Question about 'Whoa'

[KMWJR]

New to upland hunting, new to owning a dog, and new to training (implied).

Ok, now that you have some context. I am working on teaching 'whoa' to my puppy (5 months old GSP), she will sit when I give her the command, so won't move and will hold very still until I give her the release command. Is the sitting something I need to be correcting?

I take full responsibility that is is a result of my inexperience, I think my main concern is will this present any issues/danger in the field?

Thanks in advance!

[JLS]

I personally wouldn’t whoa a pup at five months. That doesn’t help though. I would not let her sit at the whoa command. Use a slip lead around her flank to keep her from sitting.

[KMWJR]

What do you train at 5 months?

[JLS]

What do you train at 5 months?

Basic obedience with tons of emphasis on recall, introduction to water, fun retrieves, gunfire conditioning, more obedience, intro to e-collar, tracking/drags on a lead, more obedience, etc.

I want a dog to have a good steady point before I whoa them. I personally think many folks use whoa way too much, when they really should shut up and let their dog learn to handle birds.

[300stw]

whoa is used in many situations, its part of obedience. i start every pup on. here. and whoa. and kennel, at 6 weeks of age, dont let them sit on the whoa command, the last 30 or 40 pups i have started. i dont teach sit to a pointing dog until 2 yrs old or so

[Bigjay73]

Why even teach sit to an upland dog? I never understood its purpose.

[300stw]

Why even teach sit to an upland dog? I never understood its purpose.

i teach it to dogs that are going to be a house a bunch, or down either one,,, my personal dogs are taught down belly on the ground, I don't teach them sit,,,,,

I use whoa everyday with my personal dogs, in and out of doors, vehicles, kennel ect, I make my wirehair help work cattle even using whoa and down commands, whoa him in front of a gate to keep cows, horses in when I feed ect,,,,
I rarely use whoa on first contact point on birds,,, if I want a dog to relocate, I let him go and then "whoa" him where I want them, pretty soon a smart dog learns to stop and relocate many times on there own,,,,,in the chukar hills I like to be able to whoa a dog before we go over the top of a hill after a long climb, get ready, take a breather, keep the dog insight, ect,,,many times the birds get pointed just over the crest on a long climb, the birds don't hold forever, just the way I do it,,,,,

[JLS]

i teach it to dogs that are going to be a house a bunch, or down either one,,, my personal dogs are taught down belly on the ground, I don't teach them sit,,,,,

I use whoa everyday with my personal dogs, in and out of doors, vehicles, kennel ect, I make my wirehair help work cattle even using whoa and down commands, whoa him in front of a gate to keep cows, horses in when I feed ect,,,,
I rarely use whoa on first contact point on birds,,, if I want a dog to relocate, I let him go and then "whoa" him where I want them, pretty soon a smart dog learns to stop and relocate many times on there own,,,,,in the chukar hills I like to be able to whoa a dog before we go over the top of a hill after a long climb, get ready, take a breather, keep the dog insight, ect,,,many times the birds get pointed just over the crest on a long climb, the birds don't hold forever, just the way I do it,,,,,

All good points.

We began the "down/stay" i.e. "Halt", incorporated with a long whistle blast at about 12 weeks.

[JLS]

Why even teach sit to an upland dog? I never understood its purpose.

I use it all the time when we have people come in the house, outdoor settings with other people/dogs, stopping to cross the street, etc.

[BrentD]

Sit is pretty useful when I need to get a collar on, or some burrs out or whatever. Lots of purposes, including what JLS just said.

[Frenchy]

I'm not a pointer guy so I can't help on the sit to whoa, but when it comes to puppies. Don't get in a hurry. Teach basic obedience & canine good citizenship. Basically just how to be a good pet. While doing that try to encourage their natural instincts and drive for bird hunting. The mechanics of it will come later.

I think more dogs are set back by well meaning trainers that are trying to turn their pup into a complete bird dog too soon. It takes time. and lots of baby steps.

[1_pointer]

It's amazing to me what dedicated "dog people" do with their dogs. If you guys ever get to meet Hank, excuse his faults, as they are mine.

[KMWJR]

Thanks for all the feedback! I have never bird hunted before nor owned a dog, so all of this is new to me. All advice is appreciated. (Adult onset Hunter)