help needed, laugh if you like

[gamerooster 1,179]

First of, Hello all.

 

Recently having started a new job miles away from where i originally lived, I had to get rid of the dog I had at the time, a Coursing bred Saluki Greyhound.

 

Now having settled into my new job, once again i have started yearning for a dog, missing the mooching and the wandering I used to do, a time to relax and let the world go by, but at the same time doing something I enjoyed.

A couple of weeks ago, to relieve my boredom i bought myself an Air Arms S410, to pop off the local Grey Squirrel population, as well as the Coneys and the Wood-pigeons.

Hopefully if everything goes according to plan, I will also be getting a baikal stealth .410, to do the same as the air rifle, but obviously with the added advantage of shooting moving quarry.

So over these past few weeks, I have been thinking of what dog to get, do I go for the usual choice of a coursing bred dog, or maybe something a little different, maybe a Bedlington x, who knows.

 

But having re-kindled that enjoyment I get from shooting, I thought to myself, do I really need a running dog? When I had one, a simple walk around the local footpaths turned into interrogation having 100's of questions thrown my way e.g. what you up to, I hope you aren't poaching, you do know if the farmer see's a dog like that he will shoot it .etc .etc.

 

So thinking to myself, could I get a dog that could be as much use to me as a Running dog, but without the added stigma surrounding them? Having pondered upon this question for a while, I thought of a black Labrador.

 

But my question to all you Gun-dog men out there is, could I train said dog to mark trees with squirrels up them? mark rabbit sets whilst out ferreting? push game into long-nets and hares into gate-nets? Retreive game that i have shot, be it with the S410, the .410, or the Catty, be it from land or water? Whilst at the same time having a cracking companion, a foot warmer, and a dog that will sit at my feet all night whilst at the pub?

 

Hope to hear some advice on the matter, I understand its not your usual requirements of a Gun-dog.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Damien

[BEARINATOR 2,882]

Get a lab cross lurcher mate

[jonah. 775]

have you thought of a collie, nice short haired, lean border?.

you can pretty much train them to do anything if you spend enough time with em, nobody gonna pay you much attention with that at your side

[Malt 379]

There's only one dog I'd be looking at if I was in your situation - Springer spaniel..

 

I grew up around working springers though so I'm biased!

[gamerooster 1,179]

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:45, BEARINATOR said:

Get a lab cross lurcher mate

 

Thats what put the idea in my head mate, reading the labrador x greyhound topic

[BEARINATOR 2,882]

  On 08/10/2012 at 22:19, gamerooster said:

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:45, BEARINATOR said:

Get a lab cross lurcher mate

 

Thats what put the idea in my head mate, reading the labrador x greyhound topic

 

That mad cross I was out with on saturday was a cracking little bunny dog

[gamerooster 1,179]

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:54, Malt said:

There's only one dog I'd be looking at if I was in your situation - Springer spaniel..

 

I grew up around working springers though so I'm biased!

 

I never really thought of springers, i was put of them by people saying ' your first gundog should always be a labrador, then move onto a springer when you have the knowledge'!!!

 

And I suppose springers would be a better bet for working cover due to there smaller size, but what are they like for working cover? and I can honestly say i have never heard of one retrieving from water, but I have only ever seen a couple work.

 

And cheers gentlemen for the advice, most appreciated GR

[gamerooster 1,179]

  On 08/10/2012 at 22:21, BEARINATOR said:

  On 08/10/2012 at 22:19, gamerooster said:

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:45, BEARINATOR said:

Get a lab cross lurcher mate

 

Thats what put the idea in my head mate, reading the labrador x greyhound topic

 

That mad cross I was out with on saturday was a cracking little bunny dog

 

haha told you, could it don any circus tricks

[BEARINATOR 2,882]

It was a mad thing, but looked like a beddy cross (wonder where the beddy type coat came from ). Only about 21" but it caught a dozen rabbits so it is handy enough but I wouldn't run out to get one

[gamerooster 1,179]

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:54, Malt said:

There's only one dog I'd be looking at if I was in your situation - Springer spaniel..

 

I grew up around working springers though so I'm biased!

 

On seconds thoughts mate, the color is the problem, especially for the night time reccy's, plus if ever the need arises where I need to rely on my swift turn of foot, I can't afford to pick a dog up every-time it comes to a fence.

[RubyTex 1,957]

  On 08/10/2012 at 22:54, gamerooster said:

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:54, Malt said:

There's only one dog I'd be looking at if I was in your situation - Springer spaniel..

 

I grew up around working springers though so I'm biased!

 

On seconds thoughts mate, the color is the problem, especially for the night time reccy's, plus if ever the need arises where I need to rely on my swift turn of foot, I can't afford to pick a dog up every-time it comes to a fence.

 

The clue is in the name GR! Boing most springers can clear your average country fence and as for working in cover, an eager beaver will smash through it like it's not even there It's what they live for.

 

Although like Malt, i've got rose tinted glasses on for the breed

[gamerooster 1,179]

  On 09/10/2012 at 00:35, RubyTex said:

  On 08/10/2012 at 22:54, gamerooster said:

  On 08/10/2012 at 21:54, Malt said:

There's only one dog I'd be looking at if I was in your situation - Springer spaniel..

 

I grew up around working springers though so I'm biased!

 

On seconds thoughts mate, the color is the problem, especially for the night time reccy's, plus if ever the need arises where I need to rely on my swift turn of foot, I can't afford to pick a dog up every-time it comes to a fence.

 

The clue is in the name GR! Boing most springers can clear your average country fence and as for working in cover, an eager beaver will smash through it like it's not even there It's what they live for.

 

Although like Malt, i've got rose tinted glasses on for the breed

 

If brought on properly, what are they like retreiving from water?

[barraboy 28]

no problem retrieving from water, just ask the wildfowling lads who have ESS, theres plenty of springers retrieving geese from tidal waters so rivers stream or ponds shouldnt be a bother, if the white is an issue get a cocker or more likely a sprocker.

[ftm 3,357]

just get a springer- you know it makes sense

[RubyTex 1,957]

A springer will retrieve from anywhere...water ways, thick brush you name it, it'll do it. A good all round dog imo

 

They're all bat shit crazy for water too, these two love the sea, i can't keep them out of it even muddy puddles get rolled in, and i'm the twat who's gotta wash 'em afterwards