My buddy is moving and can not take his english setter with him. I am thinking about taking the dog so i know it is going to a good home. My ? is this. Can an English Setter be used for duck and geese retrieving..... just a ? to put out there. ALl and any feedback will be usefull.

The guys that I know that have them don't waterfowl with them. That being said, I think they can be taught almost anything if you put in the time, especially to do a downed goose retrieve in a field. I don't know their tendencies with cold water retrieves, I may be wrong. If you're into upland hunting at all, and this dog is trained to do so, you'd have a tough time finding a better partner. They are tough to beat. Keep in mind, they usually need daily brushing with their coats and need to burn off a little energy every day.

My first setter would retrieve birds but the one I own now won't. Settersaren't known to be natural retrievers but with enough encouragement you certainly can make them retrieve. Funny, my first dog would retrieve naturally but wouldn't swim;my current dog will swim after ducks but won't retrieve. Actually, her interest in birds drops off dramatically if they are dead. Sunday, shetracked a bird we shot, found it dead, sniffed it once, then took offhunting again.

All of my brothers Setters retieve ducks and geese. They hunt with my German Wirehaired Pointers. Put an insulated float vest if its cold where you are. He lost his Big Male to the ice last year retieving a Goose. That was a sad couple weeks for us all.
Good Luck
WYOWIRES