I need a dog

[Jeremy]

Here is my short story (ok so now its a long story). I am an avid outdoorsman, although most of the wildlife in the outdoors (deer, elk, salmon, ducks) seem to avoid me or at least avoid getting killed by me. I just started hunting last year and have been fishing since i was little but mostly fly fishing for trout. I am 25 years old getting married this summer and just bought a house with a nice backyard and a dog run. Now comes the bad part, my future wife has always been pretty anti-dog, now she is "anti-dog in the house as long as it stays outside or in the garage". I want to get a good hunting dog, that is trainable and also want to take the time to train it so its not the everyday dog that just runs around crazy in the backyard. I know she will like it as a puppy but after it outgrows the puppy stage i want it to be well behaved to convince her that dogs are not evil. So with that said, do you know of any good breeders in the Portland area (or anywhere i guess) where i could get a dog, i am also open to suggestions of types of dogs that may be better than others, male vs female, etc...im not sure what kind of price tag i can afford yet but any info you could give me would be greatly apprecaited. I would also be interested in finding out anything i need to know before i get the dog, i.e. does it need to be pure bread or registered or have good hips and eyes???I grew up with cocker and sringer spaniels but since my dad didnt hunt he never bothered to train them so they were pretty misbehaved.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Springers can be great dogs. We have a cocker, and while they can be trained to hunt, you often run into health risks associated with poor breeding. As far as trainability and hunting ability, I think you are looking for a lab or a golden, if you need a smaller dog, a springer. I'm a big fan of Golden retrievers myself. Personality wise, they're hard to beat. Labs are good dogs, but it sounds like you need a puppy that will grow up and behave themselves quickly. With any dog there's a risk of getting the "perpetual puppy" that seems to take forever to grow up, but IMO (sorry lab owners) labs take longer to grow out of it than goldens, in general. It may be that I was so lucky with mine. He never chewed up a thing. Still hasn't. Best behaved dog I've ever owned. Downside is the hair is kind of a mess, and it's hard to keep a Golden outside. Odds are she won't want to either though.
However, a Golden is a pet first, hunter second. Labs can be darned good at both. Golden's not so much, in general. Mine loves to hunt, but its a game. He's not anywhere near as serious about it as your average lab.
Healthwise, big dogs are prone to hip problems. You can narrow it down by trying to find parents that have been certified as having good hips, but it's still no guarantee.

[Barley's Dad]

I have only had two types of dogs, a lab and a brittany.
The lab is a great all around dog, great with family, great hunters upland and waterfowl. The down side most of them like to bark. They will live in a kennel but will want to be with you. You will have to get a bark collar to quite the neighbors.
The britts are small dogs and can hunt both if trained at a young age. They do however chew on you and other objects until about the age of 3. Some bark but they can live outside and in.
You will have a lot of different responses to what type of dog is the best.
I guess you will have to figure out what type of hunting you plan on doing and how big of dog you want.
Good luck in your search.

[Degner]

Viszla

[seabass]

I have had two Golden Retrievers. They are wonderful pets, easy to train and love to hunt.

I bought my 15 year old son a Brittany. Still very young but what a sweet dog. She is learning very fast (pointed and retrieved her first pheasant before one year of age).

Both dogs are house dogs and i wouldn't think of putting them out. I would put the new wife out in the run before my dogs. :smile: I know that my wife would do the same to me.

My wife loves both dogs but is getting really attached to the Brit.

[Barley's Dad]

SeaBass,
How could you not love a britt, mine is the best dog I have every had. He is an inside dog except at night he just started to mess on the floor.

[Tilla]

I know where some few day old good looking performance Lab pups are right now, PM if you are serious. 7 weeks away!

[sparse gray hackle]

Tilla: I have had Labs, German Short Hairs,and now a Brittany...Wow What a dog. She is a good hunter (points and retrieves) a GREAT family dog (good with the grand kids)
She loves everyone, but best of all brits are one man dogs (she loves me the most)They are great companions and true to there master. The worst thing I can say is that they are a long haired dog and there are times of the year that you can hardly tell me from the dog when we get out of our truck. you did notice that I said "OUR" truck.
If you are looking for a loving,fun, family house dog you can't go wrong with a brit. If all you want is a kennel sitter just any Ole dog will do. Good luck on your choice, but please put lots of thought into what YOU want out of a dog.Don't let one rot-a-way in the kennel just to say that you a dog.

[sparse gray hackle]

oops headed it to Tilla instead of Jeremy, Sorry about that

[Washington Hunter]

I can think of lots of great breeds for a hunting dog, but none that I would recommend as dogs to live in a kennel its entire life. Some recommended Golden Retrievers. Great dogs, the one I have is 12 years old and she's been a great dog. But I can't imagine her living outside in a kennel and not being a part of the family. That's just not right. Your best bet may be a Brittany. Due to the small size maybe that would be your best chance of talking your wife into letting the dog live in the house with the rest of the family.

P.S. Have you considered getting the dog BEFORE you get married and telling her she takes you with the dog (in the house) or nothing at all? That's what I would do! :grin:
But then, maybe that's why I'm not married.

[Chromaflage]

Jeremy - sent you a PM

[Hoosier Daddy]

I should have qualified what I said. If you want a kennel dog DO NOT get a Golden, (or a lab, brittany, or springer). You'll kill them or drive them nuts. They gotta be with you. Where I was going is that a Golden might be a good way to get her to like dogs. No one, and I mean NO ONE can resist a golden puppy. It WILL be inside, guaranteed.
If you need a kennel dog, look for something like an English pointer. Pure hunter, but they can stand being kennelled (with EXERCISE)....

[Bait O' Eggs]

25, single, buying a house, have the dog run already.

What made you think you need to get married??? Sounds like you got things pretty good now.

Tell the future Mrs. you plan on sharing the house with the dog and the run is for her, or you can get rid of the run and both of your ladies can live inside, its up to her.

Dont let anybody talk you into a Jack Russel Terrier. Fun for a while, but the energizer bunny has nothing on that breed.

[Jeremy]

i guess i left out the part that she is paying for half the house

[Washington Hunter]

I agree with Hoosier Daddy. Goldens have a personality that is irresistible. I only recommended the Brittany due to the smaller size (they're about half the size.) A smaller dog can be easier to deal with, in the house, and when transporting. You might also consider a German Wirehair.

[Washington Hunter]

Jeremy, I'm not sure but I don't think you ever said what you plan on hunting with the dog. You said you hunt ducks, and didn't list any other birds, so now that I went back and re-read that part, I'm assuming you want a dog for duck hunting. Which if that is the case, it narrows the choices down by quite a bit. I would say if the dog will be used for ducks and nothing else, your only choice would be a lab. You probably don't want a lab from field trial stock, it would probably have too much energy for your wife, if she already doesn't care for dogs. I have a friend who has 3 yellow labs from show stock, they are the mellowest dogs I've ever seen, yet they will still hunt. That's what I would recommend, get a lab but be sure you get to see both parents first. I can get you the name of the breeder my friend got his labs from if you would like.

[Jeremy]

i also hunt upland birds.

[Washington Hunter]

I'd say get a Golden Retriever in that case. JMO

[Scaup]

0

[blackdog]

I'm pretty sure that I'm at Stage 14 now!!!

By the way, labs are the only way to go!

[Best Fishes]

Last year we got a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retreiver "Duck Toller" and just love her. Duck Tollers look like a Golden that has been reduced by 50%. Our Girl is 42 lbs. She loves birds and retrieving. My wife wasn't keen on a dog, especially a bird dog. Our dog follows my wife around all day and now my wife loves our dog more than me!

Duck Tollers would not be a good dog if kept in a kennel all day. But if you want a dog that is very BIRDY and that almost everyone falls in love with...you may want look at a Duck Toller.

Best Fishes

[Hoosier Daddy]

I think someday I may have to have a toller (maybe when my golden departs). Did you get yours locally? I ran into a fella with two of them at Fishermans a few months ago. Nice looking dogs, just the right size too.

[Washington Hunter]

Hey those duck tollers sound interesting. I'll have to do some research on 'em. But for my next dog I've just about got myself talked into a German Wirehair.

P.S. Loved the dog rules! That was PERFECT.

[SlamminKokes]

Im taking my Brit down to Roseburg in the morning to have her bred. Excellent hunter and house dog and is just as happy outdoors as in. Ive never had a problem with mine barking, even with all the neighbors dogs howling, she stays quiet. Also never been much of a chewer, ok, one boot, but thats it! If youre looking for a great pheasant, quail, chukar dog, I believe Brits are the way to go!

[Jeremy]

from the AKC website: The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever (Toller) was developed in the early 19th century to toll, lure, and retrieve waterfowl. The playful action of the Toller retrieving a stick or ball along the shoreline arouses the curiosity of the ducks offshore. They are lured within gunshot range, and the dog is sent out to retrieve the dead or wounded birds.

Is this true if so you would think that everybody would have one of these tolling around next to the blind to "lure ducks within gunshot range"

[Hoosier Daddy]

I've talked to some folks that have hunted with them and it apparently does work. They're just not a real common breed. I believe the most notable breeders are here in Oregon though....

[Scaup]

I've used the tolling technique once with a Golden and it worked. It had been a slow day and some ducks had landed on the outside of the decoys. My hunting buddy told me about tolling. I thought he was crazy, but we decided to give it a try. He starts throwing one of his gloves out of the blind and his Golden starts retrieving it and bringing it back. Sure enough the ducks swam in close enough for us to jump them.

Now I've noticed it when I'm with my Golden at a park. The geese and ducks will swim in to see what is going on when he's playing in the water.

Since then I've been interested in Tollers. They seem like a great dog.

