My Braque du Bourbonnias is over 10 now so she's more or less retired (she's been one great pheasant dog). Looking for a close working dog (rarely, if ever gets over 80 yards out) with a good nose, retrieves well, listens well. Breed isn't all that important to me. Would definitely like another Bourbonnais but finding a finished one seems to be next to impossible.

I mainly pheasant hunt, usually in Kansas. I know the 2011 drought has made hunting quite poor in much of Kansas, but the northwest still has some decent hunting.. Or at least it did last year.

I live near Denton but willing to travel a good distance to check out a dog that's advertised as meeting all the above criteria. Any help in leading me to a good dog would be much appreciated. Thank you. Tom

if you want a close in bird dog... English pointer comes to mind. I have a Shorthair i'm thinking of getting rid of, But he is no where near a close working dog... as a matter of fact he will get agitated if you try to hold him in too close....you can just see it in his body language. have you checked on www.gundogbreeders.com?

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I have checked gundogbreeders.com.

I would NOT suggest a Pointer. In general pointers are probably the biggest running bird dogs. My pointers cast between 400 and 800 yards. Of the 4 main pointing breeds I think a shorthair would probably fit your needs best. They are in general bigger and slower dogs, thus closer working compared to Brits, Pointers and Setters.
You also might look at a Springer Spaniel or Lab, they are flushers, but generally work close.

got three shorthairs....all of them are 400 plus dogs. hunt with a guy who has elhew bred English Pointers and they out weigh my GSPs by a good 20 pounds or so and are extremely close in dogs... it's all in the training but all of my experiences with GSPs they have always been long range dogs and would outrun just about anything other than a greyhound or a triple crown winning horse. i always encourage people to buy shorthairs because i have a soft spot for them.... but if you get a shorthair you better get you a good set of running shoes. I use to run dogs at an old runway....it was an everyday ocurrence for the dogs to keep pace at 35-40 MPH next to the pickup

i agree with raymond when he says a lab. pointing labs are close in dogs

I agree it's in the training, I have a GSP who will work out about 100 yards then comes back and checks in.

Its mostly nature that makes a big running dog, but yes you can get them to work closer by always keeping them rained in. It would be a pain to have to always handle one, instead of buying one that was bred to hunt close. You can't just go by breed. You have to go by bloodlines. You might check with some of the breeders that trial. They want big runners and sell the ones that hunt to close.

BINGO!! Most pointing dogs are born with the potential for their range.

If you have an astro ....... A lot of dogs will work closer when working heavier cover or picking up scent and slow down. Then when needing to cover some ground in wide open habitat let the astro tell you where he is at and let him range out

Close to medium working gsp on gundogforum.......I sent you the link

I would consider a Brit, Springer or Setter.

For close in I wouldn't use either a English or a GSP, although either can be trained to work in close. I would suggest either the Brittany or a Lab.

Are there any finished, close working bird dogs available in the whole state of Texas these days? I've been looking pretty hard for 3 or 4 weeks now and all I find on bird dog sites are dogs available in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio..

There have to be a bunch of them. Some even float through here from time to time. With such bad quail numbers lots of guys are getting rid of bird dogs around here. I would call your local Brittany clubs or other clubs of breeds that you are interested in. Also rescue groups may be able to point you to a trained dog.

I just lucked out and got a 3 y/o finished GSP from Big Country Kennel in Albany. He hunted close on the test run we always came back to check with me when he chased a flushed bird 50 yds or so. his only fault is his retrievals drop short and he's skin and bones right now.

He had several english pointers and some started gsps that looked very healthy.

My old Black Lab, Hunter took to pointing quail ect naturally..and like most labs he hunts close enough if he flushes
a bird one should get a shot..I have owned and trained about every kind of bird dog available and overall I really think a lot
of the Labs..I've got GSP,Labs,Brittnay,Eng Pointers, and I've had Draathars..but the lab is the best all round animal especially for close work, retrieving ect..and if you are lucky
you may get one that points..or at least hesitates..DD

Try a Germanwirehair pointer.Best pheasant dogs I've seen. I know where one that might suit you is in Kansas. If interested,call Dave at 972 467 7421

If you've got the money, I'd go get a finished or started dog from Smith Kennels.

You might want to contact Brent Wilbur from SouthernHillsKennel. He might have a started/finished EP.

My buddy in Northern USA that breeds Gordons and trains them and
a lot of other dogs usually has great pups and the hunting Gordon
is usually not a large dog and is good w/children and family..although somewhat active..like a GSP..Ron Cross is his name, but I'd tell you that you are probably looking at a min. of
$1000 w/shipping and more if it's a trained animal..but mine is a
peach..but a little pushy w/my wifes' Eng Mastiffs..who don't seem to mind..as they are 4 times as large..DD

Have a look here

http://gundogforum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=120&sid=f144a76d5fbc7a8804ab2f912922a3c0

Still looking for a finished bird dog.. Would like a close-working dog with a good nose and good at retrieving. Thanks