Should I get a dog.

Hello, I was after some advice please.

I think I want a dog. I would like something I can train to indicate deer and I'm a Tauranga SAR member so I might want to have a go at using it for that too.

I had my heart set on a Vizsla but I have talked to a few breeders and they all agree that since I work full time and am single, (so no-one's home during the day), that a Viszla is not the breed for me.

So my questions are...

Should I get a dog since I'm at work all day?

And, if so, what's breed would you recommend? I am a novice trainer but other than work have heaps of time to spend with it.

Do you have time for a dog ? Running, training, cleaning out kennel / run , all burn time especially in the winter, get home it's wet cold and shitty..want to take the hound for a run / clean shit out of a compound?

Do you have a secure area for said dog..are you looking at traveling in the next 5 years? Can you afford good tucker , immunisation, rego, vet bills , etc

Food for thought.

Dogs are bloody fantastic, loyal trusting and hard working. But you have to do you part to!

Yep. I have considered all that & there's no problems there. It's only the being at home during work days that concerns me & what breed would suit.

ours are left at home for 8 hrs a day no worries.
but if you have to ask on a forum if the times right then maybe it isn't.

@kawhia, the question is more of 'what breed would suit me'. If a Vizsla isn't suitable then what else would experienced hunters/dog owners recommend?

Labrador or heading dog seems to be the never fail option.
if ya hearts set on a vizsla find a breeder that breeds for a normal vizsla temp, stay away from breeders that have lines that require 24hr care.

Dogs are a big commitment, if it were me and I have a viszla and a lab i would go for a heading dog

Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

Most people who own dogs are at work if not for some of the day then all day...and being totally obvious, just make sure that your dog is absolutely secure in its run, motel or whatever you confine it in.. @Ricochet, if you want and/or would like a Vizsla go for it...

No.

get 2

I've always found three better than two when it comes to hierarchy. Two is a bad number. One or three :P

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Originally Posted by rossi.45

get 2

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No..................... we got 2 pups (as SWMBO was determined they not be lonely when we weren't home). NEVER EVER AGAIN

It has taken a long time for ME to be top dog. in their pack and caused many many many issuses. Now that they are 7 peace is reining in the house but the first two years were a battle.

When the time comes for replacement I will be looking for an older dog that perhaps didn't quite make the grade for trialing which can have a good life with me doing some hunting of many things, some sleeping on the couch and generally being my "best mate" and keeping me company on the hill

Dogs are a commitment that is for sure but being dogless is something I could not be

PS the local council will not let us have more than 2 dogs in town, pity they cant do the same rule for those with children!!

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Originally Posted by Pointer

I've always found three better than two when it comes to hierarchy. Two is a bad number. One or three :P

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Even numbers works better, terriers and bull breeds particularly. More so if you have tower builders in the pack.

A standard working day will not affect the animal. Hard pressed to beat a Lab but, they are heavy breathers and are noisier in the bush.

So what's the out come @Ricochet, got a mutt yet? Or sussed a breed you like?
I got a busy job, two balls out young snot gobblers and a missus. All wanting a piece of my arse. I got a pup this year for hunting, best thing I've done in ages. I still find plenty of time for training, walking hound. Took a while for him to settle in but has adapted to family life really well. He's a hit with everyone except my missus cousin- dog took an instant like to her chickens, didn't lay for a week or so after dog tried to eat one.
I would say suss out a good breader or blood line that hunts. You want one with natural ability other wise it will be a battle.

if you want to train a SAR dog, be prepared for minimum 3 yrs hard out work and no guarantee of being able to deploy.
PM Headcase on the huntfish forum if you want the good and bad

Hi @deadidick , no I haven't yet. I've just got about 40m of fencing to go & the property will be fully fenced & I'll be ready. I come to a final decision regarding the breed I'm getting about every 2 days! I think I've settled on a Heading dog at the moment. What did you get?


@Pengy I was told that I wouldn't be able to have a dog that could do both SAR & deer indicating but I'm not too sure how reliable this advice was as I'm pretty sure the guy telling me had no idea what a deer indicting dog was like & was thinking more like a pig hunting dog.

And I'm not too worried about how much work or how long I will take to get there as I have nothing but time on my hands really. As long as the dog & I are enjoying it then it's all good.

[QUOTE=Ricochet;452381]Hi @deadidick , no I haven't yet. I've just got about 40m of fencing to go & the property will be fully fenced & I'll be ready. I come to a final decision regarding the breed I'm getting about every 2 days! I think I've settled on a Heading dog at the moment. What did you get?


I was lucky enough to get a GWP. It's been a good excuse to slope of in the arvo or after dinner to do a bit of training, walk or what ever.
Found this dog a lot easier to work with compared with other bully type dogs I've had previously. Got a lot of natural ability, so comes down to the handler I think in this case.
:omg:

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Originally Posted by Ricochet

Hello, I was after some advice please.

I think I want a dog. I would like something I can train to indicate deer and I'm a Tauranga SAR member so I might want to have a go at using it for that too.

I had my heart set on a Vizsla but I have talked to a few breeders and they all agree that since I work full time and am single, (so no-one's home during the day), that a Viszla is not the breed for me.

So my questions are...

Should I get a dog since I'm at work all day?

And, if so, what's breed would you recommend? I am a novice trainer but other than work have heaps of time to spend with it.

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i spoke to the lady who runs SAR in tauranga and she said that if you dogs trained for deer dont bother with SAR work. basicly one or the other

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Originally Posted by Ricochet

@kawhia, the question is more of 'what breed would suit me'. If a Vizsla isn't suitable then what else would experienced hunters/dog owners recommend?

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Your welcome to come out home and check out my wirehair we are in te puna

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Originally Posted by mucko

i spoke to the lady who runs SAR in tauranga and she said that if you dogs trained for deer dont bother with SAR work. basicly one or the other

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Bullshit.
I've seen a SAR dog that loves rabbiting, and owner of said dog is high up the SAR food chain.

Yes. Collie/ heading dog. Have fond if u get more than 1 u Pr all the time into training the 1st and slack off for any more u get. Mien r tied up on a running line 8hr and get 2 hr run in evening, not a problem.

Great excuse to get out of the house and away from the issues at home.... Dogs r great listeners and dont talk back to much.

Know a guy in icers that was using a collie for sar and it indicated on deer and he could use it for both, (not certified but thats another story)

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Bullshit.
I've seen a SAR dog that loves rabbiting, and owner of said dog is high up the SAR food chain.

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only going on what she said to me you can ring her and tell its bullshit if you like. i offered to train my girl for sar work and they turned me down flat because she was trained for scenting deer, they believe and or have had failures in the past where deer dogs don't detect people live or dead well enough for SAR work. i would of thought it would only be a matter of training but they wouldn't have it.

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Originally Posted by mawzer308

A standard working day will not affect the animal. Hard pressed to beat a Lab but, they are heavy breathers and are noisier in the bush.

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Go lab, they may be all the above and are really just a stomach with legs that farts a lot, but they tick all the boxes well mine did anyway

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Originally Posted by mucko

i spoke to the lady who runs SAR in tauranga and she said that if you dogs trained for deer dont bother with SAR work. basicly one or the other

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At risk of incurring the wrath of a couple of friends on here.. the reality is when the sentence starts with "i spoke to the lady who runs SAR" you are most likely talking to someone who doesn't have a damn clue about dogs. I own a bitch fully trained to detect drugs, tobacco, cellphones and more and I hunt over her and have just bred a litter from her... she will do anything I ask her to do... so long as the communication is valid and she understands she is as versatile as can be... she is a springer. Viszla, lab, heading take your pick. They are all easy handling breeds. All handle being left for the day if your handling is adept in the rest of the time, that's the rub... Before you dive in the deep end, come up here and have a chat. I'm in Waihi, just up the road and have the #1 Commercial gundog kennel in the country. I am happy to show you some dogs, have a chat and a coffee and hopefully get you off on the right foot.

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Originally Posted by mucko

only going on what she said to me you can ring her and tell its bullshit if you like.

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I would.

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Originally Posted by mikee

No..................... we got 2 pups (as SWMBO was determined they not be lonely when we weren't home). NEVER EVER AGAIN

It has taken a long time for ME to be top dog. in their pack and caused many many many issuses. Now that they are 7 peace is reining in the house but the first two years were a battle.

