ruger357w

I've been bird hunting for about 4 years now and I've decided to by a dog and train it myself. So far i have just been reading books about it, but I was just wondering if some dogs are easier to train then others? If so what should I get for a dog? I will be hunting ruffed grouse in Maine.

trmckinn

I really think this question is a matter of opinion, but I have pheasant and quailhunted in Indiana with many different dogs from Labs, German Shorthaired Pointers, Brittany Spaniel, English Pointer, and Wiemaraner. My favorite is German Shorthaird Pointer because they don't get tired easy and they are very well minded from the start. I trained my GSP as soon as I got her at 7 weeks old. She is a realy smart dog but it takes alot of time and patience with any dog.Brittany Spaniel is my next in line for the same reason but cleaning briars and burs out of their hair is no fun. Overal out of all the dogs I have hunted with I think that the dog is only as smart as the person training it.

10pointhank

yea lol but there worth it

its gets old quick

Doc E

Although lots of breeds can do well with Grouse, the true specialist is the English Setter.



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sproulman

as you see,we all have our favorites..mine is LONG LEGGED SMALL LAB..they train easy, dont run away,they hunt close to you,dont chase deer,briars dont stick in hair, feet are strong ,they can swim, they can handle themselves against other dogs and animals,good nose,good in home..

they are not great at all hunting but handle all better than other dogs..gsp is another one i like..it weather is bad or swamp water,high grass etc..those other dogs have a hardtime..i seen many a dog walking behind owner in 50 years do to high grass ,snow, water, swamps, rain, wind..

lab oe gsp are 1 tough all around dog..my favorite in 50 years to do it all,not great but good is the long legged smalllab.. PS,if you can get a POINTING LAB,OH my what a dog you would have..

Doc E

Sproulman,

I have a Pointing Lab -- Long Legs, but also a pretty big fella (82 to 86 lbs).
We bag large numbers of Grouse -- also hunt pheasants, quail, ducks, geese and rabbits.
We harvested 132 birds last year (some of all of the species mentioned). We took 33 grouse this season in just 6 weekends of hunting.......................But, if all I was going to hunt were Grouse and Quail, I'd choose an ES.



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sproulman

doc, i was over at warriorsmark for trails on labs..they had many MALES that looked real small to me which is GREAT..

i asked the owners what the weight was of each i talked to,most were 80 pds..thats just right,so i dont think yours is to heavy..

big labs ,90 and up get wore out easy on upland from what i saw..they shined on water trails but were awful on upland..those small long legged labs, they were something to see..

i saw many females that went 55 to 65 pds,boy, they looked real small..

i also agree on english setter on grouse..

most dogs i see hunting here for grouse are those BRITTANYS..they almost look like beagles..

does your lab point and you shoot or does he FLUSH on grouse..all labs we hunted behind for grouse FLUSH and pheasants too..

grouse here in pa after the leaves drop are one hard bird to hit..they flush way before you even get into sniper range..i have to use 12 ga,full choke,2 and 3/4 high brass,no 6s..you get only 2 seconds to fire, thats it..

lots of fun if you find birds..here is our club..www.warriorsmark.com

Doc E

He points -- then depending on the situation either I flush or have him flush on command. He points all upland birds -- and again, depending on the situation, either I or he will make the flush.



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Phil from Maine

They use alot of different dogs up here for grouse and woodcock.
Some use Brittany, GSP, English Setter, and what ever else you can think of. I have even seen little Cocker Spaniels hunting grouse. My self I like the Irish Setter, so it is more of a matter of choice. Over the years there has been a quite a few bird dogs killed by coyotes up here. So sometimes big can be better to use. But, whatever you decide on good luck to you.

sproulman

thats something to see, lab pointing.. do you think a pointing lab isas good on grouse as the english setters you rec.?i was out today, ticks are terrible..as i was driving home i pulled 6 off my friends lab..

we had 6 grouse flushes and i got 1,only one thati was able to see to shoot..that brush is awful thick yet,i was using 7 and 1/2 ,low brass 1 and 1/8 shot dove loads..i had 5 woodcock that i could have shot but i cant see killing them..they were good training for our young dog,he flushed them over and over, then i shot over woodcocks head..

great day,but those ticks are terrible..we pulled 12 ticks off his dog after we got home..