I have a 6 month female English Pointer. The whole family enjoys her and has become very very attached to her. I spend the most time with her as I don't work outside the home or go to school. I understand she is just a pup. I can not keep her busy enough...she is so full of energy in this big puppy body. Does this breed settle down with age? If so, generally when have people started to see a change. I now hear Labs are pups for like two years which honestly has me a little worried.

Lab people have it lucky! Dalmatians are like puppies till they're about 8!
:)

So what do you two do all day? :) I may pick up tips for keeping Morse busy.

We have a 7 month old pointer, and a 6 and 11 year old pointer. The oldest one didn't really start to settle down until she was 8. We are always being asked if the 6 year old is a puppy as she is soo energetic when out. She does look calmer now we have the pup though.

They are a energetic breed as they are bred to cover a lot of ground, working all day on a moor. We very rarely see ours panting when we're working them for anything up to 6 hours.

Helen

Hi,

English Pointers are a very lively and mad breed, this is quite normal. Don't expect calm behaviour until at least 3 years old, more likely 5 years old.

We have beardies and they don't mature mentally until at least 7 years old and my 12.5 year old is still as mad as she was at 6 months old. It's the breed, so I don't mind at all (most of the time :) ).

Be patient, hopefully you read up on the breed before you got one, there should be some information out there which advises of their energetic nature and excitable behaviour.

manda
x

Yep, read up on them. Visited several 3-5 year olds... now I am experiencing it. Whew. Love the pup to pieces and knew she'd be a lot of work. If we could just get past tugging on the lead. And, yes she is in obedience classes.

lol, I had two pointers before we added another one. We weren't prepared (or had forgotten) how hard work they can be! lol. At least the pup is making the older ones seem calm!

Helen

Tell me about how old your dogs were when they could be off leash.

Were your dogs "mouthy"? If I am trying to put the dog in a place she does not feel like going ...she turns her head and mouths my hand. But, her control is not great and it smarts!

I've been letting Milly off right from the word go. She has gone through some dodgy recall periods but touch wood seems to be getting better. I am lucky in that I have access to a secure field. At around 6 months, I did go back to basics with her though as she really was messing around. Took her out on a long line and did loads of recalling with her. Then let her drag the line so if she decided to do a runner, I had something to grab. I also hid from her and kept walking in different directions.

Lucky, 6 year old pointer has a good recall but I have to keep an eye on her. She is so fast and ranges so far that she is across the other side of the field and trying to get under the fence. When I recall her, she comes but I have to keep a close eye on her. It's even worse when she goes on point somewhere cos she won't budge, even when I recall her. She was pointing a dipper this morning and I only found her by accident as I decided to look in the place where she never goes.

Milly was very mouthy and I really didn't think I was going to sort it out. She did grow out of it though and very rarely mouths me now.

Helen

Hi,

Good to know you found out what you let yourself in for, ha ha.

I love a naughty dog, they have more character!! :D :D

Thats my excuse anyway. :)

manda
x

forgive my ignorance. What is beardies?

Bearded collies, they are a breed of dog. Have a look at this:

www.raintreebeardedcollies.com

You think you've got it tough? The other week at ringcraft the "judge" asked how old our wheaten is and when told he was 5 said "only another 5 years of puppyhood left then" - and that was an understatement!!! :D