Hunting dog for waterfowl?
KMcKane
lost our family dog due to old age. We are now starting to talk about what
kind
of dog we would like to add to our family. My husband has started to talk
about
how he would like to have a hunting dog this time, specifically for duck. I
have
no problem with this, a sometimes hunter myself, but i would like a dog
that will integrate with our family well and possibly not shed quite as much as
a
lab. Breeds that come to mind are, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Weimeranner
(Sp?) or a german shorthair....
Also, is it just me or do yellow labs not seem as spastic as black labs?
Any input would be appreciated.
Thank you very much!
katie mckane
WebbWeave
Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Weimeranner
(Sp?) or a german shorthair....
I *think* that Chessies might not be all that wonderful with your kids' friends
-- ask Paulette about that one.
Weims aren't so great for ducks.
Shorthairs are WONDERful for everything, but pretty energetic as puppies. As
grownups too, for that matter. Any of those breeds are going to need LOTS of
excercise in between hunting trips. LOTS!
If you decide on a Shorthair (sweetest of the dogs you mentioned), be sure you
check the parents for water work. Some shorthairs, even though they aren't
supposed to, *hate* water. And you may have to make some provision for keeping
them warm, due to lack of undercoat 9or overcoat, for that matter), depending
on your climate.
Jane Webb
Mudpie & Moonpie
WebbWeave
I think Weims are more classically
upland, but could probably do ducks.
They don't have webbed feets, which shorthairs do.
BRD...@webtv.net
kmc...@aol.com (KMcKane) wrote:
> Hello, We are a family with 3 kids, ages 7,4 and 2 1/2 and have recently
> lost our family dog due to old age.
Sorry
We are now starting to talk about what
> kind
> of dog we would like to add to our family. My husband has started to talk
> about
> how he would like to have a hunting dog this time, specifically for duck. I
> have
> no problem with this, a sometimes hunter myself, but i would like a dog
> that will integrate with our family well and possibly not shed quite as much as
> a
> lab. Breeds that come to mind are, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Weimeranner
> (Sp?) or a german shorthair....
Please do not get a CHESSIE,as they are VERY SERIOUS dogs.
If you would like more info on this email me.
That said,what kind of dog was your last one?
> Also, is it just me or do yellow labs not seem as spastic as black labs?
No,they shouldn't be.
> Any input would be appreciated.
> Thank you very much!
> katie mckane
If I were to pick a breed and sex for you it would be a female lab...
Easier than the three breeds you mentioned,and less activity level.
Paulette~
and brown dogs four~
--
A dogs life is too short...
Their only fault really...
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Share what you know. Learn what you don't.
Amy Dahl
are Labs, followed by Goldens and Chesapeakes. If you want
to consider a long list of breeds, people also use Flat-Coated
Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, American and
Irish Water Spaniels, and Springers. But there is a reason
the "big three" are the most popular. If you are not an
experienced trainer and want a dog that is likely to do most
things right, with a minimum of professional assistance, stick
with them. Personally, I'd get a Lab or Chesapeake--two great
breeds with very different personalities. If you want
absolute devotion, protectiveness, sensitivity to and awareness
of all of the details of your family's life, consider a
Chesapeake (but be aware that owning a protective dog is a
responsibility). If you want a basically phlegmatic dog who
isn't bothered by much, is generally happy, and likes everybody,
look at Labs.
In either case, though, find a good breeder who understands
working ability and temperament.
My belief about color in Labs is that, if certain personalities
seem to be associated with a given color, it is because there
are a small number of colored studs who have a big impact on
dogs of that color, not something associated with the color gene
per se. There are plenty of black Labs with good temperament,
and it is easier both to breed, and to find, a good dog that is
black than any other color.
Chesapeakes, however, tend to be calm in the house and in the
duck blind.
