Advice on Upland Game Birds/breeders

[leadeyedbugger]

Hi guys, We have recently lost a couple members of our dog family to age. I have gotten the green light to get a bird dog. I would be hunting probably 85% upland game, mostly pheasant and quail. Maybe some waterfowl. The breeds that come to mind immediantly are labs,GSP's and GWP's. Probably more interested in a pointer. Any advice or some other breeds to look at that i haven't thought of, also any local breeders/people with some pups for sale
I'm in central oregon but might be willing to travel, willing to pay some money for one but can't afford the $700 super dog. THanks in advance everyone.

[johndeeregreen]

Go with a Brittany

[AtItAgain]

Personally if I was looking for a good upland dog I would look really hard at a Springer Spaniel. I would still look at GSP and GWP but if you hunt any waterfowl I think the Springer would handle the weather better.

My .

[Got One!]

Well for a well rounded dog this is what I went for (again) Great for upland as well as ducks. He just turned 6 months and I had just hosed and dried him off after a swim in a pond after some ducks and geese.

Golden Retriever (very light colored)



Although the best upland bird dog I ever owned was a beagle/mutt so I suppose there is no "best"....which is up for debate just cause I said that lol

[Limbhanger]

I would suggest either a chevypointer or a fordretriever, both excellent choices........or maybe a dodgehound......their pretty good too.

[ORsouthpaw]

Our new Weimaraner... Chief! 3 months old.

[Cohodependent]

An other great all around dog is the Pudelpointer. Great nose, good coat, loves water and great family dog. Plus they are not listed with the AKC so you don't have to worry about the whole show dog thing. One of the top breeders is just over in Idaho and he will only sell his dogs to hunting homes.

"The men behind the selective breeding program that has produced the Pudelpointer of today have always had a dual target…a dog that could do them proud in the field and in the home. They have sought and found a dog that will hunt and point upland game with style, trail wounded birds, retrieve from land or water, and also be unobtrusive fireside companions and watchdogs.
The whiskery brown dogs with the sparkling eyes usually show exceptional ability int the field. In a 1986 article, written by Dave Duffey in GUN DOG MAGAZINE, this preeminence is recognized. He says, "…of all the versatile breeds, the Pudelpointer impresses me as coming closest to the drive, application, intensity, range, and stamina of a good pointer in the uplands. They move better, hunt with more verse and purpose, and have a more independent bent than the other versatiles…"
Pudelpointers as a rule are excellent water dogs. They do not quite match the retrievers marking ability but when it comes to working in a difficult marsh in search of downed waterfowl, they are the equal of the water specialist.

[QH's Paw]

Unless you're a fairweather waterfowler, the shorthairs don't usually work out too well for waterfowl. My son has GSPs and from December on they're pretty much done for the season(waterfowling that is). As for upland, I'd try to stay with dogs that do not have long or wirey hair/coats unless you like spending time cleaning out all the burrs etc. at the end of everyday. Ideally, if you can have two dogs, I'd go with GSP and a Lab. If only one dog, then I'd take the Lab hands down. Having said that, I must also state that I'm more of a waterfowler than upland birder. I also don't let weather slow or stop my hunting. I'm sure there are plenty of people here willing to my above statement. Bottom line, what do you spend most of your hunting hours on and when(season?)? Get a dog for what you do most and hunt with people who have dogs for the others.

[Bill Monroe]

I hunt both and have both and my GSP is the best duck dog I've ever had, hands down...marks ducks, has followed geese blind across the water using just their scent trail and won't give up without finding the bird. I bundle her up in the winter and do my best to keep her warm, but it's either take her along to shiver or leave her home to whine 24-7.

The Lab is good, but cannot race the pointer to a distant duck.

That said, I would love to have a pudelpointer next.

[chukardave1]

Throw my $.02 at this. I have hunted with several pointing labs from a breeder out of Ellensburg, WA. They are great dogs. all the benefits of a lab plus the close working pointing abilities. If you mainly hunt pheasants and quail this is defenitely the right choice. These dogs work the thick cover that pheasants and quail like to hold in and they will get in a find those birds that are holding tight and root them out. GSP's are better in open country and just don't seen to like to work the thick stuff as well. You won't have the range of GSP's with a pointing lab but again your main quarry doesn't require as much of that. Whatever you decide you'll be happy with. the guy in ellensburg is Tiger Mountain Kennels. Best of luck.

[leadeyedbugger]

Thanks for the info guys, i managed to pickup a female GSP pup last night.

[tailwalker]

Being an avid bird hunter I have noticed a trend not only here in Oregon but also in South Dakota. The pheasants that hold to a pointing dog are getting fewer and fewer. The gene that makes a pheasant hold in a panic situation has well been shot out litterally. Pheasants in South Dakota litterally will run 99% of the time. My good friends with their even better pointers will be fairly frustrated at the end of the day because their dogs will point 30 times a day and when they come up for the flush the birds are long gone. Labs, spaniels, and even the english setter are a great choice for a all around dog. I personally own and breed labs so I may be a little biased but I do believe there is no better all around hunting dog then the trusty old Lab! Good luck

Originally Posted by leadeyedbugger

Hi guys, We have recently lost a couple members of our dog family to age. I have gotten the green light to get a bird dog. I would be hunting probably 85% upland game, mostly pheasant and quail. Maybe some waterfowl. The breeds that come to mind immediantly are labs,GSP's and GWP's. Probably more interested in a pointer. Any advice or some other breeds to look at that i haven't thought of, also any local breeders/people with some pups for sale
I'm in central oregon but might be willing to travel, willing to pay some money for one but can't afford the $700 super dog. THanks in advance everyone.

[Best Fishes]

Others may want to consider a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever aka Duck Tollers. They look similar to a Golden but smaller at 40 to 50 pounds. These dogs will run all day, search out & retrieve. Breed is common in Canada and Nova Scotia.

Best Fishes,

[barnyard121]

Gsp!gsp!