Hunting Dogs which is the best

[Spotted Owl]

What is the best hunting dog out there?
We have had a wonderful Chesapeak that could and would do anything you asked. Also we had a Newfoundland that we trained as a water foul dog. We would get all kinds of nasty looks when she would take off after a bird. The only thing I would not let her do was upland it was to hot and dry for her.

[Flatfish]

Whatever works for you. I am too poor a shot to have a chess. They are more businesslike in the blind than I am. I would expect this from a breed that was made for market hunters.

Labs please a lot of folks. But it is their desire to please that makes them great bird dogs. They are like a pickup truck- It does most things well, but is best at nothing. I have a lab. I will probably never be the best at anything.

Goldens and setters are a better upland dog than a lab, but are a tick behind in the swamps.

Pointers can be really versatile. But are usually specialists. Much like the chessie. I would love a pointer, but lack the time to properly train one. And the 100 acres. That and I would rather spend time killing ducks than marching all over eastern Oregon looking for birds. Let 'em fly to me.

As long as the dog is enjoying the hunt, and time spent with family, I will hunt with them.

Chessies are one of my favs. Only hounds require less training. Amazing what skills they are born with.

Mark and the dog.

I love my Chesapeake...Hard headed but a great family/hunting dog!

[Killertraylor]

A vote for the English Springer Spaniel. Great temperament, smart, versatile, love to hunt, and aren't too big to sleep on the bed with you!

[tailchaser]

I have a lab and seeing the diversity of things it can accomplish in styles of hunting and become smart at nearly all of them I can't say I'd own any other type of dog. From sitting in cornfields for geese, to marsh hunting, and upland birds, he'll do all of them well. I have no complaints, and he's great natured. I'd feel wierd if I didn't have one at my side.

tc

[Crashin' Bait]

Chessies are the way to go if you hunt hard. I mean drag em through the snow, ice, arctic wind and subzero temperature kind of hunting. Better hit your birds too cuz they tend to get upset when ya miss. :grin: That chessie smile!

[LIMIT LANDER]

To choose a good bird hunting dog intails what kind of bird hunting are you going to do. Duck and Geese, grouse. chucker, phesant. people will tell you they have had this dog or that kind of dog and say "they are one of the most loyal dogs they have seen". All hunting dogs reguardless the breed were bread for loyality. and friendship. Golden labs, black labs, pointers, etc. if they were brought up right are good loyal hunting dogs. now saying that, what kind of hunting do you want to do, I raised German Shorthair for approx 5 years had 3 litters and they went fast. out of my 3 litters 5 dogs were going to be train to hunt everything else went to families with kids etc. German Shorthairs are excellent on upland bird hunting to Phesant, i wouldnt want to hunt water fowl birds with them in the winter because their coat is not thick enough. to with stand the cold water in that time of year. so if late fall to early waterfowl hunting is your ticket, i would go with the golden lab, black lab even springers can handle that pretty well.I have seen almost all kinds of hunting dogs. bird dogs, red bone to bluetick hound dogs. and they are all great companion dogs. that is why hunting dogs make so good home pets around kids their tollerant leval is real high, and they love kids. my German Shorthairs after puppy stages were like trying to handle a couple of teen agers. hope this helps you.... remember...get the breed to suit your need!...

[6oz.]

I primarily hunt upland birds. I have hunted behind labs and german shorthairs. They are good dogs and I have had many enjoyable days with both breeds. But, I stumbled on to a breed called French Brittany Spaniel. They are an amazing dog. They are small. The females run about 25 to 29 pounds and the males run 29 to about 34 pounds. They will hunt all day in country that will do labs in and slow shorthairs. They will hunt in blazing heat and freezing cold. They have great noses, point and retrieve. If there is such a thing as natural hunter, these dogs fit the bill. I have done minimal training and my dog hunts close, checks in, uses the wind, locks up hard, everything.

When we get home or back to camp, they are loyal and great as the family dog. They would probably not fit the bill for a waterfoul dog, but I would not totally rule them out.

6oz.

[Tilla]

Most of these breeds will do a wonderful job of hunting if you put in the effort to work with them. It is also can important to shop for good breeding....for hunting. It's just good insurance.
Or you can get lucky!

[Labsforme]

If hunting waterfowl primarily I go with labs because of temperment,trainability,and the availability of well bred pups(Tilla you don't count,but Josie does :tongue: ).If upland game primarily I like shorthairs,bred them and trialed/hunted them for years.For the best of both worlds if you could only have one dog that did it all German wirehaired pointers(Drahthaars)
have durability,good coat for water, and decent style on point.

[James in Idaho]

I've hunted everything from dove to goose with my 'peakes. Don't think for a second that they are not excellent upland dogs. True all around dogs. However, they are not for everybody. I usually tell folks who are not as serious about training as I am that a spayed female black lab is dang tough to beat day in and day out. Usually pretty easy to train, and pretty easy to live with.

Tilla, Alaska was a blast. The senior and master dogs were real close to what we see down here, water work was not as sharp. Junior dogs were like we saw 5 years ago, lots of show breeders hoping (sure not training) to get a junior title. Caught a little "minnow", 35 to 40 lb king in the Gulkana.

james in idaho

[BW]

I also vote for English Springers. Have one and belong to a club that trains them. Great dogs!

[Tilla]

James, I found some of the handlers a little green on some of the rules, but still some of the nicest people. Did you check the grounds for bears before starting the tests? :shocked:

[Degner]

Viszlas are the best.

[Boedy]

Degner what do you base that on? I know it aint your red dog, we all know how much he likes cold water. :shocked:

[MarlinMark]

The pointing labrador. I know.....I know....no such thing. Well I'm a beliver. I own one that is now 3 yrs old. Check out Tiger Mountain Pointing Labradors. John is the real deal. He started in AZ with German Shorthairs and did the whole competition thing. Then he came into contact with a lab that was surprising. The rest is history. He has been developing a line ever since. Check out his site and read the history. I'm actually looking to stud my dog out because I'm so impressed. I didn't intend to do any breeding but hey, you can't pass up a good deal. :smile:

http://www.pointinglabradors.com/

Mark

[Mojo]

I gotta go with English Springers...

This one moved in last night :grin: . I also really love Labs. I had one for 13 years, and she was the best pet and a pretty darned good hunter as well.

[James in Idaho]

Tilla:

Did mention that they needed a handler's seminar, a little green with the rules sums it up nicely. Most cleaned up with a warning.

No bears, did have to chase a cow moose out of one set up. Popper loads didn't impress her much. Nine shot would have worked better.