Possible first dog

Dogs are like vehicles. You should get the type that fits your intended uses.

With my first dog I didn't quite get this. With the 2nd i was a little better but still not there. The 3rd was a much better option for what I wanted.

Moral of the story is that you need to know yourself first then match the dog to what you really are and want v. what you think you are and want.

My latest dog is a Braque Francais (French Pointer). Smaller hunting dog at about 50lbs. Very calm indoors. Good in the field and took very little if any training. I didn't really train any of my dogs and they were all good hunting dogs, backed other dogs points.

They retrieved like untrained dogs except for the Braque. He does it naturally. I think the best training is simply hunting the dog and doing it with other dogs who are experienced is the number one factor. They learn from each other as well as from us. Mine learned not too much from me but they do well in the field.

Do not discount the generalized perception of breeds. They are general for a reason. You may not see it in your dog but the chances are better than not that your dog will exhibit those traits that are generally attributed to the breed.
 
Wow this is a can of worms. I have owned English setters, pointing labs, and German short haired pointers. I have hunted behind brittanies and wire hairs also.

Like anything, there are are pros and cons to every breed. I love the style of English setters. My gsp's were good hunters but a handful in the house. I own my second pointing lab and this one is from hunters rose kennels. Overall, a good family dog and hunting dog. Her endurance is not quite on par with some of the pointing breeds in the heat but some of that is my fault on conditioning.

As others have suggested, breeding is important. Pick a breed and then research blood lines to find what suites you.

Good luck.
 
Since you really like GWPs, why not get one? Liking your dog from the get go is a big step toward having a dog you want to hunt with and that wants to hunt for you because it senses that you like it and it wants to make you happy. No sh*t!!
 
BritChaser said:
Since you really like GWPs, why not get one? Liking your dog from the get go is a big step toward having a dog you want to hunt with and that wants to hunt for you because it senses that you like it and it wants to make you happy. No sh*t!!
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That really makes a lot of sense. Like. A lot. Our first dog was an Australian shepherd, and my wife was kinda ho-hum about him. I was elated. My wife wasn't mean to him. She even loved him. But the pup naturally gravitated to me because I was way more enthusiastic.

I guess I was nervous about spending all this money on a working dog, and me, being a first timer with hunting breeds, not being able to to teach him how to do it. But the overwhelming theme I'm seeing on this thread is that breeding and genetics are way more important to that than specific breeds or even my ability to train.

So to help me with my decision, I enlisted my kids. 9 months out of the year he'll be their dog too, so I figured they should be involved. I showed them a picture of each of the breeds I'm considering, and asked what they liked best.
My 4 year old (girl) liked the GWP, because "he has a beard like daddy."
My 3 year old (girl) liked the golden, but come to find out she picked that one because it was the only picture I showed with a bird in his mouth. I showed her pics of GWPs and labs with birds and suddenly she liked all three...
My 3 month old (boy) drooled.

Not much help.
 
BRM, don't mistake genetic abilities for breed athletic characteristics. If you want a close hunting flushing dog that covers small areas, a lab, golden, etc., flushing dog is your friend. If you want a dog that can hunt the larger pieces of land and hold a bird while you catch up, you jump to pointing breeds. Within retrieving and pointing breeds, there are wide variations in athletic limitations and abilities associated with the variety of breeds.

If you can locate a club or field trial chapter or two, you can witness some examples in action. Try to find a a NAVHDA chapter. They are GWP people and have a website. See a few examples of the breeds you are considering in action before you decide. See some breeds in action you hadn't considered. Talk to club members in your area.
 
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BakkenRoosterMan said:
That makes sense. However at this point, I'm not sure who I am as a hunter. What are these three breeds' intended uses specifically?
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Originally, the GWP would have hunted anything with feathers or fur. Labs and goldens were originally waterfowl dogs primarily. But nowadays all 3 are used as dual purpose upland/waterfowl hunters. They're all really great breeds that can do a serviceable job of hunting about anything you could ever want.

You should decide what is your preference for upland style. Do you want the bird pointed or flushed? That will help you narrow down your choices.
 
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Labs should not be relegated to flushers. Pointing labs can hold their own in the pointing arena.

Having said that, good genetics and a reputable breeder are a must to getting what you want but they are the real deal. I have had two and know the importance of a reputable breeder.

I am not trying to start an argument because honestly I like all the breeds. I have a pointing lab because my old shorthair got to snappy with my newborn and I had to get rid of her. Labs are about as safe as you can get around kids and I did not want to give up on having a pointer so here I am.

I can say with three kids make sure the parents seem to have a temperament that will work with the family if you plan to keep the dog indoors. If for some reason you have a cat, remember several of the "German" breeds were bred to hunt anything and they can be cat sharp. If it were just me, not an issue but I have to watch out for my daughters cat😂😂
 
Pointing lab said:
Labs should not be relegated to flushers. Pointing labs can hold their own in the pointing arena.

Having said that, good genetics and a reputable breeder are a must to getting what you want but they are the real deal. I have had two and know the importance of a reputable breeder.

I am not trying to start an argument because honestly I like all the breeds. I have a pointing lab because my old shorthair got to snappy with my newborn and I had to get rid of her. Labs are about as safe as you can get around kids and I did not want to give up on having a pointer so here I am.

I can say with three kids make sure the parents seem to have a temperament that will work with the family if you plan to keep the dog indoors. If for some reason you have a cat, remember several of the "German" breeds were bred to hunt anything and they can be cat sharp. If it were just me, not an issue but I have to watch out for my daughters cat😂😂
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My old male is a pointing lab but is not pointing lab bred. He is from strong field trial lines but just points naturally. My young female is out of a GMPR male and GMPR female. She flushes. I just let them do what they do naturally. Anyway when looking for a pointing lab stay away from anything that goes back to Kelloggs line. At least certain dogs in their line.
 
Pointing lab simply means attempts have been made to breed those labs with a stronger natural pointing instinct. That is the case with most hunting breeds although it was not stressed as much with labs. You are right to let them do what they do naturally and enjoy it.

As I mentioned, I have had two pointing labs. The first one was a heck of a pheasant dog but riddled with health issues and her hunting career was over before it started. Two torn acl's, allergies, etc. I would not buy anything from that breeder again.

My current pointing lab is doing well and I am enjoying her. In fact, I am headed to South Dakota on Sunday with her. Here is a video of me getting her ready a week ago on some quail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGtDu0SGOAk I hope to get some good action cam footage next week:)

All that being said, if you go this route, breeding is critical. Labs are a victim of their own popularity and riddled with health issues and shady breeders. There are a handful of reputable pointing lab breeders. I would not hesitate to buy another one from the kennel I got Avery from. A top notch breeder that is breeding for the right reasons. (To improve the breed for hunting)

Having said all that, I am not sure what my next breed will be when my kids get older but for now, I am very content with my pointing lab and she fits in well with my current stage in life.
 
Some great advice on this thread. My two cents= 1) narrow it down to the breed you want 2) find the best breeder that matches your requirements. Don't go cheap on the dog. Think of it like a long term(15 year investment) 3) Most states hunting season is only 2-3 months long. The dog will spend more time not hunting and being a family member.
 
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