Which Dog Breed For My Needs

[Mule3006Elk]

Starting to research dogs for upland game hunting (Blue Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, stocked Pheasants, possible Quail, possible Chucker). May do do some waterfowl hunting (ducks) but likely not a lot.

Looking at GSP vs. Lab. I plan on putting the dog in formal gun/hunting training.

I tried to hunt the above, except waterfowl, without a dog, had some great hikes, flushed a few birds, but not overly successful. A few of the places I've been had some hunters with dogs. Looks awesome and I think it will be a much more enjoyable experience, not only for myself, but my kids too.

Someone will always be home with the dog unless we are out of town. I have kids who really want a dog.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[NVBird'n'Big]

I love my wirehaird pointing griffon, most versatile dog I have ever owned. Great upland pointer and does great retrieving in the water. She is great with the kids too.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Labs are very good for everything including the kids. We have labs that will point also.

 

[zeroforhire]

Griffon would get my vote as most versatile... I have a lab and a Brittany that are awesome as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hilltop]

I'm a lab guy for life but have nothing against GSPs. I just don't think you can find a dog breed with a more consistent personality than a lab. They truly become family members. Only negative about a lab is the hair shedding.

I do have a buddy that swears by his Griffons. I have hunted with his dogs a few times and have had nothing but great experiences. In the end, all breeds listed will be great if you invest the time in them.

 

[BKhunter50]

You can do what I did. Get a lab and a GSP

They are both great dogs. I enjoy hunting upland birds better with the GSP, but you can't beat the lab for ducks. You really can't go wrong with either breed. I've heard good things about the Griggins other than my uncle who had one and had to give it away because he lives in a neighborhood and after it bit the second neighbor - it was time to go. The dog was very teritorial and didn't like people coming into the yard.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I have hunted (and owned) bird dogs for 60 years. You need to ask your self what kind of a dog do you want....pointer or flusher. IMHO that more than breed should determine the upland bird hunter dog. As far as water goes, hard to beat a lab.

I have only owned one pure pointer, a GSH. It did not fare well in the hunting environment I hunt birds in. I hunt strictly in the west, where the cover is usually pretty sparse and the ground pretty dry. The birds usually run and don't hold real well. Pointing dogs go nuts with these running birds. With that said, my dogs have been English Springer Spaniels and Labs. I did have a pointing Lab that was outstanding too. I also hunt a lot of geese and labs are outstanding there too.

Hard to beat a Lab for a family dog too. Great disposition and easily trained. The pointing dogs I have owned and been around tend to be a little more high strung.



First 2 pictures are of the best Lab I ever owned. I hunted her till she was 12. The last is my current Lab, just a year old now and progressing very well. I train my own dogs and have a 2 acre pond for water work.

 

[Fink]

Every GSP or English pointer I've ever been around have been wonderful dogs, great family pets, as well as great hunters. Don't expect to use your pointer as a duck dog, unless it's just for teal season. They just can't do the wet and cold.
GSP's are neat dogs, but as a breed overall, are much higher strung than an easygoing lab. I'd feel bad if I had a GSP and didnt let him get out and run for 10 miles every day.

 

[ore hunter]

im partial to labs

 

[EOHunter]

It really depends on what your core hunting will be. If you are going to hunt chukars mainly I do not suggest a lab at all. I have been around too many that get overheated and tired too easy in that rough terrain. For all the rest of what you mentioned, either breed works. I personally prefer pointers just because there is nothing cooler than seeing your dog lock up on a rooster, or when you get quail singled out in some brush and your dog has one bird pointed while holding a shot bird in its mouth.

With the group I have, we run a mix of labs and GSP's and it works awesome. Labs are great brush busters and retrievers and the GSP's will hold the birds until you get there. I have only hunted with one pointing lab and it was cool, however it didn't really hold a point like a pointer would. The only problem I have with my GSP's is their unwillingness to fetch. You normally have to force fetch them, and they are very stubborn even with that. If you have GSP that you can trust to hold points and slow down and hunt you can have them run a pretty big range which saves you a lot of walking in chukar country, just make sure you know where they are. I have lost my dog before and she was on point the whole time for for over half an hour.

Also, a GSP is a very, very high energy dog. If you don't have a 6 ft fence they can jump out. If you don't have a big enough backyard for them to run in, they will take that energy out on your carpet, couches, and anything else they can chew and destroy until they are about 7 or 8 and start calming down. Both breeds you mentioned are excellent family dogs. The only issue I had with my latest GSP was here getting a little hyper around my daughter when she was really little, but it wasn't a huge deal.

 

[EOHunter]

I should also mention I have two GSP's now and my next dog will be a lab. Then the next will be a GSP, then the next a Lab and so on. That way I always have one of each at varying age levels. This is a thought for you depending on how hardcore of a bird hunter you are.

 

[badgerbob]

Years ago, a friend had a female English Pointer. Planned to raise at least one litter of pups. Made plans to breed her with a fancy male, but took her pheasant hunting and she wound up getting bred to a Brittney Spaniel. He was pretty upset but those were some of the prettiest pups I ever saw. I took a male and he was a hunting fool. Smart as they come. I don't know if every time these guys are crossed the pups will be good, but this one sure was.

 

[NDguy]

Vizsla is another breed to look at. They are smaller than labs and great family dogs. They are a bit hyper but that energy gets put to use!

My girl just turned two and she is a phenomenal dog.

 

[Sundowners@5?]

I've had both Brittany's and Lab's for 50 year's, can't go wrong with either. Currently have a 7 month old britt that thinks he's a lab. I live on a 1600 acre lake and had to jump in my boat yesterday and go after him as he was swimming after a trash duck! Lot's of drive and desire in this dog, 300 yards out and still going strong!

 

[Winchester]

All good recommendations. I have a Lab and have never had a better dog.

 

[shootbrownelk]

Anyone have an American water spaniel? Supposed to be a great all around dog.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

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!!

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Are you planning on getting a pup or a started dog from a trainer/breeder?

I have trained about a dozen dogs and can give you some basic pointers that will be good especially if you decide to get a pup. They should be well started when you turn them over to a trainer. Also pick your trainer before you buy a dog and talk to them.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

I plan on getting a pup. I want my kids to have the full experience.
Good idea to have the trainer lined up. The trainer can probably direct me towards good breeders in the area.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I would start some basic obedience fairly soon with a pup. I started my last pup at about 10 weeks. Some basic commands like sit with a small reward, later lots of praise.

The other thing I do is to start introducing noise ( like a cap gun) at feeding time. Later use a started pistol, again at feeding time. Really gets them used to noise and pretty much prevents "gun shyness, as they associate the noise with pleasure.

Get them started retrieving too. Get a feather and let the pup play with it, then introduce a small ball, make it a game to start with. Pups have a very short attention span (like a small child) and will lose interest quick. If they start losing interest, got back to something they do well (like sit) and stop the session on a positive note.

Pups are fun, but sometimes very difficult....again like kids!