Need a little advice please, my children are desperatly after a dog as a pet, and having had hunting dogs in the past (GSP'S) its time to decide on what breed to get. From my selfish point of view i want to be able to take it sambar deer stalking. I am keen on another GSP, but the family like the look of a Beagle . From my limited knowledge i'm not to sure if a beagle would be able to hunt Sambar from a deer stalkers point of view, (I do know they make excellent trailing hounds)does anybody use them as a stalking dog? any suggestions? the shortlist is GSP, Beagle, Druchtar or wirehair pointer.Even a springer spaineil has been considered. Although i owned GSP in the past i was not living anywhere near sambar at the time so therefore did not use mine on Sambar. (great pig finder though ). Thanks in advance for any help.

If it's just going to be a 'companion dog' then any of them will be fine (I take a guess that you don't plan on using it as a scent trailing hound), provided it is on the DSE's list. If you got your copy of this years hunting guide, the list is in there.
Me? I use my Large Munsterlander, she loves getting out an sniffing around after deer, gamebirds, whatever.
If I had to start over (without the dog picking my daughter) I'd probably go with DD, which has passed all it's tests. Good dogs in the field, and good companion dogs too.
Good luck.

Pick any recognised breed and you should be fine. Take the kids to a dog show and let them pick what they and you like the looks of from Group 3 (Gundogs). If the breed's personality traits suit your family and lifestyle, then your done. Personally for me, that's a Brittany Spaniel, I like their gentle nature (particularly with younger kids) and compact size. I'd also consider a GWP (DD) but would be more selective in which lines I'd take. Though I hate picking burrs out of my dogs' coats, I'd also take a coated breed rather than a short coated as I really hate dogs that whine and shiver in the cold.
Cheers...
Con

You won't go wrong with a good old Lavatorydoor.
They are great with children and they are good gundogs.

Dugga go with the GSP mate...proven everywhere in the world too...they dont shiver either due to a short coat for gods sake, look where they came from and a little bit of snow dosent stop the Germans from hunting their dogs....my next gun dog will be one even though my hunting mate being a Brittany breeder tells me he will give me a pup for nothing i dont want one....i want a GSP (had previously) a top breed all round too.

Also with the Brittany spaniels although a great dog i1m told that you need to really be the boss or they take over.

GSPs Dont know about sanbar yet, never even seen one only in pics but they work on reds and sika and roe and everything else that flys or crawls , to level the cold and shivering thing at them just is a mith if they are brought up with the cold they cope with it, and for waterfowling they have no coat so dry or can be drieed off quicker than a labrador or spaniel can. this was taken in the cold -6 he is not shivering.

What a great photo of a well bred good looking dog mate...nice!

haha hes a bit fat though send him down to me and i will train him on sambar deer for you and get him nice and fit and i will then send him back...promise! hahaa

That is a fantastic photo!
Gryphon,
Who's your mate that breeds Brittany's? If you need to be boss over them that suggests he's got French Brits or "L'Epagneul Bretons"? Some of those dogs are hard as nails.
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
That is a fantastic photo!
Gryphon,
Who's your mate that breeds Brittany's? If you need to be boss over them that suggests he's got French Brits or "L'Epagneul Bretons"? Some of those dogs are hard as nails.
Cheers...
Con

The one Brittany CON is FRENCH

L'Epagneul Bretons

pm COMING

Sounds like none of you pedigree guys would like my staghound !!

well you dont know me then cobber my old retired stag bitch is 13 now and has foxes cats hares rabbits pigs and sambar to her credit sheet...i`m an nold time stag man myself and if the law allowed it i would still have one as my "companion" dog

That's one of the prettiest dogs I've ever seen.

Looks damned smart too.

Man has a dog in that fine a shape needs to be proud!

George

Gryo,

it's not illegal to own a staghound is it ??

No,but it is to pursue sambar with it

quote:

Originally posted by gryphon1:

The one Brittany CON is FRENCH

L'Epagneul Bretons

pm COMING

Not getting involved in that one other than names aside, there is only one Brittany/L'Epagneul! Thanks for the PM.
Cheers...
Con

Funny how we had to avoid the fight over the name of the Brits. One mob very keen on one, the other was equally adamant.