BIRD DOG QUESTION

[noska]

Hi to all.. I'm new to the board and new to bird hunting.. I'd like to ask a question about which breed of bird dog(s) are well known to 1.Point 2. Flush and 3. Retrieve both on land and water ?.. thanks.

[Shorthair]

Brittany, Boykin Spaniel and my favorite German Shorthair Pointer

[hunt4fun1]

noska said:

Hi to all.. I'm new to the board and new to bird hunting.. I'd like to ask a question about which breed of bird dog(s) are well known to 1.Point 2. Flush and 3. Retrieve both on land and water ?.. thanks.

Hey man,

Welcome to the place. You'll like it here.

Looks like *Shorethair* and GoTres are the site bird dog experts. They both have them and have trained them well.

Glad to have you and good hunting.

[noska]

Thanks guys ..glad to be aboard this fine ship... Short-Hair .. whats the difference between English and German lines.. besides the obvious eg. logistics =England x Germany

[Shorthair]

English Pointers and English Setters are bred primarily for pointing and flushing. Any dog can be trained for water retrieving but it's a lot easier to train a dog for water work that has it in their genetics. German Shorthair Pointers (GSP) were bred to be all dogs in one. They are suited to pointing, flushing, retreiving, water work, home protection and family companion.
Brittanys are in the same category as GSPs, bred to do it all.

[noska]

thanks alot ShortHair !!!!

[GoTres]

Welcome to the SHF noska. In my brief training experience, I'd expect a pointing dog to hold point and a flushing dog to flush. Not suggesting two dogs but maybe more of a defined purpose.

My Brit is way less trained than she should be. She'll lock up on quail and then sometimes flush them herself but if she's hunting out of shotgun range, the birds are flushed before I get there. Personally, I'd rather have a dog to hold point until I flush and shoot (perfect world) and then retrieve to hand. But the world isn't a field trial and dogs are as different as the people who hunt with them. Train your dog to do what you want, pack a LOT of patience, and celebrate the small victories. As far as water, my dog would swim to live, but she doesn't live to swim - not a big fan of water deeper than her belly. You might add a pointing lab to your list.

There are several good dog training books available. You might google Gun Dog Supply and check their library. Richard Wolters would be a suggestion.

[BlueNorther]

My English Setter is a wussy when it comes to water,as soon as his nards get wet that's deep enough for him.He is a staunch pointer though.If he picks up bird scent and locks up I can get in front of him and flush for the shot.Last year he pointed a pheasant at over 50 yards.I got in front and stomped around trying to flush it.I was about ready to let Winston relocate when the rooster went right up in front of me.

[gulfcoasthunter]

I don't know a lot about GSP but GoTres was right about checking into a pointing lab.They are becoming more popular and more breeders are breeding for the pointing trait. My lab will point, picked that up on his own, and if it falls from the sky he will get it on water or land. I think I got real lucky when I got my lab because I am not a avid bird hunter, just go out and occasionally pop a few dove or quail, and certainly am no expert on training bird dogs but what little I work with my lab on he picks up on like he has been doing it forever. Hopefully he'll get a chance to do some bloodtrailing which is what I really got him for.

[deerslayer11]

Dont expect him to go on the trail with his nose down. Most labs will track with thier heads up.