Flushing Dog Vs Pointing Dog Under Hawks

[Monkeyjax 0]

In your experience is a flushing or pointing breed more useful for hawking. In the majority rabbit with some pheasant mainly up in The Dales.

[leegreen 2,173]

Spaniel.

[pointer 543]

I'd have thought up in the dales it would be useful to have a dog pointing where you can prepare the flight. My pointer does run in sometimes on rabbit which has spoilt some opportunities especially in all this wind when the hawks up against it anyway.

[big napper 3,601]

cocker or cocker terrier cross

[Accip74 7,112]

Unfortunately I've never had a dog for hawking, but I've got 3 friends who use vizslas & 1 who uses a GWP........these guys wouldn't look at anything else........the GWP is awesome!

[pointer 543]

I've done a good amount of rabbiting with lurchers and a Gwp up the northern dales areas,I think enough to have formed an opinion and I can't think of any reason to use a flushing dog with a hawk rather than a pointer up the reedy dales or moorland. The Hprs will flush anything they find in those areas when you want them to.

Obviously any dog can be taken out and will provide quarry for a hawk to fly at but that's not the issue. If like me your using a Harris I can't think of any reason to be walking over open dale with a dog that will flush pheasants out, the bird is going to struggle to catch it after coming off the fist. Maybe the faster goshawk could do better.

[arcticgun 4,548]

Few falconers use couple of spaniels and a pointer as well, them visla just a fad imho far better use gwp, if visla that good they would be as popular as gwp etc, another teckle situation,

[stoaty1 35]

all gun dog breeds will work well and it can come down to personal choice. If there is a lot of gorse then you may find a spaniel fares better but saying that many HPR will bust cover. Alot of spaniels will also pause before flushing and if this is encouraged you would have the indication you want before flushing.

regards

ian