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Hunting >> Hunting dogs

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mehulkamdar
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
Looking for dog suggestions
      #60378 - 26/07/06 12:29 PM

Friends,

I am looking for a new 4 legged buddy, and preferrably one whom I can use for hunting. I hope to hunt waterfowl and some upland game on private property. I have a small condo - just 1200 square feet - but we have a 12 acre open area attached to the place where we can exercise dogs and there are several lovely parks within a short walk from my place to exercise the new dog. I also have an old friend, a Tibetan Terrier who came with us to the USA from India and is a senior citizen now, 10 years old. The new dog will have to get along with him.

My wife wants a Labrador Retriever but I have always had a desire to own a Weimaraner - don't ask me why. An irrational desire that I cannot explain. However, people I have talked to tell me that Weimaraners are difficult dogs to keep with other smaller breeds around. I have no experience of having had a Weimaraner, nor do I know anyone who has one. Please suggest a breed - it need not be these two alone.

The dog breeds I have had in the past were a Dalmatian, an Airedale Terrier, a Rough Coated Collie, a Rottweiler mix and a Cocker Spaniel. I have trained dogs as an amateur mainly as guard dogs for private residences including Alsatians, Dobermanns and Bull Terriers. I have never trained a dog to flush birds or retrieve them though I shall be doing that with my new dog, whatever breed it is, with advice from experienced hunters and trainers.

Thanks for all suggestions in advance and best wishes,

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar


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banzaibird
.333 member


Reged: 18/09/05
Posts: 358
Loc: S.C. Pennsylvania, USA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #60396 - 26/07/06 10:15 PM

Mehul,

I highly recommend a Deutsch Drahthaar (DD). I owned a few different breeds of sporting dogs before I got the DD I have now. She is just over 2 now and is by far the best dog I've ever owned. They are a versatile breed and are the parent breed to the German Wired-haired Pointers (GWP) here in the USA. However they are bred to a much different standard than the GWP. All DD’s must pass hunt tests before they are eligible to breed. This in all seems to give them a leg up on most other breeds. Now please don’t take this as there aren’t any good GWP’s there are. However in general you will get a superior dog from the DD lines.

Anyway the breed is capable of most anything hunting. They point, they do water, they blood track large game, etc, etc... They are very prey driven and aren’t very likely to give up on anything. However they are also very adaptable to training and quite obedient once they are trained. As an example it is nothing for my dog to track rabbits (that she didn’t see) for 500-800 meters with the occasional longer one. However when she produces the rabbit and starts her chase you can whistle her back or down almost immediately. Thus they have huge drive and yet it can be controlled.

DD’s do have quite a bit of energy. However as a whole they aren’t high strung dogs. My house is only 1,400 sq feet and I only have ½ acre of property. This works well for her daily life as long as she gets exercised 2-3 times a week. This is not a problem as I use that time as training time. To help improve her field search, tracking etc. Thus she gets a mental workout as well as a physical one. This type of play/training really works out well. By the time she was 8 months old she had already retrieved 40-50 geese, about 60 ducks, pointed numerous upland birds including pheasant, grouse, woodcock and quail. And had successfully blood tracked 2 deer one was only about 300 meters and 4 hours old the other however was 10 hours old (overnight) and in the neighborhood of ½ mile on a gut shot deer. I might add neither of which were deer I shot .

I don’t want you to think that all is rosy with no problems or complications. Dogs like many things comes down to you get out what you put in to them. The DD needs a firm hand in training. They also need to be mentally challenged occasionally. They are smart dogs and when you watch them you can see them going through the process of figuring things out. They do well with smaller dogs if they are raised with them. My pup came to the house when we still had the wife’s dachshund. He was 12 at the time. He has since passed away but that had nothing to do with Elsa. The DD’s in general are very very hard on furry little creatures. They thinking nothing of taking on raccoons, porcupines (quills don’t seem to slow them down), skunks, possums, etc. Thus they aren’t very good to have in a house with cats or other small creatures like chinchillas etc. The furry stuff won’t last long. Though some people have successfully done it in general it isn’t recommended if you like the smaller furry creatures.

There is some great information on the breed at VDD/GNA
and vom Fuchsfluesschen .

I’ve included a couple of pics of my girl.

Bill




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mehulkamdar
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: banzaibird]
      #60407 - 27/07/06 02:48 AM

Bill,

Many thanks for your advice. She is a really beautiful girl indeed! I'll check the website out and also try to find out if there are any owners in and around Chicago.

Thanks again and good hunting!

