ORIGINAL: Doc E
ORIGINAL: Mite
Doc E
The reason I asked is because there are some people who will always champion their breed of dogs no matter what game even beyond common sense. I mean if one breed of dog is the greatest dog at everything, why would we even have other breeds?
I agree completely. If a person were to only hunt a particular variety of game, then there is certainly a "specialist dog" that would do the job better than others.
If I were to only hunt Grouse, I'd probably go with a Setter -- Only Pheasants or Quail I'd go with a Pointer -- Only Waterfowl, a less expensive "Flushing Lab" would be my choice....................But for an "all arounder", it'd be a PL for me (but a GWP/DD would be fine too).
.
doc e,i dont hunt DUCKS but i still like a LAB,i hunt grouse the most..flushing of lab is where lose a LOT of grouse..if lab would just POINT, would get more grouse..
in fall ANY dog is great because of leaves and all shots are 20 yds here in pa..you and your dog can look like expert here in pa. in fall..
but in winter, thats now..i was out yesterday,flushed 2 grouse, thats GOOD DAY now for 4 hours of hunting..those grouse flushed at 40 yds andno way we would ever get one at that distance, i shoot anyhow to keep our dogs interested..we had POINTER HUNTING..
i have friend that has kennel in pa.. he sells and trains bird dogs..he told me that for 10 birds flushed, i assume he was talking pheasants/chuckars,he said the llwellin setter would get 7 birds and lab 3 birds..that could be, he should know but i saw labs that flushed every pheasant in fields..
labs i see are almost as good on nose as setter but the labs dont COVER territory like setter out farther,labs are always close..
setter has its problems,thorns in feet, hair,cant handle themselves with yote or bobcat,dont like to get wet,cant handle real cold..their good things are , nose,go all day hunting,point..
labs can take cold, not heat,tough dog, yote they can handle,they handle hunters traps well,not scared of bear,bobcat,dont chase deer,their feet seem to be tougher than other dogs on thorns,hair is not problem on briars,hunt close,they look for you not you for them,they retrieve..
only 2 things i see that i wish lab had,even with nose not as good as setters,is,they tire out in 2 or 3 hours BUT, i think thats a lot to do with heat in fall,as it gets colder, they do better..the big one is THEY DONT POINT..if they did, boy, that would be something i would like to see and could very well be the BEST ALL AROUND DOG you could own
does anyone have a place you could get a vcr tape on someone hunting a POINTING LAB, i would be interested in seeing pointing lab hunting..