Thread: Pheasant Dog

Originally Posted by Tlane

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

If you have the open country go for open/wide ranging dogs... Just my personal opinion: P&S dogs have a much more sensitive nose than springers/spaniels so you gain efficiency in covering more ground, and with scarcity of birds in NZ you need efficiency.

There are many things to consider but ultimately go with Quote "Whatever gives you a hard-on" Unquote....
If a dog pushing its speed limits and suddenly slams a handbrake and locks on point makes you blood boil then go with a Pointer or a Setter... just do your homework and pick a quality dog (not just any next available litter)...

Originally Posted by Petros_mk

just do your homework and pick a quality dog (not just any next available litter)...

100% learn about the lines within the breed ... all breeders are gonna tell yo there dogs are good, so ask around

Originally Posted by Petros_mk

If you have the open country go for open/wide ranging dogs... Just my personal opinion: P&S dogs have a much more sensitive nose than springers/spaniels so you gain efficiency in covering more ground, and with scarcity of birds in NZ you need efficiency.

Never had much of a reason to disagree with you Pete but that is total rubbish! Having dealt with a few thousand dogs, allowing that one is primarily an air scenter and the other a ground scenter, I wouldn;t be be prepared to make such a wide geralisation. I do not believe for one second P&S dogs have better or more sensitive noses than spaniels at all.