The German Shorthaired Pointer: a Hunter's Guide
By David Gowdey
After more than 40 years breeding, raising, training and hunting German Shorthairs, Dave Gowdey knows what he's talking about, and it shows. Written from the perspective of an experienced upland bird hunter and amateur dog trainer - this book is targeted at the German Shorthair owner that wants to train their own dog to be both a fine hunter, and a good family companion.
The book gives a detailed account of the origins of the breed, its rise to popularity in the US and abroad, the current state of the breed and its future prospects. It also contains invaluable advice on training, hunting and living with German Shorthairs - along with some interesting German Shorthair anecdotes.
The easy training regime Mr. Gowdey lays out and advice on hunting and living with German Shorthairs will help any owner of a GSP turn their dog into a great companion at home and in the field. The low force training takes advantage of the dog's natural instincts to teach it obedience commands, to point staunchly, retrieve reliably from land and water, and to reliably take direction from its owner. More unusually, Mr. Gowdey explains the roots that these behaviors have in instinctive canine behaviors and psychology, and how the training brings these instincts to the fore with a minimum of force and expense.
This book is a "must have" for anyone who owns a German Shorthaired Pointer. Owners of other pointing breeds will find the hunting and training advice, and analysis of canine behavior, contained in this book to be well worth the price.
Reviews for The German Shorthaired Pointer: A Hunter's Guide.
You'll find much of value in David Gowdey's The German Shorthaired Pointer (A Hunter's Guide).
...For Gowdey the shorthair is a live-in hunting companion that hits the field hard with intense game-finding ability. Half of this very useful book follows up on Gowdey's view of the breed and offers a detailed, minimal-force training regime. The letter and spirit of his methods will suit both hunter and dog for good work afield and solid companionship at home.
Christopher Camuto, Gray's Sporting Journal, September/October 2009
Let's give Dave Gowdey a huge round of applause...Drawing on more than 40 years' experience with traditional German Shorthairs as family companions and hunting dogs primarily in the Southwest, Gowdey writes with clarity and insight. ...
Throughout the book, Gowdey's admiration for this breed is evident. He closes with a list of practical jokes German shorthairs play on their owners. We own shorthairs and will vouch that every trick listed is pure truth.
Nancy Anisfield, Upland Almanac Spring 2010
The author guides the reader beyond simply breed history, however, and gives practical advice onbreeding, pup selection, health and feeding. Additionally, he spends several chapters on training-from building a good foundation in early puppyhood, to finesse training... and everything in between. He wraps up his book with a chapter entitled "Odds and Ends",and anyone who has ever owned a GSP or a DK will find themselves hooting and howling with laughter, and surreptitiously wiping tears away in sympathy and remembrance as he describes in great detail (and from personal experience) the breeds' affinity for mischief, troublemaking, escape, and food thievery.
In short, that David Gowdey is an experienced foot hunter writing a hunting dog book from a foot hunter's perspective is evident at every page turned. Hunters seeking down to earth advice from another hunter about the selection, care and training of a German Shorthaired Pointer could do much worse than to seek it from Mr. Gowdey's 2009 offering from Wild Sky Press. Kudos!
Nancy Schneider, North American Deutsch Kurzhaar Club E zine
"Every German Shorthair should come with a copy as an owner's manual."
Robert Suber, Amazon.com.
