Thread: What breed should I do the deer dog blueprint with?

Im looking at doing the blueprint in the new year with a pup. Im looking at a heading dog like "Print." I am 22 and years off having kids so do
not need to consider a family dog as such.
Cheers

Originally Posted by NZWoody99

" I am 22 and years off having kids so do
not need to consider a family dog as such.
Cheers

I wonder how many 22 year olds have said that !! Apart from that, this could become quite an interesting thread.

GSP x heading dog

Lab heading cross
Second choice would be some kind of Pointer Heading cross

Originally Posted by Sako851

GSP x heading dog

Exactly what I got. But whatever breed you get. Choose the quiet one in the litter. Unless you like high energy.

the advantage of heading dog....they are quiet,USUALLY light and have excellent balance....eg how much to move or not to....
you COULD do it with any dog.......a teacup chawahwah in top pocket would be hard case,and a rotty would make sure no one pinched your lunch,just realise you will have dog for a dozen years....choose wisely.

something cheap and not likely to cost a lot in vet bills. I'd be happy with something off trademe/facebook marketplace/the spca etc.

A lot of people go on about such and such pedigree is best but you need to put effort in regardless of breed.

dogo argentina

I'd second Mickey Duck. Choose a dog that suits your life and be prepared to look after it for a dozen or more years. Any breed (or cross) can be taught to find animals if you spend the time teaching them. My grandson's Jack Russel seems have a burning ambition to find deer. Teaching him that he isn't big enough to kill them by himself is proving to be the tricky part.

mate if only it was easy to estimate how much a dog was gonna cost you
So far all my dogs have cost me a bunch of dollars. Even the mighty NZ Huntaway which you would think should be fairly free of problems......Nope.

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

something cheap and not likely to cost a lot in vet bills. I'd be happy with something off trademe/facebook marketplace/the spca etc.

A lot of people go on about such and such pedigree is best but you need to put effort in regardless of breed.

Cracks me up when people spend thousands on rifles and other "gear" yet want the Cheap Dog and diy training.....
What will get you more game.... your rifle or a good well trained dog??

Just remember you will have your mate for at least 10 years and they will take a piece of you when they depart🙁

If possible take a good look at the Mum and Dad first, bear in mind that the bigger the dog the bigger the food bill (or you will just need to go hunting more often!).

Originally Posted by rugerman

mate if only it was easy to estimate how much a dog was gonna cost you
So far all my dogs have cost me a bunch of dollars. Even the mighty NZ Huntaway which you would think should be fairly free of problems......Nope.

the caveat of less likely to cost lots hahaha. Not everyone is cold hearted and can just go through dog's like they're disposable tools. So imo a mutt is much better than a pedigree that's been bred to have all sorts of issues.

I think if your new to dog training I strongly suggest the heading dog,preferably from hunting parents.

Don't rush into buying a dog, 12 or 15 years is a long time stuck with a lemon. You need to look at how much hunting you're going to do etc also. Breeds like the Vizsla or GSP are proven hunting dogs but they're also a lot of work, guys rush out and buy them and 90% of the ones I've seen in the flesh have been a "waste" as no real work was put into them, a lot of them are downright obnoxious too when you go to visit someone and there's this "million mile an hour dog" that won't sit still for three seconds, I know of one dog from a very good mate that comes from one of the top kennels in NZ and the bloody thing is gunshy and mad as a snake. I agree with the heading dog bit, they're a dog that exudes intelligence and are not high maintenance, they learn very easily and more importantly they retain that information without huge amounts of effort having to be put into them.
I got my Bo as "free to a good home" as a pup through a fellow forum member, he was from hunting lines though, Catahoula/Heading X and he's been such a pleasure to have around and train, he just turned 1 last month and has a few deer to his name now, we've done quite a bit of training and practise but you can tell the dogs that are smart from the dumb ones and he's pretty sharp and a good mix with the strong prey drive and nose of the Catahoula and the intelligence and calm and collected (and quiet!) outlook of the heading dog