what dog???????

moose112

Thinking about buying a gun dog had a springer two years ago but he vanished without trace one sat morning.
I really only go after duck, rabbits and pheasants.

any ideas

mallards

It depends, what do you want from your dog? Do you want him to retrieve game after its been flushed to your shot? Then a Lab would be a good choice. If you want to flush your own game then get it retrieved then another spaniel would be just the job. Or do you want a little extra. Is it more than just shooting, do you like the thrill of the chase. Personally I love watching the dog work to find the game, hold it on point and flush it to command. Therefore the HPR's (Hunt,Point,Retrieve) is the group for me, German pointers, Brittanys, whatever, What do you like?

Mallards.

Mellor

My preference would be for pointers or setters. I enjoy watching the dogs work a field or ditch, then hold it it and wait for you

moose112

My father is a big lover of the pointer but i myself never really took to them no real reason. The area where i shoot birds has very heavy cover so need something with a lot of energy and go so spaniel makes more sense. Next year hoping to buy a boat really starting to get into ducks:) but not sure what spaniels are like in water?
If i had the room would def buy two dogs.

bunny shooter

My Irish Setter is divine to watch and to hunt and to set, retrieves if he's in the mood

Mellor

bunny shooter wrote: »

My Irish Setter is divine to watch and to hunt and to set, retrieves if he's in the mood

It I was to get a setter, I'd probably go for one of the smaller breeds this time around. They work better in heavier ditchs, as its obviously easier for them to get around.
Although it'd easily be swung for a irish red and white. They are much rarer, beautiful dogs, and are also strictly speaking "real" irish setters.

stevoman

i have a llewellin setter. a fantastic dog!!!

suttongun

Go for a springer again,my fellas a year 1/2 and i use him for duck,pheasent and rabbit,he is my first gun dog and i coulnd't be happier with him,best all rounder and very loyal

Double Barrel

Help bring back a great old native breed the Irish Water Spaniel or whip tail.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY:
The exact origins of the breed remain obscure. Generally it is thought that Water Spaniels evolved from dogs that originated in Persia and came to Ireland via Spain. The first Irish reference to “ water dogs that pursue water fowl” dates from 1600, so we know that dogs with waterproof coats were used in Ireland even before the advent of the fowling piece. There is no real evidence of the ancestry of the Irish Water Spaniel except in its most peculiar feature-the rat tail. This feature appears in no similar dog and makes it very likely that the modern breed had an indigenous Irish ancestor. The tail has given rise to the names “ Whip Tail” and “ Rat Tail”. In any event the descendants of these dogs were accepted and achieved great success on show benches in the second half of the 19th century. In 1890 the Irish Water Spaniel Club was formed to promote the interests of the breed.http://ikc.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=59

Turlough Coffey in Wexford (Wexford Slobs) has some working bred Irish Water Spaniel's, give him a ring, Ph# 00353 54 47789

Happy Holidays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

moose112

Have heard of the water spaniel but would never have considered one. must do a little research on them. A friend of a friend has offered me a six week old cross between a springer and labradour. My dad had one years ago and gives her a big tumbs up, so starting to lean his way after all nearly forthy years of shooting he would wanted to have picked up something.

J.R.

Due to the fact that I live in the hearth of Dublin city, with a very small garden, I went for a cocker spaniel. I went for black for the evening flight duck shooting. Delighted with her - great pet, family dog and hunting companion.

She can get into the thickest of cover, has a brilliant nose and retrieves as well both on land & water - what else could you ask for?

syklops

I personally love springers. Our first one(Becky) was a fantastic gun dog. Wonderful in water. Would go into the thickest brush she could find if she was on the scent. Would retrieve when she thought of it, but she was usually too excited. Had a very soft mouth so when she did retrieve, the bird was in one piece when it arrived.

We used her for pheasant, snipe, woodcock and duck. We didnt get many rabbits, but that wasnt because of her.

Reliable, loyal, and full of character. Get a spaniel.