Texas Hunting Forum

multi-game breed

Posted By: Angrif

multi-game breed - 07/23/15 08:43 PM

My kids are grown; my wife passed last year; and I have a big empty house, lots of time to devote to huntin' and am needin' a new dog. My last one died of snakebite 5 years ago and I'm itchin' for a replacement for Ratt. What is a good multi-game breed... I'm not a dog fanatic but need a companion to traips the fields and hollars with, and share that last half of the ham sandwich with at lunch time.....upland birds; squirrels and bunnies; coons and a little waterfowl,( gonna try that this year).... need something steady and not too hyper;( I'm 63, a bit ""fluffy"" as my daughters say, and my knees have seen better days !)thanx
Posted By: MS1454

Re: multi-game breed - 07/23/15 08:49 PM

Tons of breeds our there. Just pick one you like the looks of and go from there. What ever you choose, talk to different breeders and make sure you talk to a good one that will work with you on picking a pup as well as any questions you have.

German short hair pointers are easy to come by and many are great hunters. Same can be said for Brittany, wirehairs, pudelpointers, Weimars, labs, etc etc. Again, pick the best looking one you want and go from there.
Posted By: MS1454

Re: multi-game breed - 07/23/15 08:49 PM

What kind of dog was ratt?
Posted By: Angrif

Re: multi-game breed - 07/23/15 10:06 PM

Ratt was 1/2 Red setter (not Irish) 1/4 American fox hound, 1/4 Assie Sheperd and that dog LOVED me. He was the 5th of 11 in the litter; the runt; and I thought he was dead @ two days; picked him up to bury him and felt his heartbeat; slept with him on my chest for two or 3 days and he popped back to life!, after that he could never get enough of me...,that's why it has taken 5 years to get over him. He wasn't much for a huntin' dog,but a great companion. from my research, I am leaning Drahthaar...,German wirehair.
Posted By: MS1454

Re: multi-game breed - 07/23/15 10:12 PM

Good choice, that's what I have
Posted By: RayB

Re: multi-game breed - 07/24/15 12:30 AM

Drahthaar, came close to getting one myself but I don't get to duck hunt like would like so went straight upland.
Posted By: Catch Dog

Re: multi-game breed - 07/24/15 01:56 AM

I don't have much experience with bird dogs but, my English Springer Spaniel is one hell of a dog. I like him a lifetime over my pointers. All working dogs have a spot in my heart, im sure what ever you decide will fill a void that you having been missing the last couple of years. Best of luck!
Posted By: BradyBuck

Re: multi-game breed - 07/24/15 02:10 AM

Boykin Spaniel!!
Posted By: Mike Honcho

Re: multi-game breed - 07/24/15 09:43 AM

Im partial to labs my last two that i raised and trained as pups are like children. Bo and Mini were extremely affecionate and great companions and hunted with me all the time. Id say the connection i have/had with them is equivalent to any one of my best human friends and i only have a few i give that designation to.
Posted By: sallysue

Re: multi-game breed - 07/24/15 09:48 AM

Look into this breed I have one and very impressed Deutscher Wachtelhund
Posted By: Sniper John

Re: multi-game breed - 07/24/15 10:23 PM

I could make a strong argument recommending a Vizsla, but a Drahthaar probably fits best for what little info you gave. I personally like Pudelpointers 2nd to Vizslas. One of the highest scoring breeds with NAVHDA on average and a little more laid back it is probably the only other breed I would ever considering to own other than my Vizslas. I will never not own a Vizsla. But to be honest there are too many variables to honestly recommend any specific breed for you. When I see these threads most people recommend the breed they own. Sometimes even when it is a breed that is far removed from the one or more types of hunting the person is interested in using the dog for. We all love our dogs. "Not too hyper" might be difficult for what your wanting. Most hunting breeds are going to have a lot of drive and could be seen as hyper. Other than that, some breeds are long ranging, some hunt close. Some clingy that stick like velcro, some are so focused on hunting that they don't want anything to do with you. Versatile breeds are still going to have a specialty in them be it retrieving, flushing, pointing, fur, eating ham samwiches, etc. that they do best over everything else. Some are soft, some are hard and stubborn. Some have single coats, some dual coats, some wirehair coats making some that take the heat better and some that can take the cold better. Some have various known health problems particular to the breed, some are longer lived on average, etc. I would consider how you hunt the most, or how the dog will be used the most, how you want it to interact with you, how you will train it, then google up each of the versatile dog breeds listed with NAVHDA you think might interest you. Most breeders, Breed Clubs, and Registries have good descriptions of their size, traits, hunting abilities, temperament, trainability, etc. And don't rule out others not on the list. Labradors are bred as retrievers, but some lines are good flushers and even point. The little Boykins from the right breeders work for some as versatile hunters, Frontier dogs like Curs and Lacys can be taught to do a lot of different things. Good luck. Certainly not an easy choice.
http://www.navhda.org/registry/versatile-hunting-dog-breeds
Posted By: Angrif

Re: multi-game breed - 08/02/15 12:41 AM

All good points S.J., I am not too good when trying to put thoughts into words..., not too hyper is like Jack Russels to me..., bigger retiever/hound types are not too hyper to me; somewhat smaller breeds come into the TOO HYPER category for me except for Bassets that is !!!; I have never known of a hyper Basset disspite their size.
Posted By: MS1454

Re: multi-game breed - 08/02/15 02:47 PM

Bassett are far from small. Short maybe
Posted By: Jtmeeks

Re: multi-game breed - 08/11/15 10:24 PM

Cur
Posted By: Pap0919

Re: multi-game breed - 08/17/15 12:01 AM

Have you considered heelers? They're a great all-purpose dog.
Posted By: SterndogKennels

Re: multi-game breed - 08/18/15 10:46 PM

German Wirehaired Pointer
Posted By: Gangly

Re: multi-game breed - 08/21/15 09:25 PM

Drahthaar aka German Wirehaired Pointer. Some will tell you they are different, but the details are minute. They are bred specifically as a multitasking dog and excel at multiple functions. They arent cheap, but they are very good at what they do.
Posted By: epp838

Re: multi-game breed - 08/23/15 10:46 PM

I've got a 10 month old vizsla this will be her first season, with dove season starting in a few weeks I'm excited to see how she does.
Posted By: TheCloudX

Re: multi-game breed - 08/24/15 07:00 AM

Partial to my lab. Not much of a hunting dog, even though I had big dreams of pheasant/duck hunting, but that's on me and not her. Just never had the time to train her. But, she's been the best dog I could ever ask for.

Grew up with beagles and loved rabbit hunting with them. Many years ago, and a full head of hair on my head, we had one that was a beast of a hunter, she'd find rabbits other dogs missed. Even pheasants. Watched a GSP run a field and find no birds. Beagle went in and flushed a pair within a minute. Great companions, too.

Grandpa uses German Shorthaired Pointers (GSP) and swears by them
Posted By: BobMac

Re: multi-game breed - 08/24/15 12:39 PM

Take a look at Boykin spaniel. Great all around dog.
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