Breaking down 38 bird dog breeds

Big Bad

Big Bad

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Lost in rain in Juarez.
It seems to me that if the development of the internet has done nothing else, it's opened up the wide world of gun dogs to interested gun dog enthusiasts. Back in the 1980s and early 90s for instance, when Brittanys were first starting to appear, I would hear distant rumours of this great unknown breed called 'Wirehaired Ponting Griffons' but there was no way to find any real information about them, not to mention finding a breeder. Now there are unbounded resources for such things, such as this post from Project Upland contrasting and comparing 38 breeds, all by clicking on the link (there is no way this will copy-paste in an understandable way).

https://projectupland.com/hunting-dogs/a-comprehensive-guide-to-choosing-a-bird-dog-the-pointing-breeds/?mc_cid=79d7f2f392&mc_eid=d1c94caa05
 
The author, Craig Koshyk is very knowledgable and passionate about bird dogs. He lives in Winnipeg. I've hunted with him, and can vouch for his writing. His knowledge is genuine and is based on very extensive experience. His two books on the Continental and British pointing dog breeds are standard reference material for those who study such things.
 
Big Bad said:
It seems to me that if the development of the internet has done nothing else, it's opened up the wide world of gun dogs to interested gun dog enthusiasts. Back in the 1980s and early 90s for instance, when Brittanys were first starting to appear, I would hear distant rumours of this great unknown breed called 'Wirehaired Ponting Griffons' but there was no way to find any real information about them, not to mention finding a breeder. Now there are unbounded resources for such things, such as this post from Project Upland contrasting and comparing 38 breeds, all by clicking on the link (there is no way this will copy-paste in an understandable way).

https://projectupland.com/hunting-d...g-breeds/?mc_cid=79d7f2f392&mc_eid=d1c94caa05
Click to expand...

The title on the video says "pointing breeds" your thread title says "bird dog breeds". There's a big difference.
 
riversrest said:
The title on the video says "pointing breeds" your thread title says "bird dog breeds". There's a big difference.
Click to expand...

The two terms can be synonymous, only those who think there is a difference think there is .
Dogs that are used to hunt birds are simply that- bird dogs, unless a lesson wants to troll for an argument that is....
Cat
 
^^ If you want to troll for an argument, go ahead.

I was stating my personal opinion. If you don't like, don't read it.

Lots of bird dogs are retrievers but no pointers.

Pointers often don't like to swim so to me they are not very usefull as a water fowl dog.
 
Last edited:
riversrest said:
^^ If you want to troll for an argument, go ahead.

I was stating my personal opinion. If you don't like, don't read it.

Lots of bird dogs are retrievers but no pointers.

Pointers often don't like to swim so to me they are not very usefull as a water fowl dog.
Click to expand...

I've hunted over Ridgebacks, GSP's English Pointets , Lab , Pincers , water Spanials, Chessies , Munsterlanders, British, you name it .
Some pointed some didn't but they were all trained as bird dogs.
BTW, just because you happen to have an opinion does not mean everyone else is wrong.
Cat
 
Last edited:
iron cat said:
I've hunted over Ridgebacks, GSP's English Pointets , Lab , Pincers , water Spanials, Chessies , Munsterlanders, British, you name it .
Some pointed some didn't but they were all trained as bird dogs.
BTW, just because you happen to have an opinion does not mean everyone else is wrong.
Cat
Click to expand...

You can hunt with whatever you want ! I don't give a rat's ass. Maybe try a cat next time, lol.

Btw. it's you who is insinuating "everyone else is wrong" not me !
 
blood sweat and tears in....... Performance out.....

you train them, and put the time in, all dogs will perform no matter what breed.


But I am partial to Vizslas, GSPs and Plott hounds.... just saying.....
 
I had a pointer in the old country. It was not a "bird" dog, neither by instinct nor by training. It was trained pointing to rabbits (Feldhasen) and was very good at it. So that would make it a "rabbit" dog.

Nowadays, I run a CB "Retriever" which is by instinct and training a "bird" dog. She's not a great "pointer" but does it sometimes, if she's in the mood, I guess.
 
I got a kick out of his description of range and speed variations. I've had Britts that run "close or dot on horizon " and "medium speed to ass on fire" .Boone hunts close and at medium speed mostly because almost all his hunting has been in very heavy cover such as cattails and thick brush whereas my retired dog Bug tried to stay in the same time zone and ran like the roadrunner on the cartoon.
Boone:
tuKVqSK.jpg


Bug:
s8EbNTQ.jpg
 
A big running pointing dog on the prairies is one of the greatest experiences in the outdoors. Watching the dog cover ground almost makes you forget about the birds. And a flushing dog working good wild pheasant cover is as exciting as it gets for me. And a good retriever collecting waterfowl as I sit in a blind and observe makes me smile. Hunting with dogs to me is as good as it gets.
 
Last edited:
I eventually would like a to own a dog that can retrieve water fowl for me. But I'm over breads that shed hair like crazy. Not really sure what that kind of dog that would be but it certainly excludes most of the retriever breeds. I don't need a pointer, just a dog that retrieves and can swim.
 
I have both pointer and lab and yes hunt upland and waterfowl.Season just ended here on the 21 st for ducks had a pretty fair year and a good year on pheasant and grouse. We put up with the shedding but not nearly as bad as our departed Golden retriever, The dogs are my biggest thrill nowadays as I am retired and am over the "biggest pile" stage of my youth. Happy I can go out 30 minutes from my house and be hunting, even if I come home empty still a great day .My 2
gd6RxTll.jpg
P1E7AMSl.jpg
 
Not trying to reignite the bird dog fight that got started here but the people that published this list are offering a t-shirt with this photo on it, showing that they are not bound by any strict assignment of roles to the breeds. Me, I remember when I was talking to the championship breeder of the first 'versatile hunting dogs, in that case Brittanys, I ever encountered and asked him if they would point rabbits as well as birds. I was interested in getting one for subsistence hunting, he was not pleased with the question.

The ad for the t-shirts says this demonstrates 'Wirehaired Versatility.' It's a joke, just to be clear.

wirehair-dog-t-shirt-close-up.png
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom