Whats the best?

[Terrier man 38]

Well lads was just wondering what the best all round dog would be for retriving over land and water and pushing game up? theres 2 that seem to come up the main two .. springer and German pointer. iv seen only a handfull of GP in action a few good ones .. the springers iv seen have bein machines in cover but tend to push the game out too far off in some cases if not sharpend on wistle..?

 

Also for maintaing sharpness keeping them steady etc which dog would be the easyist to keep trained? as i know some of the springers can be that bit head strong ..

 

Any advise helpfull..

 

Thanks

[Little Butch 16]

Springers are known to be a bit mad mate and an easier dog to train would be the Labrador.

Get one from Good Working Lines and you'll have a dog that will Retrieve from anywhere and enter any cover.

People say 'Labs for Retrieving and Springers for Flushing'

B*llocks...A Good Dog will do both.

Butch

Edited November 4, 2008 by Little Butch

[pointer28 1]

Sorry, but I can't completely agree with that.

 

While a Lab MIGHT well trash through cover, it's not their natural job, and it's doubtful that they will ever hunt up to the standard of a Springer or a German Pointer.

 

Springers and German Pointers are both well known as all rounders, because that's the way they have been bred and evolved over the years. I don't know a single serious Lab trialler that would allow their Lab to hunt up cover as once they start to do that, they tend to become less steady at the peg and more likely to run in.

 

Labs are a SPECIALIST breed who are second to none at the job of retrieving.

 

Might I suggest that you consider the Brittany Spaniel, while it's called a Spaniel, it's actually a HPR breed that points. I had a very nice one, and tend to have more in the future. If you read the thread below about Small Munsterlanders I have explained in greater detail why I like them, and what they are like to train.

[Little Butch 16]

Sorry, what I meant was a good Lab will go through cover.

They are retrievers firstly and they are Excellent at that, they're not going to be anywhere near the Standard of a Good Springer In going through cover and putting Birds up but they will do It.

Butch

[coldweld 65]

Springers and gsp's are great But if you are doing alot of water/cold work then a lab might be up your street.

Due to gsp & ess having coats not so suited to alot of water work

If you think a springger is hard work don't even look at a brit .

 

If covering mainly land on your own the gsp's give you time when on point to ready yourself for a shot.

 

p.s. i have a ess as my main hobby is beating

[merle 0]

hello mate

i would be sure to go for a springer or cocker they will hunt retrieve and so on although if it is just to retrieve get a lab

a lab will retrive from cover but they dont like working the thick stuff like a spaniel size dog.

but at the end of the day it is your choice get the dog you are happy with

merle

[Terrier man 38]

Thanks for the reply lads its the springer who keeps geting the mention more then the GP in working ... but from a point of view of training and handling what dogs demands the most.. id have thought the springer as iv seen there want to range and blow up game too fare away is a killer but i suppose its keeping them steady and sharp on the whistle will solve that... but with the GP iv seen them naturally quater and range and work back and not an awfull lot of whistle work..

 

all the best

 

TM

[Guest ESS]

Thanks for the reply lads its the springer who keeps geting the mention more then the GP in working ... but from a point of view of training and handling what dogs demands the most.. id have thought the springer as iv seen there want to range and blow up game too fare away is a killer but i suppose its keeping them steady and sharp on the whistle will solve that... but with the GP iv seen them naturally quater and range and work back and not an awfull lot of whistle work..

 

all the best

 

TM

 

A ess will only range when it aint been trianed properly been there and wear the T shirt

[Duck Down 98 0]

springers are probably the best gundogs even though there absolutely mad! but i would only ever have labradors or chesapeakes!!

[Guest Mass_G3nocide]

By far the best all round dog is a lab preferably the runt of the litter they seem to be a bit lively to the rest and they are unique when it comes to retrieving a pigeon springer's are a constant pain in the arse they can not keep still.

[Little Butch 16]

We kept back the Maddest and the Runt of the Litter.

The Runt will Jump much more confidently than the Crazy Bitch but I wouldn't say she's a better worker...They're about the same.

Butch

[louis123 12]

I use my lab for beating..flushing and hes alsp great in water..

very easy to train too

great all round dog.

[Little Butch 16]

Some people seem to think that a Lab won't Flush from cover.

Of course they are not as good as a Spaniel but they will do It and they are great Retrievers.

Butch

[louis123 12]

Well i have 2 labs about a year and a half each and they both already flush from cover really well..

[Guest ESS]

By far the best all round dog is a lab preferably the runt of the litter they seem to be a bit lively to the rest and they are unique when it comes to retrieving a pigeon springer's are a constant pain in the arse they can not keep still.

You cant just say that the runt of of a litter is the best allround dog just on your experience ,The difference in the breeds has been for bred through generations to find a dog for a particular niche of hunting

As for Ess never keeping still goes back to training and thats why there called Springers just as Cockers are cock sure of themselves lol..All rounder a springer is the best its the time you put in ..Lab is there not to flush but to retrieve thats what it was bred for fact.It can flush game just as a any dog can I know one guy who uses plummers to flush and retrieve ,another uses a lurcher to retrieve feather.But the Springer is bred to face harsh cover flush and retrieve ..If you use labs and they do a good job good for you ,but the Ess and Cockers are the true all rounder and will allways be willing to get you something in the bag.

Edited November 8, 2008 by ESS