Any seasoned dogs out there?

[Ketchup]

Been kicking around the idea of getting another dog. Hunted behind GSP’s for 15 years. If you know of a dog, without breaking the bank, let me know. 

[fishinwrench]

One of my customers is involved with this group.  It's a network so to speak.

http://www.birddogsforever.com/

[slothman]

Thanks for the resource wrench. We are kicking around the idea of getting a bird dog. GSP and English Setters are two of the top of my list right now. I’m still early in the process of deciding what or when to get one, but I’ve been toying with the idea quite a bite lately. 

 

If if anyone has opinions on either of these breeds or any others, I’d be willing to listen. 

 

Ketchup, if you find a good breeder I’d love to hear about it. 

[rps]

I was raised by a mother who bred and showed Setters and Springer Spaniels. Many of them were dual registered both with AKC and as gun dogs. She bred more than one dual champion. I grew up as her kennel boy.

Based on that, I want to suggest several things. Feel free to ignore me.

1. Buy from a long time breeder who breeds within the framework of either AKC or the gun dog group. Make sure they enjoy a good reputation among their peers.

2. Ask for a guarantee against congenital defects, including hip dysplasia.

3. Buy as a puppy or fully trained. If as a puppy go to see the litter and crinkle the cellophane from cookies or cigarettes. The one that comes to investigate is the one you want. If fully trained be sure you watch it in the field and with gunfire before you buy.

4. Do not start training too young. For setters and GSP, that means 18 months or so. Before then it will be like herding chickens.

5. Train to command before  gunfire. The dog must trust you before you start exploding things.

6. If you use a professional trainer, be involved and present for as much of the training as you can be. Note: Avoid any trainer that uses force.

7. Buying a gun dog is a 7 to 12 year promise.

I hope you get a good one.

Randy

 

[fishinwrench]

I've never had a truly good hunt over anything's but Pointers.... REAL old school liver & white Southern Pointers, not those far ranging hyper-assed little English Pointers that the guys on horseback want.    The only problem I have, and I think I touched on this here before, is that if you want a truly TRULY good bird dog you can't love on them all the time.    And I just love dogs too much and get too emotionally attached.   

The best Pointer bird dogs are basically emotionless, they aren't "pets" and they don't know or understand "love". 

I've hunted over setters and brittany's, and they are pretty and can occasionally find a bird, but picking cuckleburrs out of that fur is a drag, and if you're truly into seriously busting quail I don't think any other breed can do the job like an ol' square headed shorthair pointer. There's just something in their blood.

[Quillback]

I got my GSP from this guy, he breeds dogs for walking hunters rather than trial dogs bred for bird dog trials.  My dog needed very little training, he just had good instincts.  Never hunted as much as I thought I would so he's been more of a pet the last few years.  

Anyway, he's close enough that you can drive over and take a look, when I was there he had pups and a couple of older dogs, plenty of choices.

Don't know what your price range is, but I think I paid $400 for my pup, but that was close to 10 years ago.

Kansas German Shorthaired Pointer Hunting Dogs & Puppy Breeder | Princes Quality Hunting Dogs (princesqualitygundogs.com)

[ness]

8 hours ago, slothman said:

If if anyone has opinions on either of these breeds or any others, I’d be willing to listen. 

Never met a GSP I didn’t like. A guy in our group had one and he was a machine. Hunted in fairly close, always found birds. Great personality too.

Another guy had an English Setter and it was a mess. But I wouldn’t draw a negative conclusion from that one data point. 

Another buddy has gotten into Deutsch Drahthaars big time and loves them. Haven’t hunted with him lately, so no firsthand experience with them.

I’ve had Brittanys for 30 years and I love them. 

Go with what you like.  Buy from a reputable breeder, put in the work and get them on birds as much as possible and you’ll have the best chance for success. 

[Terrierman]

I was going to mention Drathaars too but as usual Ness is on it.  I've hunted behind truly excellent pointers, setters, Brittany Spaniels, GSP, draathars and Labrador Retrievers.  It's more the quality breeding and training than any particular breed if you ask me.  And of course the individual dog.  They're definitely not all created equal.  And for what it's worth, could not disagree more with Wrench about making your hunting dog your friend.  Makes for a very special relationship of trust between man and dog both in the field and at home.

If I could have one wish regarding hunting, it would be for the quail hunting to be like it was when I was a teenager through my early thirties.  In those days 20 and 30 bird coveys were not uncommon where I hunted and multi coveys were the norm.  But alas, I don't think that's in the cards for anytime soon..

[snagged in outlet 3]

My buddy has had 3 Brittany's I've hunted with.  All great dogs, listened well and never ranged too far.  He always bought females.  He thought they were better than males.   My inlaws farm was a bird factory back in the day.  The habitat is still there but no the birds.  My father in-law blamed the decline on coyote hunting with dogs.  He said when they ran and killed coyotes the quail population was awesome.  When they stopped the numbers dropped drastically.  The last time we hunted there coyotes came running right up to us and the dogs.  A couple left with bird shot in their back ends!

[Terrierman]

There's an old saying with the real English Terriermen that bitc hes are cleverer than dogs.  There might be some truth to it too, though I've had good males dogs over the years.