KMcKane wrote:
>
> Hello, We are a family with 3 kids, ages 7,4 and 2 1/2 and have recently
> lost our family dog due to old age. We are now starting to talk about what
> kind
> of dog we would like to add to our family. My husband has started to talk
> about
> how he would like to have a hunting dog this time, specifically for duck. I
> have
> no problem with this, a sometimes hunter myself, but i would like a dog
> that will integrate with our family well and possibly not shed quite as much as
> a
> lab. Breeds that come to mind are, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Weimeranner
> (Sp?) or a german shorthair....
> Also, is it just me or do yellow labs not seem as spastic as black labs?
> Any input would be appreciated.
> Thank you very much!
> katie mckane
--
Amy Frost Dahl Retriever Training phone: (910) 295-6710
Oak Hill Kennel & Handling email: a...@oakhillkennel.com
Pinehurst, NC 28370 (http://www.oakhillkennel.com)
Amy Dahl
Cindy Tittle Moore wrote:
>
> This may be heresy, but I haven't seen that 1) webbed feet are all
> that much different from dog to dog and that 2) it makes much of
> a difference in swimming.
>
FWIW, I used to be a competitive swimmer, and at that time (early
eighties) we all swam with our fingers separated, not pressed
together. If people can get a strong pull with fingers separated,
I'd wager dogs without webbing between their toes could as well.
> I've compared my labs feet against other breeds and either there are
> many more dogs with webbed feet than is commonly supposed, or else
> its more of a myth than anything else.
>
I've seen lots of webbed feet also, on dogs that are not claimed to
have any breed history of swimming.
Brian
breeders are working hard to maintain avid waterfowl hunting traits in their
lines. They are smart dog, love water and are avid retrievers. They are
somewhat smaller than other retrievers but have a hardy coat and people who
hunt with them say they are as game as any lab in cold weather. I've also
had friends and breeders tell me they are great with kids. They do shed and
have a similar coat to a golden (but smaller dog means less fur generally)
Otherwise i would recommend a good field bred lab - despite rather constant
shedding of its shorter coat, it is a fine companion and hunter.
BT
KMcKane wrote in message <19990612004736...@ng-fk1.aol.com>...
AlGreen
>Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retrievers might be a good bet. Most of the good
>breeders are working hard to maintain avid waterfowl hunting traits in their
>lines. They are smart dog, love water and are avid retrievers. They are
They are nice, but honestly? If it's a family dog first and then a hunting
dog? I might go with a Lab or a Golden. Both of these are a little more
forgiving of life and things in general.
Ann, Twzl, Sligo and Roy
--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Hardin in response to why you shouldn't spay or neuter...
Because it costs the parents their gender and thereby some of their happiness.
Paulette B.Nolan
>I think that Chessies might not be all that
>wonderful with your kids' friends -- ask Paulette >about that one.
You "thunk" right : )
>Weims aren't so great for ducks.
>Shorthairs are WONDERful for everything, but
>pretty energetic as puppies.
Yup, and their puppies for a long long time : )
> As grownups too,
Are they ever "mature"?
>for that matter. Any of those breeds are going to
>need LOTS of excercise in between hunting >trips. LOTS!
>If you decide on a Shorthair (sweetest of the
>dogs you mentioned), be sure you check the
>parents for water work. Some shorthairs, even >though they aren't
supposed to, *hate* water.
Oh, I remember well Brier's jowls!
What a swimmer too!
I have some great pics of him on the bow of the boat,and then diving off
the docks...
My poor Brier he was so ah er....NUTS!
and I loved himxoxo
>And you may have to make some provision for
>keeping them warm, due to lack of undercoat
>9or overcoat, for that matter), depending on >your climate.
Jane Webb
Mudpie & Moonpie
I swear Brier was a Beau Brummell!
What a peacock he was,when I would put a coat on him to warm him up.
I had this dog coat that was made by the same people that do horse
coats, and it was navy and khaki small plaid,with wonderful leather and
brass buckles.
He really looked handsome.
He would sit behind the wheel of my car and if I was gone to long,he
would either start beeping the horn,HONEST,or jump out the window,and
sneak into the store!
He was a SLIPPERY SNEAK!
Oh me thinks she would like to get another GSP!
