk  that I have found. It comes in a variety of lengths, colors and works just about every outdoor pursuit you can imagine. Just remember to not allow your dog to pull! EVER…

At first leash walking training can be INCREDIBLY frustrating, my advice is to take lots of deep breaths if your dog doesn’t want to sit, or something else distracts their attention while training, pause and then start over. And you might even have to just come back to it on another day.  Don’t beat a dead horse… The German Shorthaired Pointer temperament can be intense, actually, it always is.

Making Your Dog Heel at Your Side

Its best for your dog to learn to heel to one side of your body while walking.  Since we hunt, and I carry my shotgun in my right hand, so my dog has learned to walk next to me on the left staying away from the gun.

We start our attention walking right out the front door daily. After about 5-10 minutes of repetition, I was able to see great results and for the most part, Char would stay closer to me then she had the past few days without wanting to pull.

One thing that really helped was to alternate between stopping and walking, stopping, and walking. Start small, if you can make it to the end of your driveway, congratulate yourself. Then tomorrow, the neighbor’s house and so on and so on.

I think it’s important to mix the training locations up as dogs are smart and need stimulation, especially working breeds.

By the time you know it you will be loose leash walking without treats on long walks. Retractable Leash training an older dog will work the same, although it may take even more patience as by now the dog understands it can think and act as it pleases.  An old dog can learn new tricks, it just requires patience and lots of tasty dog treats and for it to know it’s not the leader or alpha or the pack, you are!

What I noticed most about this training is I now have my dog’s attention while we go for walks. This took some time but the more you invest now into your dogs the happier the next 10+ years of your lives will be (plural) as this is your dog is a family member, don’t ever forget that.

Its also important to get your dogs to gaze and eyes to focus on you while walking on a leash, not a million miles ahead of you. Char would pull, I would stop she would turn around look at me and start walking back towards me. At that point I would continue walking, sure it may look silly and take a good deal of time to travel any distance but the dog and I are getting it.

Patience is your friend.

Take it a step farther and try this training outdoors without your sunglasses on. This lets your dog learn, see, and understand the different looks and facial expressions you give them as soon they will do the same to you. Remember we haven’t learned how to speak dog, and dogs, for the most part, don’t speak English.

Recalling Your Dog

One way to teach a GSP to come when you call is to play games of hide and seek with your dog. When your out for a walk in the woods or open space and your dog runs off ahead of you. Simply stop, hide behind an object and then call your dog back to you. Then don’t make a sound.

Most likely your very loyal German Shorthair will start running around in circles literally looking for you. All that independence they had moments ago has long been forgotten if they think they have lost you.

After some time simply step out to where the dog can see you or call the dog to your location.  If you repeat this each time you go out, in turn you will start to train a dog that without even calling you comes back to check in. Never wanting to get much farther than visual or vocal distances from their owner.

This game is incredibly fun to play with your GSP at any age. They will appreciate the chance to find you and when they do, that tail or lack there of sure does start moving rapidly.

Positive Reinforcement with Treats

I recommend starting out by using soft delicious dog treats like Greenies for positive re-enforcement training. If you can’t find any treats near bye or in a pinch string cheese works well for training, cooked hot dogs too.

Your German Shorthaired Pointer may wonder about eating cheese at first but as with my dog Char after one bite she was hooked, most likely yours will be too. String cheese makes for an easy to digest soft treat that works wonders for training.

What’s neat about the Greenies treats mentioned above is they can also be used to hide pills, smart dogs catch on quickly to taking meds, especially ones like pointers with a strong nose. Luckily Greenies pill pouches do a great job of hiding them with a flavor dogs can’t resist, which makes them easy to use for training even when not trying to hide pills.

Avoid hard stuff like milk bones while training especially when outdoors and then dog may be running around.

Best German Shorthaired Pointer Training Book

For anyone interested in hunting with their GSP.  The book, Bond of Passion: Living with and Training Your Hunting Dog, lays out some great foundations on where to start for quick learning. Although it’s old, the information has not changed when it comes to building a bond with your hunting dog / best friend.

Socializing Dogs

My dog short haired Char grew up with her mom and aunt on a ranch and had some interactions with other dogs but only GSP’s with high energy. I felt it was best for her to meet other dogs in the area as soon as possible. While at the same time I was a bit hesitant as my last pointer didn’t interact well with other dogs. She was great with humans but just had some sort of complex where she thought she was the alpha at all times. Stealing toys, causing fights and such. (Turns out a majority of pointers, even females are Alphas).

You want the kind of dog that can get along with everyone they meet, 4 legged or even two legged friends. And at the same time I like having more of an Alpha that won’t back down from a fight as dog can and will eventually get into a fight.

How to Teach Your Dog to be a Family Dog

It’s never a bad time to go back to basic commands, start with “Sit”. Even for a dog that knows the command this is a fun game and has the two of you interacting. Sit, stay, come.  Reward. These 3-basic commands are important for German Shorthaired Pointers as they are one of the dog breeds that can walk off-leash especially for recreating and hunting.

Walking a dog on a leash is something every dog owner should master.  You owe it to your dog if nobody else.  An added bonus of having a gun dog that can walk on a leash especially a working breed is if you need someone to watch your dog they will feel much more comfortable, and perhaps you as well to have them walk your dog on a leash vs letting them run as some hunters and recreational do with working dogs. This style of training is especially important if you have small children in your home or plan to introduce your dog.

Still Having Troubles?

Have you considered entering your dog into dog sports or even hunting events. Working dogs like to know they have a job to do. Even running races, games of hide and seek anything that will allow your dog to use their brain and body at the same time will start to wear them out. A calm dog will always be easier to walk vs a dog that hasn’t received much energy.

Are there any leash walking tips I missed, or suggestions you have for training German Bird Dogs, pointers or dogs in general, if so leave a comment below.

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