Need help with dog breed!
- Thread starter sas
- Start date
I was looking for something with very similar requirments to what you want. Although I'm not quite in your generation at 31, I wanted a close working dog because I hunt a lot of ruffed grouse up in Michigan. From my experience those birds just don't hold well for a pointing dog. Perhaps a flusher would have been better, but I just like pointing dogs.
Anyways, after a lot of research I ended up with a Viszla. The males go around 50 pounds. They have an awesome light colored coat, I think it's the color of a lion. They tend to be closer working dogs than the traditional pointing breeds, but not plotters.
My only warning would be to be sure to find a good breeder as I have seen a lot of not so great Viszla's out there, but I think that is true with any of the breeds that are not quite as traditional. Research is important here. Shoot me a pm and I can tell you about the breeder I decided on.
This all being said, back east here you can find a decent number of kennels that produce short range pointing dogs because we hunt a lot of grouse. In my research I came across two that looked very promising before I decided on a vizla. The first is Northwind enterprises who has very close working english pointers. These would fit your 35 yard range. The second is honeyrun shorthairs who specialize in gsp's for the grouse woods. I've never owned a dog from either of these kennels, but after my research I would not be afraid to put a deposit down on these dogs. For truly close working I would got with Northwind. At the end of the day the only reason I did not go with one of these was just because I liked the way the Vizla looked, and I liked what people had to say about their personalities. It had nothing to do with range or hunting ability.
In summary, start looking at breeder's of grouse dogs. A lot of people will still run big running dogs in the grouse woods, but a lot want the 35 yard dogs your describing.
Anyways, after a lot of research I ended up with a Viszla. The males go around 50 pounds. They have an awesome light colored coat, I think it's the color of a lion. They tend to be closer working dogs than the traditional pointing breeds, but not plotters.
My only warning would be to be sure to find a good breeder as I have seen a lot of not so great Viszla's out there, but I think that is true with any of the breeds that are not quite as traditional. Research is important here. Shoot me a pm and I can tell you about the breeder I decided on.
This all being said, back east here you can find a decent number of kennels that produce short range pointing dogs because we hunt a lot of grouse. In my research I came across two that looked very promising before I decided on a vizla. The first is Northwind enterprises who has very close working english pointers. These would fit your 35 yard range. The second is honeyrun shorthairs who specialize in gsp's for the grouse woods. I've never owned a dog from either of these kennels, but after my research I would not be afraid to put a deposit down on these dogs. For truly close working I would got with Northwind. At the end of the day the only reason I did not go with one of these was just because I liked the way the Vizla looked, and I liked what people had to say about their personalities. It had nothing to do with range or hunting ability.
In summary, start looking at breeder's of grouse dogs. A lot of people will still run big running dogs in the grouse woods, but a lot want the 35 yard dogs your describing.
Cobblestone
New member
Large Munsterlander.nuff said.
Retired Guy
New member
Griffin
I have a buddy who has owned two Griffins. They were good-sized and stayed pretty close. Smart dogs with great temperament. I love my pointing lab. He didn't point till he was 4. He's not perfect in the pointing department but he's a hard charger, stays close and sure finds the birds.
I have a buddy who has owned two Griffins. They were good-sized and stayed pretty close. Smart dogs with great temperament. I love my pointing lab. He didn't point till he was 4. He's not perfect in the pointing department but he's a hard charger, stays close and sure finds the birds.
close working breed
I've only had a few dogs, brittany, EP and GSP. I'm very impressed by the ability of my GSP to work at whatever distance I desire. While they may need to burn a little energy before hitting the field, with your guidance they'll hunt where you want them to. Also they're easy to find (get a light colored one) and make great pets too.
I've only had a few dogs, brittany, EP and GSP. I'm very impressed by the ability of my GSP to work at whatever distance I desire. While they may need to burn a little energy before hitting the field, with your guidance they'll hunt where you want them to. Also they're easy to find (get a light colored one) and make great pets too.
Cobblestone
New member
With proper traing they'd be closeworking dogs. Without it they be on the fly. I've almost got the momma dog to work in. This season should do the trick!
