South Texas Gun Dog

Looking into getting a good hunting dog. It would be primarily for dove and some duck. Also any other bird species down here. What breed would yall suggest? Thanks.

For dove and ducks I would go with a lab.

Bingo.

There is a lady in Johnson County that has a 1/2 lab 1/2 blue lacy that needs a new home! Let me know if you need the information

Any other recommendations? I'm not opposed to another lab, just hate the shedding.

All your typical bird dog breeds are going to shed.

You can go with an upland breed such as a GSP or Vizila but you are wanting a retriever. The other breeds can be taught to retrieve but it doesn't come as natural.

One of my best friends dove hunts with an Irish Terrier because he needs a non-shedding breed. He wants to make her a duck dog but not sure how it's going to work out.

Lab

Boykin spaniel. Not sure if they shed or not and I would think they would handle the heat better than a lab.

I hunt regularly with a friend of mines Boykin. Great little dove dog and handles the heat very well and much better than a lab. He's also done well as a duck dog.

They shed though quite a bit and have a long coat.

Vizsla, put a neoprene vest on them for ducks. If they shed you won't know it, their hair is so short you can't see it

Not kidding here, you could try a standard poodle. Very smart, and I understand they don't shed. You would certainly have something that would stimulate conversations in the duck blind.

Boykin Spaniel are kings of the dove field. There is a reason September 1st is Boykin Spaniel Day in South Carolina. They are also great in the duck blind. As far as coat and shedding, the coats can vary from Boykin to Boykin, from short/wavy to long/curly. My Boykin has a very short coat with minimal shedding (way less than a lab). In her 4 years, I have only given her a summer cut once, and thats only because we were training in fairly extreme heat, and wanted to be able to dry her off faster. Here's a picture of my Boykin, with the way her coat length looks all year long, never changes.

If you go the Boykin route, be sure to check that the breeder has all the necessary health clearances. Quite a few genetic diseases have been identified in Boykins, and some breeders aren't testing for them. Here's a link to a list of the things to look for. http://boykinspaniel.org/pages/boykin-spaniel-/inherited-disease-test-checklist-

Poodles dont shed ------ they can often out retrieve a lab ------- what I found is that though they will run a lab into the ground getting tennis balls,,, they are not natural hunters ------ there is a difference, and that is why no hunters use them. .

I may beg to differ after this season coming up. I have field bred cockers and and have never in my life seen any thing that will beat them on a retrieve. You ain't beating Buster to a downed bird.

I have 'em, too. Keep going like the Energizer Bunny. And nobody hunts dead any harder. Tons of heart, but they shed.

I love me some field bred cockers. But, the op asked for a dove/duck dog, and it's hard to argue with getting a Boykin if you do mostly dove with some duck. Boykins were bred for duck hunting, but their smaller (than a lab) frame and high energy makes them very ideal for dove as well. And since they have that spaniel instinct, they make great flushing dogs as well. Great dual purpose dogs (retriever/upland).

That they do. We brush ours in the evening before we bring them in. Lord they get dirty. We have a horse trough they bail into when they get hot. it's rare to catch them napping outside. Now when they come in they are excited for about 15 minutes and run around and play but then hop up into your lap and get their petting and nap in.

I had a sprocker...springer/cocker. Hardest working dog I've had to date. Had cockers before but in flowing tidal estuary I used to hunt, they weren't strong enough. The mix was just right. He would hunt himself to death on a busy day. I'd put him up and let my lab run for fear of him hurting himself again. First few blind retrieves of the day he would always over work, once the excitement of being out wore off he was brilliant. Never lost a bird to that dog.

I"m not advocating for a Boykin, but as a point of interest(no pun intended) that most hunters dont know,, they also point -------------- I know other hunters that agree with bobcat about the field cockers.

Donald my cockers won't point them. They do their damndest to catch them though. LOL Pen raised bird would be dead meat.

LOL LOL LOL....Guys he wants a dog that does not shed. OK I might be able to get with a Cocker Spaniel in the dove field but not duck hunting. I lab with run circles around a Cocker Spaniel on show many different levels.

A brief Google search tells me that you're going to want some sort of doodle/retriever mix (labradoodle, goldendoodle, etc) or a pudelpointer/wirehaired pointing griffon. The google search was for Hypoallergenic Hunting Dog Breeds.

How about a German Wirehaired Pointer. I've always hunted labs, but due to the shedding I am looking at other breeds. Only negatives I've found on the them is that they have a serious disposition, can be little aloof of strangers, and are hell on cats and other small animals. I will say their looks are not for everyone. Some folks even use them to track deer as well as they will pretty much hunt anything.

Gwp don't handle the heat well.

I have German wire hair pointer, we use him for Dove hunting, great reteiver, my boys use him for ducks, I never would believe he would reteiver this good, handles heat in Texas good, I think ugliest dog I have had, some reason girls love his looks

The look is an acquired taste I guess. Maybe it's the beard.

I have thought this through myself, and decided on a Boykin. I have not had the opportunity to go through with it yet.