Short breeds for duck

willtim

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Oct 14, 2020
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My vote is strongly for a lab if ducks is your priority. Hunted ducks with numerous breeds and while many will get the job done, none will do it to the level of a labrador (I own a wirehair too). Wouldn't limit yourself based of the counter issue just make sure to start training immediately.
It's obvious you have never duck hunted with a Chesapeake.
 
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wcasey755

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Jan 12, 2021
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It's obvious you have never duck hunted with a Chesapeake.
I’ve read that chessies are not great for your first duck dog. As they can be stubborn. I’ve also read they can have some aggression issues and attach to only a few people?
 
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Get a lab. Lots of great breeders in Washington. Counter surfing comments are just stupid, train the dog. If you can't keep a dog off the counter, good luck training it to be civil in a duck blind. My 2 cents
 
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wcasey755

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Get a lab. Lots of great breeders in Washington. Counter surfing comments are just stupid, train the dog. If you can't keep a dog off the counter, good luck training it to be civil in a duck blind. My 2 cents
Lots of people are misunderstanding the counter surfing part of this. We took in a two year old stray that counter surfed. Wasn’t a duck dog, just a mut. My wife wants the dog to be smaller. That’s literally the only part of it. I totally understand to train the dog. Just have to appease the wife.
 

JGood

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My wife wants the dog to be smaller. That’s literally the only part of it. I totally understand to train the dog. Just have to appease the wife.
You need to get springer spaniel and be done with it. Where do you live?
 

WRO

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Once again a little louder for the people in the back, get an English cocker if you want a smaller dog.


I’d recommend reaching out to Sergio Valdez of Boss kennels, he has really nice ones.
 

WRO

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Nov 6, 2013
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I’ve read that chessies are not great for your first duck dog. As they can be stubborn. I’ve also read they can have some aggression issues and attach to only a few people?

They’re great, I think they get an undeserved bad wrap. If I hunted flying liver still that’d be my number 1 choice.

Mine was the best duck dog a guy could hope for and hell on pheasants.


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Hydra6

FNG
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May 1, 2023
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Boykin spaniels specifically bred to be a smaller duck retreiver. We currently have two Boykin rescues - had two other previously. There are a couple of Boykin rescue organizations - great way to get Boykins (and save them too!).
 

KurtR

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Sep 11, 2015
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Boykin spaniels specifically bred to be a smaller duck retreiver. We currently have two Boykin rescues - had two other previously. There are a couple of Boykin rescue organizations - great way to get Boykins (and save them too!).
That’s great you rescue them but wouldn’t be a good route for some one that wants a good duck dog. Not knowing the pedigree and health isn’t a smart move investing all the time it takes to train them and you don’t even have any idea if they have the drive to do it.
 

ZNuke14

FNG
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Nov 1, 2024
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Like most have said. Labs are great. If size is a concern and lab is the preference, luckily, there are so many breeders, you can find some that are 40lbs.

Boykins are cool too. I have also duck hunted over some awesome Brittanies which was surprising, but you can stay up any breed. This was a fun combo because then you could run into edge cattails and have a steady point on pheasant or quail.
 
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