What kind of dog and why?

[CBRHunter]

I want to know what kind of do you hunt with (upland, waterfowl, fur, etc), show, breed, etc and why you went with that breed.

I don't know if this topic has been touched on..probably, but heck I'm curious. It also gives me a chance to learn more about the different breeds first hand than the regular breed standard garble.

We have Chesapeakes. After much deliberation about what kind of dog to get my fiance and I decided to take a look at a few kennels and check them out first hand and talk to the breeders as to why they fell in love with their breed.

I have pretty bad allergies and Golden's seem to swell my eyes so shut I can't see, so that breed was gone, much to Dustin's dismay. I like labs but wanted a bit less energy in the house. We found it hard to even find a flat coat or curly coat breeder. So we started a ton of research into the Chessie. I worked at a boarding kennel and one weekend we had two Chessie pups in and when they checked out I talked to their guardians...they passed some very good information along and kennel names. I was intrigued by how highly they spoke of their dogs but also how they insisted the Chessie wasn't for everyone. So after more research we found our breeder and then the months of screening went on. We filled out a puppy survey and waited two litters until we were matched with a pup - you can't just say I want a brown pup next month with her, and that was also something I really liked! Once we brought Pocket home we fell in love with the breed. Smart as a whip, calm in the house and a machine in the field. So then the decision came to get a second pup, went through the whole process with the breeder again and brought Dozer home last August.

Pocket is brown and Dozer is deadgrass and I never believed that colour could play a roll in personality but it sure does!

We just had our first hunting season with her and were amazed and awed.
She's all business in the field and once she got her first duck that was it - hunting is what she lives for! The boys shot a goose last year that was only winged, and when we walked up to where it fell - the damn thing flew almost a km after it was hit- it popped up and started trying to fly away. They shouldered their guns, but before I could think I sent her for it! Then realizing what I'd done I tried to call her back...ya right she flipped me the bird, ran out to it (now about 50yrd away) jumped in the air hit it full force, barrel rolled with it and then brought it back to me still flapping and honking away! Our hunting buddy was amazed as he said when I sent it that it would kick the crap out of her and scare her off geese forever...he's never hunting with a Chessie before. We hunted right till Dec 20th with her and she never once hesitated to go into the river and fetch us our kill. On the 20th she actually helped out another hunting party that was up river - they drove to where we were and asked if they could use our dog to get some birds their dog wouldn't get. We headed up there and at just a yr went and got her first blinds as well.

Dozer was too young to get too many but at 6 mths got a few birds and proved to us we went with the right dogs!

I love their loyal nature and that they don't go running down the street saying hi to everyone they meet, and they make me feel quite at ease when Dustin is working nights bc I'm fairly certain no one would try to break in with the vocal cords they have, and if they do they won't get very far or get very much!

Hunt tests have just begun for us and we are hooked. I just love watching dogs work regardless of the breed, but it's nice to see why people are loyal to their breed...and colour sometimes! Sorry if this is too long winded, but I just ruptured some ligaments in my ankle yesterday and can't really do anything other than sit here and dream to take the pain away. Please jump in and fire away with your stories!

[Drew Good]

Well I hope you are feeling better soon, I know what you feel like being injured and only having the computer or tv for eneretainment.

As for your question.....

Basicly I hunt for Ducks/geese with my dogs. I have never been upland hunting unless you call shooting those stupid grouse that are all over the roads up north hunting.

Why did I choose labs......

I have had black labs ( is there any other colours?) all my life, my father brought home our first lab when I was less than a week old.

When it was time to get my own dog it was a no brainer for me, I wanted a dog that is a natural born retriever, would be a great hunting companion and is great with people and children. Since I have had so many great labs over the years I knew what I wanted..... A black lab!!

When I was looking for Diesel ( my 3 yo male) I knew nothing about the British vs American lab debates and truthfully at that time I could care less. I wanted a large bone " classic" looking lab that would be able to retrieve limits of geese as this is what I primarily hunt. Then I started looking into dog games that Diesel and I could play and that is when I was introduced to HT's and FT's.

