Hi Guys
As you may have read I lost my best friend Mickey recently a mini Dasschund and Jessie my Jack Russell seems lonely. I love Daschunds very much and would love to get another one. Would it be wrong to get the same type of dog as the one that you lost? Also I am once again offering bird shooting safaris and I have no Bird dog. I like English Springers and Labradors. Please advise me on what to do?

Thanks in advance

Boykin if you can get one there. 20 to 25 lb dog that retrieve and put up birds for you. Very Smart!!!!

JD

I don't think a daschund would be much help with the bird hunting. Go with the Labrador, they're wonderful dogs. Of course my opinion is somewhat biased since I've had four Labs.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I don't think a daschund would be much help with the bird hunting. Go with the Labrador, they're wonderful dogs. Of course my opinion is somewhat biased since I've had four Labs.

+100% Keep your memories of Mickey there unique and get a Lab.My Sam lives to works and is a wonderful pet.jc

Thanks Labman and John. John, I like the way you put it about keeping the memories of Mickey , that they are unique. I really love Labradors, I had a lovely dog years ago but am leaning more to the Spaniel. Well, actually I cant decide yet as I like both.....

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This is Sam; Just looking Dad,your not paying me enough attention jc[/URL]

Grief bred GSP's pretty hard to beat for a Versatile Bird Dog.

My Sophie dog's a bird finding machine and steady as a rock on point.
She tags along with my Cur dog when we're chasing Cats too. Course she don't bark treed, but she runs a trail pretty good and helps keep em up till I can get there.

Luck whatever you decide.
Charlie

It depends on whether you want a flushing dog or a pointing dog. Both dogs you mentioned are flushing dogs and can be very versatile, both for upland and waterfowl. with a pointing dog if you have plenty of birds to show and train a young dog on, then all you have to do is teach the dog to be a gentleman or lady (read obedience) and If you put enough birds in front of a dog and the breeding is proper the dog will almost make himself. That means no shooting until the dog starts to point birds. With a flushing dog once again obedience and plenty of birds except that you do not have to wait until the dog starts pointing. If you take your flushing dog for a walk with your gun and you start bumping birds the dog will get the picture.
Good luck with your decision I've been hunting over English Setters for more than 40 years my life would not be complete without them.

Good point Zephyr, but don't forget that a good German bred pointing dog will retrieve waterfowl with the best of em, although they lack the heavy coat for extremly cold water work.
There's a reason the German pointing dogs own the versatile hunting dog competitions that include not only finding game, but blood trailing and water retrieving.

Truth is though,,, any good sporting dog's a keeper.
Charlie

go to a shelter and rescue a dog from there.................................

I've hunted over some spectacular GSPs... The dogs coat is another thing to consider.... If your bird hunting territory has lots of stuff that can attach to the dogs coat it can shut a long haired dog down...a short haired dog like a GSP might be in order As MyDogsHunt says there is a reason why they are called versatile they point they retreive they track and trail

quote:

Originally posted by MyDogsHunt:
Good point Zephyr, but don't forget that a good German bred pointing dog will retrieve waterfowl with the best of em, although they lack the heavy coat for extremly cold water work.
There's a reason the German pointing dogs own the versatile hunting dog competitions that include not only finding game, but blood trailing and water retrieving.

Truth is though,,, any good sporting dog's a keeper.
Charlie

Ironically every non gundog such as Mickey the Daschund and Jessie the Jack Russell all learned to retrieve ducks and geese. Not to hand but to shore! That was good enough for me as I dont fancy getting wet! I rarely shoot over water. My personal favourite the Egyptian Goose I shoot on pastures and I usually have a farm worker assume the role of retriever. Its rather entertaining to watch the poor fellow trying to retrieve a not so wounded goose that can do a 0-100 in less than 10 seconds and every so often becomes airborne But Bongani is quite fit so he never looses a bird!

Hey Zeypher,,, not to get to far off topic but I used to run amature field trials with a couple of my GSP's. During that time, we'd see the ocasional Setter, and while they had a hard time competing with the big running Pointers and the rough and tumble GSP's in those fast paced trials, the Setters always represented themselves well and did it with a regal style any true dog man would appreciate.
I can sure understand your fondness of the breed.
Charlie

Deutsch Jagdterrier or a Deutsch Drahthaar,

www.germanjagdterrier.net

www.vdd-gna.org

lal,

what have you've narrowed it down to?

Deutsch Kurzhaar is another option.

Norseman I am leaning in favour of the English Springer Spaniel. The GSP's have a good following in South Africa and we have many good breeders but they are not for me. Labs are great but I have always wanted a Spaniel. Anyway I am in no rush yet and will start looking for a pup in the Spring. The hunting season is upon us and I will be quite busy. P.S. There is a small population of the Drahthaar in South Africa too and the guys are very happy with them.

Duetscher Wachtelhund is the only dog you'll need. They are in the versatile category and will do all. Upland game birds, waterfowl, fur, etc.