Hunting dogs

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brybenn

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Location
southern ontario
Not in any immediate position to acquire as my mastiff still has some years left but the wife and i have been talking about getting a puppy after our time with our english mastiff expires. She doesnt want another mastiff due to their physical size as our daughter ages we want to travel and kayak and a 180lb plus dog just doesnt fit. Either does a high strung bird dog with our current lifestyle. Although im getting more active since i tore my achilles tendon im years away from keeping up with some breeds. If we choose a breed other than mastiff id like a dog i could use for hunting. German short haired is high on my list as ill be taking my daughter grouse and duck hunting with me hopefully. Gordon setter is a close second. Majority of its life will be a house pet with only a dozen or so trips north a fall and the occasional waterfowl hunt here in the south

With that what breeds are being fielded by the cgn population?

Ps my mastiff is a great dove retriever if she sees them fall. Hilarious to watch her carry a dove back. You might see a wing or tail out of her mouth thats about it. Also
My wife owns a grooming business so shell likely kill me if i bring a gordon home lol

Ideally i want a smart breed thats loyal and family tied that can work and hunt if so trained yet mild enough for life indoors. Must be able to handle water. A dog of size is always preferred over a smaller dog. Very mild temperament as it will be around other dogs

Just curious as to what others keep
 
Son has 2 dogs, one is a gsp/black lab cross male, honestly I've never seen a smarter dog. Wanna teach him a trick? 10 minute's and it's done. The lab in him just want's to be included. He just's want's to be part of the pack.

2nd is a gsp/springer spaniel cross female. She's the bird dog of the two. As Smart? No, she's pretty. But, she is the bird dog of the two, hand's down.
 
Brittanies are good family dogs and not very big. They are easy to train as they tend to want to please, depending on the line they're from they have moderate energy levels but like almost all hunting breeds need near daily exercise to keep fit and calmer.

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I have a 2yr old German Wirehaired Pointer, and belong to the local NAHVDA so I see a variety of dogs in the field. The versatile breeds are very independent and if you don't put the time in to train cooperation you can easily end up with a dog that would much rather hunt alone than with you.

I bought my dog as a pet first and hunter second, and due to the requirements of the breed, I now prioritize his field training to get the behaviour I want in the home. That being said, if I knew what I was doing off the bat I would have had an easier time.

After experiencing the intensity of a hunting line dog I believe most people have no business owning one unless they fully understand the commitment they should make to training. For example I now have a pigeon loft and a freezer full of dead birds for training.

Now to answer your question, I think the Lab is a perfect family and hunting dog. Give them a bit of training in quartering when they're young and you'll have great flushing dog. Retrieve training is a breeze and they're a dream in the home.

If you want a pointing breed I would recommend a Griffon. I've seen many and they have very stable and cooperative demeanor. The people I've talked to say they're great in the home.
 
Can't fault you on the German Shorthair. They are a wonderful breed. I've had Vizsla's for over 20 years, so you know what my suggestion would be. Wonderful family dogs,very bidable as they will do everything they can to please. Very easy to train. Completely devoted to their family and can be protective of them, but gentle with children and older folks. Socialized properly, they are fine with other dogs. Great on upland and good on waterfowl although cold water is not great as they are a single-coat. They love water in general, but in cold, even with their natural oils, they shouldn't be used in cold water,imo.
Your wife will love grooming a V. Wet cloth over them and you're done. Close to non-allergenic with the single coat.

If you don't want a dog that is always on you or near you, forget V's. Leave the front door open and they won't leave without you. They need to be near(or on) their people.

A good breeder will make sure you get a mild tempered on, if that is what you want. They do temperament tests at 9 wks and if the tester is good, the results are surprisingly accurate..

No matter what breed you pick, stay away from the puppy mills on Kijiji. Talk to a good, reputable breeder.

FYI, there are several good V breeders, now, in Ontario and eastern Canada.

Good luck and have fun in your search.

Abe
 
I've had Vizslas for the last decade and can't say enough good things about them. I usually go after upland birds and they do very well. They are great swimmers due to their webbed paws. Loving and eager to work. GSPs would be my second choice.
 
I prefer flushing retireivers, have had many breeds over the years, but Springers and Labs fit my hunting style and family life better than others.
 
Love my GSP, very smart but needs a lot of room to run. Very active, can run 30kph for 1/2 mile then slows to 20kph for the next 2 or 3 miles. I am not running :d, i'm in a side by side. They can get very protective of family members, mine loves everybody.
 
Yes have a GSP and she is great,great family dog as well shooting over a pointer is almost cheating.Also have a Lab in black was a former Field trials dog but got him as a washout ,which he was in trials but not as a hunter.Both are great so you know how I feel.My partner has a pudelpointer which seems to be quite a dog as well,my first experience with one.
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