Paulette~
Feeling like "Moondancing" while listening to Van's great new album,
"Back On Top" still the "Brown Eyed Girl"
Cris Waller
wrote:
>? Of the retrieving breeds, Curlies and Labs shed the least (which
>is not to say that either does no shedding). Weims do not shed that much
>but do shed.
>
>If you have a problem with the amount that labs shed, it may be
>difficult to find what you want.
Well, there's always the Standard Poodle!
(can't wait till I actually see one working...)
Cris Waller
Cr...@ix.netcom.com
Fast Fourward Flyball Team
www.flyball.com/fastfourward/index.html
Flat-coated retriever art gallery
http://members.tripod.com/antique_fcr/index.html
Pupwalker
>
> Quote:
> I think Weims are more classically
> upland, but could probably do ducks.
>
> They don't have webbed feets, which shorthairs do.
> Mudpie & Moonpie
some one exlain this one please.
Paulette B.Nolan
>Amy Dahl writes
>If you want absolute devotion, protectiveness,
>sensitivity to and awareness of all of the details
>of your family's life, consider a Chesapeake (but
>be aware that owning a protective dog is a >responsibility).
A wonderful description of my beloved brown dogs!
People don't get that sensitivity thing,much : (
Paulette and brown dogs four~
WebbWeave
Well -- Mudpie is 15, and fairly staid. Fairly. But then, she's not a guy!
Oh me thinks she would like to get another GSP!
You would! You would!
WebbWeave
I haven't seen that 1) webbed feet are all
that much different from dog to dog and that 2) it makes much of
a difference in swimming.
You may have a point. Most of my dogs' webs have been fairly pronounced (maybe
that's because of the last name, though) -- more, ah, webby, than most dogs.
A good web does make a difference in swimming if it isn't counteracted by a
bunch of fur. Not a huge difference, but some.
WebbWeave
Since When? I have both seen and read that they do!?!?
some one exlain this one please.
Well, they do, and AFAIK, always have done. They are really supposed to be
all-around farm dogs -- mainly upland game, but waterfowl as well. ALso herding
-- you'd be surprised.
Brian
AlGreen wrote in message <7jtt9i$nqe$1...@panix3.panix.com>...
>In <tBu83.20$lx4.1...@news.bctel.net> "Brian" <a3a0...@bc.sympatico.ca>
writes:
>
>>Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retrievers might be a good bet. Most of the good
>>breeders are working hard to maintain avid waterfowl hunting traits in
their
>>lines. They are smart dog, love water and are avid retrievers. They are
>
>
>They are nice, but honestly? If it's a family dog first and then a hunting
>dog? I might go with a Lab or a Golden. Both of these are a little more
>forgiving of life and things in general.
The Tollers I've met and known have had wonderful dispostions. They may not
be quite as good-natured as a Golden, they are wonderful eager to please,
biddable dogs.
BT
Cris Waller
wrote:
>>They are nice, but honestly? If it's a family dog first and then a hunting
>>dog? I might go with a Lab or a Golden. Both of these are a little more
>>forgiving of life and things in general.
>
>The Tollers I've met and known have had wonderful dispostions. They may not
>be quite as good-natured as a Golden, they are wonderful eager to please,
>biddable dogs.
I have only met a few, but the ones I have known have been maniacal
for work. They are decidedly *not* calm dogs. I thought my flatcoat
was impossible to tire out, but that was only until I got to know the
little Toller on our flyball team! Not a dog for someone who wants a
couch potato or occasional worker!
The ones I have met have not ben aggressive (but as there are few
Tollers on the West Coast, my sample isn't too random- I think all the
dogs I know are fairly closely related, and all are working agility
dogs so are well-socialized and trained). However, much like many
Border Collies, they seem simply so intense for work that they don't
have time to sit still and be petted.
AlGreen
>>They are nice, but honestly? If it's a family dog first and then a hunting
>>dog? I might go with a Lab or a Golden. Both of these are a little more
>>forgiving of life and things in general.
