Thread: Spaniel for deer dogs is it possible?

Just wondering if anyone has been using a English springer for deer?
Or is it impossible or not worth it to try and get them to work close.
Did read somewhere about somebody using a Brittany as a indicator.

Square peg round hole, there are much better choices. While im sure there are springer out there that are used on deer, they would probably be poor examples of their breed.
Brittanys are a pointing breed, unlike the springer which is a flushing breed. One speeds up on game, one slows to a stop

With the right training it should be doable though.

With the right dog to start with less training required!

Originally Posted by Pointer

Square peg round hole, there are much better choices. While im sure there are springer out there that are used on deer, they would probably be poor examples of their breed.
Brittanys are a pointing breed, unlike the springer which is a flushing breed. One speeds up on game, one slows to a stop

That explains the brittanys then.
I was not aware that they were classed as a pointer.
I see what you are saying about the flushing side of it as it would be a hard instinct to curb and require some serious training knowledge to make it work.
cheers

Ok, another way to look at it. What other hunting do you do as well as deer?

The only Brittany I've had missed the memo, all it wanted to do was run/flush.

Originally Posted by Wirehunt

Ok, another way to look at it. What other hunting do you do as well as deer?

The only Brittany I've had missed the memo, all it wanted to do was run/flush.

Mainly deer but wanting to have a go at some game birds,hares and rabbits.
Was thinking about size.
Are keen on GWP but just chucking some ideas around and wondering if its possible to keep a spaniel in close or would his wheels be spinning all the time.

Go along to a few spaniel trials, then picture that in the kaimanawa cornflakes!

Why not use that Vizsla?

Yeah that is my memory of a spaniel a mate of mine had when I was a kid but she was untrained.
I moved my Vizsla on to a hunting family .
I just wasn't getting home enough to NZ
My daughter's had him at my home and to be honest being 17 and 21 year Olds he was not getting near enough excise or attention he needed.
Hard choice but I are moving home in new year and rather than ruin him or have him fretting in cage I will start again.
Just chucking a few ideas around.

they get used in the uk, but more for recovery and sitting under a high seat.
they don't have a point but a point or indication is there if you had the skills to train it in the same way you can with a lab.
you can heal train any dog to walk through the bush and eventually you will trip over the odd deer, some breeds just make the job easier.

Have been using a Cocker Spaniel for about the last 9 years on deer and she has been good. Unfortunatly her hunting days are just about over.
Dosn`t take up too much room in the tent either.

i used a springer cocker cross on deer for the last 15 years .he was good head strong as a young dog but soon sorted with the right training ,also head strong as a old dog he got so deaf just did his own thing.was fantastic at finding downed deer it was like he was laser guided .one memorable day he found a mates deer the next morning in a good west coast rain hell of a nose .he was only interested in deer ducks where boring never got the chance to shoot quail etc with him.he was a top dog

The best beating dog I have ever seen was a Jack Russell dog...

I could believe that.

haven't seen a decent spaniel then.