which dog to buy

rugermk3

hi all looking to buy a dog soon have three breeds in mind, lab, springer, or german pointer but Im really spilt between witch to go for , I need a good all rounder , I hunt all types of game and will be starting at the stalking next season , id be interest to hear peoples thoughts on witch they think I should go for, , I had a pointer as a young lad , he came ready trained as a gun dog, but I never hunted him because I was just a kid, I can remember he was a really smart but cant remember if he liked water or not, and ill need a good water dog for the ducks , any info would be great heads wrecked lol all three breeds are cracking ,

allan450

whats the ground like you hunt on is it open,heavy cover,or bog.these all come into consideration.where i am its a mix of land types so i have gsps and cockers{dont forget the cockers ha ha].germans are so good in water as out.so if you like the duck hunting your good up to the point of the really cold weather.its not fair putting them in when its very cold.they will go in though.german top dog for pheasnts and snipe but lack for the real heavy cover.springer/cocker great in cover and hard bet on the woodcock also as good in water.labs cant really comment but if your a duck hunter thats what to go for hardy in all weather and very strong in water swimming against tide if you shoot foreshore ect ect.why dont you buy both ha ha.:)

TriggerPL

Lab! I've hunted everything there is to offer with my lab and tracked 2 deer with her last year too . I've a springer too well able for the job but hard get a gud one and very energetic all the time

Traumadoc

Lab, will track deer, swim to retrieve ducks, and hunt cover.

rugermk3

cheers guys thanks for the advice, think at the min im leaning towards a pointer , if not a pointer a lab ,

sheebadog

Get a well bred English Setter and you won't go too far wrong.
Look for a dog called Heegards Kody in the pedigree. Throwing good stuff.

Longranger

A buddy of mine had a vizla for years. Great dog and worked just as well in the water as on the hill, but I believe they ain't cheap.

snipe49

rugermk3 wrote: »

hi all looking to buy a dog soon have three breeds in mind, lab, springer, or german pointer but Im really spilt between witch to go for , I need a good all rounder , I hunt all types of game and will be starting at the stalking next season , id be interest to hear peoples thoughts on witch they think I should go for, , I had a pointer as a young lad , he came ready trained as a gun dog, but I never hunted him because I was just a kid, I can remember he was a really smart but cant remember if he liked water or not, and ill need a good water dog for the ducks , any info would be great heads wrecked lol all three breeds are cracking ,

What u must bare in mind is not all german pointers are fond of water so make sure if your getting a pup both parent retrive from water. Maybe get a poiner and a springer. They would be company for each other. I dont think its fair to keep one dog on it own. Just my taughts.

allan450

i wouldnt keep one dog on their own either i dont think its right.if i was you id get a pointer and springer and you would have all aspects of shooting covered.if you are ever down this end of the country pm me and il show you germans and cockers working if you want its a hard call to make.

vincentf

Doesnt matter to some extent what breed. The strain or bloodline has to be right. It must come from proven dogs that have massive drive to hunt anything you train it to hunt.you also know these dogs dont make good pets and need housing that locks them up. My bitch will go over walls 6ft plus.
Be prepared to spend alot if needed. I was in the same boat. I waited and got sorted with gwp. Shes outa german deutsch drahthaars.imports.tested dogs. If they fail.they dont breed with papers etc.
Ive been out with lads who have springers and shes going through hard heavy cover that the springer lads are trying to train their dogs to hit. Shes tracks deer and all feather n fowl.
I wouldnt touch another breed or other gwp bloodlines to be honest.
Do your home work.

rugermk3

snipe49 wrote: »

What u must bare in mind is not all german pointers are fond of water so make sure if your getting a pup both parent retrive from water. Maybe get a poiner and a springer. They would be company for each other. I dont think its fair to keep one dog on it own. Just my taughts.

I had a pointer years ago as a kid , and as far as I can remember he wasn't mad on water, I can only get one dog because I have a terrier that's 18 and a husky , the terrier hasn't much time left sadly he`s been a smashing dog , so the new dog will replace him , could always shoot the husky < that's a joke > he is useless lol but a good pet he`s the wife`s dog. and she wont let me get two dogs I'd have to move in with them if I did,

garyc007

if your looking for an all rounder i wouldnt go with the pointer,it can be pot luck with them where as with a springer or lab you can be sure if you put the time in you will have a good all round dog.i lean towards the springer but have a lab springer x that i enjoy the best of both breeds with (on good days )

interize

Had the same problem myself a few years ago, didn't know what breed to get so i went for the best all rounder, a good springer spaniel, just get a good dog and train it well and you wont be sorry you got one.

TriggerPL

Haha that's the hard part a good spaniel
dog !!

rugermk3

sheebadog wrote: »

Get a well bred English Setter and you won't go too far wrong.
Look for a dog called Heegards Kody in the pedigree. Throwing good stuff.

I had forgot all about the English setter , I have an uncle that has two English setters and ive been out with them a few times , and there two good dogs got to be said , ok one of them **** off one day and didn't come back , the uncle got him back a week later in a different county haha other than that slip up they were great, jayus this is getting harder to make up my mind lol

blackpearl

red setters I would not pass them use them for all round shooting retrieving land and water, cover and I am talking about heavy cover shooting ducks on shore and lakes, pheasant ,woodcock,snipe and grouse they will not bother with rabbits that is the only thing I will falt them with but rabbits are very scarce in my part of the country so it does not matter to me.

snipe49

blackpearl wrote: »

red setters I would not pass them use them for all round shooting retrieving land and water, cover and I am talking about heavy cover shooting ducks on shore and lakes, pheasant ,woodcock,snipe and grouse they will not bother with rabbits that is the only thing I will falt them with but rabbits are very scarce in my part of the country so it does not matter to me.