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i cannot imagine the situation where 2 pups don't know who TOP Dog is . . its me .. . or there is some negative reinforcement coming their way until they understand.

Labs are the best

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Originally Posted by rossi.45

i cannot imagine the situation where 2 pups don't know who TOP Dog is . . its me .. . or there is some negative reinforcement coming their way until they understand.

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Amen.
Our son has a 5 month old Husky pup that does what it likes with him. When I speak it listens because I've made it that way. She recently went through the food aggression thing, I was outside when she got fed and our youngest decided to go and pat her, the dog growled and I growled louder and more viciously, backed her off her food and growled till she rolled over then got the daughter to pick up the dogs food and walk away then bring it back, when she put it down the dog went to snatch at the food so I growled again. I kept that up for a few days and now anyone in the household can go take her food at any time.
The biggest problem I find is people who have a "fur baby" instead of a dog, they treat it like an equal and dogs don't like that. They need a leader for their pack and will try to take that roll if you let them.

Ricochet.
yes you should get a dog.
The fact that you have asked here says to me that you actually give a toss
some people buy/ get given a dog with no thought gone into it.
do some research, as your doing now
and


For fuck sake, don't get a Wirehaired pointer as your first dog.:)

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Originally Posted by Maarty

Amen.
The biggest problem I find is people who have a "fur baby" instead of a dog, they treat it like an equal and dogs don't like that. They need a leader for their pack and will try to take that roll if you let them.

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a couple of days ago i hear this woman calling her dog . .. it goes on for about 10 minutes, this constant pleading noise. So eventually i go outside, maybe she needs help.
The dog, a nice lookn 12 month old foxy cross is trotting around at the end of the block ... totally ignoring her, i suggest she goes to the dog. . . nope.
Then the dog sees a cat and chases it and bails it up a fence a couple of houses down . .. still no response except the constant calling . .. which is comes across as part nagging and pleading
Eventually the dog comes back to much praise and patting etc . . . . being the helpful type i suggest different strategies which may help . . no way ' he's a good dog except for the running away and chasing cats ' she said.
Sadly i let myself down here . .. instead of telling her a story about how a friend of mine had the same problem and this is how they fixed it - my partner said i should try this method . .. i said your the problem and stop acting like a mother and more like a dog owner.
Nice lady, she's a teacher at the local school for many years. . . i shook my head and walked away . . reminds me of the time i saw half a dozen teachers standing around lookn at a tent without a clue what to do . . . people

i dont know mate it sounds like your keen enough but you might have uderestimated the tasks your setting yourself.
it sounds like you do long hours and whether you,l have the time patience energy to do the sort of training required for what your contemplating doing with the dog
only you can decide but at least your asking better that than the dog ends up paying for a good intention not able to be followed thru.

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Originally Posted by Sideshow

reminds me of the time i saw half a dozen teachers standing around lookn at a tent without a clue what to do . . . people

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Funny I've seen that as well:wtfsmilie:[/QUOTE]
Gets scary when you tell kids where milk comes from and most answer the Fridge.......sorry I know off topic;)

Hi Ricochet
Hope you get a dog that suits you and what you want to do with it (hunt & SAR) won't be easy to find the right one to do both but good luck
To train a SAR dog will be very rewarding but very time consuming may be 99% training 1% deployment so be patient and don't get frustated
The huntng side of things should be easy enough. Try and find a dog with a natural ability
If this is your first time owning a working dog make sure that you are the boss and it will be your best mate don't have it the other way round
Most important thing to do is have fun and enjoy being out there with your dog

Ruff and me agree. Amazing.:thumbsup:

I think you should be able to do both, the SAR work becoming an extension of a well trained deer dog.. but as a fresh handler/trainer you may well be biting of more than you can chew, if you were thinking about doing both from day one.. Get a dog, learn to train it, built that trust. Get the basics first and then think about Sar work as its really demanding now. Its public money being spent so there not much room anymore for driftwood. Three years training probably before your even operational bush/wilderness search. If you were an experienced trainer then perhaps two years.

Pm if you want to pursue it though and I will tell you exactly who to contact. Anytime..a year or so from now also good..