>The Tollers I've met and known have had wonderful dispostions. They may not
>be quite as good-natured as a Golden, they are wonderful eager to please,
>biddable dogs.
They also need WAAAAY more work to do than an average Golden, are NOT as
forgiving of bumbling dogs in their faces, and are NOT as forgiving of
bumbling human who aren't especially dog-wise. They are nice dogs, and are
good for people who plan on working a dog hard. But I certainly wouldn't
suggest them as a family dog for a family that hasn't had dogs before.
I think that most Toller breeders would agree.
Pupwalker
Not really, I have a wiem/dal with webbed feet and she does retreave, in
addition to 101 other things, other than mature that is!:)
Chinchuba
A lab or golden is likely to be a good family dog, but it ain't necessarily a
given that it's got hunting instincts unless you get one bred for field work.
But then, you would hafta be careful that you don't get a supercharged
"thrumming" dog, (as I believe Cindy put it :-]) like some of the field trial
stock tends to produce. All in all, though, it'll be easier to teach a smart
working dog house manners than to try (as a first time trainer) to get a
non-birdy dog to fetch ducks in cold water, IMO (with 2 field bred JH goldens
curled at my feet).
I'd look into some MH (that's master hunter) labs or goldens who are also house
critters to find the correct temperament. You'll find your choice at:
www.working-retriever.com
As to the shedding issue, a lot of you know where I stand on that. Get minimal
shedding by choosing a pup from low shedding lines, feed premium food like Euk,
suplement with a pine bark and/or grape seed anti-oxident, swim daily, and get
'em plenty of sunshine year round. Meanwhile, the vacume is your friend :-),
and the dog's, too - use the upholstry brush to vacume the dog directly and cut
out the middle man (carpets, furniture, etc).
As to the yellow lab/spastic issue - I agree with Cindy that ALL labs are
*equally* spastic <WEG> so do yourself a favor and get a golden!!! A big ole
cuddly teddy bear of a dog, great with kids, *and* all the duck dog dad can
handle (if well bred), as well.
Now, to Chris:
I train with a poodle!! Not an ounce of fat, so I have my doubts what he'll do
in cold water (not that it gets too awfully cold in S. Luziana), not much nose
compared to my goldens, and it does look awfully prissy sometimes, but heck!
He's smart as a whip and can really take a lot of pressure wothout folding, and
the pooch does get the job done. He's finished 2 started's in UKC hunt tests,
and he is handling pretty durn good, (even if I say so myself, being the one
who is teaching the owner how to do it). Birdy, but lacks terrain courage, so
who knows how far he'll go? Of course, if you had taken the average show bred
*whatever* at a couple of years old and started training, you wouldn't have
gotten much better. My deal with the the guy is that the dog has to wear
ribbons and nail polish to finish his MH! Wanna give this one a shot, Amy? :->
Susan Fraser, with
SheBop, JH, OCD, ADD, and the world's only Golden BC
and
Shamma Lamma, Mensa Member and Olympic Golden Caninethelete
(Email me? Just take out the dog.)
Brian
Cindy Tittle Moore wrote in message <7k0s7o$f5$1...@eris.io.com>...
>"Brian" <a3a0...@bc.sympatico.ca> writes:
>
>>>They are nice, but honestly? If it's a family dog first and then a
hunting
>>>dog? I might go with a Lab or a Golden. Both of these are a little more
>>>forgiving of life and things in general.
>
>>The Tollers I've met and known have had wonderful dispostions. They may
not
>>be quite as good-natured as a Golden, they are wonderful eager to please,
>>biddable dogs.
>
>Toller is too often thought of as a "miniature Golden" -- and anyone
>expecting a Golden temperament of a Toller is not going to be
>pleasantly surprised. Tollers are wonderful little dogs, but do not
>behave like Goldens.
For the most part i would agree, but I know several Tollers who are very
relaxed and several Goldens who are spastic. We can't always generalize
breed characteristics to each individual dog. Tollers are hard workers but
so is any field bred lab.
