Recommended small dog breed for hunting

The family is keen on getting a dog. The rest of the family want a small house dog (me, not so keen). I want something that could wind deer and goats on a monthly hunt and fetch a duck on the 3-5 days a year that we duck shoot. I grew up rural and had working dogs from a young age and had a lab that I grew up with from the age of 9yr. Dogs were always 'outside', but that's going to be difficult if we proceed down this path.

Looking for recommendations on a small breed, stable temperament, low/none shedding, that will have the hunting instinct suitable for deer/ducks.

Train one of the kids up :)

britt is the only choice suitable for dual role........in the smaller range.
but they are only a bit smaller than a well bred lab or versatile

i have a brit cross dogo argentina: 36kg so not too big. bite strength out of this world, he breaks canon bones and chewed his way thru my alloy mountain bike (the frame!!)
all the weight comes in a smallish package though. very social dog, likes to play with other dogs, sleeps wit the new kitten etc.

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Originally Posted by gonetropo

i have a brit cross dogo argentina: 36kg so not too big. bite strength out of this world, he breaks canon bones and chewed his way thru my alloy mountain bike (the frame!!)
all the weight comes in a smallish package though. very social dog, likes to play with other dogs, sleeps wit the new kitten etc.

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It chewed through a mountain bike frame!?! :o

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Originally Posted by kawhia

britt is the only choice suitable for dual role........in the smaller range.
but they are only a bit smaller than a well bred lab or versatile

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Really?

Is a 'britt' the only small do that retrieves? I can her Foxy owners crying all around the world, not to mention the other 50+ other small breeds.

Hey, I do acknowledge that Foxys can have a hard mouth.

:-)

Fox Terrier.
Had one when I was younger. Was fantastic hunting dog, good on rabbits, possums, goats and deer.
Great family dog yet mad keen on hunting.

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Originally Posted by craigc

Really?

Is a 'britt' the only small do that retrieves? I can her Foxy owners crying all around the world, not to mention the other 50+ other small breeds.

Hey, I do acknowledge that Foxys can have a hard mouth.

:-)

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Getting ya ducks back half plucked is a problem, I had a good foxy that done pigs and deer too.
I think for a terrier maybe the border terrier is a good option for the water work.
Jagd terriers also can be trained to retrieve very well....
The Germans train dachshunds to retrieve.

When I'm done with gun dogs, I'm going to get a wild pack of foxys and be happy

English smooth hair fox terrier

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...7f8cf5b7b2.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...fad580521f.jpg

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Catches blackbirds in low flight on the back lawn

Keeps goats n pigs busy by barking in their face

Scents deer then looks at me waiting for my reaction

Incredibly hard mouth

Escape artist

Clown

Showoff

I would have thought a Cocker could be trained to hunt close or at heal ? Would hold there own on ducks .

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Originally Posted by Tussock

Can I come hang with them? A wild pack of foxies would be like commuting if every car on the road was a WRC car.

I'm confident if you were to harness the performance of a foxy it would be devastating. Unharnessed, devastating in a different way. My cousin had two as hunting dogs on the farm. There is not a floor board in any of the houses that was not ripped up to recover one from under the floor. Had a habit of digging along pushing the dirt behind him, thus making a return to daylight unlikely.

He was a very good heading dog though once my uncle took him over when my cousin went on his OE.

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I grew up with a lot of foxies. My mum kept a particularly wild strain that was her father's. As kids, every weekend with friends started by selecting which dogs to run, then going to the garden shed and picking your weapon. Hammer, slasher it didn't matter. Our record in one morning was 18 possums. One particular bitch 'pip', would climb trees then fall out attached to a possum. Spent hours digging her out of rabbit holes, bailed the odd pig, ratted the chicken coop, and when dad's labs were gone, fetched ducks. She was addressed by all the common curses but it didn't matter as she responded to none of them. The most fun you can have with your pants on

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Originally Posted by Pointer

When I'm done with gun dogs, I'm going to get a wild pack of foxys and be happy

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Just so long as you are still doing the pointer thing when "that time that comes all too soon" to look for a replacement for ours.
I would like to try one from a "working breeder" assuming you would be happy to do that and not mind it being used on deer too :)

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Originally Posted by Munsey

I would have thought a Cocker could be trained to hunt close or at heal ? Would hold there own on ducks .

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would go well til ya walked pass a bush that needed smashing.

