We love dogs, and we can’t resist a hunter telling us stories about their four-legged companions. And we know some of you’re curious about hunting dogs, too, so we asked our brand ambassador from France, Fiona Hopkins, to tell us a little about her German Shorthaired Pointer.
First things first: can you briefly introduce us to your dog and tell us why you chose her?
Her name is Plume, and she came into our home in 2019 when she was 2 months old. I chose her because I grew up with German Shorthaired Pointers. They are wonderful dogs in every way: hunter, passionate, devoted, adorable at home, docile, very affectionate, playful… Everything that I love!
German Shorthaired Pointers are wonderful dogs in every way: hunter, passionate, devoted, adorable at home, docile, very affectionate, playful.
What’s the funniest thing she ever did?
Oh, she does a lot of funny things, it’s impossible to tell everything! If you put a sausage on her nose, she can stay still for many minutes. She is a clown!
And what’s the cutest habit of hers?
When I tell her to come and hug me, she comes and snuggles up to me.
What’s the greatest challenge about owning a German Shorthaired Pointer?
Training a dog is a lot of time and investment. But it all pays off – having a dog who listens to us, who knows us by heart and who we know by heart, too, is a real pleasure.
How did you train Plume for hunting?
As soon as she arrived home, I put her in the presence of dead birds, like ducks and pigeons, so that she could discover the smells. I played a lot with her own toys to teach her the relationship. Same thing for the relationship to water. The key is to approach the whole process gently. The dog understands everything really quickly. Of course, it’s a very passionate breed, so it’s instinctive. She was also groomed by her breeder for a few weeks to develop pointing.
Training a dog is a lot of time and investment. But it all pays off – having a dog who listens to us, who knows us by heart and who we know by heart, too, is a real pleasure.
When I am going for walks with my dog or when observing animals during the winter season or at the beginning of the hunting season, I use Helion and Axion. I prefer the Axion 2 as it is smaller and so easy to hold in my hand.
What’s her personality like?
One day, she can be very calm, still, sleepy, and cuddly. The other day she could play for hours and run in all directions. She is very energetic and requires a lot to wear herself out. It’s a breed that really demands to be active, and it’s a real pleasure. She is also very cute.
What's your favorite hunting story with Plume?
The first time with ducks that we did together. She sat next to me when she was only a few months old. She brought back a teal that was in the water. It was magical, and I was very proud of her!
And then the very first stop she made on a woodcock. I had put so much pressure on myself not to miss it in shooting that I finally missed it… I was so angry with myself and started crying because I was so proud of Plume, and I wanted to reward her.
German Shorthaired Pointer: the fun and loyal partner
- They never grow old (at heart). GSPs are known to act puppy-like even as they grow older. That’s one of the reasons they require lots of training at any age.
- They’re never still. There is no such thing as too much exercise for GSPs, and even when they’re asleep, they tend to toss, turn, and twist around.
- They have many talents. While bred for hunting, GSPs excel at many other tasks, too. For example, they can pull sleds or even sniff for bombs.
- You can tell their color from their nose. GSPs come in all sorts of different colors, and if you’re not sure which one will be dominant when they grow up, just look at their nose.
- They are cute. Aside from being super loyal and affectionate, GSPs don’t really understand their size, meaning they will try to squeeze into a smallest gap just to be close to you.
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