28 replies to this topic

[cattledog04]

I am curious to everyone's opinion on bird dogs. What breed does everyone have and why?

[dangerranger]

My current dog is a lab. mostly because she seems to be a better family dog. shes queen of the friendly dogs when we are home but is on guard when we are not.[ or so says the neibors]. My favorite dogs tho are Springers. VERY high energy! Thats one of the reasons my wife is not so fond of them. the other is the constant work to keep up there coats. Our lab is very deliberate and takes her time checking every inch of every field. where the springers moved quickly, basicly running circles in front of us. both find birds, both dont miss many retrives, just a totaly differant style. DR

[Bisley]

You are probably going to have to be a lot more specific. What is the primary bird you're going to hunt? Duck, upland game? Will the dog be doing just one bird, or multiple species. Is it going to be just a hunting dog, or is it a family dog in the off season? Dogs are a tool when hunting, and no one tool does every job best. There are too many variables to just say what dog makes a god bird dog. It will all boil down to all it's intended uses.

[cattledog04]

Mostly for upland game.

[tawnoper]

Is this the same Cattledog trainer for MX and MTB?Bird dogs can be simple or all time consuming. Most dogs are only as good as they are trained. They are a lot of work.The guys that are really into it usually have Springers or GSP's. The dogs are hyper and have a ton of energy.For the weekend warrior that likes to stomp out a few quail it's tough to beat a Lab. They have a great nose and can be easily trained to find down birds (which is their main value to me). They are usually kind of mellow and well behaved around other dogs.It's kinda like the guy who dabbles in mtbing and thinks buying a Specialized S-Works is going to make him a lot faster. Most guys who run out and buy an expensive GSP to help their hunting don't realize that the work has just started.

[Mac1124]

I am curious to everyone's opinion on bird dogs. What breed does everyone have and why?

Labrador - ease of training, durability, easy care, hunt multiple species and can handle varying climates.After hunting South Dakota a few years back and getting snowed on, after a day or two the only dogs able to handle the weather were Labs, some had icesicles hanging off their chins and still hunting in 15 degree weather. I decided at that time I would get another Lab, only this time I would do the proper research on bloodline and breeder.I did that research, my lab is not your neighbors couch potato, he's a field dog, lean and leggy, desire, nose, pointing, swimming. On land and water he'll hunt it all and does it well. He'll hunt in the heat or cold and everything in between. He hunts upland and waterfowl and has done both on the same day. He has more energy than most, and thats where comittment comes in to play. He requires an 1 1/2 hrs minimum per day, train and exercise. There are lots of great hunting breeds and no one fits all.

[bzzrd feedr]

I've had pointers in the past but for an all around dog it's hard to beat the Lab. I duck hunt and upland hunt with my little girl Keg (53 # Black) and she's my companion the rest of the time. As Mac1124 said previously go for the lean, leggy type rather than the block/thick type. They are more athletic and can withstand the heat much better IMHO. I hunt with a few friends that have GSP's and Keg can hang with them all day but always keeping her in gun range. This is my first girl Lab after a long list of males and I wish I had tried a female earlier.

[cattledog04]

Is this the same Cattledog trainer for MX and MTB?Bird dogs can be simple or all time consuming. Most dogs are only as good as they are trained. They are a lot of work.The guys that are really into it usually have Springers or GSP's. The dogs are hyper and have a ton of energy.For the weekend warrior that likes to stomp out a few quail it's tough to beat a Lab. They have a great nose and can be easily trained to find down birds (which is their main value to me). They are usually kind of mellow and well behaved around other dogs.It's kinda like the guy who dabbles in mtbing and thinks buying a Specialized S-Works is going to make him a lot faster. Most guys who run out and buy an expensive GSP to help their hunting don't realize that the work has just started.

This is the same Cattledog. Who might this be?

[cattledog04]

Good looking dog. I figure, IF I were commit to a bird dog, when we weren't hunting it would be able to join the family of Australian Cattledogs for exercise.

[Mac1124]

Funny you should mention that. I have raised various heelers McNabs, B.C.'s and ACD's etc... for fly ball and obstacle courses, my Lab joins in on everything except fly ball, last thing I want him doing is jumping in the air after a bird or chasing. I lost a McNab a month ago and I'm down to his daughter an ACD x McNab x ? mean as a rattlesnake and a will of granite - makes you feel sort of bad for anyone stupid enough to tangle with her.

[dabob]

Here is a picture of my Lab getting ready to make a retrieve.

[Bennie]

If you want a dog that is easy to live with and train get a lab. If you want to get serious about it get a pointer. Two completely different breeds and both will work. Just the lab is a stock car that will run every day and some of the pointers are blown alcohol dragsters that are hard to handle if you don't spend a lot of time working on them.

