Thread: Pheasant Dog

I'm after a good dog - primarily for rough shooting pheasants, peacocks, ducks etc. I've gone round in circles trying to figure out what's the 'ideal' dog - covering Springers to Labradors, through GSPs and GWPs. Interested in your thoughts on the right breed and and suitable breeders...

We live in the country with two dogs (a heeler and heeler x huntaway - both great dogs). I work in town during the day, but my fiancee works outside all day and the dogs are with her during the day. I'm exercise the dogs in the mornings and evenings - often with our horses.

As I've started to get into my upland shooting, a dog with good hunt and retrieve drive has become necessary. I really enjoy watching good dogs work, and shooting over friends pointers. I've had conflicting views from owners of various breeds (Vizslas, GSPs, Labradors) about their respective merits - I'm tending away from the versatiles given the energy levels/intensity of training required. Is this a reasonable concern? Would a Springer or Lab be easier? Conscious that any dog is going to require considerable time and focus (and am in a position to give this).

So - over to you guys...

Cheers,
Tom

the English Setter will be the only dog you ever need ... just try to find one though !! Could be a litter coming up soon if your interested

I'm tending away from the versatiles given the energy levels/intensity of training required.


Hi Tlane, energy levels!!! Have you ever seen a cocker spaniel working in top gear... Intensity of training required...what breed are you referring to????
Look for a good line of working Labradors for your first gundog...then, after it has taught you all you need to know about retrieving, then find the Light and look for a real gundog...

English Pointer beats everything hands down.

Originally Posted by TeRei

English Pointer beats everything hands down.

didn't want to say anything but......................

I like too see pheasants about, so not going to talk him into a versatile

@Munsey, good thinking

What sort of country u hunting mainly?

Thanks guys. Hunting mainly around Waikato, Auckland Northland - scrubby hill and cliff country.

EeeBees - reading through similar posts on this site, there seems to be a view that versatiles are 'harder' dogs that are at the more extreme end when it comes to training. As performers, a pointer is my ideal dog - not much beats watching them work. But there's not much pleasure in watching a poorly trained dog, and even less in working with one (let alone owning it!). Realising that any dog is only going to be as good as the training it's given, I'm committed to giving it everything I've got. If I was hunting every day I wouldn't hesitate to go for a GWP, but wonder whether I'm better to go for a different breed that would be more forgiving?

On a side note, just got back from the UK. Noticed that many of the versatiles over there seem a bit more sane than many of the same dogs you see in NZ. Is there an issue in NZ with concentration of lines, or is it more a reflection on the breeding?

Ever thought of a gordon setter, there will be a litter from working lines coming up around xmas. You are right, nothing beats watching a good setter/pointer working.

Tlane, personally I do not believe it is all about training...in fact in many instances, it almost sounds like a cliché...the dog has got to have prey drive first and foremost...his bloodlines give you that, not training...

Others here can tell you more about the pointers and setters and versatile breeds in this country than I could.

Hi tlane, What is your preference, a flushing breed or a pointing breed?

Tlane there are some dogs trials in Taupo next weekend if your interested in seeing dogs running of the pointer and setter variety and a natrual game trial shortly also in the waikato that you could watch them all in action --worth the effort

What really needs asking is, do you want a far ranging, moderate or close working dog? Setters and Pointers for far ranging, Versatiles for moderate and spaniels and retrievers for close (as a generalisation).

I've had two wire hairs and they were chalk and cheese as far as training
Went. One was the very devil itself to train with a ton of drive
That would override all else if I didn't staying top of her
My second wire hair picked up everything easy and
Was very eager to please and was/is a pleasure to work and hunt
With.
Two different breeders and lines . One breeding
For money and the other breeding for hunting
/ biddability. So make sure u do your homework
On the lines u are looking at regardless of
What breed u go for and get to some of those trials if u can
. Pretty exciting getting a new hound.
And if u go for a versatile I recommend kawhias gwps