My pup is 10 months old and I have been unable to get her to enter the water to work in retrieves but loves to take a shower and tries to get in with me every day. I have tried 3 large ponds in my area and they all have banks of thick mud so she steps on it and sinks like 3” -4”. The area has had a low amount of rain I am assuming this is part of the reason I can’t find a solid low drop off bank. I have a swimming pool next door with a ~4’ long and 5’ wide tanning ledge that’s ~ 4” deep and she will let me set her on the ledge and pet her and scooping water over her. I tried picking her up and holding her as I walk away from the ledge but she panicked immediately and started trying to get free of me. I live 30 minutes from the coast so my next idea is to take her to the beach and throw the ball in the sand and then start throwing it so that she has to go into a couple of inch deep water but never where the waves smash her and/ or require her to actually swim. Maybe if I get her comfortable used to in and out of water more she will get past her anxiety. The issue I see with the beach idea is if she won’t go in the water at all and stares at the ball long enough the waves will push it to the waters edge at her feet and not work potentially. If anyone has any ideas I am all ears. I want to have her NA tested in December and this is the one part of the test I can’t seem to make headway on. My 7 year old Pudelpointers charges in and out of the ponds and I thought that the pup would join her because normally when I through a bumper the pup will sprint to retrieve the bumper so her grandma can’t get it first. When I tried this at the pond, the pup ran with her at full speed but slammed on the brakes at the waters edge and just ran up and down the bank wanting to get in as she watched the older dog retrieve the bumper. I tried even throwing it in shallow water so she only had to go 2-3’ into the water and she just won’t take that first step in.

Ryan had never trained a hunting dog before Cooper. After just a few months using the Best Gun Dogs virtual course, his 7 month-old GSP slammed on point on all 6 birds during his first hunt. Some birds were 100 yards away, and Cooper still held point until Ryan could get there to flush. His verdict? “The virtual course has been an absolute life saver.” And if you're on the fence about getting started, Ryan has one simple message: “Get it!! It’s worth its weight in gold.” If you're getting ready for hunting season, now is the time to put in the work. Train today. Hunt tomorrow. 👉 Check out the training: Shopify link: https://www.bestgundogs.com/products/best-gun-dogs-30-day-preseason-protocol or Classroom tab if you're already a paid member.

Just wanted to share this here. I picked up the virtual course just around 3 months ago. And it has been amazing. I’ve never trained or had a hunting dog of any sorts before my gsp Cooper. The virtual course has been an absolute life saver. Its step by step guide is so simple to follow and only takes 30 or so minutes a day for most of the training, and it has a solid foundation behind it so if you ever get a hiccup in your training you have something to fall back on. My pups only about 7 1/2 months old and I took him on his first hunt at a preserve and he slammed on point on all 6 birds and held until I got there to flush some were 100 yards away and he still held while I worked my way to him. If I could have shot a little better we’d have 6 birds down lol. But what I’m getting at with this post is if you’re on the fence about getting the course. Get it!! It’s worth its weight in gold. I can’t wait till this fall we gonna get after some wild birds🤙

We’re looking for recommendations for a new solid and durable ID collar. The old one is from Carhartt and has broken down a little too far. Photo for attention 😎

My gsp puppy refuses to drop anything out of her mouth. Random pieces of trash, shoes rocks, sticks, exc for example. When I'm working that bird drive and giving her pigeons she will not let that thing go even when it's Christmas morning and I have another bird in my hand. She takes off and tries to hide. I try to eventually take it out if her mouth but we are talking about like 5 minutes later. I've raised alot of labs and im so use to the love of the retrieve. What do I do? Im sorry I probably sound like I have so many problems but GSP pups are another animal lol