which dog for the job?

[snatchbullet 55]

hi guys me and a friend are starting up a shoot this session it will be a mix of diffrent birds. not alot of what alot of wood. i will doing the beating line and maybe a bit of picking up just thought i would ask you lot what you think would be the best breed of dog to help me on my way thanks snatch

[Story Man 0]

Spaniels are retrievers are probably your best option for woodland or rough shooting.

 

Be sure to buy from a recognised breeder and remember, paying a little extra for a proven working strain is not money wasted!

 

SM

[boothy 0]

probably spanial.

[Guest Mass_G3nocide]

Spaniel's imo are a bit scatty but they go through the rough better than most dogs a labrador is a natural retriever and good for pigeon shooting and the like.

[Guest lurchers n lamps]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

[jakeuk1 0]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

Edited February 27, 2009 by jakeuk1

[Dave C 63]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

Nice looking dogs mate.

Is that a GSP on the left and the GWP has a nice tight coat as well.

 

Dave.

[Guest lurchers n lamps]

the one on the left is 3/4 gwp 1/4 gsp the one on the right is 1/2 gwp 1/2 gsp

[Guest lurchers n lamps]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

 

good points there spaniel probily would be best if its mainly beating your doing(i just dont like the annoying little things lol)

[jakeuk1 0]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

 

good points there spaniel probily would be best if its mainly beating your doing(i just dont like the annoying little things lol)

 

fair enough!

[Garypco 2]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

'wrong mate... theres a big difference between a pointer/setter and a hpr the gwp's and vizslas are a more versatile breed theyre bred to range closer and work tighter they cover more ground and are very steady... i work vizsla's and german weimaraners... i used to keep and work springers but the hpr's have taken over for good reason... my opinion they outwork most things.. maybe not trash cover as hard as spaniels but they dont need to they work thayre game differently scenting by air and ground....

[jakeuk1 0]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

'wrong mate... theres a big difference between a pointer/setter and a hpr the gwp's and vizslas are a more versatile breed theyre bred to range closer and work tighter they cover more ground and are very steady... i work vizsla's and german weimaraners... i used to keep and work springers but the hpr's have taken over for good reason... my opinion they outwork most things.. maybe not trash cover as hard as spaniels but they dont need to they work thayre game differently scenting by air and ground....

 

when referrng to 'pointers' i was meaning gsp/gwp's, my fault.

we have a few german pointers (wire and shorthair)on our shoot,(driven pheasant) they get lost in thick cover when on point and need a hell of a lot of handling to stop them ranging too far ahead of the beating line,

i have never seen a visla work so cant comment on them,

the couple of wiemaraners ive seen seemed steady and methodical.

[Guest ESS]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

'wrong mate... theres a big difference between a pointer/setter and a hpr the gwp's and vizslas are a more versatile breed theyre bred to range closer and work tighter they cover more ground and are very steady... i work vizsla's and german weimaraners... i used to keep and work springers but the hpr's have taken over for good reason... my opinion they outwork most things.. maybe not trash cover as hard as spaniels but they dont need to they work thayre game differently scenting by air and ground....

 

when referrng to 'pointers' i was meaning gsp/gwp's, my fault.

we have a few german pointers (wire and shorthair)on our shoot,(driven pheasant) they get lost in thick cover when on point and need a hell of a lot of handling to stop them ranging too far ahead of the beating line,

i have never seen a visla work so cant comment on them,

the couple of wiemaraners ive seen seemed steady and methodical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing beats a spaniel for hitting cover,trained and channelled they are a joy to work they are the true alrounder..

[Blakloks 5]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

'wrong mate... theres a big difference between a pointer/setter and a hpr the gwp's and vizslas are a more versatile breed theyre bred to range closer and work tighter they cover more ground and are very steady... i work vizsla's and german weimaraners... i used to keep and work springers but the hpr's have taken over for good reason... my opinion they outwork most things.. maybe not trash cover as hard as spaniels but they dont need to they work thayre game differently scenting by air and ground....

 

when referrng to 'pointers' i was meaning gsp/gwp's, my fault.

we have a few german pointers (wire and shorthair)on our shoot,(driven pheasant) they get lost in thick cover when on point and need a hell of a lot of handling to stop them ranging too far ahead of the beating line,

i have never seen a visla work so cant comment on them,

the couple of wiemaraners ive seen seemed steady and methodical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing beats a spaniel for hitting cover,trained and channelled they are a joy to work they are the true alrounder..

I agree that a spaniel will do anything mines goes beating sits next to me when im on the shooting line(sometimes) and he will sit down the shore and retrieve geese no problem thats why they are called the "Maid of all works". I have never saw an hpr in the beating line i would imagine keeping them close to be a nightmare! Its something i have looked into getting an hpr for walked up rough shooting and possibly beating but i dont know any breed that would multi task like a spaniel!! Dont get a lab they aint as fun as spaniels

[mustwork 0]

german pointers all the way

 

thay work the rougth as good as a spanial and retrive as good as a lab all in one dog

 

i wouldnt use a pointer if your going to be in a beating line. they range too far, there bred for open grouse moors and best suited to walk and shoot/rough shooting.

 

a spaniel is your best bet for what you want, can hunt, flush and retrieve, the best allrounder.

a lab can work well in a beating line but their not as good as a spaniel in cover.

if your mainly interested in picking up then get a Lab

'wrong mate... theres a big difference between a pointer/setter and a hpr the gwp's and vizslas are a more versatile breed theyre bred to range closer and work tighter they cover more ground and are very steady... i work vizsla's and german weimaraners... i used to keep and work springers but the hpr's have taken over for good reason... my opinion they outwork most things.. maybe not trash cover as hard as spaniels but they dont need to they work thayre game differently scenting by air and ground....

 

when referrng to 'pointers' i was meaning gsp/gwp's, my fault.

we have a few german pointers (wire and shorthair)on our shoot,(driven pheasant) they get lost in thick cover when on point and need a hell of a lot of handling to stop them ranging too far ahead of the beating line,

i have never seen a visla work so cant comment on them,

the couple of wiemaraners ive seen seemed steady and methodical.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing beats a spaniel for hitting cover,trained and channelled they are a joy to work they are the true alrounder..

I agree that a spaniel will do anything mines goes beating sits next to me when im on the shooting line(sometimes) and he will sit down the shore and retrieve geese no problem thats why they are called the "Maid of all works". I have never saw an hpr in the beating line i would imagine keeping them close to be a nightmare! Its something i have looked into getting an hpr for walked up rough shooting and possibly beating but i dont know any breed that would multi task like a spaniel!! Dont get a lab they aint as fun as spaniels

 

As Gary knows we work our GWPs in the beating line and have no problem with them ranging too far. It's all a matter of training! We also use the same dogs on the shoot dogging in, so have no problem with them not ranging out either. I think you have to look at the experience you have with the different gundog breeds and your experience training gundogs! Training a GWP is not easy, but it doesn't have to be that hard either. If you start with the right temperament in your dog and have the right support with training you shouldn't go far wrong.

Lisa