Jakeismydog2
Member
Now that this thread somehow got brought back to life...
SAS did you end up finding the perfect dog?
SAS did you end up finding the perfect dog?
quanah labs
New member
Ya come on sas, what did you pick? I read thru this entire thread thinking I would find out.
CloseRange
New member
I am partial to Wirehaired Pointing Griffons. However, the closest-working bird dog I ever had the pleasure of hunting behind was a friend's Brittany.
Griffons do have a reputation for being close-working. I don't know why, because you sure can't confirm that reputation by my experience. Grifs can really take off, get way out in front, or way off to the side, operating well outside gun range.
With my first Griffon I spent a lot of stressful time whistling the dog to stay close to me. Or using loud verbal commands. Both methods, of course, give away your existence and your position to any rooster in the vicinity.
With my second Griffon I solved the "hunting out of gun range" problem by putting an e-collar on the dog. It's a bit of a hassle holding the remote controller unit while carrying my shotgun. But I don't mind, because when my dog exceeds the range I prefer all I do is push the button on the controller and her collar unit generates a quiet tone signal. She hears this tone and comes back toward me. There is no sound to my field commands apart from this quiet tone that only the dog hears.
So my recommendation is that you select a dog from whichever pointing breed you've had the most luck with in the past...but, also buy yourself an e-collar that lets YOU limit the dog's range with silent pushes of a button. This puts you in the driver's seat, as opposed to huffing and puffing while following your eager dog all across the countryside hoping that sometime before you die of old age the dog will learn on its own to hunt close.
Most bird dogs, whether pointers or retrievers, once they get a snootful of rooster scent they will trail a running bird into the next county if allowed to indulge their hunting instinct to the fullest. Since you are an experienced hunter and shooter, keeping your dog close by electronic means will make you happy the entire hunt, every hunt, while forcing your dog to spend more time thoroughly working whatever cover exists inside your gun's effective kill radius.
And you can always let your dog range farther out anytime you like; just don't push the tone button on your controller and the dog will keep going on its own initiative.
Griffons do have a reputation for being close-working. I don't know why, because you sure can't confirm that reputation by my experience. Grifs can really take off, get way out in front, or way off to the side, operating well outside gun range.
With my first Griffon I spent a lot of stressful time whistling the dog to stay close to me. Or using loud verbal commands. Both methods, of course, give away your existence and your position to any rooster in the vicinity.
With my second Griffon I solved the "hunting out of gun range" problem by putting an e-collar on the dog. It's a bit of a hassle holding the remote controller unit while carrying my shotgun. But I don't mind, because when my dog exceeds the range I prefer all I do is push the button on the controller and her collar unit generates a quiet tone signal. She hears this tone and comes back toward me. There is no sound to my field commands apart from this quiet tone that only the dog hears.
So my recommendation is that you select a dog from whichever pointing breed you've had the most luck with in the past...but, also buy yourself an e-collar that lets YOU limit the dog's range with silent pushes of a button. This puts you in the driver's seat, as opposed to huffing and puffing while following your eager dog all across the countryside hoping that sometime before you die of old age the dog will learn on its own to hunt close.
Most bird dogs, whether pointers or retrievers, once they get a snootful of rooster scent they will trail a running bird into the next county if allowed to indulge their hunting instinct to the fullest. Since you are an experienced hunter and shooter, keeping your dog close by electronic means will make you happy the entire hunt, every hunt, while forcing your dog to spend more time thoroughly working whatever cover exists inside your gun's effective kill radius.
And you can always let your dog range farther out anytime you like; just don't push the tone button on your controller and the dog will keep going on its own initiative.
need help
Many thanks for all the suggestions. About the time I was looking for a new dog something came up and I was not able to pursue one. The following season I worked more with the dogs I already had and spent more time trying to keep them in close. I had an excellent nose Fr. Brittany who was always in the next county. I put a collar on him and in one outing he learned and now is hunting just great for me. So, a happy ending at this time. I did buy a young Lab female to hunt ducks with and she is working pretty well on pheasants. Hope she gets some experience this year. Good luck for the coming season.