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Originally Posted by mikee

Just so long as you are still doing the pointer thing when "that time that comes all too soon" to look for a replacement for ours.
I would like to try one from a "working breeder" assuming you would be happy to do that and not mind it being used on deer too :)

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Jims pointers are all secretly trained for dogging deer ;)

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

English smooth hair fox terrier

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...7f8cf5b7b2.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...fad580521f.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...50a92af09f.jpg

Catches blackbirds in low flight on the back lawn

Keeps goats n pigs busy by barking in their face

Scents deer then looks at me waiting for my reaction

Incredibly hard mouth

Escape artist

Clown

Showoff

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You forgot to add bounces around like a P addict


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Yeah shes a nifty wee thing

English smooth foxies

http://youtu.be/5yBa-2tISxo

working cocker or English show cocker.........they are worlds apart.
I like my terriers and the cockers actually remind me of hunting with them, my bitch is happy to take on stoats and rats, possums I don't bother with, the kill them all drive of the terrier is what I like about the other breed I own.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

You forgot to add bounces around like Tussock on a forum :P


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Fixed

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Originally Posted by Tussock

No mention of the Jack Russel? Always seemed like a dog that punched well above its weight.

I almost got a cocker spanial, showed my girl thinking "cute as hell, can't go wrong". She looks at the photos and goes "ooh yuck, don't like those". Then we walk into a hardware store where the guy has one "I LOVE HIM, WE HAVE TO GET ONE, WHAT IS IT!".

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The JR can exhibit a bad attitude, ankle biting and growling as it resists commands.

The right care and training would sort it though

The JR always seems matronly and grumpy due to short dog syndrome :)

well i think 36kg is on the small size. and yes it chewed its way into the frame of my alloy mountain bike. it also managed t take chunks out of one of those black "kong" toys in under an hour. thankfully the pet shop refunded us.
and tussock, the wife refers to it as the worlds cuddliest brick. but a warning to anyone who gets a dogo cross, they molt every day of the year and i'm sure the fur is 90% velcro because it sticks to anything. unfortunately dogo's are on the "bad list" because arseholes out there use them for fighting. but they are great dogs and veyr affectionate

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Originally Posted by Tussock

No mention of the Jack Russel? Always seemed like a dog that punched well above its weight.

I almost got a cocker spanial, showed my girl thinking "cute as hell, can't go wrong". She looks at the photos and goes "ooh yuck, don't like those". Then we walk into a hardware store where the guy has one "I LOVE HIM, WE HAVE TO GET ONE, WHAT IS IT!".

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20 years ago my wife was employed as a "kennel maid" for a lady who bred both Jack Russells and Boarder Terriers. She had about 10 of each
Both were affectionate breeds but I have never seen more "blood thirsty" dogs when it comes to game.
Breeder brought them all out from UK when she moved back here, god only knows what that would have cost

Personally I would get a foxie for a small dog (the proper one, long legs and nose type) over a JR

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Originally Posted by mikee

Just so long as you are still doing the pointer thing when "that time that comes all too soon" to look for a replacement for ours.
I would like to try one from a "working breeder" assuming you would be happy to do that and not mind it being used on deer too :)

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I'll give you a pup, but if it turns out 12 inches tall, tri colour and loves ratting don't say I didn't warn ya!

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Originally Posted by Tussock

... and my little brother just turned 8, so its time he learned what dogs are for.

He is freakish smart from parentage unknown and has picked up obedience from copying my dogs, which is beyond hilarious to watch.

My old man has decided to breed him, which I am hoping to talk him out of.

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If he is of unknown parentage, how do you know he is your brother? :D

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Originally Posted by Pointer

I'll give you a pup, but if it turns out 12 inches tall, tri colour and loves ratting don't say I didn't warn ya!



If he is of unknown parentage, how do you know he is your brother? :D

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I would add 8 is a tad young for breeding your brother? :wtfsmilie:

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Originally Posted by Gibo

I would add 8 is a tad young for breeding your brother? :wtfsmilie:

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Early starters down there Gibo :D

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Originally Posted by Tussock

I also would have said 60 was too old for breeding my father too.

However, I think you two have just misread my post.

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We read what we wanted to read ;)

I know it's not a recognized breed but I have a border springer. Brother in law's short haired collie over his Springer spaniel bitch, his duck dog.
So far he's a bute dog awesome temperament not too hypo. Looooves water and retrieving, will do it all day. So far is looking real promising on deer winding well and good on ground scenting. As a plus he works the sheep on the old mans block :thumbsup: Attachment 45390

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I have a English bulldog, looks tough, but is scared of plastic bags and anything that moves or is different to normal.
Keeps the sales people away from my front door, can swim just not very far and he sinks if looses momentum (I've had to dive in)

I'm picking up a gsp pup soon as a hunting do so hopefully they get on.

Attachment 45420Attachment 45421
My hairy dog 'Harry dog'. Mad keen on everything.
Irish Terrier.
She's two years old now and the Mrs has said I can hunt her properly on pigs. She's a mean little worker, plenty of bite and bails very well.

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Originally Posted by Tussock

Attachment 45400

You could get one of these, but there is only one. I saw his brothers and sisters and they looked nothing like him.


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ok which one of you big huas is callin who ugly round here,cmon own up ya mongrels!step up and Ill kick forty bloody bells outta I will ,just you try me!

English Cocker from working lines, English Springer Spaniel or a labrador bitch.