Which Dog Breed For My Needs

[Fink]

CC has great tips on getting your dog started. You can start the cap gun and feather retrieving pretty much as soon as you bring the pup home.
I took my pup up to the farm at about 10 weeks, and played with her and gave her treats while my buddy shot a gun about 100 yards away. Dog never gave the shots any consideration.
Waterdog was a great book to learn how to train your pup. I recommend reading it fully before you get the pup. I don't think I'd use a trainer unless I could take the pup and be with her during training. You lose so much bonding time with the dog, if you aren't doing the training. My dog would run through a brick wall for me, if I asked her to. She has a lot of natural drive, but it seems like a lot of that drive is just to please me. I've been around more than a few dogs that were professionally trained that just don't have that same drive. Plus, all the fun is in training your pup yourself!

 

[NDguy]

Great feedback. Thanks!

I will mostly be in the mountains going after grouse. Pheasants in Nov/Dec.
Interested in duck hunting but only gone a few times but that may change.

I can exercise the dog but I don't live on acres of land where the dog can run until it's exhausted.

Not an easy decision. For some reason I am drawn to the GSP. We have one in my neighborhood. Gorgeous. Owner says she's not a hunting dog b/c she is gun shy. I want a work horse in the mountains that doesn't get fatigued.

My wife is strongly drawn to labs mostly because they are great family dogs and she can't get over the puppy pictures!!

If you like GSPs, Vizsla's are very similar but smaller so better to be in the house. How cold does it get where you live? They are a thinner skin dog so cold environments aren't great for them.

 

[hunttrap]

Maybe you already got your dog, but do not over look the english cocker spaniel. They are great family and hunting dogs. Mine flushes pheasants and retrieves geese. Only weighs 32 lbs. An absolute work horse.

 

[Multi-SpeciesHunter]

I have a British lab, one of the best pheasant dogs I've ever seen and I've hunted over quite a few dogs. But I'd have to say my parents wirehair pointer they used to have was the most fearless and smart hunting dog I've ever seen. I think I was told they even had some hound used when creating the breed, she used to bring me coons I had shot and hunted hard till she was 10. My british lab is an amazing all around dog and better as a family dog. But above all just get a puppy from a reputable breeder. I've seen buddies get cheap or free puppies not knowing the pedigree and barely being able to teach the dog to fetch let alone complex hunting commands. My british lab i trained myself at 17 and it all came natural to him, I didn't know what I was doing and he turned out as good as any of my friends pups that they had professionally trained, I believe that's due to his pedigree.
Good luck!

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Did you decide on a pup?