Once I decided that this was something i wanted to do I started my search for a FT prospect. I educated myself on pedigree's and looked back into history ( AKC & CKC Field Trial Champions) to research current and past champions. After all this it seamed that another black lab was in my future and I found Mercedes.

Once I seen my first field trial I was hooked, I have a very compeditive background and this seemed to fit me the best.

Drew

[ducksoup]

My family got our first Lab when I was 12 years old -- I tried training her for field work (using James Lamb Free's book) -- too young or too much the family pet -- I'd seen Gold Whistle Retriever trials at Sportsmen Shows, fell in love with breed and work they did in field -- finally after I graduated from university I got my own Lab -- started running FTs -- bought a couple of more dogs over next few years -- eventually even got into breeding -- had three litters -- two yellow one black -- bred for FTs (and HTs) -- bred to CNFC CNAFC The Marathon Man then to CNAFC CFC The Shooter finally to friend's Camsoo's Suer Gunho Rebel (National finalist) -- had YLF brood bitch out of CFC CAFC Going Going Josh, her YLM son out of Marty, and BLF Tanker bitch -- gave up dogs for nearly 15 years -- bought BLM Maxx out of Click X Tess -- everything I wished for and more -- in fact don't wish for anything unless you really want, because you're likely to get -- and I'm glad I got Maxx -- he's now 19-20 months old and has been in training with Dan and Gloria DeVos since last year; even down south this winter in Alabama -- like Drew my interest lies in FTs because I'm also competitive in nature (tried HTs but prefer competition) -- I got the best bred dog I could -- put him with the best professional trainer I could (and I am very lucky to have both Gloria and Dan train Maxx -- Gloria did Basics, Force Fetch, Collar Conditioning, and into Transition before Maxx switched over to Dan) -- Dan has run Maxx in several FTs -- still hoping for big finish -- but Maxx has done well so far -- very happy with him -- he's still learning and needs to mature a little bit -- a lot of dog to train and handle -- great attitude -- but can still be goofy puppy sometimes -- high flier with TONS of drive -- Labs are all up front, straight forward, honest and very willing to please -- that's my breed of choice

[luvmylabs]

We started out as empty nest syndrone. Both kids had just left home and we were looking for something to get us outside and give us an excuse for some exercise. My husband had had a lab as a kid and really liked the breed. We got our first lab having no thought as to pedigrees or health problems. At 5 months old both elbows and shoulders were full of OCD. A friend had introduced us to retrieving so the next pup we researched for field pedigrees. Then we went out and bought the best field pedigree we could afford at the time. That was Kasy. We decided we were going to train him ourselves and blundered along, doing everything wrong. We ran started HRC tests and were having a ball with our totally out of control puppy. Thankfully we met a guy at our 3rd started test(this was before there was a SHR title)and he told us we should get the Lardy tapes. Kids and I went together and got them for Ted's birthday that year. We both trained Kasy for the first 2 years. Ted ran HRC and I ran CKC with him. At that point we both decided I should have a dog of my own to train. Back to the internet and we got CJ. The rest is history. Kasy is gone now. He taught us so much about how to train a dog. He learned in spite of us. Ran him in HT and then ran him in FT. We now enjoy both games.

Anne

[just chessies]

