Thread: Pheasant Dog

I'm after a good dog - primarily for rough shooting pheasants, peacocks, ducks etc. I've gone round in circles trying to figure out what's the 'ideal' dog - covering Springers to Labradors, through GSPs and GWPs. Interested in your thoughts on the right breed and and suitable breeders...

We live in the country with two dogs (a heeler and heeler x huntaway - both great dogs). I work in town during the day, but my fiancee works outside all day and the dogs are with her during the day. I'm exercise the dogs in the mornings and evenings - often with our horses.

As I've started to get into my upland shooting, a dog with good hunt and retrieve drive has become necessary. I really enjoy watching good dogs work, and shooting over friends pointers. I've had conflicting views from owners of various breeds (Vizslas, GSPs, Labradors) about their respective merits - I'm tending away from the versatiles given the energy levels/intensity of training required. Is this a reasonable concern? Would a Springer or Lab be easier? Conscious that any dog is going to require considerable time and focus (and am in a position to give this).

So - over to you guys...

Cheers,
Tom

the English Setter will be the only dog you ever need ... just try to find one though !! Could be a litter coming up soon if your interested

I'm tending away from the versatiles given the energy levels/intensity of training required.


Hi Tlane, energy levels!!! Have you ever seen a cocker spaniel working in top gear... Intensity of training required...what breed are you referring to????
Look for a good line of working Labradors for your first gundog...then, after it has taught you all you need to know about retrieving, then find the Light and look for a real gundog...

Originally Posted by EeeBees

I'm tending away from the versatiles given the energy levels/intensity of training required.

Not really correct. Good cockers and springers, in fact any good gundog is high intensity but well bred with bidibility does not mean they require high intensity training at all. Some of the hardest going, driven, spaniels I have seen have been total breezes to train due to the breeder paying as much attention to bidibility as everything else. You only come unstuck with poor breeders who breed drive (The easiest thing in the world to produce) but do so without bidibility, then you have a nightmare regardless of breed.

English Pointer beats everything hands down.

Originally Posted by TeRei

English Pointer beats everything hands down.

didn't want to say anything but......................

I like too see pheasants about, so not going to talk him into a versatile

Originally Posted by TeRei

English Pointer beats everything hands down.

You mean a "Pointer" aye?

@Munsey, good thinking

What sort of country u hunting mainly?

Thanks guys. Hunting mainly around Waikato, Auckland Northland - scrubby hill and cliff country.

EeeBees - reading through similar posts on this site, there seems to be a view that versatiles are 'harder' dogs that are at the more extreme end when it comes to training. As performers, a pointer is my ideal dog - not much beats watching them work. But there's not much pleasure in watching a poorly trained dog, and even less in working with one (let alone owning it!). Realising that any dog is only going to be as good as the training it's given, I'm committed to giving it everything I've got. If I was hunting every day I wouldn't hesitate to go for a GWP, but wonder whether I'm better to go for a different breed that would be more forgiving?

On a side note, just got back from the UK. Noticed that many of the versatiles over there seem a bit more sane than many of the same dogs you see in NZ. Is there an issue in NZ with concentration of lines, or is it more a reflection on the breeding?

Ever thought of a gordon setter, there will be a litter from working lines coming up around xmas. You are right, nothing beats watching a good setter/pointer working.

Originally Posted by B&Tan

Ever thought of a gordon setter, there will be a litter from working lines coming up around xmas. You are right, nothing beats watching a good setter/pointer working.

Cool, send me a private message or e-mail with details if you can. I have a client on the lookout for a working one at the moment.

Originally Posted by B&Tan

Ever thought of a gordon setter, there will be a litter from working lines coming up around xmas. You are right, nothing beats watching a good setter/pointer working.

What are details of this breeding?

There is one floating around my area as well