[sxshooter]

Or get both! My new to me english pointerMy 6 yr old lab.When she was about 2I think a guy that hunts occasionally and doesn't have the time to train should just buy a well started Lab of field trial stock. The initial cost might seem high, maybe even rediculous to some folks, but the cost of the dog will be long forgotten once you start hunting and living with a great companion and hunter. Labs need to be small and lean to maintain their health and be able to hunt long hours. Look for the small females around 50 lbs or less and buy from a respected breeder/trainer. Someone's puppies in the Recycler are as likely to be a good field dog as you are to win the lottery. Labs can hunt about any upland game but have limits in endurance that shows up quickly in the heat. If you get a lab, you will do the dog a great service to keep it lean, very lean. Labs will eat as much as you feed them. Weight will contribute to overheating, early exhaustion, and joint problems. If you're serious about upland birds in CA, the German Shorthair Pointers are very popular for good reason. Also, other short haired pointing breeds are a good fit for CA upland. The English Pointer, in general, is probably the most athletic breed for the quail hunter, being able to cover more ground a have more endurance than other breeds. GSP owners will dispute this of course, but then, the modern American GSP has some English Pointer in it. As far as affectionate, I've seen a GSP that was way more affectionate than many labs, mine included, and mine is pretty affectionate. My new English Pointer is really affectionate, something the breed isn't necessarily known for. Their all individuals and most important is the way they were socialized when very young. The pointer is only 38 lbs and turning out to be a great companion and house dog. The lab and pointer are best buddies in less than a month. Neither have any agression toward people, kids, or other dogs. I attribute this to their professional handling and socializing in early life. If you show up on a hunt with an aggressive dog, you're likely gonna get asked to leave or leave the dog in the crate. Worse, I've heard of some big rukus' between hunters over aggressive dog problems on hunts. There's just no easy answer. All of the popular breeds will work. Some better'n others at certain tasks. But more than the breed itself, my opinion is that a professionally trained dog of high quality field stock, will contribute more to your satisfaction both in the field and at home, than any other factor. Otherwise, a well bred, super pedigreed dog without good training is just a frustrating poop maker.

[sxshooter]

Some more pics of some beautiful bird dogs.These are Braque Francais or French Pointers (the smaller variety) that I looked at buying a puppy from a future litter of the female up in Santa Ynez last spring. Ultimately, it would have been a couple grand for a puppy from these folks, then at least a year of puppy stuff then training and feeding for that whole time. I opted to pass on going the 'raise the puppy' route. They look like a good breed, very similar to the english pointer, but are obscure enough in the U.S. that they are pricey.

[cbrazor1]

can german shepard be traind to be a biird dog

[sxshooter]

Really?Is there any particular reason you'd want to do that? It's a predator and it's got a proven record of high levels of training. I believe you could get a shepard to hunt birds. But it would be limited in it's athletic ability. Probably be a slow and relatively short hunt. You'd have to go thru everything you'd do with any other breed and you'd probably have to force retrieve the dog too, lest it chew up your birds. If you have the ability to train, I suppose it's possible. I've seen a complete mutt being trained to hunt birds.

[sxshooter]

... After hunting South Dakota a few years back and getting snowed on, after a day or two the only dogs able to handle the weather were Labs, some had icesicles hanging off their chins and still hunting in 15 degree weather. I decided at that time I would get another Lab, only this time I would do the proper research on bloodline and breeder. ...

Mac,I love my Lab. But I ain't huntin in 15 degree weather. At least I don't plan on it. But really, I get more concerned about the warmer weather than the cold weather. I run into it more often here in CA. When temps get above about the mid 50's I keep a close eye on my dog and give breaks and water often. When it gets above 70F, I don't take her out for more than a short hunt on anything except dove. She's a hard charging dog and her activity level is very high so she generates a lot of heat. I've had to pull her out of the field on some mid 70s days when she was getting a bit overheated. That's one of the reasons I got a pointer. The lab gets tapped out quickly on warm days and she's generally in excellent shape.

[hydehunter]

labs all the way have had 4 over the years and they were all great dogs but since I had to put my 6 yr old last June due to a blown out knee,I am missing my lab.so next June we retire and move to So.Dakota and I told my wife the first thing I am doing after buying a piece of land is to find a good breeder and get a puppy or 2 and get back to bird hunting.

[X EAGLE 23 X]

Here's a pic of my black lab retrieving a pheasant a few weeks ago

[cattledog04]

Great pics. Thanks for all the opinions.

[stephen722]

running a wire hair these days but have tried most breeds, love the pointers for wild birds on puplic land! something about watching as they catch scent, turn, locate and point at 200 yards, holding the birds till you get there. have fun stephen

[DirtyDave]

sxshooter, you have some great lookin dogs!My pup is 4 months old now. Going to start the training pretty soon.

[DirtyDave]

I have always been my own bird-dog. Cant wait til my new pup is ready.Next year when I take her to South Dakota I wont have to squeeze into the Culverts to retrieve my birds hahaha. My shoulders just barely fit in this one. Rooster hit the ground and ran into this culvert and died just out of reach. Had a set of shooting sticks in the suburban and had to use them as "tongs" to reach the bird and drag him out. It was worth it. He had 26" tail feathers.

[ShooterJohn]

That's putting out some effort Dave.

[KNOCKED UP]

Just noticed that you are also a neighbor.Tom

[64ssking]

how would a gsp do on a rabbit hunt?

[ShooterJohn]

Probably chase the rabbits. Mine used to.

[Troy08er]

You are probably going to have to be a lot more specific. What is the primary bird you're going to hunt? Duck, upland game? Will the dog be doing just one bird, or multiple species. Is it going to be just a hunting dog, or is it a family dog in the off season? Dogs are a tool when hunting, and no one tool does every job best. There are too many variables to just say what dog makes a god bird dog. It will all boil down to all it's intended uses.

+1 It's all about quail and chukar for me so I like EP and GSP.I have one GSP and I'm getting an EP in about 6 weeks the litter just hit the ground.

[Tuolumne85]

I love watching pointers work but have hunted behind labs and Chesapeakes my whole life so I have an attachment to them. But there is nothing prettier than a pointer when they get birdy and get on point, and on wild birds they will usually set you up with a better shot. If your not gonna hunt ducks and your used to cow dogs you should get a pointer. That's my opinion.