CBR Hunter Sorry to hear of your accident. I have two breeds of retrievers that I like and it started waaaay back in 1965 I got my first lab. and the only game around was field trials I had a lot of fun but no blue ribbon. My first pup was out of a FTC that Kay Robinson had his name was Toby I think, a nice yellow dog, my dog was black he was just a nice allround dog you could have wished for we saw a lot of duck hunting on Georgian Bay north of Brit On. I had a couple of dogs from a Man call Bob Blyth he was well know in the FT. game I allso had a small female givin to me by George and Marge Fitspatrick Pinenoughts Kennels I think thats how you spell it i,m reaching way back in my memory for all this and my first training book was by James Lamb Free and still have it. I have allways wanted a Peake and did a lot of reading about them.In 1994 I saw my first Peake at the sportsman Show and fell in love with the breed and had to have one, the person who was running his dog just had a litter and thats how UKC/HT/CH Dusty came to me, we saw a lot of UKC/HTS from Ontario, all the way down to S.Carolina he passed away about three years ago he was the gentlest dog I ever had. I now have a mother and son team and they gang up on me Peakes are so controlling :mad: Like any breed you have to do your homework before you purchase any retriever, right now i,m happy training my Peakes

[ducksoup]

Just Chessies
You brought back some memories -- Kay Robinson became Kay Maurer and she had a kennel with husband Mike -- Willowmount Kennels -- on Bayview north of Hwy. 7 -- a number of great dogs came out of there including Dennis Voight's CFC CAFC Willowmount's Tabasco Rasco (Taco) -- then Bob Blyth who had Blyth's Ace of Spades etc. and was one of Ontario's first pros (he also taught Dave Watt, owner of Gahonk's Missauga Totem, a lot of what Dave knew) ran Gold Whistle several years and lived out near Brighton -- and finally Pine Knot Kennels outside Aurora/Newmarket area had a lot of very nice dogs.

[nimkii]

I started with Brittany's. We didn't do a lot of duck/goose hunting in New Jersey, we were more upland. In total between myself, my Grandfather and my uncle we had 4...Pepper (mine), Patches 1 & 2 (Gramps) and Bronze Boy (Uncle's). We got away from them when in the same year they all went nutty and started biting everyone and everything...if they could reach it they would take a shot at it...needless to say, we couldn't have that and they were all put down.

Now, for the meathead I now call my dog. I have a yellow lab, female that is an absolute idiot, but loves to play the game (HRC training and test days). The reason I chose a lab was I recently (3 seasons now) started hunting again and while on a duck hunt hit a couple of mallards and could not find them in the cattails behind the blind. I looked all over, high and low. I felt absolutely horrible. When I got home my wife asked me what was wrong so I told her. She then said get your dog, I was bugging her for the last 10 years. So on the internet and on the road I went checking out breeders.
I found a breeder I like with the look of Labs I like. Sorry guys, I like the Blocky heads and shorter noses...you know the ones that look like pitbulls at times (you would not believe the amount of people that comment on Abbie looking like a Pitbull).

Anyways, I like my lab and wouldn't have it anyother way, except maybe collar, nah, yellow rules...

[rocko]

WoW....great stories. Well, mine isn't that exciting as the rest. When I was younger, I started out with a Golden Retriever (family dog)....greatest dog ever....he didn't retrieve a thing, but we all loved him.
One day my buddy shows up at my house with this fox red lab pup from JerryRU. Seen here http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j296/kwanzanator/P9040214.jpg

Let me tell you, this kid is the lazy kid on earth, and I couldn't believe some one would sell this kid a dog (lol :1: but the truth) . Well anyways, this kid never trained the dog one single day and it turned out to be an amazing hunting dog. Talk about raw talent!! After seeing this dog, I was hooked on labs.

So 8months ago, I bought my first lab and here I am trying to learn everything I can about training this guy!! As well as training myself.

[BdBHunts]

I have had different breeds growing up. Most were mutts but a couple of purebred black labs. The first lab was stolen from our yard when I was about 5 years old, calm and gentle dog. The next lab was one I picked up in Barrie from I guy that hunted ducks in Lake Simcoe. He was a big boy, tall and weighed 88 lbs with no fat on him. He just about took the side off my truck the first time I took him to water, out of the kennel over the side of the truck and huge scratches where he pushed off against the truck straight into the waves on Simcoe. Unfortunately I didn't know how to train a retriever for hunting and didn't hunt with him. I will always have a soft spot for labs.

