 |
| Our German Shorthair Pointer rescue of 3 years, Hooch |
The German Shorthaired Pointer thrives as part of an active family.
GSPs have a lot of energy and if not given the right amount of attention, can become bored and destructive.
Happy-go-lucky, it loves nothing more than to engage in
some type of constructive activity with its owners.
The GSP will not listen if it senses that it is
stronger minded than its owner, however it will also not respond well to
harsh discipline.
Exercise is of paramount importance for these
tireless, energetic animals. They are more than a match for even the
most active family
Yep that pretty much sums up our Hooch boy, the energizer bunny in 4 legged form with a bottomless love and play tank, who considers himself a perfectly acceptable size for a lap dog.
About 6 months ago I decided to join a Facebook group dedicated to German Shorthair pointers in an effort to hopefully learn how to better control this unstoppable, 40lbs of bored fur that has been masticating through objects carelessly left on the floor quicker than The Flash with fleas since the day we brought him home. The group taught me SO much about the breed as well as the humans that are owned by them and, it was remarkable what a little bit of knowledge and a touch of understanding did to the condition of my heart toward our unstoppable pooch.
In a moment of canine reflection a couple months ago I was attempting to summarize Hooch's characteristics into a lump phrase and this is what I came up with (I'm getting to the parenting bit in a moment I promise, so hang with me);
And something began to slowly dawn in the corners of my brain.
That sounds very familiar. Who does that remind me of? Bre has constant energy. Bre needs lots of stimulation and exercise. Her love and play tank are NEVER EVER full. She's always despised being alone. She loves to be all over you yet can't sit still while she does it. The center of attention is her gravitational axis.... Oh my goodness! My daughter and our dog are exactly the same!!!!
And that led me to another thought,
Could parenting the GSP personality be the same whether it appears on 2 legs or 4?
I have come to find that in many instances the answer is most definitely yes.
#1 - Through the roof constant energy needs a steady stream of varied mental and physical stimulation. 90% of the time, if my dog or my daughter are getting into some kind of trouble it's because they're bored and need something constructive to do; games, toys, physical exertion, etc. This requires me as the parent to either be proactive in making sure there are things to do OR being willing to stop what I'm doing at that moment and provide the stimulation they need for as long as they need it.
#2 - Bottomless love tanks can only be filled with one thing, time. I have to be intentional about giving physical love to them and not waiting till they come to me already running on empty. I have to give head kisses as I walk around the table to put my dishes away. I have to offer back scratches as we pass in the hallway. I have to provide soft words of affection as we cross paths in the stairwell. Unmet love needs = unwanted negative behavior.
#3 - GSP personalities are NOT kennel or latch and key beings. While 24/7 companionship and interaction is not humanly possible, extended solitude can feel worse than death for this temperament. As a parent I can only do and be so much so, play dates with others and something to occupy their mind during small chunks of alone time are an absolute must.
#4 - GSP natures are not meant to be motionless. They're just not. So, I've learned to decline much of anything requiring extended periods of stillness (which is much shorter for GSP's than the rest of the civilized world lol). If I don't try and force them to be someone they're not, every one's lives are much easier.
So now, instead of getting frustrated with these powerful GSP traits demanding to be addressed on a millisecond basis, day in and day out, by keeping these 4 Hooch hound lessons in mind I'm better motivated to parent all my babies, fur or otherwise, much more effectively.
No comments:
Post a Comment