Grouse & Woodcock dog

E

ELJ

New member
I've had Labs for 37 years and I'd have to say they are just about perfect. Great family dogs that love the ducks and are very good on upland game. However. I'm looking to get a puppy in the Spring and I think I want a smaller breed of dog that will be used 99% of the time on Grouse & Woodcock in the thick stuff.

I've been looking at the Spaniel family of dogs, Brittany / Springer / Cocker, etc. but as mentioned above my experience has been rather limited. Any and all suggestions - info would be great.


ELJ
 
If you like to hunt ducks also you might want to look at the American Water Spaniel or the Boykin, both are just a little smaller than a Springer. If your duck hunting is just smaller streams and ponds an English Cocker or Springer can do an admiral job in the water.

My AWS did a great job hunting the coastal bays out here, pheasants and quail on the desert and grouse and woodcock in WI.

If you can find a Spaniel Hunt Test in your area, it is a great place to meet owners/breeders and see the dogs in action. At all levels the dogs need to be able to do land and water work which includes blind retrieves on land and water at the higher levels.

PM me if you want more info on local hunt tests in your area.

AWS
 
I've been hunting (pheasant and sharptail grouse) over springers for the last 15 years and can't see myself hunting over anything else. They are also a ball around the house and great with the little ones.

Beware of the difference between a field and a bench bred springer, they're like two different breeds. I can recommend a couple of the standard spaniel books if you want.

Where are you located?
 
German Shorthair or Brittany. All dog breeds have there + & - but Labs are a poor upland bird dogs most are to heavy and slow & nose is not up to par with bird dogs. I will tell you dogs are like kids in that in a family you have the smart one the trouble maker & the one not so bright & in buying a puppy its the luck of the draw. Any dog breed can have a outstanding example of the breed but getting one is just luck. For ducks Labs & Chesapeak are great.
 
Hello Again,,,Bob.17, I forgot too say on the windy, or dark days or windy and dark days, Grouse are running on the ground all day and they love to run around areas where logs are laying on the ground. Keep my last 2 post in mind you should find lots of grouse...Bob.17...































































































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I've had two pointers.I think you will get more dog for the money with one.Your screen info is kind of hard to say where you are from,but if you are in grouse country,there will be bird dog clubs.Get online and find out how to get a magazine called"the American Field".Lists trials,breeders,pups for sale etc.A pointer will start pointing birds for you at a younger age,and you don't have to do much to maintain them.No burrs in fur etc.I'd look at dogs out of the NSTRA.They hunt close,retrieve birds,and are smart as a whip.Pointers have gone through a very tough breeding era.Lots of dogs were culled that didn't make the grade,but the end result is a very good bird dog.
 
Thanks for all the info guys. Lots of research to be this Winter. We get a lot of snow up here (Northern Michigan) and potty training a pup in several feet of snow isn't much fun so I hope to bring one hope home in the Spring.


ELJ
 
Originally Posted By: ELJ However. I'm looking to get a puppy in the Spring and I think I want a smaller breed of dog that will be used 99% of the time on Grouse & Woodcock in the thick stuff.

I've been looking at the Spaniel family of dogs, Brittany / Springer / Cocker, etc. but as mentioned above my experience has been rather limited. Any and all suggestions - info would be great.


ELJ

ELJ,

Late to the party but have hunted 'ol ruff for 50+ years all over the Northern states and Canada too. Had Britts for 40 years and if you want a small, family friendly pointing dog, they are hard to beat for any upland birds. Easy to train and pay attention to the gunner too.:)

But when we moved to Northern MI, I was looking for a change. So looked hard at the flushing spaniels. It came down to the fieldbred Springers and the English Cockers. Went with the Cockers because they are arguably a bit closer patterning in the grouse/wc woods. Very easy to train bc/ most of what they need to know is already "built in". I'll post some pics of my guys up on here tomorrow.

If you do much duck hunting, the somewhat larger ESS might be better.
And many more good breeders to chose from as well.
NB
 
Don't do much grouse hunting anymore here in VIRGINIA, just not many grouse around anymore.I hunted for years and had some good dogs, but i wanted a dog that i could hunt and would also be a great family dog and i found it in a springer spaniel.I've had springers now for 15 years.Give a springer a try you want be sorry.
 
I have a Springer pup and have been around other springers as well although I have never hunted with one. I'm training my pup for hunting and let me tell me they have got to be some of the smartest dogs around and seem to learn over night. They are great pets in the house but in the field they are all business. My pup seems to have an eternal energy source so make sure they get plenty of exersize each day like any dog. If you look at a springer, make sure it comes from a field line not show. The show dogs seem to have lost their bird drive.
 
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