beast 1,884 Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Quote Link to post
sikastag_1 689 Posted July 14, 2013 Report Share Posted July 14, 2013 We all have our own opinions mate and maybe ill piss some people off here but with what iv seen, there's a reason why not many people have these dogs and why you mostly see springers cockers and labs at shoots. If the fancy breeds were better, we would have them. 1 Quote Link to post
ftm 3,357 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 agree with above -but that doesnt mean to say he shouldnt try one -billy Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Did you ask him his reason for not wanting the 'best dog for the job'? Quote Link to post
stroller 341 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 ive seen quite a few spinone work they are big old powerful dogs obviously they are an HPR and not a springer or the other ones begins with L you know the ones I mean popular with the Scottish people. Easy enough to train spinones but you need good blood lines with these dogs. Never seen a Toller 1 Quote Link to post
pegleg33 134 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Duck tollers are nice looking dogs and were used to attract ducks into range buy running up and down the edge of the water, not seen one worked though. What sort of shooting do you do? Quote Link to post
camokev64 36 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Doesn't matter what breed your mate wants to attempt to train,if he ain't got any experience of the task ahead he's going to make it hard work for himself. The common sense approach to the task is to gleen as much information from his local gundog clubs and from genuine gundog people around.For his first dog he will require dogs from historic low tempo lines,and to instill the correct basic manners from an early age,which can be aided with private tuition and dedication by the bucket load. Stick in.. Quote Link to post
beast 1,884 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Did you ask him his reason for not wanting the 'best dog for the job'? he had a couple of bad experiences with two at different times, and rather than blame those individual dogs/owners he has gone off the breed . rather foolish if you ask me. Quote Link to post
beast 1,884 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 (edited) Duck tollers are nice looking dogs and were used to attract ducks into range buy running up and down the edge of the water, not seen one worked though. What sort of shooting do you do? its not for me its for a friend. he is a member of a small syndicate as well as some rough shooting. i mostly shoot deer by the way, and my lurchers are good enough for me at following a blood trail Edited July 15, 2013 by beast Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Did you ask him his reason for not wanting the 'best dog for the job'? he had a couple of bad experiences with two at different times, and rather than blame those individual dogs/owners he has gone off the breed . rather foolish if you ask me. Sure is mate........he's inexperienced in the gundog world and he is ruling out one of the best picking up dogs out there, add that with one of the easiest to train too. Silly if he goes down the route of one of these other breeds you mentioned.. Quote Link to post
beast 1,884 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Did you ask him his reason for not wanting the 'best dog for the job'? he had a couple of bad experiences with two at different times, and rather than blame those individual dogs/owners he has gone off the breed . rather foolish if you ask me. Sure is mate........he's inexperienced in the gundog world and he is ruling out one of the best picking up dogs out there, add that with one of the easiest to train too. Silly if he goes down the route of one of these other breeds you mentioned.. well i've said that to him already, but thought i would ask on here as he seems to have his mind made up. i do wonder if he just wants to have something "different" on the shoot, but to me thats NOT a good reason!! Quote Link to post
beast 1,884 Posted July 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Doesn't matter what breed your mate wants to attempt to train,if he ain't got any experience of the task ahead he's going to make it hard work for himself. The common sense approach to the task is to gleen as much information from his local gundog clubs and from genuine gundog people around.For his first dog he will require dogs from historic low tempo lines,and to instill the correct basic manners from an early age,which can be aided with private tuition and dedication by the bucket load. Stick in.. thats all good advice mate. i'm just not sure he really understands what is required in terms of the work he will have to put in.... Quote Link to post
Lab 10,979 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 some information/advice if you please! a friend who has been shooting for some years is interested in getting a dog for picking up on his small syndicate. he has owned dogs but never a working gundog and wants to train it himself. i suggested he should get a lab but he doesn't want one, and two breeds which he has had suggested to him are spinone and toller. i'm certainly no gundog expert, and dont know much about either of these breeds so wondered if anyone here could advise on the suitability of either breed for a first time owner, how easy they are to train, how easy to live with, how much work they need etc. anybody trained/worked them, or seen them in the field? thanks for your opinions! Did you ask him his reason for not wanting the 'best dog for the job'? he had a couple of bad experiences with two at different times, and rather than blame those individual dogs/owners he has gone off the breed . rather foolish if you ask me. Sure is mate........he's inexperienced in the gundog world and he is ruling out one of the best picking up dogs out there, add that with one of the easiest to train too. Silly if he goes down the route of one of these other breeds you mentioned.. well i've said that to him already, but thought i would ask on here as he seems to have his mind made up. i do wonder if he just wants to have something "different" on the shoot, but to me thats NOT a good reason!! I was thinking the same. Suppose its not right to pick out certain dogs but i know off one Spinone that comes along with one of the guns to the place i pick up and its the most usless thing ever on 4 legs. Probably not the dogs fault but you can only judge on what youve seen. Quote Link to post
sikastag_1 689 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 Sounds like your falling on deaf ears mate, let him have the fancy breed that's probably been bred for generations for the wrong reasons, then when it gos tits up, give him the good old I told you so line. I'd be going for a lab or springer, but each to their own. Quote Link to post
perthshire keeper 1,239 Posted July 15, 2013 Report Share Posted July 15, 2013 the well known gundog trainer "jimmy" blair from scotland was pickerup on the place i worked right up untill his death and he always said "labs are born half trained and spaniels die half trained" sound words from a wise man but saying that all the best scenting dogs ive seen bar one have been spaniels Quote Link to post
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