What breed do you think is best?

[RB]

I am looking for a dog that points as well as reteives waterfowl. What breed do you think is the best? Do you think pointing is over-rated?

[duckbuster]

What kind of birds do you hunt that you would want the dog to point? Grouse, Pheasant, Woodcock, Sharpies? I think you have to ask yourself that question first. I'm a lab guy, always have been, always will be. There are how ever plenty of other people on this forum who love other breeds, which makes this such a wonderful site. All the differing opinions will certainly get you thinking more.

If you are hunting ducks and grouse, my thought would be that the pointing aspect isn't needed. If you hunt pheasant and woodcock, along with ducks then maybe the pointing dogs would be something you might consider.

GOOD LUCK & keep us posted on your decision.

[spinach]

Rb, check out the pheasant,turkey,grouse forum I put together a pheasant hunting party on april 18th. There currently is over 20 hunters attending with many different breeds of dogs from Weimaraners, Gsp's, setters, Labs, and a couple others. I thought this would be a great time for you to join us and see each breed in action. We will have Setterguy and Labs4me along with 2 other local dog trainers to help out and ask questions too. You could even join us in the hunt, your more than welcome to attend. Spinach...

[irvingdog]

German Wirehaired Pointer. Tough enough for cold minnesota water, reasonably close working pointer. Smart as a whip. your house is safe. Your kids are safe. Most act mature by 9 months. great dogs. Don't buy until you've experienced one.

[Fisher Dave]

Irvingdog .. yes, wirehairs are great dogs and are weatherproof.. but out of the pup stage early? We have one thats about 2 now and still is bouncing off the walls... These dogs have energy and you have to get them out to use it.

Lots of energy, great nose, very weatherproof other than the feet in very cold weather (all dogs). The wirehair is great with kids, but you also have to watch them because they are very protective of their owners... and the litter box(to the cat) on occasion .. I think Spinach taught him that(previous owner)..

[spinach]

Fisher Dave, How are ya?, how's that boy doing? We sure miss Jack. I finally got those pics of Jack as a pup ready for ya. Can you sneak away to the pheasant hunt on April 18th? I could bring the pics with. Send me an e-mail with your new addy. Spinach... [email protected]

[superfish2]

Fisher Dave,

Are you ready for fishing season? I know I'm getting the itch. We'll have to line something up. BTW do you still have my boots?

[Swamp Scooter]

I have used Vizslas for many years and had great luck with ducks, grouse, and pheasants. They have good attitudes and can go all day. Short hair too.

[fishin5]

GWP's all the way! But 2 yo is as soon as you should hope to be out of the pup stage. BUT BEWARE! They are intelligent dogs and get bored easy!Bored means DESTRUCTION! But if you work em daily and take care of em the way THEY think they should be cared for you'll have no problems!lol
Besides with a dog that ugly it makes the owner look that much better....or is it the other way around?

[Mayfly]

The best Dog I ever hunted with was a Brittany Spaniel....doesn't mean its the best breed.

I would never buy one personally but I think that maybe a pointing lab would be a pretty good all around dog.......

[RB]

Thank you everyone for your info. I hunt pheasant, grouse, and waterfowl and would like the most versitile dog I can find. My old man has a GSP, she is an excellent upland dog but doesn't like to retreive ducks, she picks them up then drops them. Also she shivers a lot in cold weather, she is young. Will she grow out of this? I also hunt with a lab that is a great waterfowler but not the best with the upland game. Spinach, your hunt sounds like a great time. I might just be able to make it there. The german wirehair sounds like a good dog, will anyone attending the hunt have one? Does anyone own or have hunted with a pointing lab? Can the short haired dogs withstand cold weather and water for long periods?

[bigeyes]

I am not a seasoned pro, but I would disagree with anyone that pointing dogs would not be good for grouse. I do thing a gwp would meet the criteria your asked about. Be carful though some not all are fairly protective/aggressive frankly they scare the sh#% out of me, but I am sure there are very friendly ones availible just choose carefully. Also about shivering, I hunt ducks with 2 labs that shiver the whole time unless you put on there neoprene vest so I don't think that is a real big deal. But labs would be a great choice and they do love the water.