I was at a NAVHDA test several years ago and saw a dog run that was different looking and was immediately intrigued. The dog was one of several from Quebec that were being tested, the others were Griffons. I watched him sitting so calmly for a 16 month old dog with the handler. After speaking to the handler I got the owners name and inquired about future breedings. Fast forward to almost 4 years ago when I got a call that there was a pup available. Drove to the other side of Montreal to pick him up and come home. Beau was from the first Braque du Bourbonnais litter born in Canada. nimkii I too like blocky heads, Beau has one and my lab Mac had one as well. He is called the pointing french bulldog, by a couple buddies who own shorthairs, after an incident at the Natural Ability test where he snapped off a fence post after pointing and chasing a bird. :omg: He has some desire. Very calm in the house and high gear outside.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o2/bdbhunts/beau1a.jpg
He is always 'up' for getting his picture taken.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o2/bdbhunts/beaupebblesOct06.jpg

Not the best pictures that I have, lost a lot when my old computer crashed.

[sterregold]

I have Goldens. I didn't start out selecting them for hunting, but because they just have this personality that's a bit addictive! Now there's no way I could change breeds, as much as I like the other retrievers.

As a kid we had a variety of mutts (often half labrador!) and a couple of rescue Irish Setters. Then a grad school a friend had a Golden. This dog totally won me over and the next year I got my own, Tucker. He was purely a pet, but a great companion, and I did a lot of hiking and backpacking with him. Backcountry solo isn't quite so lonely with your pooch along!

Just before he passed away I got my second, Juniper. She was the first that I did anything competitive with, and she earned an obedience title and a rally title.
http://www.canadianhuntingdogs.com/forums/imagehosting/684667fe1c2bcc6.jpg

Then from her mom's next litter I got Winter. He has done well in the conformation ring and is now a multi-Best of Breed winner, all owner handled. We're still chasing that tough placement in the Sporting group!
http://www.canadianhuntingdogs.com/forums/imagehosting/684667fe1bf18d2.jpg
But when he was a pup, Chris, aka 3blackdogs, kept saying to me that I should try field work whenever I ran into him at obedience class. Eventually I got myself out to picnic trial, thought it looked rather fun, and got myself hooked up with a training group. The following summer we earned his WC and JH, and that fall I got myself organized and all of my licenses in order--I hadn't fired a gun since I was a kid on the farm, so I had to get back to speed! Since then lots of chasing of pheasants, and some of ducks, has ensued and the boy loves it! They really do make terrific upland dogs. And it freaks out a lot of the show-only Golden folk to see his coat in this state!!
http://www.canadianhuntingdogs.com/forums/imagehosting/684667fe88a28e4.jpg http://www.canadianhuntingdogs.com/forums/imagehosting/68466805aaeaa68.jpg

This fall as part of a trip that included getting Winter's WCI, I picked up my third! Breeze is 10 months old today and coming along nicely. She's busy doing the puppy show ring stuff these days, and I likely won't test her until next year--but she's crazy for birds! Her pedigree has some very nice working dogs in it, including a number of FC, and Qual dogs, as well as the show stuff to get the structure and type that I prefer. We had a good day in the show ring this particular day...
http://www.canadianhuntingdogs.com/forums/imagehosting/684667fd80d6850.jpg

Versatility is, as versatility does...

[Huntingonthebrain]

My wife and I grew up with different dogs. So we needed to make a decision as to what type we wanted. I grew up with Springer Spaniels and my wife with with a Shelty (I am sure I did not spell that right). She would not go with a springer and I would not go with the one she grew up with. So we had to make a decision on something else. We looked at different breeds.. and finally we decided on a Brittany simply because they are a fairly healthy breed... not to big and my personal favourite reason... I wanted to take up hunting. So I have an upland dog right now.. I need a waterfowling dog as well. My wife gets to choose this dog because I had most of the say in getting our brittany. She wants something that is not really really big and not really common. Thus the Lab retrievers are out (this is what I want as a second dog). Any thoughts anyone. Post some pics of other waterfowl dog that are not so common so that I can show them to my wife.

