All around dog

swift one

swift one

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Is there a such thing as a do-it-all dog that you can train to succesfully flush pheasant and rabbit? If so, what breed is it?
 
German Shorthair Pointer, German Wirehair Pointer, eerrrrr.........dang it! there is another German dog that I can't think of right now that fills the bill, but I can't think of it right now. It's very popular in Europe but not as well known here. Hmm, I know there is a breeder in California........Oh well, somebody will come up with it.
 
Thanks weasel, I am looking to buy next spring. I love to rabbit hunt but I am starting to get into this pheasant thing and I just do not want a house full of dogs!

Anyone else got some breeds that have worked well for them?
 
I've used beagles.Even had a few that would retreive. The areas I hunted them in had lots of pressure and the birds would run rather than hold or flush. The little beagles would put the pressure on the runners and they would flush. I could tell by the dogs behavior that they were "making bird", they would run silent on birds as well until just before the pheasant flushed. Then they would open up with full voice.

They were like magicians, putting birds out of fields that had just been worked over by pointers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif I got strange looks over my "bird dogs" but I also got pheasants. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
I am happy with my Lab. She never takes a break in the woods, even if I'm sneaking a snack. Like many dogs she knows what the target critter is & hones in on that, mostly grouse in our case. She will root out just about any critter though. It is a joy to watch her in the woods.

My other considerations were a good family dog, gentile with kids, good traveler & companion. If you do hot weather hunting in UT you may have to limit your time some with a lab(& most dogs) or it could give them problems. If you consider one look into a lab from a hunting lineage, the drive to hunt has been stronger in my experiences.
 
a beagle would be your best bet..they are runners not "setters" or "pointers". My best friend has trained 2 nice beagles to run both pheasants and rabbits.

Training is a touch different as a beagle needs to be trained to range close..since they won't point a pheasant so when they stop for a second and lock up on a scent you'd better be close and ready to shoot. Keep in mind..they don't understand hunting seasons so if your seasons overlap it's fun to hunt both at the same time. Although it's tough when you flush a beautiful rooster out of the snow in december, when you running rabbits.
 
will a GSP also retrive ducks and geese, I too am looking and getting a 3 year finished dog this summer but i hunt phesants, ducks and geese and want it to do it all, will the GSP sucifice?
 
My brother in law has had two GSP that were waterfowl retrieving machines. As a general rule, they don't like cold water. His male however would break ice just to swim for fun. He, the dog, was an exception to the rule. I had a female GSP that would retrieve ducks, but didn't really like it.
 
Cold, I have Labs and German Shorthairs. Since you mentioned the geese I would go with a Lab. First Lab I ever had was one of the best all around dog. He was great even for Spring turkey season. He would pin a big tom down if you didn't get that perfect head shot. But for pheasant, the GSP will put the Labs to shame.

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To say GSP's put Labs to shame as Pheasant dogs is a pretty bold statement. A good Lab can't be beat. They do better in thick heavy cover are good retrievers, track cripples. Cold water is no problem. Plus a well trained one will handle on a blind retrieve.
 
DW, at the time the photo was taken of my GSP, Ben was 8 months old. The only thing any other Lab had over him ( 4 well trained and experienced) during the hunt was finding crippled birds. Jack, a 6 year old Black Lab is hands down the best I've ever seen for that. We never lost a one. In all other respects, Ben blew the Labs away in stamina, control and retrieval. I can hardly wait until next week when I load up the dogs and head back for one last hunt this season on pheasant. Something about watching that GSP work and go on hard point. And if they won't flush he'll just grab them.
 
Bob Sounds like you bave a really nice dog going that is awesome for his age. Just think what he will be like with some experience. I love good dog work no matter what the breed. There are good ones and some that aren't so good. When you get a really good one it is truly a blessing. I have 3 Black Labs one is just a youngster like Ben. The other 2 are 6 and 7 and we have hunted and giuded in North and South Dakota plus here at home in WY for the past 6 years. So I'am a little predjuiced. I took your post a little personal. That's what makes it fun if one dog was the best that's what we would all have. Good luck and good talking to you.
 
Thanks DW, like all dog owners, I've had some great ones and then the others,,,LOL. Have to say my best ever was a Black Lab, he would hunt anything. Had him on quail when he was 6 months old. Had another one at 14 months he still wouldn't do much. I can hardly wait until next season when Ben has some age and more experience. Already contacted the breeder where I bought him and have 1st pick. Most around here disagree about me hunting them so young. I just take and hunt them at their own pace. I didn't get Ben until he was 7 months old and he was the last of the litter. His brother is one heck of a bird dog. Needless to say I'm fazing out the Labs and going with the GSP's. They just suit my style of hunting better. Best of luck to you Cold on whatever breed you decide on. With the waterfowl, Labs would be the best bet. Nice yappin with you DW. Hopefully next week I'll have some more pics of Ben and I on our last pheasant hunt this season if the weather doesn't mess things up.
 
I'd agree that a good GSP is tops over retrievers for upland. Retrievers simply gas out about the time a GSP is getting into the groove.

But if you want one dog to do both upland and water, then go with a retriever. GSP's can't handle cold water. It can be a serious threat. I watched one make a looong retrieve on a cripple in fast water in 10 degree weather. Same dog died that night.
 
I am partial to Labs IMHO they do it all. One thing you might want to consider. when you flush a rabbit with a beagle it will run the rabbit in a circle giving you the shot. Why is this well, the rabbit easly out runs the beagle compard to a lab or a Shorthair( especialy a shorthair) When flushed by the latter the rabbit runs more of a staight line or a much larger circle, not giving you the shot unless you shoot upon flush which is sometimes hard. one other thing you won't have to train him to flush the bird what he dose before and after is the key. one good day dose not make a good dog. after a few seasons you will get a good idea of the dog, I've had labs for 30 years and have hunted with lots and lots of GSP's and they are great dogs but I've never seen a one that would put a lab to shame. I really do think pointers make good grouse dogs but a flusher is what you want for a pheasant, I hunt wild birds and they learn to run after 1st week I've seen pointers point and point but the pheasant has run off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
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ah fetch it up Ted
 
Have lab that when it was young would start yipping when it got birdy and excited. Thought here is my bird/bunny dog. She grew out of it just as well she is to fast. . Get a beagle and a lab. Nothing funner than a beagle on rabbits. Unless it is pheasants in the cattails with labs.
Basically most dogs are more dog than a man can ever ask for.
 
Any of the "versatile" breeds of dogs will provide you with a dog able to cover whatever hunting situation you choose. I personally have a wirehaired pointing griffon who retreived his first goose at 6months old, he will hunt pheasant, ducks, geese all in the same morning. He can roust a rabbit and will chase it all day if I let him. My wife has a black lab who is a great dog too, can keep up with the griffon all day. I am waiting for my second griff in a month or so. As a novice trainer the griffon was very easy to train, he almost trained me. Whichever breed you choose, training will get them to do what you want. Just my opinion.
 
I will jump in here and suggest 2 breeeds that havn't been touted much yet...The German Wirehair will chase any upland bird and they handle colder water better than shorthairs or setters. The other breed that does it all is the Vizla...

That being said I love a Lab...I am dogless now, but will have a Lab pup in the next year or so...

Scott
 
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