[Flatfish]

I always bring my gun when I go to the bathroom. Too many times without and having mallards circle 20 yards up forced that new habit. The ducks are attracted to my movements.

The dog swimming( when pup has to go to the bathroom, get the gun ready. very few ducks flare from a lab. They sure flare from humans though) to lure ducks in is totally within reason.

I still want mine in the blind though. But on slow days( when birds are flying high) it might be worth a try...errr troll.

Mark and the dog.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I always bring my gun when I go to the bathroom.
Mark and the dog.

Geez, hardcore. I just take a magazine!! :grin:
(Couldn't help it)

[Barley's Dad]

SlamminKokes what kind of lines does you little girl have. My britt turned 2 in March and I am looking for a good [potty mouth] to breed him with???. Like your britt, mine does not bark or bite. He is used for show and hunt test. One of the best little hunters I have ran across. His sister and mom though have a problem with both.

[quackersnacker]

Jeremy, Good Luck with this one!
Goldens and Labs are fantastic pet/hunters, but living in a dog run will kill their spirt! A pure hunter, english setters, english pointers type will do alright in a run, assuming you get them the exercise they need. But their energy level will guarantee that you will never(!)have a house dog. Wirehairs, German Shorthairs, Brittanies, are normally more mellow but have great prey drive when hunting. These would be my recomendation to you. The Brit will only get to +/- 40# whereas the others can get up to 75#+. Males tend to be more energetic and larger and females smaller and will bond closer to it's pet (owner).
If I were to buy you a birthday present it would be a 7week old female brittany. Many a cold hard heart has been instantly melted by a puppy.
As always these are my opinions, but I have just spent countless hours deciding on my next dog so I have done a lot of this research, it's your's for the taking.
Enjoy

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

I have never owned anything but sporting dogs and from experience I can tell you that sporting dogs are people dogs and they desire constantly to be around and please their master.

I also can tell you that dogs I have kept in the kennel all the time always turned out total spazzes because they are so happy when they finally get to be around you that they just go crazy.

I have 2 dogs now both I have had from pups one I took every where with me and he was always around me from the time I got it he is mellow in the house and in the car most times you dont even notice he is around.

the female I got when she was 4 months old the people that had her couldnt keep her because she howled and they lived in an apartment. the kept her kenneled in a dog box all day when they went to work and only let her out for a little bit at a time. I have had her about 4 months she is till hyper as all get out she is improving slowly but she constantly wants attention and when I do kennel them because I go to work and then let them out she is all over the place jumping up on me and the likes. like I said she is getting better slowly as she spends time around me and my other dog but she is still all wounde up.

I can tell a huge difference that human interaction makes between the 2 dogs if you want a mellow dog I would suggest spending as much time with it as possible dont lock it up away from human interaction. with a puppy it isnt going to have bad habits unless you let it develope them so talk your wife into letting you keep it in the house so its around people and make sure to not let it develope those bad habits such as jumping on the furniture , getting into the garbage, ect. like I said my male you wouldnt even know he is around if he didnt come up and sniff you when you first walk in the door he finds his couch and lays down untill he needs to go out side.

Quasi

.

[Best Fishes]

Re: question on where we got our Duck Toller... Our dog came from Reno, (Sierraduckdogs@yahoo.com). We looked at many Tollers in Canada where the breed is very common. There is also a breeder in Albany and La Pine.
From another toller owner I was told that he discretly throws a ball for his dog along the edges of the pond he hunts and the ducks do come in closer to look at what the dog is doing. He also said that he has spooked many ducks throwing the ball.

Best Fishes

[SlamminKokes]

Barleys Dad, email me and i can send you a copy of the pedigree.

[skahorse]

Jeremy,
I don't know if someone has already said this, but, if you are looking for a low stress, manageable dog.... Don't get a puppy! I'm telling you, from everything I've heard, and experienced with my own, Labs are excellent family-oriented dogs. But, any puppy is going to be out of control! Regardless of the breed. They will pee on everything, chew on everything, get into everything, eat everything... you get the point.

If you want a low stress dog, get a rescue(or shelter) dog. Get one a couple years old. Show them love, and they will fit right in. They learn quickly, and they'll live for you(Labs that is). The other option is a started dog, though, they can be spendy $$$. As cute as the puppies are, I don't think I will ever have another. IMO, the bad outweighs the good.

--Skahorse

[skahorse]

P.S. Don't get a Golden. Not if you plan on hunting them. What a mess! We brought my buddies Golden hunting once, she got so covered with burrs, that they ended up cutting her hair off. They were buried so deep in her coat. I've had my Lab in sand, mud, snow, whatever. Once he dries off, all you have to do is dust him off really quick, and you're all done.

Regardless of what you go with, Good luck.

--Skahorse

[Washington Hunter]

If you keep the hair trimmed short they won't pick up burrs. Springer spaniels have the same type of hair. The other option is don't hunt in areas where there are burrs. Where I hunt pheasants in southeast WA. it isn't a problem.