Many thanks for all the suggestions. About the time I was looking for a new dog something came up and I was not able to pursue one. The following season I worked more with the dogs I already had and spent more time trying to keep them in close. I had an excellent nose Fr. Brittany who was always in the next county. I put a collar on him and in one outing he learned and now is hunting just great for me. So, a happy ending at this time. I did buy a young Lab female to hunt ducks with and she is working pretty well on pheasants. Hope she gets some experience this year. Good luck for the coming season.
New hunting dog
I don't have any experience with dogs other than a couple of labs and a springer. I bought a french spaniel from Paul fishenbach (spelling) from Minnesota French spaniels and I hope you strongly consider visiting Paul and getting to know his dogs. If you want a slow methodical hunter, who is great with people and in the house, this is the dog for you. I have just recently got into bird hunting and this is a special breed. Miya is 10 months old this month and is pointing birds and locating them when they are down. With practice she will be a pheasant hunting machine. Please give paul a call.
I don't have any experience with dogs other than a couple of labs and a springer. I bought a french spaniel from Paul fishenbach (spelling) from Minnesota French spaniels and I hope you strongly consider visiting Paul and getting to know his dogs. If you want a slow methodical hunter, who is great with people and in the house, this is the dog for you. I have just recently got into bird hunting and this is a special breed. Miya is 10 months old this month and is pointing birds and locating them when they are down. With practice she will be a pheasant hunting machine. Please give paul a call.
small munsterlander owner
Banned
id lean towards my fav breed & personal choice of a SMALL MUNSTERLANDER or maybe a LARGE MUNSTERLANDER the SMALL MUNSTERLANDER is a very very old german breed & was breed to point & retrieve anything shot over the point from fur to feathers on land or water!!! they are water dogs & pointing dogs... they are very smart dogs & learn fast they even can be taught to track & tree aka bay fur barrers...
small munsterlanders are smaller dogs in size but they hunt big they also work extremely close to you like you mentioned B4 thats why i choose the SM breed i wanted a pointing breed that would go crazy & run 100 yrds ahead of me in the fields & i also wanted a dog that points & would retrieve the bird that it pointed
small munsterlanders are also great family dogs & are by no means kennel dogs to be just thrown in a kennel till its hunting season...
also may i mention the LlEWELLIN SETTER my brother has a LlEWELLIN SETTER & she works extremely close to him & so did her parents they are another breed that was breed to work close to the gunner rather then range out to extreme distance like many other pointing breed they work for the gun not them selfs!!! same goes for the SMALL MUNSTERLANDER
if you do get a SMALL MUNSTERLANDER try to get puppy with parents that were born or from GERMANY or HOLLAND as there bllodlines are the best & most breeders agree we need more euro blood in america... my dogs mother was from holland & her granddad was from france they are great dogs
small munsterlanders are smaller dogs in size but they hunt big they also work extremely close to you like you mentioned B4 thats why i choose the SM breed i wanted a pointing breed that would go crazy & run 100 yrds ahead of me in the fields & i also wanted a dog that points & would retrieve the bird that it pointed
small munsterlanders are also great family dogs & are by no means kennel dogs to be just thrown in a kennel till its hunting season...
also may i mention the LlEWELLIN SETTER my brother has a LlEWELLIN SETTER & she works extremely close to him & so did her parents they are another breed that was breed to work close to the gunner rather then range out to extreme distance like many other pointing breed they work for the gun not them selfs!!! same goes for the SMALL MUNSTERLANDER
if you do get a SMALL MUNSTERLANDER try to get puppy with parents that were born or from GERMANY or HOLLAND as there bllodlines are the best & most breeders agree we need more euro blood in america... my dogs mother was from holland & her granddad was from france they are great dogs
small munsterlander owner
Banned
sorry meant to say i didnt want a dog to go 100 yards ahead of me & go crazy lol
small munsterlander owner
Banned
seen 1 on MN pheasants opener that dog looked like a hunting sheepdog lol creamy color to him & working at least 150-200 yards in front of his owner all i could say was look at that dog go & happy to have my close working SM lol