Thread: Pup for family pet and deer stalking

Go look at as many breeds/x breeds as you can find and form your own opinion from that.
You will end up with a top hunting dog or just a family pet based on your opinion in the end.

I'm in the same boat.

And I don't know if the opinions vary that much.

Everyone seems to say get a lab or heading dog as they're low maintenance and have a lower energy level and thus better suited to family living.

But I'm not listening cos my hearts set on a cool Vizsla or GWP...

I know for me it's more a conflict of what I want vs what I should get.

You're so 2005 ricochet. All the cool kids have heading dogs these days

Originally Posted by madmaori

Its so hard to pick a breed when there is so many different opinions of people out there.. @tetawa seems to know what hes talking about though

There are many hunters with excellent indicator dogs, one guy I know who would be "as good as it gets" when it comes to hunting uses Vizslar's, he hunts for a living on "pest" control.But he is the sort of dog man that has always been able to get the best out of dogs. If your dog is going to be a family pet first, then that has to be the no1 priority. Over my hunting years even the pig dogs have been able to be loose around the family and friends without problems, we have "lost" an odd cat though.

So much of it will come down to you and your training mate. The end result will, given everything is even, be the same. With a Lab, Lab X, Heading dog, Heading dog X, Viszla, GWP, Drathaar anything... they will all perform too.they will all do the job. Some of these breeds are higher maintenance and will require 3 - 4 times the amount of time in training to get the same result as you will get from one of the less demanding breeds. I believe the breeds that require the most work have the ability, with the right handling and work, to reach much greater heights, but you really need some dedication to that. If you have a casual attitude to training, and there is nothing wrong with that if you are happy with it, then you need to get one of the "lesser" breeds which will still become a workable dog with the amount of work you are prepared to give.

I have a cattle bully bitch here.
4 months old.
The only reason I think she'd be ok (not bred for deer) is her parents are extremely clever. Both are hard on pigs but beautiful natures and easy to train.
Have had these dog lines for 25 years now.
As far as breeds are concerned I think the largest influence is always going to be the owner however buying something that is quiet and clever is half the job IMO.


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Originally Posted by matto1234

Realistically i would get 3-4 full days hunting a month but i aim to do more over nighters in the summer months. All i want is something that i can take for runs/walks each day and go hunting with on weekends. Has anyone got any experience with the thai ridgeback breed?

@matto1234, I was introduced to some in Ontario...not a breed I would have but naturally enough, each to their own...quite beautiful in a sort of way...


Found this http://www.bluestone-kennels.co.nz/

Originally Posted by EeeBees

@matto1234, I was introduced to some in Ontario...not a breed I would have but naturally enough, each to their own...quite beautiful in a sort of way...


Found this New Zealand Thai Ridgeback Dog Breeders - BlueStone Kennels » Thai Ridgeback X Hunting Dogs - BlueStone Kennels

Yeah i had a look at that but working well with kids is a must and a couple dogs of that breed attacked a postie a few years ago so i will be staying clear of those.

@bigbear out of curiosity what's a kiddie eater breed?

Originally Posted by Ruff

So much of it will come down to you and your training mate. The end result will, given everything is even, be the same. With a Lab, Lab X, Heading dog, Heading dog X, Viszla, GWP, Drathaar anything... they will all perform too.they will all do the job. Some of these breeds are higher maintenance and will require 3 - 4 times the amount of time in training to get the same result as you will get from one of the less demanding breeds. I believe the breeds that require the most work have the ability, with the right handling and work, to reach much greater heights, but you really need some dedication to that. If you have a casual attitude to training, and there is nothing wrong with that if you are happy with it, then you need to get one of the "lesser" breeds which will still become a workable dog with the amount of work you are prepared to give.

Hey @Ruff , what do you determine to be one of the lesser breeds?

dogo argentina if you can get one. awesome dogs though mine is crossed with bull terrier. very friendly but amazingly powerful ( he chewed my alloy framed mountain bike)

then its not really a Dogo, its a mutt.
had purebred dogos myself, love the breed, never trusted them unsupervised round anything mind.

Where are these pure dogos? Does any white mastiff pass off as one or were there actually imports?

Originally Posted by Pointer

Where are these pure dogos? Does any white mastiff pass off as one or were there actually imports?

there are pure ones out there, friend had a purebred bitch, he was crossbreeding it with american bulldogs

Originally Posted by gonetropo

dogo argentina if you can get one. awesome dogs though mine is crossed with bull terrier. very friendly but amazingly powerful ( he chewed my alloy framed mountain bike)

seriously a dogo as a deer dog?????
they are usually mixing it with big boars not deer