Mehul

--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar


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SAHUNT
Sponsor


Reged: 27/12/04
Posts: 900
Loc: Centurion, RSA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #60418 - 27/07/06 05:02 AM

Mehul,
My favotite dog is a " Brown spotted great white" alias a Jack Russel. It is a bundle of pleasure. In my mind one of the best tracking dogs and very awake and they can point. The only problem is that they totally misjudge their own size, hence my name for them. They will take on anything and are fearless, yet they will cuddle on your lap and snug in behind your back in bed.

Wonderful dogs is all I can say.

--------------------
Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience


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Taylor416
.300 member


Reged: 25/11/04
Posts: 161
Loc: Central West, New South Wales....
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #60442 - 27/07/06 06:13 PM

Could not agree more with SAHUNT, I've had Jack Russells for several years and my current bitch has accounted for several 80 to 100 kilo boars by herself, is very calm around deer and goes to point and really does think she is a 30 kilogram dog. With the boars she bails them, and if they won't go to bail she goes for the "tackle". Tthey sit immediately and she runs to the front and bails. Most people don't believe it until they see it. A better companion you couldn't find, but as for retrieving waterfowl etc, I think she would have too hard a mouth. I have a German Wire Hair for that.

cheers

Chris

--------------------
Love to hunt!


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banzaibird
.333 member


Reged: 18/09/05
Posts: 358
Loc: S.C. Pennsylvania, USA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: Taylor416]
      #60449 - 28/07/06 12:00 AM

Jacks are great dogs. I'm a falconer and they are one of the breeds that get used extensively for that purpose. Most of the terriers make great little hunting dogs. All of them think they are at least 5 times larger than they actually are . One of the best terriers I ever hunted over was a Kerry Blue and she does quite well in the water, providing it's not too cold. Here it's nothing for it to be below freezing for much of the duck season.

I also am pretty impressed with the wire-haired viszla's.

Allot of this depends on the hunting style. Does he want to flush (pointers) do you want the dog to flush (spaniels) do you want primarily watefowl (retreivers) do you want all out dog (terriers) etc.... This small sampling is why I like the versatile breeds because you get some of everything. They may not be a true master of anything but are usually more than adaquate in all aspects.

Bill

P.S.- If I figure out how to get it in the right format I have a video of a DD balling up a black bear. The bear had decided it wanted the cooler of the cabin porch. The DD decided otherwise .


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SAHUNT
Sponsor


Reged: 27/12/04
Posts: 900
Loc: Centurion, RSA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: Taylor416]
      #60462 - 28/07/06 05:13 AM

Chis,
Strange ebnough my JR hates warthogs, if I shoot one he attacks them, with antelope he licks their teeth and eys.

JR's got their own way of doing things. When they look in a mirror, they see a Great Dane

--------------------
Life is how you pass the time between hunting trips.
Sometimes I do not express myself properly in the English language, please forgive me, I am just a boertjie.
Jaco Human
jacohu@mweb.co.za
SA Hunting Experience


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Taylor416
.300 member


Reged: 25/11/04
Posts: 161
Loc: Central West, New South Wales....
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: SAHUNT]
      #60488 - 28/07/06 07:29 PM

SAHUNT,

LOL, that is a pretty good analogy of their characters. I have a Parsons Jack Russell, they are a long legged dog, her first boar, she walked up to it when the little Jackie bailed him, she was wagging her tail and he launched her through the air for about 15 feet, no injuries, but needless to say she hates them now, came straight back in tho and took hold of an ear, quite funny to watch. Luckily i had a lugging dog thast could hold a big boar or she may have disappeared into the sunset.


cheers and good hunting

Chris


--------------------
Love to hunt!


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luv2safari
.400 member


Reged: 09/11/03
Posts: 1410
Loc: United States
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #60519 - 29/07/06 12:32 PM

My dad was a hobby dog trainer and breeder, and I grew up thinking that meals were taken on all fours...until I left home...

I have had and helped train many fine breeds, but the one I fell in love with was the Llewellin Setter. They are the most tractible dog I've ever worked with, and they live to please their master. They do well with other dogs and live inside well, providing that you get them out for runs...not walks...RUNS!

My Ms. Scarlet lives for two things...me and bird hunting. They may get very big or just be of average stature, about the same as their brothers, the English Setters. The LLewellins tend come along faster than the Enslish; Setters are notorious for being a bit slower to develop, but not so with Llewellins. That was an integral point in their breeding and development. They are great water dogs as well as upland pointing dogs. I believe there are several pix of Scarlett in the thread below..."Some pictures of my dog, Siegfried" by NitroX

There are no bad dogs, just people who make them that way...

