When Buying a hoarse or a dog the cheapiest money you will ever spend is the inital investment.
I know a 500 pup sounds good compared to 2500 for a finished dog.
But, here is what that 500 pup will cost you over the next 2 years until it is trained
vet bills 400-600
Training 6 mnths 2400
tune-up next sesaon 400
you will have to hunt the dog a bunch the first 2 yrs for them to get the experience that they need.
even if a pup is free it still costs more to get one trained and keep them usable.
Here is what i would suggest. Buy a finished dog that has been hunted on a preserve for 2 yrs or more. Typically the dog will have been trained and hunted a bunch with thousands of birds shot.
You will never have to retrain the dog, even if only hunt a few times a yearor go once every other year.
You can bring your children to see the dog.You cansee exactly how the dog will act around them in the lodge and outside. if the dog can't go in the lodge you don't need them.
Labs and English Setters are the best family dogs.
All dogs shed, that is a fact of life