The best bird dog breed is the breed the hunter can handle and train, what birds you are chasing, and what type of habitat and climate conditions . If you are not much of a trainer and want an all around good dog, get a lab or golden retriever. Both labs and Goldens may not be the best bird dogs, but they are by far the easiest to handle. They are also very adaptable from the home, to the grouse woods, to the cat tails, to the cold winter salt water.
I'm so happy Ron brought up the Springer/Cockers. I own a field bred Golden, a Lab and a Springer. All are "flushers" and exceptionally well bred. There really is any comparing them. The springer really is 3x times the flushing dog. Here in the US the Cocker and the Springer really get over looked and the focus is on the retrievers.
Somebody help me out. I have my first gun dog now. A choc lab. Turning into the best dog I’ve ever had and we haven’t even had our first hunt yet. I’m in the Georgia piney woods. So he will be a wood duck dog. But I’d like a dog for the quail down here. ( pointing ) should I go with the German shorthair pointer or the English pointer (pointer)?
Ive always had gsp but I've been out of the bird hunting seen im getting back into I was wanting to get a wire hair or Dakar what are some good lines to look into
I don't think people make an accurate time dedication estimate ahead of getting a hunting dog. it takes so much time to train a good dog (obedience and hunting) and some people just aren't realistic with themselves. Unless you have a big group of people to lean on for support in training your first dog then you should lean towards the breeds that do well as pets only. I'm on my 3rd dog and 8 months before i got the dog i built a pigeon coop and got birds in there. I built a training table and bought bird launchers as well. Just studying to train a good bird dog will show you how much time, resources and equipment it takes.
From the UK prospective, I find it unfortunate that a lot of US labs and HPR are bred to be trained with shock collars which inevitably breeds hard headed dogs, which are often hyper drive and hard work. Shame you guys have little to say about the English springer....a good, large, old style working English springer will do a hell of a lot of work that the lab or HPR will do and they will be up for it all day, then make a good house hound too. I'm not talking about the little field trial ones. You have to train a lab to quarter and hunt up birds, were as a springer just needs containing and guiding but will retrieve wild fowl out of water all day. Good Debate though. I hunted my large springers for many years with great success, then had to out cross my line to Weimaraners to get a decent size dog as every springer line was replaced by the little field trial strains which were of no use for my style of real hunting out in the wilds of the Fens. So the Fenlander began. I had a full English pointer as a stud for new blood for a few years, he was great talented enthusiastic game finder but needed all the farmland in two counties. Brittany and Korthols have also been used for the bobtail and wirecoat. I only breed for myself and style of hunting, so a smallish HPR that quarters within in gunshot. I pretty much have the gene pool now, working ability first. www.fenlandergundogs.co.uk if you might be interested.
I am picking a American Brittany over all. French Brittany are my second pick and English pointers is my third and English setters my fourth for my pointing dogs , for flushing dogs lab is my first cocker, springer and Boykin spaniel.
The best bird dog breed is the breed the hunter can handle and train, what birds you are chasing, and what type of habitat and climate conditions . If you are not much of a trainer and want an all around good dog, get a lab or golden retriever. Both labs and Goldens may not be the best bird dogs, but they are by far the easiest to handle. They are also very adaptable from the home, to the grouse woods, to the cat tails, to the cold winter salt water.
I'm so happy Ron brought up the Springer/Cockers. I own a field bred Golden, a Lab and a Springer. All are "flushers" and exceptionally well bred. There really is any comparing them. The springer really is 3x times the flushing dog. Here in the US the Cocker and the Springer really get over looked and the focus is on the retrievers.
Somebody help me out. I have my first gun dog now. A choc lab. Turning into the best dog I’ve ever had and we haven’t even had our first hunt yet. I’m in the Georgia piney woods. So he will be a wood duck dog. But I’d like a dog for the quail down here. ( pointing ) should I go with the German shorthair pointer or the English pointer (pointer)?
Ive always had gsp but I've been out of the bird hunting seen im getting back into I was wanting to get a wire hair or Dakar what are some good lines to look into
How can I find Wirehaired Pointer Griffon breeder?
I would join your local NAVHDA chapter and start hanging out at trainings and meetings to get to know people with WPGs and breeders.
Miller right on when picking a breed and personality within that breed.
I don't think people make an accurate time dedication estimate ahead of getting a hunting dog. it takes so much time to train a good dog (obedience and hunting) and some people just aren't realistic with themselves. Unless you have a big group of people to lean on for support in training your first dog then you should lean towards the breeds that do well as pets only. I'm on my 3rd dog and 8 months before i got the dog i built a pigeon coop and got birds in there. I built a training table and bought bird launchers as well. Just studying to train a good bird dog will show you how much time, resources and equipment it takes.
From the UK prospective, I find it unfortunate that a lot of US labs and HPR are bred to be trained with shock collars which inevitably breeds hard headed dogs, which are often hyper drive and hard work. Shame you guys have little to say about the English springer....a good, large, old style working English springer will do a hell of a lot of work that the lab or HPR will do and they will be up for it all day, then make a good house hound too. I'm not talking about the little field trial ones. You have to train a lab to quarter and hunt up birds, were as a springer just needs containing and guiding but will retrieve wild fowl out of water all day. Good Debate though. I hunted my large springers for many years with great success, then had to out cross my line to Weimaraners to get a decent size dog as every springer line was replaced by the little field trial strains which were of no use for my style of real hunting out in the wilds of the Fens. So the Fenlander began. I had a full English pointer as a stud for new blood for a few years, he was great talented enthusiastic game finder but needed all the farmland in two counties. Brittany and Korthols have also been used for the bobtail and wirecoat. I only breed for myself and style of hunting, so a smallish HPR that quarters within in gunshot. I pretty much have the gene pool now, working ability first. www.fenlandergundogs.co.uk if you might be interested.
Doesn't Travis have a mix dog....GSP and English pointer?
I am picking a American Brittany over all. French Brittany are my second pick and English pointers is my third and English setters my fourth for my pointing dogs , for flushing dogs lab is my first cocker, springer and Boykin spaniel.
One of best is Portuguese pointer
Where’s the love for the Picardy Spaniels?
I am 62 years old i hunt 10 days a year upland only raise my own quail my first pointer is a brittany.
Pudelpointer
Not even a Spaniel person? Sad
English Setters win on looks alone
Wirehair pointing griffon.
Beg to differ my shitzu has no prey drive.