Quote:

---

Great dog, I am glad to see that you can still dock the tails in the USA, here in Australia its
banned, the do gooders and greenies must have forgotten about the sheep

---

I disliked the tail docking ban. But I now think the long whippy tail looks right on a GSP. So far that long whippy tail while it has banged around has never been a problem and injured in any way. But Blitzen also has never really hunted in thick heavy country, just bits of it.

As for sheep tail docking, dogs don't have wool, and don't get fly strike and maggots, and have flesh rotting off them like undocked and non-maintained sheep might.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Lovely dogs.

I have GSPs but also love these gruff looking wirehairs as well. For me I worry about burrs and prickles in the hair which in summer might be a huge problem.

Elsa lying on top of Kate. That was a family trait of my Blitzen and his mother as well. They love to sit on or lie on top of other dogs and of course humans. I think Elsa will be a dog which loves to be held all her life.



Big little monster Elsa.

Or seeing the shoes, little girl!

Kids need a puppy and dogs to love and play with. Adults need kids to keep the puppies entertained.

While I want a new dog, I dread the puppies need for attention. And probably so would 12 year old Blitzen who has been "dogless" his whole life. Though he always gets along well with other dogs.


Ripp, how does Kate take to the new puppy? Any jealousy? How to you handle Kate and the attention needed for the puppy?

---

Kate is the most laid back dog I have ever had..she has a super soft personality.. have to be really careful with her as to training or handling.. she gets along with anyone or anything.. we have a cat that stays in the garage or outside in the summer..in the winter she comes in when it gets really cold and stays in the same area as Kate.. the cat sleeps on top of Kate..

I do however always pet Kate first and give me my attention when I first come home.. I went elk hunting Sunday morning helping some friends get a few tags filled.. took Kate along.. had her stay in my truck when I hiked..had her with me if I was posting the end of a draw while a drive was being made.. she loves to be outside..

One final item about Kate..she is now 10.. I hunt pheasants with her every year.. I have never lost a bird since I starting huntning with her.. she always finds them..always.. doesn't matter if they fall in 6 foot cattails or 1/4 mile away in a brush filled river ... have never had a dog with a 100% record before.. she actually went on point one morning while retrieving a rooster I had just shot and in her mouth..how in the hell did that happen?? Sorry, going on a rant about Kate.. but she really is a good dog and member of our family..goes with us everywhere.. up town, road trips, vacations, camping.. always with... IS protective of the kids.. which is way cool...

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

BTW cool name, "Elsa" the Lion (dog).

I love the grumpy gruff rough looks of these very kind eyed dogs.

---

She is my 5th Wirehair.. looking forward to chasing behind her for many years.. more so watching my kids hunt with her..

Some of their handiwork..
20190828_125217 by A Hoffart, on Flickr

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

Edited by Ripp (27/11/19 01:36 AM)

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

John,
I totally agree with you about the reason for docking sheep but that wasn't the point I was making, my point was more on the cruelty side if things, it doesnt seem to effect the sheep, then why should it effect dogs.
As far as dog trainers in this area go, I don't know of any as I am only new to this area, I have had 3 GSP and found the best way to train them is with another well behaved good working pointer/ retreiver
cheers
Darryl

---

Darryl,

Unless the current fellow may pass on bad traits. My fault, not his.

As for docking lambs vs pointers, you need to understand how things work. NO DOUBT the animal libbers hate it as well. They hate domestic sheep themselves. They hate wool. They hate everything and anything. They are depressive self hating humans, who hate all of mankind, and so latch on in emotional desparation to "animals". They have a pussy or horsey they "love".

As for lamb docking bans, it has been talked about. But even many Labor politicians realise or can be educated on the importance of the Australian sheep and wool industry for the Australian economy. Australia "once rode on the sheep's back". Now the industry is less important. Minerals and mines owned by Chinese and Indians, shipped on railway tracks owned by the same, to Port and Ships owned by the same is far more important for "Australian" prosperity ...

But wool and sheep are important still to the Australian economy.

Also tail docking has a animal welfare aspect, positive to the animals welfare. Rotting with maggots from the rear end is an awful slow agonising death. A relatively short bit of pain docking a tail is an aid for sheep and flyblown hygiene.

Not the same for pointers. Largely it is fashion and affectation only. Some might argue about dogs breaking their tails. If so, this could be demonstrated statistically from vets if true with solid numbers. Maybe all the pet non working dogs would have to be discounted. I believe it was reversed in Sweden.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Sorry, going on a rant about Kate.. but she really is a good dog and member of our family..goes with us everywhere.. up town, road trips, vacations, camping.. always with... IS protective of the kids.. which is way cool...

---

No need to apologise. I love reading dog stories. Dogs are my favourite people. More dog stories please.

I think I saw a quotation meme recently by Mark Twain ?

"Man is not complete without a dog."


***

My dog is so "dis-loyal". Most times in the house if I get up to walk down the hallway, if I stop, often on purpose for fun, I feel his nose bump into me.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Sorry, going on a rant about Kate.. but she really is a good dog and member of our family..goes with us everywhere.. up town, road trips, vacations, camping.. always with... IS protective of the kids.. which is way cool...

---

No need to apologise. I love reading dog stories. Dogs are my favourite people. More dog stories please.

I think I saw a quotation meme recently by Mark Twain ?

"Man is not complete without a dog."


***

My dog is so "dis-loyal". Most times in the house if I get up to walk down the hallway, if I stop, often on purpose for fun, I feel his nose bump into me.

---

Kate on the Musselshell river..chasing roosters..couple years back..headed back up there in a few weeks for an end of season hunt..was using my Merkel 20 gauge SXS...
The look of total disinterest on her face is rather humorous..
20141207_110246 by A Hoffart, on Flickr

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Sorry, going on a rant about Kate.. but she really is a good dog and member of our family..goes with us everywhere.. up town, road trips, vacations, camping.. always with... IS protective of the kids.. which is way cool...

---

No need to apologise. I love reading dog stories. Dogs are my favourite people. More dog stories please.

I think I saw a quotation meme recently by Mark Twain ?

"Man is not complete without a dog."


***

My dog is so "dis-loyal". Most times in the house if I get up to walk down the hallway, if I stop, often on purpose for fun, I feel his nose bump into me.

---

Agree with you.. they greet you with enthusiasm and appreciation every day.. they just make life more pleasant..

--------------------
ALL MEN DIE, BUT FEW MEN TRULY LIVE..

Post Extras:

Quote:

---

Nice to have the retrieving instincts, surfacing.

---

From one of lancaster's posts.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Post Extras: