Gun/Family dog...pointer

[Weekday Warrior]

Thinking about getting a gun/family dog



Leaning towards getting a Britney right now.

Anyone here a guru on pointers? Breeder?

 

[theultrarider]

I've never had a Brittany but have had two Springers. We also went through two German short hair pointers growing up as a kid. I can't imagine ever having a better hunting dog than what the short hairs were. Outstanding for pheasants, and every bit as good as most labs in the water. They are more high strung than labs, which I now have two of, but were great when we were kids. The labs I have now are just spoiled house dogs and never hunt. Both the short hairs and Springers are very loving and trusting dogs with the family and very protective. Most owners have no idea just how vicious their little Springers really are. I am a Fedex driver and see them all. The springers are one of the worse if there is no one home. They are very two faced dogs. Talk to some one you know about The German Short Hairs if it is a pointer that you are after for a hunting dog. It is so much fun to watch them lock up on point over a grass clump, then walk up and kick the grass and have a big ol' rooster come flying out of there!!! I sure miss that living in Alaska now, but the riding sure is better here!
Tim

 

[Burndown1]

Get both. Remember little dogs little turds, Big dogs, big turds. Choose your weapon.

 

[brushwolf]

Go with the German Shorthair!!! I have had three and will only get another shorthar when this one goes to puppy heaven. I had a neighbor that was guing ho on labs and was looking to get another one until I took him hunting with my GSP. He promptly went out and got a Shorthair for himself and has had two more since. Great hunters, great family dogs and when in the field they tend to hunt for everybody causethey just don't care as long as they are hunting also. I had one (the one that will always be nearest and dearest to me) that went hunting in more states than I was able to because He went with a friend and relatives that needed a dog to hunt with. He hunted Iowa, ND, SD, MO, WI,MT and of course MN.

 

[RMK7SledHead]

my first preferance is a German Wirehaired Pointer, second being the GSP already mentioned. Currently have a GSP that I "inherited" from a friend. He's my best buddy and hunts like crazy. He's not high-strung like most are, and neither is my roommates' GSP. His is 2 years old, mine is about 6.

Either will be a fantastic hunting dog and family pet. My dog is a big baby, and except when I'm at work is with me 100% of the time. The only thing that gets him is when my triplet nieces/nephew sneek up on him while he's sleeping...he doesn't like being scared.

 

[Makaveli_Rev]

If you are serious about bird hunting go with German Shorthair Pointers

I have 2 and they both have their AKC Master Hunter certificates (compition, where they have to point and stay steady to flush and shoot to so many birds in a certain time length), and both run and place in AKC Field Championships. One is also the first NASTRA (National Shoot To Retrieve Championships) chapter of utah Champion. I would recomend trying to get some dogs out of the Rawhide kennel lines, Rawhide's Clown if you can. SunDance's Prairie Dancer's also have some screamin dogs out of cali.

These dogs a chucker hunting machines, and help me kill 100's of wild birds each year, nothin like being in Nevada chasing wild chuckers! Trust me go with a Rawhide dog.. SlideRock Kennels in granstville utah runs their lines and has phenomenal dogs!

They are very highstrung and run huge though. I mean HUGE. these are top notch dogs and they always stay in sight of you, but sometime that is a mile away. They will stay on point on a covey and not move a muscle till you finally reach them shoot the bird, and then tap them on the head to release them, It usuallly takes us 15 20 minutes to get to the dogs, they got major patience and concentration!!. Call sliderock kennels!

also nothinwrong with a Pointer out of Bullfrog kennels(or their lines) either.

 

[Yellow Sno]

Most owners have no idea just how vicious their little Springers really are. I am a Fedex driver and see them all. The springers are one of the worse if there is no one home. They are very two faced dogs.
Tim

Very uneducated statement. Spaniels are not vicious or two faced. I have been around hundreds of Spaniels, from Springers to Brits to Boykins and English Cockers (what I own and hunt), and have seen ONE kennel brave ECS out of them all. So your dog barks at the FedEx man, thats vicious?

Where and what do you hunt Weekday Warrior? The game you hunt and the style in which you prefer to do it should be the first thing to consider when choosing a breed. I am not a pointer guy (and never will be...who wants to flush the bird themselves?), but I have seen a good share of them work. A good friend of mine has a French Brit that does real well on grouse (ruffs and blues), but can't hold a candle to a Spaniel on pheasant....IMHO no other breed comes close to Spaniels for pheasant hunting.

If you are hunting prairie grouse, huns, or chuckar you would probably do real well over a pointing dog that can run. I have done very well on prairie grouse with Spaniels, but will admit it is not what they are bred for.

 

[RMK7SledHead]

They will stay on point on a covey and not move a muscle till you finally reach them shoot the bird, and then tap them on the head to release them,

<thread-jacking>

I'm not a fan of a chuckar dog that is steady to wing and shot. Personal opinion. On a canyon, a fella will lose quite a few birds that the dog would actually run down if they're on the chase, before they get over the edge.

I know, I know...you never wound birds, especially chuckars. If anyone believes a fella when he says that, I've got a bridge for sale in California...real cheap, great views...kind of orange in color.

<thread-jacking off>

 

[Weekday Warrior]

Very uneducated statement. Spaniels are not vicious or two faced. I have been around hundreds of Spaniels, from Springers to Brits to Boykins and English Cockers (what I own and hunt), and have seen ONE kennel brave ECS out of them all. So your dog barks at the FedEx man, thats vicious?

Where and what do you hunt Weekday Warrior? The game you hunt and the style in which you prefer to do it should be the first thing to consider when choosing a breed. I am not a pointer guy (and never will be...who wants to flush the bird themselves?), but I have seen a good share of them work. A good friend of mine has a French Brit that does real well on grouse (ruffs and blues), but can't hold a candle to a Spaniel on pheasant....IMHO no other breed comes close to Spaniels for pheasant hunting.

If you are hunting prairie grouse, huns, or chuckar you would probably do real well over a pointing dog that can run. I have done very well on prairie grouse with Spaniels, but will admit it is not what they are bred for.

I'll be hunting mostly ruff and blues, occasionally I'll hunt Qual and Pheasant last.

Terrain would be heavy brush wooded areas on slopes that blues love so much. A flusher dog would send the blues down the hill and I'd never see em again (hunted with labs a lot) need a pointer that'll not flush the birds until I get there. I want to flush the birds myself then the dog watch each one fall then go get em on my command.

I trained my last two labs to retreive like that, I'd point to the bird I wanted and he'd straight line to that bird and whoa anywhere anytime. I'm a very basic trainer but looking to get way deeper into it.

I'll be foot hunting mostly, but will use an ATV a ton between areas with a dog box on back.


I watched an interesting show on working flusher (lab) with pointers, the pointer would lock up on a covey then the flusher would go in on command and both retreived. Seems like a good way to ruin a pointer though so I dunno (creeping)

 

[14longshot]

I've had 2 labs that are very loyal and easy to train. I don't know alot about pointing dogs, have hunted over labs majority of the time. What ever you get train train train and when you think you got them trained, train them some more. Nothing worse than hunting with guys that think they have the best dog when they are either yelling at them or blowing that stupid whistle. My lab isn't the best but he know's where I want him.

 

[theultrarider]

Very uneducated statement. Spaniels are not vicious or two faced. I have been around hundreds of Spaniels, from Springers to Brits to Boykins and English Cockers (what I own and hunt), and have seen ONE kennel brave ECS out of them all. So your dog barks at the FedEx man, thats vicious?

Yellow Sno, you have just helped to prove my point! LOL I am a dog person. I have had them all of my 47 yrs. I have been a Fedex driver for 21 yrs in rural Alaska where every home has dogs, most have multiple dogs and very few are fenced or chained. No big deal, this does not bother me. A dog can growl and show teeth and you will still find your box of goodies on the doopstep when you get home. That said, there are many Springers around that will lick and love all over me when the owners are home. When they are not, I can call them by name, feed them dog treats through the window as I try to get out of my truck, and they just flat will try to come at you. The only dog that is worse on a regular basis is a chesapeake. They are just plain bad. Inever believed it either about my own Springers when I owned them until I had a close freind watch one of them while we went on vacation. He and the Dusty knew each other well. Dusty just plain would not let him in the house. Yours may not be that way, great, but that is not the norm that I have found. Not trying to pick a fight with you in anyway, just trying to help someone make an informed decision.
Tim

 

[RIDECATS]

Ever think of a Weimeraner? Basicaly same a GSP but gray.... I'm on my 3rd one and have really enjoyed them. Very versital for hunting and also GREAT family type dog. They ae very willing to please.

One a side note, dogs take lots of energy and are not for the faint of heart, especsially if you get one of these higher strung hunting dogs.

Best of luck with your choice.


PS.... I love watching a pointing dog work it is very fun and very enjoyable

 

[Yellow Sno]

Yellow Sno, you have just helped to prove my point!
Tim

I did no such thing. I said I have been around hundreds of them, all but a few of them were not mine or my friend who trains them for a living. I am not trying to pick a fight either, just standing up for my favorite breed of dogs when I feel they are being slammed. No hard feelings.

Weekday Warrior -- A Brit would be a good choice for you from the sounds of it. I can give you a name of a guy in NW MT who breeds French Brits if you like. He only has one litter a year, so there is more than likely a waiting list. I can vouch that they are good dogs. The ones I have seen are not huge ranging dogs in the woods, but they find birds. PM me or email me @ tomborgos@comcast.net if interested.

I have heard guys that run a pointer and flusher together. Its a great way to ruin a pointer and ruin the drive of a flusher IMO. You better have one hell of a staunch pointer and one hell of a patient flusher.

 

[mtn_extreme]

I'll speak for the Brittany's. Me and my family have had quite a few and in my honest opinion, a female brittany is exactly the dog to fit your bill. My partner right now is a female named Kali that I have had for 4 years and there is yet another breed of dog that will keep up with her chukar hunting, even shorthairs. Say BS if you want but I have seen her still hunting while others are fallowing on their masters heals. And on the other side of the coin, she is awsome with the grandkids and neighbor kids. The best pet companion I have owned (and I've owned alot including labs). Male Brittany's on the other hand have a tendancy to be rangers(like shorthairs) and can be somewhat knotheads(not as bad a shorthairs).

If you decide on Brittany's, pm me if you want any advise.

MX

 

[Makaveli_Rev]

<thread-jacking>

I'm not a fan of a chuckar dog that is steady to wing and shot. Personal opinion. On a canyon, a fella will lose quite a few birds that the dog would actually run down if they're on the chase, before they get over the edge.

I know, I know...you never wound birds, especially chuckars. If anyone believes a fella when he says that, I've got a bridge for sale in California...real cheap, great views...kind of orange in color.

<thread-jacking off>

Steady to wing and shoot is the only way to hunt wild chuckers. Ya if i hunted a stupid game preserve or hunted pheasants i wouldn't want it either. But when you are in Nevada or Hells canyon, and the dogs are half a mile out in front of you, you don't want the dog to flush them. Then you would have no chance! You want the birds to stay in the general vacinity, and when you finally get up there and the birds did by chance move(run), all i have to do is tap my dogs on the head and they will release and reposition and find them again.

 

[Makaveli_Rev]

Ever think of a Weimeraner? Basicaly same a GSP but gray.... I'm on my 3rd one and have really enjoyed them. Very versital for hunting and also GREAT family type dog. They ae very willing to please.

One a side note, dogs take lots of energy and are not for the faint of heart, especsially if you get one of these higher strung hunting dogs.

Best of luck with your choice.


PS.... I love watching a pointing dog work it is very fun and very enjoyable

Basically a GSP but gray.. HAHA, i had 1 before i jumped to the darkslide and joined with sliderock kennels. Thing was loyal but was a turd for hunting, wore out within a couple hours and would not run more than 50 yards out

 

[Spaarky]

My college buddy had a Britt. She was a great dog, not much of a retriever though, well that is until she started hunting with my lab. Then it seemed like she was all over it. The only thing I didnt like was that it seemed like she got cut up a lot. He even had a vest for her.

One time we were hunting a slough, and she went on point. The farmer just happened to pull up in his truck. We stood and talked for 15 minutes or so, all while she was on a steady point. Low and behold the pheasant was still there, when we got back.

He now has a Gordon, Llwyellen(sp?), English, and Irish Setter. They are all a blast to hunt with. The Gordon and Llwyllen are my favorite though. I would love to have one too, but I think the long hair would drive me nuts.

Personally, I have never had a experience with a GS, that I would call outstanding. I am sure they are out there though. Everyone we have hunted with, my lab would pheasant hunt circles around.

 

[EricW]

Hey Warrior:

Long time no see. You might want to talk to Doc Erickson the chiro in Colville. He is a breeder/trainer of "pointing labs". You should see his dog Casey work, its amazing. Best of both worlds in my opinion. The are having small field trials beside the Chewelah Casino fairly often now, but the Doc would put Casey through the moves just to give ya a show at his house up Alladin. He could also tell ya when the next trials are where you might meet/see some good dogs and breeders as well. Good luck. EW

 

[RMK7SledHead]

Steady to wing and shoot is the only way to hunt wild chuckers. Ya if i hunted a stupid game preserve or hunted pheasants i wouldn't want it either. But when you are in Nevada or Hells canyon, and the dogs are half a mile out in front of you, you don't want the dog to flush them. Then you would have no chance! You want the birds to stay in the general vacinity, and when you finally get up there and the birds did by chance move(run), all i have to do is tap my dogs on the head and they will release and reposition and find them again.

We'll just agree to disagree. I've never paid to hunt birds, never once shot on a "preserve" and hate pheasant hunting. A dog doesn't have to be steady to wing and shot to hold birds till you get there. They just have to be good. My dog moves with the birds and doesn't break them. I don't have to go to my dog first, then go to the birds. If you're next to my dog, you're within 40 yards...you don't want to be next to the dog on point anyway when coming in on chuckar, but alas, if you didn't already know that about chuckar hunting, then there will be more birds in the mountains for me to kill (or shoot at...I ain't the best shot in the world. LOL). Have fun, shoot straight, and ENJOY WATCHING THE DOGS WORK! I honestly enjoy watching Tanner run through the sagebrush and work for birds than any other form of hunting. Deer, elk, whatever...bird hunting over a pointer is one of the greatest things ever invented.

 

[Makaveli_Rev]

Yes, other than archery elk and a late season muley hunt. Where you hunt? We mainly stick to the north west nevada near the owhayee's or howerever you spell them