--------------------
Hunt with Class and Classics


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mehulkamdar
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 3688
Loc: State of Ill-Annoy USA.
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: SAHUNT]
      #60627 - 01/08/06 02:03 AM

Jaco,

I would be using the dog mainly for bird hunts - am not sure a JRT would be good for that? Personally, I love terriers - had an Airedale and was very fond of her. They are tough dogs, but probably too tough for bird hunts.

I couldn't go to check out some pups the past weekend as it was very hot. Will do it if there is some rain this week and it is cooler.

Thank you very much for all suggestions, gentlemen, and Good Hunting!


--------------------
The Ark was made by amateurs. Experts built the Titanic.

Mehul Kamdar


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AzGuy
.333 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 388
Loc: Prescott, Arizona, USA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: mehulkamdar]
      #61373 - 18/08/06 02:44 PM

Maybe you can make both your wife and you happy!
Please consider a "pointing Lab" ---- these have a pointer's nose and the Lab's personality. This advice is coming a true GSP (German Shorthair Pointer) fan. At one time, I had Father, Son, and Grandson....all wonderful dogs and great hunters. Now that I'm 50+, I can't keep up with these beautiful hounds. So 4 years ago I tried a pointing lab...and a female!

First female hunting dog in my life. They truely want to please and are hunting fools. I work mine on Arizona quail and Wyo/ND/SD pheasants. She points and retrieves and sleeps on the bed. These dogs are great hunters, want to please, and wonderful house pets.

Look at Black Forest Kennels, Tiger Mountain Kennels, and Snake River Pointing Labs...they all have web sites. I'm sold, I just got a new pup and will be hunting her this fall.

Good luck and let us know what you end up with!

--------------------
Hike the Grand Canyon, you will never be the same!


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bulldog563
.400 member


Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: AzGuy]
      #70134 - 25/01/07 05:48 AM

Just curious but does she really point?

I am also looking for a dog and have pretty much narrowed it down to either a DD or DK. Couple of excellent breeds well worth considering

--------------------
Join the National Rifle Association:
https://membership.nrahq.org/forms/signup.asp


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AzGuy
.333 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 388
Loc: Prescott, Arizona, USA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: bulldog563]
      #73192 - 05/03/07 02:28 PM

Bulldog,

Sorry for the late replay.

YES SHE POINTS!! She locks up, with one foot off the ground and "holds". I now have her half sister, and at 6-7months she was pointing and retrieving pheasants. Both dogs will point Gambel and Mearns quail here in AZ. Loved my GSP's but would never go back to GSP's and/or males.

Good hunting, Jeff.


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AzGuy
.333 member


Reged: 23/03/06
Posts: 388
Loc: Prescott, Arizona, USA
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: banzaibird]
      #73193 - 05/03/07 02:33 PM


Banzabird,

Your "post picture"

I'm sure that dog is better looking than you! Good looking DAWG!!


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christoph
.224 member


Reged: 11/04/07
Posts: 2
Loc: uk
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: AzGuy]
      #77883 - 03/05/07 02:32 AM

i spend a lot of time out after waterfowl especially geese and depending on what time of year and how much time you spend out on the waterfowl hunt it is a must (here in the uk anyway) to have a dog with a waterproof undercoat so cold water can't come into contact with the dogs skin. a few years ago i was shooting with a friend on an offshore island during a snowstorm after his spaniel had gone into the sea for the 6th time she nearly died of hypothermia because ess don't have the aforesaid undercoat . its not a pleasant site to see an experienced working dog doing its best to pass out of this world ! i would stick with any of the waterdogs which have been bred for wet cold conditions (horses for courses)ie labs , curly coated retrievers , chesapeake bay retrievers , irish water spaniels etc . in extreme weather conditions i suggest you steer clear of pointers , hpr's , terriers and such , i speak as someone who has owned and worked hpr's , labs and spaniels . for general rough shooting hpr's are great but be prepared for frustration when training them they are convinced they know best and i wouldn't recommend them to anyone who is not experienced in training a working gundog if only for the fact that you are training a dog which is bred to do three separate jobs - its like trying to train a pointer , a spaniel and a retriever all at the same time ! mind you when it all comes good its a great feeling . for myself my favourite is still the black lab !


whatever you finally choose good luck

cheers

christoph


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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27316
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Looking for dog suggestions [Re: christoph]
      #77891 - 03/05/07 05:11 AM

Springers and Brittanies - best little hunting buddies a guy ever had - ducks or upland. The Brittany points and fetches, the Springer flushes and fetches - all done perfectly and easily trained form good hunting stock.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V


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