Yes the Red setter is wort thinking about.But finding one that works and is red' not red with a white chest is very had.

sheebadog

snipe49 wrote: »

Yes the Red setter is wort thinking about.But finding one that works and is red' not red with a white chest is very had.

What do you mean " red with a white chest" ?

irish setter

snipe49 wrote: »

Yes the Red setter is wort thinking about.But finding one that works and is red' not red with a white chest is very had.

Not at all hard to find. but nothing wrong with a white chest either. That's like saying a solid coloured pointer is ok but not a part coloured

snipe49

irish setter wrote: »

Not at all hard to find. but nothing wrong with a white chest either. That's like saying a solid coloured pointer is ok but not a part coloured

A Irish red setter should only be red.If it was ment to have white then it would be call red and white And we allready have that dog. What u say about the pointer does'nt stand up. They are not call brown pointers they are call englist german and so on. If a litter of setter pup's come up for sale the all red's ones will be always sold first. As long as people accept white on RED setter then this lovely breed will be lost.You'll never see the bus eireann dog with a white chest.

sheebadog

snipe49 wrote: »

A Irish red setter should only be red.If it was ment to have white then it would be call red and white And we allready have that dog. What u say about the pointer does'nt stand up. They are not call brown pointers they are call englist german and so on. If a litter of setter pup's come up for sale the all red's ones will be always sold first. As long as people accept white on RED setter then this lovely breed will be lost.You'll never see the bus eireann dog with a white chest.

Bullshyte. Read up on the breed standard of the reds and educate yourself. Fact is, reds started out as red and white and "fashion" made them self coloured. I know of many reds that are outstanding dogs and have a lot of white markings on them.
It has been known that a litter of purebred red setters often have a red and white in them.

allan450

that is correct they where original red and white.it was for shows the full red dogs where bred.

snipe49

sheebadog wrote: »

Bullshyte. Read up on the breed standard of the reds and educate yourself. Fact is, reds started out as red and white and "fashion" made them self coloured. I know of many reds that are outstanding dogs and have a lot of white markings on them.
It has been known that a litter of purebred red setters often have a red and white in them.

Don't mind what they starter of as. All i know given the choice most peope would go for a full red.Most dog breeds have been improved no. but there going back words with the red setter. U must have a litter for sale with white on.:D

sheebadog

snipe49 wrote: »

Don't mind what they starter of as. All i know given the choice most peope would go for a full red.Most dog breeds have been improved no. but there going back words with the red setter. U must have a litter for sale with white on.:D

Disagree. Reds are the best that they have been for years - fact.
Btw I've never bred red setters.
Anybody that can say that a red dog is no good because it has some white on is a misinformed ............!

allan450

The color in any dog breed has no bearing on working ability.

snipe49

sheebadog wrote: »

Disagree. Reds are the best that they have been for years - fact.
Btw I've never bred red setters.
Anybody that can say that a red dog is no good because it has some white on is a misinformed ............!

I never said they were less of a working dog. just that in MY OPINION yhey just dont look right. An example of this is i had two setter bitches for sale both the same age both of simular working abbility. only differance was one was all dark red. And the other was white and red.I could have sold the all red bitch 10 times. And now one wanter the white and red bitch.Ended up giving her to a good home. I rest my case.:D

sheebadog

snipe49 wrote: »

I never said they were less of a working dog. just that in MY OPINION yhey just dont look right. An example of this is i had two setter bitches for sale both the same age both of simular working abbility. only differance was one was all dark red. And the other was white and red.I could have sold the all red bitch 10 times. And now one wanter the white and red bitch.Ended up giving her to a good home. I rest my case.:D

Weak argument. You'd be better off discussing fashion on another thread.

Anyone that colour influences buying a working dog haven't a clue.
In fact I've noticed that the reds that are more "yellow" than a deep mahogany red make the best workers - it goes back to Jack Nash's breeding. But that's another story.

snipe49

sheebadog wrote: »

Weak argument. You'd be better off discussing fashion on another thread.

Anyone that colour influences buying a working dog haven't a clue.
In fact I've noticed that the reds that are more "yellow" than a deep mahogany red make the best workers - it goes back to Jack Nash's breeding. But that's another story.

I've been shoot for 35 years .And had red setters when i started.I do like a good looking dog and red and white just doesent do it for me. And i would say a lot more.I'm going out at the weekend what would u recomend black tie or gray.

sheebadog

snipe49 wrote: »

I've been shoot for 35 years .And had red setters when i started.I do like a good looking dog and red and white just doesent do it for me. And i would say a lot more.I'm going out at the weekend what would u recomend black tie or gray.

Length of rope!!:)

irish setter

A lot of things being said I don't really understand. First there is the Irish setter. Colour red. Also can have traces of white on chest head or feet.
Then you have the Irish red and white setter. Colour white with solid patches of red.
These are two different breeds that is generally thought to have a common ancestry. But they are two different breeds so most arguments here are mute.
Which breed is better is a different argument

sonofthegun

sheebadog wrote: »

Weak argument. You'd be better off discussing fashion on another thread.

Anyone that colour influences buying a working dog haven't a clue.
In fact I've noticed that the reds that are more "yellow" than a deep mahogany red make the best workers - it goes back to Jack Nash's breeding. But that's another story.

I cant agree we hunt red setters here for years but the look of the red setter has being diluted why cant you have good hunting dogs that bear the traditional look of the deep solid red dog my family have hunted over setters for 50 years or more,
sotg