Golden retriever as hunting dog

Luketie123

Well lads I'm just wondering if a golden retriever could be used as a hunting dog mainly retrieving Ducks land and water

deerhunter1

Luketie123 wrote: »

Well lads I'm just wondering if a golden retriever could be used as a hunting dog mainly retrieving Ducks land and water

Of course and a natural retriever at that

hathcock

Luketie123 wrote: »

Well lads I'm just wondering if a golden retriever could be used as a hunting dog mainly retrieving Ducks land and water

Of all the breeds to choose as a hunting dog the golden retriever is probably the worst choice you could make.Their hunting instinct has been bred out for so many generations now that it would be all but impossible to get one that would serve as a gundog.Ask yourself when was the last time you saw any serious hunter in the field with a golden retriever.There is good reason why you won't.

Luketie123

hathcock wrote: »

Of all the breeds to choose as a hunting dog the golden retriever is probably the worst choice you could make.Their hunting instinct has been bred out for so many generations now that it would be all but impossible to get one that would serve as a gundog.Ask yourself when was the last time you saw any serious hunter in the field with a golden retriever.There is good reason why you won't.

They only have to retrieve

deerhunter1

hathcock wrote: »

Of all the breeds to choose as a hunting dog the golden retriever is probably the worst choice you could make.Their hunting instinct has been bred out for so many generations now that it would be all but impossible to get one that would serve as a gundog.Ask yourself when was the last time you saw any serious hunter in the field with a golden retriever.There is good reason why you won't.

Well he is mainly looking for a retriever and they are natural and plenty about,mainly at driven shoots

tomtucker81

I have one. Not a hunter but excellent at retrieving.
Could be taught to hunt in long grass/ditches but unfortunately i dont have the time to work on that.
But he will retrieve well from water or land

Hunter456

hathcock wrote: »

Of all the breeds to choose as a hunting dog the golden retriever is probably the worst choice you could make.Their hunting instinct has been bred out for so many generations now that it would be all but impossible to get one that would serve as a gundog.Ask yourself when was the last time you saw any serious hunter in the field with a golden retriever.There is good reason why you won't.

the Golden retriever is a gun dog like any other that was bred for the job the hunting instinct will either be in him or not.

hathcock

tomtucker81 wrote: »

I have one. Not a hunter but excellent at retrieving.
Could be taught to hunt in long grass/ditches but unfortunately i dont have the time to work on that.
But he will retrieve well from water or land

Dogs can't be taught to hunt,it's instinctual,and this instinct is long bred out of golden retrievers.

hathcock

Hunter456 wrote: »

the Golden retriever is a gun dog like any other that was bred for the job the hunting instinct will either be in him or not.

Any cursory study of the modern gundog will reveal that the golden retriever in particular is not being bred for it's original purpose ie as a gundog,they are now a gundog only in name and are primarily bred for show and the pet market.The fact that they will retrieve doesn't mean anything,virtually any dog can be trained to do same.

Hunter456

hathcock wrote: »

Any cursory study of the modern gundog will reveal that the golden retriever in particular is not being bred for it's original purpose ie as a gundog,they are now a gundog only in name and are primarily bred for show and the pet market.The fact that they will retrieve doesn't mean anything,virtually any dog can be trained to do same.

not saying he shouldn't give it try he should reintroduce this breed to the field if its in them any bit it will reactivate the hunting drive in him by taking him out and trying.

hathcock

Hunter456 wrote: »

not saying he shouldn't give it try he should reintroduce this breed to the field if its in them any bit it will reactivate the hunting drive in him by taking him out and trying.

If the op is serious about a gundog he ought to forget about the golden retriever and get himself a pointer,setter,springer,cocker,or similar from working lines,leave the show dogs to the show ring.

thehound

first gun dog I had was golden lab was great gun dog but was bred from good hunting stock that was 30 years ago had him for 12 years never lost a bird with him sorry I never got a pup off him to keep the line going

Hunter456

thehound wrote: »

first gun dog I had was golden lab was great gun dog but was bred from good hunting stock that was 30 years ago had him for 12 years never lost a bird with him sorry I never got a pup off him to keep the line going

at the minute i shoot over 2 terriers and they are doing very well for unconventional dogs really proud of the work they did over the season but when they die off i'll invest in a Labrador unreal gun dogs.

tomtucker81

I have another golden retriever who is purely a pet, absolutely no good in a field.

The other younger one is just eager, loves being out and will retrieve.

As a previous poster said though, the breed is more for show and pets nowadays, i think i just lucked out with the younger dog. He was bought as a pet but when out for a walk he would retrieve dummies from water and ditches so i thought about introducing him to the guns.

He has retrieved pheasant, crow, rabbit. Basically anything I've managed to shoot.

They are a lovely dog, excellent pets. But i think it'll be pure fluke to get one that will actually work. If you want to guarantee a working dog i would go for a pointer or springer i suppose. (*my opinion.not an expert! !!)

Edit- just to clarify, he has interest in following his nose into ditches/long grass so I'm guessing the hunting instinct is still there in this one

blackpearl

if your going for a golden retriever that is pure working blood you will get it hard to find it in Ireland, if you want the working golden you have to go to the uk these are smaller than the big fluffy things you see in your local park and are pure working dogs that are winning at trials .

Luketie123

Does any one no of anyone who is using 1 and wat they think of them

hathcock

Luketie123 wrote: »

Does any one no of anyone who is using 1 and wat they think of them

Nobody uses a golden retriever as a serious gundog,I'm shooting over 30 years all over Ireland and never saw one in the field,as suggested earlier, get a real gundog if you want to go shooting.