[LABS4ME]

I'll weigh in my 2 cents for what it's worth. It's obvious what my choice of dog is. I feel they really are the most versatile. If you are fortunate enough to having a pointing lab, and that is what you are looking for, you'll probably have the best all-around dog there is in my opinion. I've owned one pointing lab and the memories of her on point backed by friends brittanies, english pointers, and shorthairs are still vivid. While I do not normally breed with intentions of throwing pointing labs, it can be passed down to their progeny. I know of several pups out of my pointing lab that also point.

I also have a friend who hunted wirehairs for years. While he didn't duck hunt, his dogs would swim out and retrieve downed pheasnts in sloughs in November. Didn't seem to bother him. I'd like to see if he really could've held up on a late season duck hunt. He was a great dog. A little too protective of their kids... but a very methodical upland hunter. He was nice to hunt behind as he didn't roam a large area.

I agree with those who say there is nothing like hunting behind a "FINISHED" pointer. It truley is what most peoples visions are of the grouse woods and pheasnt fields. I've had the luxury of hunting behind several pointers pheasant and grouse hunting, and they all did an exceptional job. I even kept the labs home most times grouse hunting. Since then several of my friends have went to Labs just for the ability to break ice for ice-up mallards or get in and dig out frozen cattail slough pheasants. If a guy could have both breeds he'd really be set-up. I basically ruined my shorthair at 8 when I started hunting my first lab with him. He already had problems with running birds and when he saw how my lab just flushed them, he decided to do the same. Good thing he hunted close. His range was that of a lab. He still did well pointing grouse though.

The points from a pointing lab are not as stylish as points from a true pointing breed, but the dog has the ability to make a decision whether to point or flush depending on the bird. Towards the end of each season, after the roosters were really knocked around, I'd say 9 out of 10 birds pointed were hens, but if they tracked and flushed a bird it'd be 50-50 if it would be a hen or rooster.

I've only owned the 1 shorthair years ago. He couldn't handle duck hunting by mid-end of October. He was O.K. in the phesant field (running birds really gave him fits) but was best in the grouse woods. I see pointers as true specialists in upland hunting! They are a ball to hunt behind, fun to watch point, and have incredible noses.

Give a lot of thought to which breed you're going to get. It is a 12 year comittment. Try to hunt with as many as possible, or talk to owners of as many as possible. Ask yourself what you truley need, do you hunt ducks hard or just occasionally, if just occasionally you may be able to lean towards a pointer and relegate yourself to picking up late season birds. I hunt both waterfowl (geese included) hard and pheasant hunt late season hard. I truley believe that labs fit this bill perfect. They can be a little "ploddey" in the grouse woods but I've had decent success there also. Each dog is different and can tolerate weather conditions different. While some guys have shorthairs or springers that'll hunt hard into the late duck season, the fact is that is not what they were bred for. Pick a dog based on what they were bred to do, instead of gambling on the exception to the rule with another breed.

Hope some of this post helps.... I'm sure with consideration it will become more obvious which breed will suit you.

Good luck in your search...

Labs

[Fisher Dave]

Spinach ... I was talking to the significant other about the pheasant hunt yesterday.. Its a good possibility I can make it.. if there are no family emergencies (father is in hospital again in serious situation). If all works out, I will let you know very soon if I can be there or not. Jack is doing great.. although he like to pick the cat up by the head, he hasnt caused it any bodily harm yet... the cat likes it?? I will have Jack out in the next couple days busting some clays and searching for critters in the woods for fun.

superfish .. yes we still have your boots. I am awaiting fishing opp's impatiently .. need the ice to go away up here, and the river level to drop locally after all the ice goes... I'm not looking down any more ice holes.

fisherdave (at) scicable (dot) com

[ReelTimes]

Good comments. Obviously very personal decision and there are good representatives of all breeds. I tend to be biased towards the flushers. I have never owned a pointing dog but have hunted pheasant with various friends who have had several different pointing breeds. Too many false points for my liking. I want a dog that will put up the birds. If I did only pheasant hunting and a little grouse, and limited waterfowl, I would go with a springer spaniel or one of those nice little hunting cockers. They're natural quarterers, work very hard, and really put up the brids. If my mix between waterfowl and upland was pretty split, I would go with a lab. Because so many people do alot of both, labs have become extremely popular.

[RB]

What about springer spaniels? My buddy swears they are the best upland dog.