BT
Brian
Cris Waller wrote in message <3763caa4...@nntp.ix.netcom.com>...
hunting
>>>dog? I might go with a Lab or a Golden. Both of these are a little more
>>>forgiving of life and things in general.
>>
>>The Tollers I've met and known have had wonderful dispostions. They may
not
>>be quite as good-natured as a Golden, they are wonderful eager to please,
>>biddable dogs.
>
>for work. They are decidedly *not* calm dogs. I thought my flatcoat
>was impossible to tire out, but that was only until I got to know the
>little Toller on our flyball team! Not a dog for someone who wants a
>couch potato or occasional worker!
>
>The ones I have met have not ben aggressive (but as there are few
>Tollers on the West Coast, my sample isn't too random- I think all the
>dogs I know are fairly closely related, and all are working agility
>dogs so are well-socialized and trained). However, much like many
>Border Collies, they seem simply so intense for work that they don't
>have time to sit still and be petted.
They certainly can be this way, especially if being bred from good hunting
lines. They are probably a bit more adaptable that a BC but still "need" to
retrieve. Other Tollers I have come across have been much less intense and
hae a more relaxed personality.
BT
Sudhir B Nayak
My suggestion is to find a good breeder that has some MH or JH (Master
Hunter or Juinor Hunter) titled Labs/GSPs/Goldens/Chessies (or what ever
flavor that you want) and speak with them in person
and look at, and interact with, their dogs. If you are a SERIOUS
hunter then perhaps you should look for breeders with FC/AFC/NFC titles.
Tell them what kind of
hunting you like to do and in what weather and how much training you want
to do....and if you are going to seek the help of a professional to help
you. Most will talk your ear off and you have have to escape!!!!! Before
you get any "field" bred dog (regardless of the breed) be sure you
know what you are getting into. Some of them have more energy than the
average person wants and as a result will take more work. Keep in
mind that a dog like a Lab or Chessie will do a lot better in water
(espically when its cold) than a Weim. Also keep in mind that
there are some very strong breed specific traits.....like the very
protective nature of Chessies. Basically with some research you can answer
many of your own questions as to which breeds are good for your family.
There are a lot of vocal sporting dog people on this group and I'm sure
you will get plelty of replies.
One more thing....its a scientific fact that Labradors are the greatest
dogs in the world. I'm not bias or anything......because I have one.....
KMcKane (kmc...@aol.com) wrote:
: Hello, We are a family with 3 kids, ages 7,4 and 2 1/2 and have recently
LK Degitz
> that will integrate with our family well and possibly not shed quite as much as
> a
> lab.
You received lots of good advice to research/reflect more into the kind of
temperament you most want to live with and work with. As noted, the
classic duck dogs (Labs, Chessies) are very different from each other.
If versatile hunting dogs continue to appeal to you, you might also
consider a German Wirehaired Pointer. They are tough dogs--more like a
Chessie in attitude--but can be a good match for an active, dog saavy
hunting family. Shedding is minimal; however, be aware that not all
breeders are consistently producing GWPs with the correct wirey (not soft)
coat.
In any case, whether you go retriever or versatile hunting dog, get in
touch with breed fanciers involved in hunting, hunt tests, and/or
trialling. You would want a pup from field-tested & health-tested lines
who will hunt!
FYI, for those into AKC trivia, of the versatile hunting dogs, only German
Wirehaired Pointers and Weimaraners are required to pass a water test in
order to earn an AKC field championship. As Jane noted, one must not take
a love of water for granted in GSPs, or wonderful working ability for
granted in any breed (but especially those that are especially popular as
pets/non-hunting dogs, such as labs, goldens, weims).
/Lynne & the weird Weimaraners
Gimel & Riga
TRich45527
I see you are interested in hunting dogs. If you are looking for bird dogs the
best I have found are the English Springer Spaniel Field Trial Line. By the
way, I have a male and female 4 yrs. old available. Also I have a litter of
puppies, they will be ready the first of July.
Please contact me at trich...@aol.com
Thank you