[CBRHunter]

Hunting...what about a Nova Scotia Duck Toliing Retriever. Nice and small and a very good retriever. Check out TollWest kennels on google their site is very infomative with a lot of pictures.

[Huntingonthebrain]

Hunting...what about a Nova Scotia Duck Toliing Retriever. Nice and small and a very good retriever. Check out TollWest kennels on google their site is very infomative with a lot of pictures.

Are they suitable for Geese as well... Some of them Canada poopers are pretty big

[Anna Scott]

Tollers are hard working dogs but not sure they could handle a goose. I admit my prejudice is for the lab, got my first one 14 years ago and I now have 5. 2black and 3 chocolates. The chocolates were introduced as an anniversary present for my husband.

Flatcoated retrievers are another rare breed in the retriever line but you would have to pick your lines and get your order in real early as there are few of them bred.
The curly coat has had much of the hunt bred out of them.
How about a good field golden?

[Huntingonthebrain]

not likely... my wife thinks they are too common

[Jixer]

You want a goose dog? CBR!
Might as well go all out.

How late in the season do you want water retrieves? That'll make a big difference on the dog you pick. One of the best retrieving "goose dogs" I hunt with is a GSP. That dog will break ice to retrieve a goose, but I feel bad letting her do it with that short coat of hers. If one of the "Versatile" dogs fits your bill, you could end up with two pointers... :) Maybe a PudelPointer?

[Huntingonthebrain]

you have GSP too???? or is this a friend's dog

[Jixer]

:yikes: She is my buddie's dog. She is fanatical about retrieving, and points birds too! lol.

[rocko]

My suggestion is you hold your ground and tell her you want a LAB. Your not doing yourself any favours in buying a "cute" rare bred dog for waterfowling.
Don't limit yourself.....

Thats just my opinion.....

[Huntingonthebrain]

My suggestion is you hold your ground and tell her you want a LAB. Your not doing yourself any favours in buying a "cute" rare bred dog for waterfowling.
Don't limit yourself.....

Thats just my opinion.....

Ahhhhh Rocko.. if life were only that simple. Actually I had her looking at GSP pups on the internet today.. She thought they were cute. She would want a solid coloured one... liver colour I think. Do they come in solid black??

[Jixer]

LOL!!! Where is Big Bird?

[rocko]

You mean Bert and Erine? smiliesex:

[Anna Scott]

NO. Rocko is right if you want a hunting dog get the breed you want. A GSP I will take the word that they are good water retrievers. But alot of the rare retrieving breeds have been bred down for the show ring. The curly coat is a prime example. I like the looks of them but it is really hard to find one with a work ethic now.

[Big Bird]

http://www.canadianhuntingdogs.com/forums/imagehosting/40466f5060af532.jpg
YES the come in BLACK, also black tick, liver, liver tick
is not Black is beautiful... even the LAB boys can not denie that black is beautiful
Just makes your heart go thump when you see this pose!

[just chessies]

Wise old saying " it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission " buy the dog you want and get it over with you are the person who is going to be hunting over it for many years to come.

[CBRHunter]

It's true get what you want and get a dog that can do what you want first, and then the looks....looks will not retrieve that goose!

A toller can bring in the geese they are awesome waterfowl dogs, and haven't been bred down. Start the foot work to talk to breeders and find one that does hunt with theirs and has some titled dogs in their kennel. Tollwest (just google it) are a great example of what NSDTR's can do. We have some very impressive ones in our retreiver gun dog club and they sure are a nice dog.

