Author Topic: Thinking about getting a hunting dog. (Read 916 times)

NYH1 · « **on:** October 25, 2004, 06:56:58 AM »

I don't know much at all about hunting dogs. I do have a lot of experience with dogs in general having dogs my whole life.
I've had two English Springer spaniel. One black and white female and a liver and white male, he was the best dog I've ever owned, talk about a boys best friend (I was ten when I got him).
Now I have two Labrador Retrievers. A 4 year old chocolate male that thinks he is a Rotweiller. He's about 95 lbs and the only thing he cares about is not letting anyone he doesn't know around the house and my wife and kids. He really is the best watchdog I've ever seen or heard about, you can't walk by my house without him hearing you. And I also have a 3 year old yellow female. She is the nicest most relaxed dog I've ever had, wouldn't hurt a fly and she's great with my kids. neither one knows the first thing about hunting and by no fault of their own. When I got them I got them as house pets and never planned on having a dog for hunting.
Things change. I'm thinking about getting a dog for upland bird hunting. Mostly pheasant but maybe grouse too. Like I said I don't know much about hunting dogs. I would get a Lab or Springer if I do get one. Which of these two breeds would you choose for this type hunting and why? How hard is it to train a dog for this and what is the first thing or things I should do? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank's

RB Rooson · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2004, 02:28:10 AM »

Upland bird hunting -

My suggestion would be any of the Spaniels - Springer or Brittany, etc......go to a reputable breeder that has bred working/hunting parents together. Shy away from the newspaper ads and puppy mills.......

wtxbadger · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2004, 05:13:24 PM »

The springer might make a better dog for what you want to hunt. You might also consider an English Setter. The ones I have had have been good hunting dogs and were loyal family dogs as well.

encore31 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 02, 2005, 11:25:14 AM »

let me first say that in your first comment as to your two labs don't know how to hunt i will promise you that you have two hunting dogs on your hands right now rregardlessif they have been hunted or not i am a lab nut and i will promise you a few times in the ffield i would start at a game farm introduce them to some birds and i promise you you will be pleasantly ssuprisedbecause they will hunt ggiventhe chance you aalreadyhave half the battle takin care of the dogs are aalreadyeextremelyaattatchedto you that alone once the dog is introduced to birds and figure out that this is something that pleases you as well as them the only thing that you need to make sure of is that you introduce them to guns slowly! start off with a cap gun from a distance away when the dog hears that cap gun go off and it gets its attention (have another person do the shooting at about 100 yds away)and as soon as the dog reacts to that cap gun give him a treat make a big deal out of it repeat this and ggraduallyget closer and closer keep on with the treats and then ggraduallywork up go to a 22 and so on and so on until you can shoot a shotgun around the dog at any ggiventime.but you need to take these steps slowly because if you don't it is easy to introduce a dog to a gun but is very very hard to break them of gun shiness. once you have this accomplished then head to the game farm once he sees a bird flush and hears that gun go off and sees the bird fall it wont be long and the dogs that you think wont hunt are gonna be some good bird dogs because i have never seen a lab that wont hunt they are the best all around hunting breed dog there is key word best all around.good luck.

RB Rooson · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2005, 01:14:46 PM »

Excellent reply by "encore31"!!!

I was going to say that unless you take the Labs into the field and give them a chance, you really can't judge them.

The answer to your question may be sitting in your living room right now.......!!

ShottieMan · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2005, 03:30:39 AM »

I am gonna agree with theses guys. I would have to say best all around dogs are Labs. I am kicking myself in the rump cause I had a Yellow male that we just got rid of not to long ago. We have a small yard and he didn't have much room to run. Given the chance he woulda been a great hunting dog. He woulda tired me out before he woulda got tired. So yeah, you answered your own question mate!

Don Fischer · « **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2005, 03:41:55 PM »

Mostly pheasants but maybe some grouse. Your thinking a lab (which you already have) or a springer. If you want to watch good dog work, Exciting dog work, of the two, the springer. But there's two other great choices mentioned also. the Brittany and the English Setter, both pointing dog's. The Springer, the Brit and the Setter all have one thing going against them, long high maintaince hair! Other than that they are fine dog's. In my experience tho, I've seen to many Britt's with questionable temperaments. Nobody mentioned the German Shorthair and that would be a great choice. It's main advantage over the Setter, Britt and Springer is a low maintence coat.

I have owned labs, springer's, english pointer's and German Shorthairs. I've also trained those plus a few Visla's, English & Gordon Setter's, Britt's and a couple pathetic Weyeramer's. I dearly love Springer's and there is NO breed like an English Pointer; do yourself a favor, don't get one! I've also raised and trained and field trialed German Short hairs and they would be my first choice. Easy to work with, very versatile and low maintence coat's. Beware show breeding in all of them, best bet is look to American Field dog's. You'll find many cross registered dog's from AKC but they are field dog's. Find American Field on the internet.