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RE: All around hunting dog breed?
There is nothing like watching a good pointing dog work. Heart races as your dogs gets scent and slams on point. For me, that is worth the entire trip. It doesn't matter how many birds I get but watching the dog hunt. I miss some good opportunites because I didn't carry a gun.
If you have limited time training, don't get a pointing dog. Get aESS or labboth flushing dogs. Then spend time just tossinga bumper. Youhave to experiencehunting with a pointing dogone day.Hunting dogs isn't a hobby, its a lifestyle. |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
Mite,
Couldn't he just buy a finished pointer? If all you're going to be hunting is dove, quail and pheasant; I think a German breed would be just too much dog. They do much more than what you're looking for and would probably get bored. Good luck, |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
west siberain laika. My dog's claim to fame is squirrels. She does equally well on coon's at night. She's a great blood dog for deer and she'll bay a hog without batting an eyelash. She'll retrieve ducks in the water, too. For some reason, she will not run a deer (thankfully). She'll run rabbits, but if she catches one, she'll eat it before I can get to her.
Awesome dogs. Especially when raised with the duel purpose of pet and hunter. |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
ORIGINAL: npaden Thanks for the comments so far. I'm a 100% newbie with sporting dogs so I really don't know what to think. (I have 3 dogs but they are not working dogs by any means) I guess I need to do some more research on the subject. I was thinking that if I got the right breed of dog I could get by with about an houror two of training once a monthand have a workable dog. I have a 1/2 rotweiler 1/2 brittany spaniel that does an acceptable job of retrieving if I'm right there with him (he can usually find a downed bird for me but not really retrieve it - but he only has 3 legs and is 8 years old and is having a harder and harder time getting around) and I have a 1/2 lab 1/2 unknown that works pretty good as a flusher, but she is 13 years old and about 95% deaf so she doesn't respond to commands very well and she has never been much help at finding a downed bird. Both of themget zero training other than the times we go out bird hunting and I think they do amazing for their limitations and little amount of training. My other dog is a 1 year old full blood rotweiler and I'm not sure if she's going to be much help as a hunting dog yet. ;) I was hoping that a pure bred bird dog could do a decent job with a limited amount of training. I would not be working a dog extremely hard on a day in and day out basis, (I only have 160 acres one place and 40 acres at my house) but would be working it a couple hours or so every couple weeks so endurance would not be a big issue for me I don't think. Thinking it through maybe my priorities were messed up. The dog would probably spend more time retrieving dove than anything else. In my limited experience I never have felt like a lab has a good enough nose for finding dove in tall grass. I know spaniels would be good at that but not sure if they would work at all for quail? Thanks for the input so far. Any additional comments are appreciated. Nathan here is friend site you can see pictures of small labs.. www.wetland-retrievers.com |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
Couldn't he just buy a finished pointer? If all you're going to be hunting is dove, quail and pheasant; I think a German breed would be just too much dog. They do much more than what you're looking for and would probably get bored. |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
retrieving is not their strong suit. Setters also although you can encourge it or FF but then it takes alot of time.
This is true for the most part but, some of the setters it has been bred back into. Some will enjoy retrieving as much as any other retriever will. So that maybe a shot in the dark but, if you check the dogs at the kennel first it may surprise you. |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
phil, i saw irish setter today right next to my home..thats first in a long time..very birdie dog..guy was from south, he is hired by gas co. to remove rattlesnakes ahead of the workcrews..
he could not get used to me letting my dog run loose around my home with me..he said everyone sues where he comes from and arrests you if you let dog loose. anyhow, boy that red stuck out..guess what owners name was,red fox, i got laugh over that..... |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
phil, i saw irish setter today right next to my home..thats first in a long time..very birdie dog..
I am glad you got to see one, yes some are very birdie indeed!! As long as it is not a show dog or show cross. They can be terribly loyal as well. anyhow, boy that red stuck out..guess what owners name was,red fox, i got laugh over that..... Yes the red is easier to see, but red is a hard color to come by. Of the 2 I have 1 is Chestnut and the other is a Mahogany, though all carry a red tint. Red Fox sounds like Sanford and Sons.. LOL.... |
RE: All around hunting dog breed?
I have hunted GWHP's for the last 20 years and have found no other breed that will stay with them in any way. They have the stamina to hunt day after day and will tolerate the heat and the cold better than any other breed I have hunted behind. In my last litter of pups one owner only hunts coons with his GWHP. Different I agree, but one of their strong traits is the versatility. By the way, My son has a litter of GWHP's for sale now. They are 3 weeks old. Also I hunt in Kansas where we have all kinds of diverse weather and field conditions.
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RE: All around hunting dog breed?
That is another thing I like about my Irish even though I only had one litter there is no need to advertise.:D
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