[verno]

My wife and I have always had dogs. Shortly after our son was born we had to put down our Doberman. We still had one dog our Lab X sheppard. And we adopted a "lab" from animal services in TO. The vet told us our "lab" was actually part pitbull. That dog did absolutely anything I asked within the first week, unfortunately he was a one person dog, and within the first week he bit my wife, so that was the end of buddy.
Within the first year of having our son our Lab X died of cancer. We knew we wanted another dog, and we werent interested in adopting another one because we wanted some health guarantees. We didnt want to have to explain to a 4 yr old why his life long pal was gone.
I wanted to get back into hunting, so I focused on the sporting dogs because I knew if I shelled out good dough for a dog and put my time into training it, I would be more apt to continue hunting. My pal already had a lab for waterfowl, and I got interested in the versatile breeds.
We wanted something that didnt get too big, and was protective but not aggressive. The best way to describe what I mean by that is I don't want a dog to fight for me, I just want him to let me know when something is going on. We spend a lot of time walking so energy level wasnt a big concern for us. I started looking at GSP's but was turned off them by reading in several places that they were "harsher" dogs. I have since learned that I misunderstood and they are great dogs and can stand harsher training not that they have a tendency to be meaner.
We settled on the Vizsla and talked to many breeders. Eventually we found a breeder that we felt comfortable with and waited till she had a litter available. Our son is now 4 and our dog is his best buddy. He is responsible for putting the dog in his kennel and letting him out of his kennel when need be. I also try and get him involved in training as much as I can. Though sometimes it tough to handle a 3 yr old dog and 4 yr old kid. Fortunately I trained both of them to come to the whistle. They say the Vizsla is a "velcro" dog and needs to be with their owners a large part of the time. This was what attracted us to them as we had a child. They are inseperable, and they learn a lot from each other. We sent Gunner away once for 2 weeks of training. Our son would just sit on the floor where the kennel used to be and cry. When we picked the dog up two weeks later he was happy to see us, but when he caught sight of his boy standing in the field looking at butterflies he covered the 100M to him in about a second and had him down on the ground licking his face. If the boy wanders off in the bush we look at the dog and say "where's your boy" and he's off to find him.
Now with another baby due at the end of next month, I'm thinking we are due for a new pup next spring, but I'm taking my buddy up to check out 2 CBR pups this thursday so we may end up with a pup sooner than a baby. :laugh:

[Huntingonthebrain]

Katy (my wife) seems to like the GSP. I can live with a GSP I think. She also wants a female. So next question is where are the breeders of GSP in Ontario. I am long time off from getting a second dog.. but I know I have to begin the convincing work with my wife a long time in advance.. hehe.. she would kill me for joking around like that... hehe. She wants liver as well.. so black is out even though I like it alot. I got to pick the Britt.. she will get to pick this one.. so a liver GSP will likely be it. Do they breed them as all liver in a litter or will it be like a mixed type of litter usually??

[Huntingonthebrain]

One other question... was is a realistic price of a GSP???

[Jixer]

You can get a solid liver. If you want a good GSP, talk to the NAVHDA people. Their breedings will definately have a strong focus on retrieving skills. They will not steer you wrong. I am sure that Mr.Bird will have a recomendation or two.

[Big Bird]

The price may not be the question to ask!

Do some reserch on the breed, fine the names of breeders, look at the program/ dogs that they have produced. Know the difference between a field trial dog and a hunting dog. Know what you expect the dog to do for you, ask questions of those having similar dogs to what you are looking for.
Does the breeder offer a health garantee, does he offer consideration, reimbursment for having the pup tested in a recognized testing program? Can he assist you in training if you are geographically located? If possible you might be able to see the parents, but more over you will only see the bitch :der: (can I use that on this forum- other I get kicked out of- quess we will see)

More over, a good breeder will be interviewing you, to see if you a responcible owner, can care for the pup, and give the pup a quality life.

DO NOT GO TO A KENNEL JUST TO LOOK AT THE PUPPIES. You will end up purchasing on the spot.

I have seen registered GSP's for a fee of $350.00, and also as high as $1200.00. You might need to also pay the shipping fee, if the dog is coming from a distance, and do not forget taxes.

A well breed dog from a regonized breeder can be well worth the top end price. PS.... I am NOT a breeder!