My first hunting lab has reached the age where he is slowing down considerably. I acquired him from a DU acution and through sheer luck, determination and daily training sessions down by the river bottom close to home, he turned into a damn fine retriever. Now I need to start bringing along a replacement and have a bit of a decision to make..... Although pheasant hunting is an addiction, the closest wild population is 4-6 hours away, while many spots for ducks are 20 min to an hour from my garage. Hence, I get about 20 + days a year on waterfowl while only 7-8 days a year on pheasants. My current lab is a flusher, which has worked well for ducks and pheasants so far. However, also close to home is excellent spruce and blue grouse habitat which I have had mixed success with since a flushing lab and grouse found in thick trees do not result in many "makable" shots (and I will be damned if I'm leaving my dog behind when hunting birds) Here lies my dilemma, do I stick with a flushing pup which I already have experience in training and know what to expect, or do I seak out a pointing lab pup and start a whole new cycle of
trail and error? The vast majority of my days a field are spent in a blind, so a true pointing breed is not the direction I want to go. However, I fantasize about a pointing lab every time my current hunting companion flushes a grouse on the wrong side of two old growth spruce trees. What do those of you who have experienced the difference between a flushing and pointing lab think? how much more difficult or expensive ( I.e more live Birds to practice with???) is getting and keeping a pointing dog "up to form"? I love to hear from y'all who have had similar experiences. Thx
trail and error? The vast majority of my days a field are spent in a blind, so a true pointing breed is not the direction I want to go. However, I fantasize about a pointing lab every time my current hunting companion flushes a grouse on the wrong side of two old growth spruce trees. What do those of you who have experienced the difference between a flushing and pointing lab think? how much more difficult or expensive ( I.e more live Birds to practice with???) is getting and keeping a pointing dog "up to form"? I love to hear from y'all who have had similar experiences. Thx