GSP for waterfowl

Jlbmlb4

New member
I have a 9mo GSP that is going very well on upland birds. She is my first adventure into training a pool noting dog and I have loved the journey. I also have a 5 year ol lab that is a Master hunter. I know some guys use GSps to duck hunt but I have never seen it. I have seen some Springers at retriever hunt tests but never a GSP. I have statutes some yard work drills that I do with my lab and I am impressed at how well she is doing. Especially with her being able to train with my lab. I am just curious how many guys have trained their GSPs to be duck dogs also and what issues they have had.
 
I've had several GSP's that would retrieve ducks if close to the bank. They are not the swimmers that Labs are and the docked tail is a definite problem if swimming lengths. But, they will and can do it, I wouldn't put them on a long retrieve.
 
Thanks. I don't expect her to be the waterdog my lab is. I would never take her late season or in big water with long retrieves. I did not think about the tail. I may just work on t work and handling for blind retrieves. It might be fun to take her on an early season pond hunt.
 
I've had labs and shorthairs since the 60s all my GSPs could swim faster and just as far as my labs I've swam them over miles following my canoe.

The problem with GSPs and duck hunting is GSPs don't like to sit still very long in a blind ( at least mine didn't) my labs would sit patiently for hours.

My GSPs definitely weren't cold water dogs but in the summer they all loved to swim. If I sent two of them after a bumper in the water at the same time the GSPs would always get to it first.

Motorboat vs barge LOL

I love both breeds FWIW just giving my experience.
 
I live in KS. The only time I could use my GSP for waterfowl was early teal season. Regular duck would have water temps far too cold even with a vest. They are not designed for cold water at all.
 
I'm sorry to have to disagree with pretty much every comment on here, except the motorboat vs. barge, that was a good one. GSPs who are bred for versatile work, as they should be, work very nicely for duck dogs. Check out a NAVHDA chapter if you want to see some very awesome waterfowl work from a GSP. Every one of mine will hit the water just as hard as a retriever. They sit quietly and wait and they are just fine in the cold water as you can see in this picture.
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