Bird Dog Flip Flp

J

JackFlush

New member
Good morning, all,

Just curious if any of you have made the switch of one type of bird dog to another and for what reasons (example, spent childhood hunting over labs then made switch to pointers as an adult).

I am working with Pheasants Forever on an online story regarding this topic and would love to hear your input. Please feel free to private message me (if you would like to talk over phone for an interview) or share your thoughts here. Thanks for any thoughts. Hope you folks had a great season!

-Jack Hennessy
 
Great question Jack. I look forward to the replies you get. As a boy I fell in love with golden retrievers. As I got older the first dog I purchased was a golden. I now raise them and love to see people blessed with a great family dog and hunting companion. If I ever bought a different dog my second choice would be a Vizsla. I haven't gotten the nerve yet to buy one but have often thought of adding this kind of pointer to the mix!
 
I've had bird dogs for 43 years. The first 22 years I had several Springers and a Lab. Then in 1996 I got my first Brittany and pointing dog. After having a pointing dog I could never go back to a flusher. I'm now on my 4th Brittany. There having been times that I've considered getting a different pointing breed but always come back to a Brittany. They just work so well as a combo house dog and hunting dog, not to mention my last Brittany was also a NSTRA field trial champion.
 
My dad had a Brittany and that was the first dog I hunted over, with a bb gun, and when she passed it took my dad a while to get another dog. The one he lost was his dog of a lifetime. I have continued with Brittany's and am on my fourth. I have dabbled with other breeds mainly labs and currently have two, one is 11yrs the other will be 4. Love the breed they fit the bill for both upland and waterfowl. My 11 yr old has hip dysplasia and she never saw the field to hunt. The 4 yr old doe well on all types of birds. Then this last year I decided to buy an English setter as I've started doing some guiding for grouse and woodcock. I have always like the breed and grouse and setters are like peanut butter and jelly. I must add I have a very understanding wife as our current pack of 4 enjoy the house with us. My setter is 7 months old and she is showing great potential and has been a great addition to the family. I do prefer to hunt over pointing dogs, my wife has told me we will not be getting any more labs so time will tell. When my labs do pass on they will be replaced with either a Brittany or Setter.
 
Thanks, Goldenboy and DakotaZed, for your thoughts. I have heard Vizslas are great family dogs, too, especially if properly trained. My wife has wanted one of those. We actually ended up checking out the wirehaired Vizsla during a trip to visit inlaw in Kansas. Beautiful dogs. Great temperaments too.
 
I had setters growing up. Love the breed. The best dog I have ever had was a setter male. I switched it up simply to try another breed of dog. I wanted a shorthair dog because of the lowered maintenance on them. I have had GSP's and Vizslas. I liked the Vizslas just a bit better. Better temperament. Or at least for me they had better temperaments. I can't really tell you a difference between the two breeds of dogs. Vizslas are just a little lower maintenance than the shorthairs. Not much but a little. I will always try to run setters and vizslas. They are a good combo, I've had good luck with it, so I will probably stick with it.
 
My first hunting dog was a half lab half pointer female I got from a family member. She was real good on ducks and pheasants but never got the hang of quail hunting. I had and raised labs for several years then picked up and English Setter female that was a great quail dog. Next I worked with a trainer and spent several years with Springers. Next came Shorthairs and I had a pair of brothers that were dandies. Now I have a Brittany pup about 7 months old that I think will be great unless my wife takes him over, he is a lover. I have always had a lab around the house and still do. I have a wirehair pup coming later this spring that I'm excited about. I find joy in all the breeds and each has some aspect that is better than others.
 
jonnyB said:
Jack - St.L. Pk. graduated from there many years ago - grew up at 44th and Wooddale... Jon
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Oh nice, Jon. I have only lived here for about 1.5 years. My wife and I moved from Eastern Washington. I grew up in south suburbs of Chicago. We have been really enjoying Minnesota and all the great people and things to do outdoors.
 
JackFlush said:
Oh nice, Jon. I have only lived here for about 1.5 years. My wife and I moved from Eastern Washington. I grew up in south suburbs of Chicago. We have been really enjoying Minnesota and all the great people and things to do outdoors.
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...south suburbs of Chicago - family history: Morgan Park and Beverly, both south Chicago area. All have long since passed away.

Have you done any pheasant hunting?
 
jonnyB said:
...south suburbs of Chicago - family history: Morgan Park and Beverly, both south Chicago area. All have long since passed away.

Have you done any pheasant hunting?
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Your family was a tad north of us, as I am from the Chicago Heights area.

Have I done any pheasant hunting? Absolutely. I do try to go after as many bird species in the fall as possible. A bit of turkey in the spring. I go out for deer opener in Minnesota, but prefer bird hunting, hands down, though I do miss chasing mulies and whitetails in Eastern Washington with a bow. The terrain out there was much more conducive to stalking, whereas here in Minnesota, it seems waiting in a tree stand is best tactic, which I don't exactly enjoy.
 
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