Hi Wessl,
When I started my dog search a few years ago, I wanted a good waterdog that could also point. I had previously owned springers, as I grew up and hunted pheasants (and ducks) mostly in the midwest. Most of my buds back home have moved from springers to labs, and I was impressed by their dogs on pheasants as well as ducks. I moved to ID about 15 years ago. Most of my hunting turned to waterfowl by default...but I do some chukar and quail hunting also. As such, my search put waterfowl in the forefront, with pointing (quail/chukar) a secondary. I researched the "versatile" dogs quite a bit. I hunt with a guy that owns Pudelpointers...a couple of his dogs have been very impressive in the chukar hills, but not so much in the water...especially the current of the Snake. After researching and viewing Wirehairs...I came to the same conclusion. One lazy day I googled "Pointing Labs". I liked much of what I saw and researched a little deeper. I came across a kennel in the PNW where the owner played a lot of "test" games, but was heavily involved in the "Hunt" games. He had a bitch that had placed at a national level in the "Pointing" divisions of these hunt games...head to head with EP's, GSP's, etc. She had produced several pups that have also done very well.
Long story short...for my situation, a lab would be the best fit...if it points, even better...if not, I got my duck/pheasant dog. My wife greatly preferred the labs over the PP or GWP...she surprised me with a gift certificate for a pup out of the bitch I had showed her. Decision made!
She can run a chukar hill all day...don't have to worry about the next day, cause at my age, it's a recovery day.
Her pads hold up well, and I usually start to give her zinc supplements prior to hunting season...really toughens them up!
I would have been out to see your dogs back then...but didn't know you existed! I'll get out there one of these days...just busy flying my butt off right now and getting ready for some upcoming dog tests when at home. Gonna be home a couple days this weekend...might have a chance to show up on your doorstep!
Greg
