hunting/gun dogs

[hobbes]

My griff is from MT but not directly from a kennel. The litter owner is another hunter whose female is out of Ravali and the male was a hunting companion from Nevada. It was somewhat of a fluke that I found her. I called about them and they were all sold then got a call back because someone hadn't come through on payment. Would have preferred more research but these things are hard to come by so i took the risk. We are very happy with her.

 

[hobbes]

As far as hot weather, she doesn't like it. Good thing I'm not really hunting her until after archery. It has been crazy hot for September in MT.

 

[Wasatchbuck]

I switched to Labs about 6 years ago when it became apparent that the majority of my bird hunting was waterfowl. Owned settters and shorthairs prior to switching over to labs. I am definitely one of the guys who would rather leave me gun at home then my dog. For me the dog is part of the experience and they are about the best hunting buddies you could ever ask for. My oldest lab recently made the journey to the great hunting grounds in the sky, my other lab is a six year old black female who is an amazing retriever.

 

[Neil B]

Nice pics. Is that a 4 Rivers or a Momarsh .

Neil

 

[Travis Bertrand]

A lot of Brittany owners on here I see.

 

[Floorguy]

My hunting pup is here (kinda) welped on the 4th. Got another 8 weeks before I can bring here home. I am looking forward to having a dog in the house again and stoked to start training it. Here is a pic of the litter of the eight, three are female, one of which is brown the other two are black, I will get to pick which of the two black I want.

 

[AXEL]

I want/need a dog to track wounded ungulates and maybe retrieve a few ducks/geese from small ponds. I have fabulous Rottweilers, but, do not want one along in bear country.

I am considering a Bavarian Mountain Hound or a standard Dachshund, any others someone might have knowledge of?

 

[Floorguy]

The Drahthaar can be used for all of that. Retrieving is supposed to be second nature to them (with a little help from you to develop it) and they have breed tests for blood tracking at 18 and 24 hours. Of course I am somewhat biased now.

 

[2ski]

Congratulations Floorguy. Super jeleous. Wish I had a dog. These next 8 weeks will be a tough wait.

Axel, look into the dd breed. They are bred for feather and fur. The test they do is the VDJ. It incorporates blood tracking I believe.

 

[AXEL]

I have been considering a DD for a few years and have spoken with a number of highly experienced working bush people here in BC, who have and use these dogs.

I have also spoken with a BC-GO who is German and runs BMHs and with a few who have GSPs, it seems to me that the DD is the best choice for what I want in a hunting dog.

I would love a Karelian for bears, but, the "issues" with my beloved Rottweilers, are just too much to deal with while living in town.

So, thanks all, I have found a few Canadian DD breeders and one in particular seems just what I want.

 

[Floorguy]

When you talk to breeders something to keep in mind is that they are generally really into hunting and almost more so into the testing. Read up on the vjp and HZP tests those are the two a breeder will want you to have your dog go through. If you tell them you won't test or don't think you will be able to there is a possibility it will be a conversation killer. Breeders use the tests to determine if the breeding was successful as most of the test is based on natural ability.

 

[hntnnut]

Here is my hunting companion Poacher He is my 100 pound Chesapeake Bay Retriever.


Richard

 

[Mike7]

I didn't read the whole thread, but I think you can teach any well bred hunting dog to hunt whatever you want, if you start them early and encourage that behavior. I have French Brittany Spaniels, and when my older dog was a pup, he took off after deer the first time he saw them. It was so exciting for him (right up until the electric shock collar started shocking him anyway), that he bayed like a hound dog every time he got close to the deer.

Everything I have read has detailed that German Shorthairs, Pointing Griffons, and French Brittany's tend to be some of the healthiest versatile bird dogs (dogs that can point and retrieve). The Pointing Griffons are supposedly great upland dogs, and even good water retrievers, but I just couldn't get used to that face that they have. My French Brittanys are definitely more cold tolerant than my buddy's German Shorthairs and can retrieve ducks from a 1/2 frozen river, but then they have to keep moving until their coat dries...they can not sit in the cold when wet like labs and pointing griffons.

 

[AXEL]

I dunno, all in all, after 60+ years of dogs, starting with a PB Springer Spaniel, Rough Collies, a great Black Lab, my working mountain dog when I was doing BC "fire lookouts" and 28 years with Rotts, I tend to prefer buying a breed that is specific to what I want the animal to do.

Labs, are pretty fair watchdogs, so are Rough Collies, but, NOTHING deters scumbags like my 120-160 lb. hardbodied Rottweiler males with their fighting roar that scares most people sh*tless....with GOOD reason, I might add. But, taking them into BC's backcountry, with our huge and growing bear pops. can end in issues that I prefer to avoid, so, a less combative dog with extensive, professional training is more to my current taste.

I have promised my lady that I will not buy another puppy and will only bring home a trained animal, at least soundly started. Time, will tell as my Rotts. have a few years yet and they are not keen on sharing my affections with more dogs.

 

[timberland]

Here's my 5 yr old GWP enjoying a little family time. Is TV bad for dogs?

 

[Ironmerganser]

There are other dogs then Drahthaars for hunting?

Seriously though, these dogs are not for the "weekend trainer". They thrive on training and hunting. They want to be "used". I have 2 Drahts (one going on 13 and one that just turned 9) and every day.....every situation........is a training session.

PM me if you have any questions.

 

[dbaker]

Chompchomp after a good morning. Our 3 year old son named him!

 

[ndflatlander]

Congo was my 100lb plus chessy he had his own way of doing things but he was one of the best waterfowl dogs I've ever seen on land or water.

 

[Tony Trietch]

My brittanty Ardan. She has been my best buddy for ten years. Amazing bird dog and great family pet. Loyal as is possible. She is slowing down now days. Sad to think one day she won't be there by my side where ever I go.
Here is a video of her and the girlfriends dog discovering my elk decoy I put on the front yard.
https://vimeo.com/121665630

 

[1hoda]

I am pretty excited it will be my first hunting dog.

Congratulations on the new dog. Since this is your first bird dog, do both yourself and your dog a favor and read Delmar Smith's book "Best Way to Train Your Gun Dog: The Delmar Smith Method". Also, spend the money and buy the Huntsmith series of DVD's (also from the fabled Smith family) on Puppy Development and The Silent Command system. Apply the lessons in both will make for a much happier existence for both of you. Going one step further, I'd also consider sending your dog over Ronnie Smith for training - it's money well spent.