I'm looking for a dog that will help find those little buggers when I manage to hit one. Cockle burrs, tallish grass, etc. Any of you gents have a favorite breed? Maybe a lab? It's hot but they don't have to run a lot so they won't have to work a lot. Plus it would just be cool to take a dog hunting. They never laugh (out loud) when you miss...

Lab....Just make sure to get a dog bread to retrieve. I see too many people that buy upland dogs to use as a retriever. If you want a retriever get a retriever.

I'm not saying pointers, setters, vizslas,etc, cant retrieve. Just that if retrieveing is what you want the dog to do try getting one bread to do it.

I would say a short single coated dog rather than a waterfowl retriever if it will be dedicated for dove hunting. It will better take the heat that way. Vizla and German Shorthaired Pointers would be good examples.

Oh and my Vizsla does laugh out loud when I miss.

Vizsla's are natural retrievers. GSPs are strong retrievers. Labs were originaly bred mostly to be water retrievers. Of course Vizslas and GSPs having a versatile purpose more than just pointing and were bred to double as water retrievers too (both have webbed feet), but Labs with a dual coat were not bred to be land retrievers on 90 degree days. Still Labs can make excellent Dove dogs even for the person who does not hunt waterfowl. It just takes extra diligence to keep them cool over other dog breeds more built for the typical kind of temps and terrain of a dove field.

I would not rule out a Brittany either. Might be a little more trouble with grass burs and such, but I owned a Brittany for several years that doubled quite well as a Dove retriever.

Y'all are forgetting Cockers Their small size makes them very tough in the heat and they are fanatical retrievers. I will admit that for ducks they struggle a little with being cold when wet, but for doves this wouldn't be a problem at all. Besides that, they're easier to have around because they don't take up much space and they don't eat very much. I took Macy on her first dove hunt in September with a large group of guys and by the end of the day (we were out in 95+ heat all day long) she was getting lots of compliments and at least one hunter said a Cocker would be his next dog.

I have a Boykin Spaniel and she is a great dove dog. And she can retrieve ducks and flush upland game too. But she is a dove retrieving machine. She has similar characteristics as the Cockers.

She retrieved everyone of these birds and she was 9 months old.

You sure that isn't a Maesydderwen bred English Cocker? They've got very similar looking coats and are often liver in color:)Just kidding, but that is a cool looking dog!

Asking about favorite breeds is like asking about best training method.
Just go with breed that fits you and your needs.
Some breeds withstand the heat better than others for early dove season.
Some breeds mark better than others.

I like to hunt a varity of game, not just birds.
I went with a Vizsla.

What Kindall said is very true. Asking questions, doing the research, and picking what fits your needs -- can't really go too wrong. Picking a good breeder is probably just as important as picking the breed.

@cockerfan: Thanks. I think she's pretty cool too. We have alot of fun together.

If your dog hunted with me...I would send him home with a sore stomach!!!

I almost got me a Boykin about 3yrs ago but I was concered with their water ability. I spoke with a guy named Charlie Witt who trains Boykins almost exclusivly for a guy outa east Houston who said they are really great dogs and they can do it all!!!

I ended up with a lab doing the Hunt Test thing...don't every regret it but one day I will have me one of those Boykins!

I like them!!

Boykins really are all purpose little dogs. Their background is in duck retrieving, but they are very versatile. Mine loves the water and is a surprisingly strong swimmer given her size.

Here's a duck retrieve at 8 months. When wet she's almost black.

When my labs are retired i will own a Boykin i hunted next to a guy with one on a dove hunt at Ranger Creek Ranch and was very impressed but those dogs are wound up like a nine day clock

I might have to look into a Boykin. Any ideas on where to find one?

Thanks for all the comments and stories guys. I'm leaning towards a GSP. I had experience with an Irish Setter and what cockleburrs did to her coat. I'd sure not be dissapointed to miss that.

@ Big Red 12, I got Sally from Just Ducky Kennels -- http://www.boykinspaniel.com -- Pam is a breeder and trainer dedicated to Boykins and has some really great dogs.

You can get a lot of info from the Boykin Spaniel Society --
http://www.boykinspaniel.org/ -- I'm sure they have names of breeders in TX.

@ txshotgun, apologies for hijacking your thread.

i actually have a 7mo old Boykin i got back in July. he is doing great so far and i got him from Greg Copeland out of hempsted texas. the kennel is called texas trace. he is a great guy and i had talked to him 7yrs ago or so and finally decided it was time ot get one. if you would like to talk about it further please send me a pm... i will be happy to discuss with you.

A Boykin article. It does mention them for Dove hunting and mentions them relatively good working in hot weather. Interesting breed. I never really looked into them much.

http://www.gameandfishmag.com/hunting/hunting-dogs/gf_aa056302a/

SNIPER JOHN, THEY ARE PRETTY AMAZING LITTLE DOGS... I NEVER LOOKED AT THEM REALLY AND ALWAYS WANTED A BRIT... HOWEVER, ONE MORNING DUCK HUNTING, MY BUDDY HAS THIS LITTLE BROWN DOG JUMP OUT OF A KENNEL AND START RUNNING AROUND... I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IS WAS AT FIRST AND THEN AFTER SEEING THE DOG WORK AND HOW MUCH IT DID FOR ITS SIZE... I WAS SOLD.

OK now I need to look at these Boykins... Just how "wound up" are they? @RGV-no worries it's all good info.

Mine's energetic in the field but settles down real well in the house. My buddy has a Brittany that is absolutely ridiculous-jumping over fences and non-stop running around the house. I specifically told my breeder I didn't want a hyper dog. You really need to talk to the breeder IMO.

If all you wanted was a dog to fetch downed dove I would probably use a Lab or GSP. If you might gravitate toward some duck hunting as well then the Lab gets the nod. If you also plan on upland bird hunting to some degree, then look at an English Pointer, a Brittany or the GSP. Brits run hot in summer heat but are great retrievers. There is also the coat problem, which should probably be kept short for hot weather hunts. The Pointer runs cooler, won't pick up burrs and will retrieve. The GSP is a great choice for similar reasons. One of these four will fit your needs.

I sure like my Wiem! Here is a pic of him retrieving Dove at only 8 months.

Lot's of good comments. Basically, excluding the environmental/climate issue, temperament is what I need to concentrate. That and hitting enough dove to actually give the dog a chance to work.

Excluding the envirommental issue. Labrador.

Whatever you end up getting, I'd get a dog that is actually bred to retrieve...Labs and Spaniels breeding is heavily based on their retrieving abilities (if it's a good breeder anyway). A lot of the other dogs being suggested are more for pointing and retrieving is secondary. If you're getting a dog for retrieving, why wouldn't you get one that is bred to retrieve? That Boykin is a cool dog and would probably be a good fit for an Urban hunter. Lab's are popular for a reason too...

An arguement for a pointing breed though could be made based on their nose. Often hot dry weather and birds that do not present a lot of scent such dogs can be a plus on blind retrieves. Put a retrieving pointer in the scent cone and the bird is immediately found. Cripples often pointed. I have seen retrievers not find downed birds in the middle of a dove field before.