Lets See The Dog Pictures.

[JohnP]

Hunted with a guy that has a Boykin and as stated before the dog is a machine when it comes to retrieving but also a magnet for cockleburrs. Probably one of the most well mannered dogs I've ever shared a blind with and considered getting one but I think im leaning towards going back to a yellow lab for the next pup, but after seeing the Boykin its made that lean alil less .

[BilletHead]

First of all amazing photos and dogs. I am learning a lot and will have a water dog someday. Right now I have a pot licker companion. I know this thread started off hunting dogs but am glad that non hunting friends have been included. Question I have is to you with hunting dogs is are they your everyday pets? I know some here are. I hunted with a guy in the middle zone and he had a high powered dog, just a hunting dog. He kennels this dog. Not a pet like most of us have. Hunts it with a shock collar. It is a young dog, did well but the guy did light up the dog a couple of times. To tell you the truth it kind of broke my heart when he did. I know if Mrs. BilletHead was there she would of lit the owner up There is no way in heck my dog would not be part of the family. Opinions please?

Ok here is our Sadie. She is now eight and showing her age. Beginning to get lame on the right back leg. She goes with us everywhere.

And at the end of a long day she is doing her job, just laying around,

Finally one for flysmallie,

BilletHead

[ness]

Hah! Nice shots, everybody. Like the last one BH.

Our dogs are definitely part of the family, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Since they do most of the work when we're out, I treat them pretty well. Here's a shot from a couple years back: Greensburg, KS motel after a day of hunting:

I have an e-collar, but I generally only use the tone, not the shock. Matter of fact, my 5 year old has never had the shock. Our old dog was pretty hard-headed and would get it every once in a while, but the tone was usually enough for her.

[JohnP]

Hailey is a indoor dog and considered more than just a pet. She's actually sleeping at my feet as I type this. We don't let her up on the furniture and when were not home she's in her crate. Know some guys that just think their dog is just a tool for retrieving but I feel their more of hunting companion. Yea she frustrates me and gets hard headed when it comes to training and retrieving to hand but I chalk that up to the pointing lab stock in her as she just wants to go when it comes to retrieving. She's a good "bring back da meat" dawg and that's all I ask for.

Hailey da super dawg, just missing the cape .

"Fish, over there."

Lil' bowfishing.

"Where to now?"

[Justin Spencer]

We're getting somewhere now.

Justin,

Where did you get the Boykin? Has he ever retrieved a Canada? I really want a Boykin and I think I better start looking for a new pup pretty soon but I'm concerned about picking up geese. Of course, die hard Boykin guys say they can do it no problem. I just don't know if I'm sold on the idea yet.

Pat92B, where you been with that homemade layout boat? I love stuff like that. Do you hunt out of it? or just use it like a sled to get gear in the marsh? or both?

I got my Boykin in Greenbrier, Arkansas just outside of Conway. He's never retrieved a Canada but I'm sure he could. To be honest though if geese are your main quarry I would lean toward a bigger dog. I have 2 boykins, one is 39 pounds and is my hunting dog, the other is 29 pounds and while she has much more drive than Finn, it might wear her out retrieve more than a couple geese, although she would get them back I'm sure (she drug the hide from one of the deer I killed up to the house the other day probably 1/4 mile). My main concern would be a lightly wounded goose, it's one thing for them to bring back a dead goose, but when looking at a live goose that is much taller than them it could be a battle, I think my smaller dog would whoop a goose, my bigger one has no trouble with live ducks, but he might not want to tangle with a honery honker.

I love them for their small size, I put one in front and one behind me in a kayak and have no trouble at all. hunting from a john boat and pulling them in, or tossing them up on a dog stand in flooded timber is no problem either. Flooded rice fields are not the best because while labs are taller they can often times run through these fields while a boykin has to half swim half run through the low water. Makes marking a little more difficult for them being closer to the ground as well. It also takes them longer to make a retrieve due to their small size.

Scott is probably right, retrieving geese is probably a heart thing and if you only shoot a couple per trip I don't see it being a problem. The fact of the matter is a lab is hands down the best retriever for waterfowl. If you prefer a smaller dog for whatever reason, or want a flushing dog with a ton of drive for upland hunts (I have quail and pheasant hunted with Finn and he does well) then you might consider a Boykin. Make sure your breeders dogs don't have a history of skin problems, Finn gets hotspots and itches in the summertime, while Choxie seems to have no problems at all, but she came from a small breeder that no longer sells dogs.

Hope this helps, I love my Boykins but mainly got them because I didn't want a big dog to take on the river when I am floating.

[Feathers and Fins]

John my baby is like a daughter to me I could never think of her as a tool and she is spoiled rotten. Here are a few of her more spoiled moments.

Pretty common to see her in my chair with me sleeping,

Or on the couch under the fan

And this one had me and my wife rolling, we came in from shopping and saw this the look on her face of who the helI woke me up was priceless.

[Terrierman]

First of all amazing photos and dogs. I am learning a lot and will have a water dog someday. Right now I have a pot licker companion. I know this thread started off hunting dogs but am glad that non hunting friends have been included. Question I have is to you with hunting dogs is are they your everyday pets? I know some here are. I hunted with a guy in the middle zone and he had a high powered dog, just a hunting dog. He kennels this dog. Not a pet like most of us have. Hunts it with a shock collar. It is a young dog, did well but the guy did light up the dog a couple of times. To tell you the truth it kind of broke my heart when he did. I know if Mrs. BilletHead was there she would of lit the owner up There is no way in heck my dog would not be part of the family. Opinions please?

Ok here is our Sadie. She is now eight and showing her age. Beginning to get lame on the right back leg. She goes with us everywhere.

BilletHead

My Labs were always pets as well as working dogs. The best setter I ever hunted over was a pet. The best Brittany I ever hunted over was a pet. My best Russells were and are pets. I'm one that believes in the bond between man and dog and the stronger the better for working dogs. That means they spend as much time as possible with you, day in and day out.

[JohnP]

John my baby is like a daughter to me I could never think of her as a tool and she is spoiled rotten. Here are a few of her more spoiled moments.

Pretty common to see her in my chair with me sleeping,

Or on the couch under the fan

And this one had me and my wife rolling, we came in from shopping and saw this the look on her face of who the helI woke me up was priceless.

That last ones a good one. Hailey would be a lap dawg if we let her and at times tries to sneak her way up on the couch with us but something about her nails and synthetic leather couches that don't mix . plus she's a bed/couch hog if we let her up and will literally push us out of the way.

[Feathers and Fins]

Lol, Sammie is a couch hog for sure and believes she owns it. My chair though she get up in it finds a comfortable spot and lays her head on me and goes right out. People come over and cant believe we let her do as she wants. Like I said she is my daughter and has earned the right many times over from days in the field to that loving nudging with her nose in bad times trying to comfort you I know they know when something is not right. She has earned the right to an easy life.

[Flysmallie]

Finally one for flysmallie,

DSC_0008 - Copy.JPG

BilletHead

I love that!

I don't hunt anymore and never did really hunt with dogs so I might be the wrong one to be making comments about hunting dogs, but no matter what a dog has to be part of the family. How anyone can treat them like a tool is beyond me.