ORIGINAL: RustyD02359
A Pointer.
My reasoning and why I fell in love and now breed them. Setters are just as nice but I no longer like the long hair mess in the house and after a days hunt. Labs were first love but long hair and don't cover the ground like a pointer and large. GSP are nice but is a big dog in the house too.
I have 3 pointers and at 45 lbs is a nice in between size. The Elhew line is all I know and was bred as a family mans foot hunting dog with a nose & desire second to none. You can tell how much they want to make you happy. My dogs handle with ease and for me or ANYBODY. I have let many men with dogs shoot birds over my Points because my limit has long been filled and their dogs just ain' cutting it. Of course these are on Points that come on my long walk back to the truck. I have had guys in the field shake my hand and thank me for the magnificent show put on by my dogs working, finding, pinning, pointing and backing and waiting for me to hoof the hundred yards to the point. Have (2) 3 mo old males in Classifieds. Good luck in your search.
nice info,which brings up another comment from ,ME..
i see now that different kinds of terrain also plays into which dog is one you want to be with.
lets use pointer for pa. hunting in big woods..if pointer is out on the steep edge of mountain,100 yds on point,you have to get there..
as you get older, lets say over 50 years old, man, its killer to keep up with dog that is out 100 yds or more in these mountains here,1 trip,broken leg or gun..that is young mans game, for sure..
this is why i like the SMALL LONG LEGGED, SKINNY WAIST AMERICAN LAB.. they hunt CLOSE..no need to hustle to get there before the grouse flushes..flush will be at 20/30 yds..as you get older,this is nice..
i saw 2 springer spaniels at preserve a month ago..i watched thru my binoculars..those dogs were out in front in field about 40 yds ahead of hunter..he was blowing whistle trying to keep them closer,guess what, pheasant went up,flying straight out, i bet when he shot, it was over 70 yards..he missed..
those dogs continued to cover territory but CHASED birds will not sit when dogs are running back/forth,they run ,then flush..
it seems every bird i flush with a lab, goes right up at 20/30 yds..
i wish labs would hold point on grouse as they are tough to pin..
phesants, i dont care as its usually CLEAR shot, no brush over my head on in my face..
so, TERRAIN you are hunting is best judge of what dog to have and what is out there that your dog can get into..pa . has following..
deer/bears/bobcats/yotes/porcupines/skunks/groundhogs/rattlesnakes/bees,these are animals etc you will meet,sooner or later..
now here are conditions, hunters traps/wind/rain/snow/cold/fog/ticks/briars/holes in ground/logs to jump over/laural/streams to cross/steep hillsides..
dog you have must be able to handle the above and not get scared if something happens..my dog was in hunters traps 3 times in 2 years,yet, he did not get hurt or was afraid to hunt in that area again..
you must have dog that is strong, not afraid, strong feet..dog that looks for you not you looking for him..dog that hunts close..dog who hair is not all full of briars..
of all dogs i have seen in my life, i can narrow it down to 1..
that is the SMALL ,LONG LEGGED,SKINNY WAIST,AMERICAN LAB..