Short breeds for duck

willtim

WKR
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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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Apr 12, 2021
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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

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 12, 2021
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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.
 

WRO

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Nov 6, 2013
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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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Idaho
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

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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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2
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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