Dog question.

Flush 'Em Hard Rocky

Flush 'Em Hard Rocky

New member
Ok, so this may open quite a discussion, but here goes anyway. As you all know, I currently hunt with my Springer, Rocky! He is a great dog and I would not trade him for anything. I will be looking at adding another dog sometime in the next year, but really cannot decide on what breed to get. I love my Springer and I only hunt upland and no waterfowl so a Springer is great. My wife is not so keen on the breed and some of its quirks, so she would like to get a Lab again (I have always had Labs prior to my Springer) I am a little worried about Labs as I believe the breed is drastically different than when I got my last Lab which was 10 years ago. So, here is my question...... Any advice on a breed of dog? I really am not interested in a pure pointing breed. The other million dollar question is what to look for. In looking around a little bit, there are labs priced from $250 up to $1500+ for a pup. I will not do the trial circuit, but might be interested in running hunt tests. So, in addition to breed, what should I look for in a pup and breeder and what price can I expect to pay for a pup that will hunt well but also do well in hunt tests?

Thanks!
 
i think there is alot of pointing dog guys on here so i'm sure you going to hear either a shorthair or a brittany. i have shorthairs and love them and cant see myself going to any other breed. i really like the clean look they have and they're personality is great. they are a really hyper dog and i know that in about one minute when i open the back door to let him in he is going to be bouncing off the walls. so maybe a shorthair wouldnt be a good dog for someone that has little ones running around, but for me it just works. good luck. derrick
 
I'm with GSP4Life. Only I'm a Brittany man. Most Brits here are around 500 or so. Breeders in your area I know nothing about. If you run into a Ceder Ridge breeding or bloodline. Those are Superior Brits get one.
 
I was thinking about posting the same question some time ago. I'm planning on getting a pup in the near future, more like next spring. I've decided on a viszla, unless I win the lottery and get a small munsterlander. I have a brittany that I think the world of. He is my $75 diamond in the rough. I'd make a list of breeds your not interested in and work your way to what you would like, and your wife. I picked a brittany because they are great with kids and a smaller breed. He is good with my girls, but he is 47 lbs and he isn't fat. Stands up with my neigherbors shorthairs. The only advice I can really give is get a longer haired dog in MN.
 
I too have a GSP and will be getting another this August when she has puppies. I really couldn't see another breed in my day to day life but, that is mainly because you get used to something and that is all you know. I think if you just look into each breed you will see and find something you like. I am not going to tell you to buy a pointer but I would say look into the versatility of a pointer or other flushes for that matter. Bottom line is you have to live with your choice (and ultimately your wife too) so do what makes the both of you happy.

Good luck and happy hunting
 
Having a lab and doing a lot of waterfowl hunting I spend lots of time around labs from all kinds of sources, from backyard bred to high strung field trial dogs. My hunting partner got one of the latter last year, and had to give it back. He had no plans to compete in trials of any kind, and the dog was pretty much unmanagable. When his two year old got knocked down and split her scalp the dog when back to the breeder. He now was the former - a backyard bred lab that will be a decent hunter once he corrects for the 5 years that the poor thing spent tied up in someone's yard... However, he's got some elbow displaysia, so that will be trouble I think... In my experience, a good lab that will be a good house dog/pet and a great hunter/hunt trial dog can be had for between 700-1000$ (Canadian$, so say 600-900 US$). That said, if I see Brittany's in the field and I think that if I was not such a keen waterfowler I'd be looking at one of those (Geez - I'm glad Ruby can't read - if she saw me type that I'd be in TROUBLE! lol!). Anyhow, that's my 2 cents. The breeder that I got Ruby from ships worldwide, and I recommend him most highly for exactly what you describe (VERY solid health record, great pets, great hunters, but not as intense as field trial labs). PM me if you want info.
Cheers,
-Croc
 
Pudelpointer or other versitile breed with some hair on it that likes water.
You can go to NAVHDA and AKC hunt tests.

Now a little bragging---I am having a litter of pups 6/23. Repeat and last breeding of ''07 and '08 breeding. 5 of these pups have been NAVHDA tested, 3 recently at the Minnesota Chapter. 4 aquired a prize I rating the other a prize III. (Scores-112,112,110,106 and 96)Two more will be tested in Idaho this weekend and I am very optomistic as the handlers are other breeders who purchased the dogs from me last year. Smart, driven, waterlovin', closer working pointing dogs that make exceptional pets. $1,000 hips guareented.
________
Kr250
 
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I have (Gunner) a Pudel Pointer and (Mac) a Cheasapeake Bay Retreiver,
I am still learning about Gunner and his abilities we rescue him from an Idiot who did no trainning with him what so ever, I wish i got him as a pup I think he would made a great Waterfowl dog , Like Uncle Buck said this breed has a great hunting drive and is a good family dog.

Mac is a 2yr Chessie, right now we are in the middle of training working on baseball and bumper piles. I have had chessie for almost 20years never had a problem with them. here is a web site you can look at to get an idea about the breed:

http://www.cbrs4me.com/chesapeake/sindex/sindex.html
 
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My advice. Try to look at, and if at all possible hunt over, some of the breeds you think you might like. A large part of the fun is the search. I wouldn't be surprised that after looking at the other breeds you come full circle back to a Springer. If you only hunt upland (and mostly pheasants) it's hard to beat a Springer. But don't rule out a pointing breed.

I had Springers for about 20 years. Then about 14 years ago I got a Brittany. Now I could never hunt pheasants behind a non-pointing dog. There is just something about when they lock up on point.

About a year and a half ago I started looking for another pup. My male Brit was getting old and I knew he wouldn't be around long. Had to put him down last September. I also have a 5 year old female Brit. Anyway I thought I would like to try another pointing breed. I like you only hunt upland. I looked at Pudelpoints, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, French Brittanys, Gordon Setters, Small Munsterlanders, Braque du Bourbonais and French Spaniels. I spend a lot of time reading about them, searching the internet, talking to breeders and even hunting over a couple. When it was all said in done I ended up with another Brittany. But I had a blast looking.

The breed I came the closest to getting was the French Spaniel. These are beautiful dogs. They look like a Springer with long legs and an undocked tail. And they point. There is only one breeder in the states and he is in Minnesota. He is Paul Fischenich and his kennel is Minnesota French Spaniels in Dodge Center, MN. Here's his web site: http://www.minnesotafrenchspaniels.com/

Just something different for you to consider. Good luck and enjoy the search! Let us know what you decide. But take your time. Try to hunt over some this season and make a decision after that.
 
gsp4life said:
they are a really hyper dog and i know that in about one minute when i open the back door to let him in he is going to be bouncing off the walls. so maybe a shorthair would be a good dog for someone that has little ones running around, but for me it just works. good luck. derrick
Click to expand...


Naaaawwww !! shorthairs aren't hyper....

Hyperactive can be from poor breeding, but IMO much of it has to do with lack of training and or obedience. Allow them to behave this way and they will. Most that I have been around are very much suited for living indoors and behave accordingly as long as they know what's expected of them.

They are a high energy breed that require lots of exercise to thrive as do many sporting breeds. If you don't give them a way to channel some of that natural energy, sometimes it can become a problem. As with many of the continental breeds, I think they are at their finest when they can live and interact amongst their immediate family, but can be kenneled outdoors if needed.

Of course this is just my opinion.


Here's some Hyper individuals... :D

slackers.jpg
 
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Rocky, I was in the same boat, I have had labs and loved them but I upland hunt and don't waterfowl. I got a Pointing Lab, yes they do point! Something to look at.... Bird shooter is correct some dog just need to exercise. If you want to learn more PM me.:D
 
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