[mwal]

FOr a all around dog don't forget to check out a Deutsch Drahthaar. Points upland, retrieves ducks can handle cold water and retreives and tracks fur ie: rabbits , fox etc. I like to hunt ducks in the morning then into the woods for grouse and woodcock and maybe jump beaver pond for woodies.

Mwal

[French Spaniel]

I agree that comments on dogs are made many times on favorite breeds and not always on fact. I have owned labs, German Wirehairs,Chessies, French Spaniels and have seen many other versatile breeds work in my years in NAVHDA.

I hunt with French Spaniels and I love them. They are a pointing dog. They are wonderful for pheasants and grouse. Many people hunt ducks with them. I don't hunt ducks so I don't have actual experience with this breed and ducks. It took me awhile but this is the final breed for me.

I know some people have commented that German Wirehairs (GWP) are mean. I had one that was a very good family dog and one that I didn't trust around my kids (got rid of him). I know other owners of the breed who say they have never seen any sign of a mean streak in their GWPs.

If these were the requirements you had to have in a dog (point, retrieve late season ducks, grouse). I think I would recommend either a Griffon, GWP or a pointing lab. Even though this is not what I would choose for myself I think you would like any of these.

French Spaniel

[Wild Willie]

Great comments here guys regarding your favorite breed of sporting/gun dog. But I think I need to shed some light on a little known secret regarding the most prolific universal sporting dog ever to grace the face of this planet. The breed of dog I'm talking about is small and compact but possesses the heart of a lion. He can go where no other larger pointer or flusher can go to root out any species of water fowl, upland game bird or varmit. He is a fearless leader and will defend his territory with a vengence. Scientific studies at major universities and sporting dog organizations like the University of Minnesota and the AKC confirm that no other dog in the field has a keener a nose, better hearing, intelligence, stamina or strength ounce-per-once than this little warrior. Studies also indicate that this little known hunting machine on average cost its owners about 500% less per year in maintenace than the typical larger breed of sporting dog. Also there is virtually no reason to purchase or own a big expensive SUV to take this faithful hunting companion with you to your favorite hunting locations. Thus saving its owner thousands of dollars in unecessary car payments and gasoline expenditures. This breed of dog is a breeze to care of at home as well. No need for huge smelly outside kennels. Virtually no shedding or allergy problems. This little trooper does not require a big yard or run in order to get the proper amount of daily exercise to stay in shape. He is great with all family members and a very sociable breed of dog as well. Don't be fooled by his size this dog hunts large and will not be intimidated by anything. In closing I own a Britt and I am very happy with his performance in the field and at home. But hine sight is 20/20. I wish I would have done my due diligence a year ago when I was looking for the perfect gun dog. Now knowing what I know I believe I would have made the leap an invested in the Mexican Chihuahua breed of dog for all of the right reasons! Oh well...maybe next time!

[can it be luck?]

Most of my expeiences have been with GWPs, GSPs, labs, and Goldens. The best dog IMO is the GWP.
A friend of mine who owns and trains GWPs "showed me the light". Granted, his dedication to training is VERY diciplined....However after witnessing and experienced the dog's natural abilitys, i'm sold. His latest dog Jiggs is one of few GWPs to achieve his UKC hunter retriever certificate. Here's a link to his site. The photos showing the dog's veratility speak for themself.
PS: That goodlooking guy that looks like me sure can shoot!
Good luck with whatever you decide on.
www.chumpchangewires.com
Here's some pics and text from his site.

Jiggs was able to attain the UKC/HRC title of (HR) Hunting Retriever, testing with the retriever breeds in their tests.

Duke, myself, and Jiggs pose with the limit of pheasant I shot over them. Good job "Chump Change" dogs!!

Mark Hoffman and Max pose with our first 20 minutes worth of ducks at the Mead. Hey NCW NAVHDA we didn't even have to alter the marsh to get the dog to retrieve these ducks!!

Another brute of a goose!

Here is a cold retrieve.....brrrr!

Steve and I pose with our limit of bluebills, ringnecks, and goldeneyes. Duke and Jiggs did the retrieving honors. (Outdoor section: Duck Blind Builds Family Bond)

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http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[This message has been edited by can it be luck? (edited 04-10-2004).]