|
Forums46
Topics551,072
Posts9,888,716
Members88,094
| |
Most Online28,231
Feb 7th, 2025
|
|
|
 Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#4884279
01/03/14 01:43 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,401
CCBIRDDOGMAN
Bird Herder
|
|
Bird Herder
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,401 |
Brittany, English Pointer, Visla, Setter, GSP. Any of these (plus several more) can be great Quail dogs & companions, pick the one you think is the best looking & then find a good breeder with good bloodlines. Simple as that. This is nothing more than a Ford vs. Chevy type discussion. I disagree. I haven't seen too many setters that were all that bright. Have seen many that were soft. Not a good pick for a beginner. The soft issue might also be more common with the Brittanys so I've heard but you tell me. I have setters. Let's hunt and let's discuss your "soft" comment again. Exactly, you can have a "soft" dog out of any breed. For someone to say a certain breed is "soft" or too wild, or aren't good family dogs, cant be good house dogs, etc., just shows that person is one sided on the breed they like. Like I said before, Ford vs. Chevy. But to answer MS1454, I have owned / hunted a total of 10 Brittanies, I had one that had no interest in birds, but have never had one that was gun shy or "soft".
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out. I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: coolie]
#4884483
01/03/14 03:05 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,423
kindall
Extreme Tracker
|
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,423 |
Dang it. I need to start wearing my glasses so I can read what I type.
Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden.
Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: kindall]
#4884737
01/03/14 04:49 PM
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,550
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,550 |
The is something to "dogs breeding."
All a guy has to do is look what dogs
Typically dominate field trial events. It's
Not a Brit or setter.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Huntmaster]
#4885214
01/03/14 07:53 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068
NorthTXbirdhunter
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068 |
The is something to "dogs breeding."
All a guy has to do is look what dogs
Typically dominate field trial events. It's
Not a Brit or setter. Sir, you are comparing apples and oranges. First of all, for a first dog, easy to train, I dang sure will not start with some jacked-up, hot blooded, crazy, run the limits, fire breathing field trial dog. I did that for many years and hunting was just not fun anymore. I made a conscious switch to setters and have never looked back. They are smarter, honest, and just an all around better fit for me. I really like hunting again. And like I said before, come put a dog down and hunt with these "soft" setters of mine. I think you will be surprised. All day long and they are hard as a rock. I have run them for 3 hours with a mule and when I pick em up they are still pulling to go.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4885383
01/03/14 09:01 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,338
Bigjoe8504
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,338 |
The is something to "dogs breeding."
All a guy has to do is look what dogs
Typically dominate field trial events. It's
Not a Brit or setter. Sir, you are comparing apples and oranges. First of all, for a first dog, easy to train, I dang sure will not start with some jacked-up, hot blooded, crazy, run the limits, fire breathing field trial dog. I did that for many years and hunting was just not fun anymore. I made a conscious switch to setters and have never looked back. They are smarter, honest, and just an all around better fit for me. I really like hunting again. And like I said before, come put a dog down and hunt with these "soft" setters of mine. I think you will be surprised. All day long and they are hard as a rock. I have run them for 3 hours with a mule and when I pick em up they are still pulling to go. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a soft dog typically mean a dog that doesn't take negative reinforcement well? In that case MOST pointer breeds would be considered soft and some softer than others. Has nothing to do with drive, just how you train them. You would take years training a Walker Hound to sit if you used the same method as you would use to teach a DD. Hounds (coonhounds, foxhounds, beagles) tend to take a harder approach to training and are not considered soft dogs in general. Generally the more (training wise) brains a dog has, the softer a dog is. Now that that is out of the way, If you are familiar with britany's and the way they are, why not get you your own britany. As stated earlier, any breed can have a good outcome (as for a hunting dog) and the breeder should be able to help you pick one that fits your needs. There's always rescues and crosses available out of decent hunting dogs for cheaper amounts if you have no aspirations of breeding. Also as stated above, if your budget allows it, it's always easier to start with a started dog (regardless of type of hunting you will be doing.)
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4885425
01/03/14 09:26 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416
bill oxner
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 91,416 |
It's always a crap shoot. A started dog is one that did not break easily in my opinion. Anyone who does the yard work, collar conditioning, and has a few birds can sell the pup as broke.
Quail hunting is like walking into, and out of a beautiful painting all day long. Gene Hill ![[Linked Image]](https://texashuntingforum.com/forum/pics/usergals/2017/07/full-3669-105539-full_16668_105507_image.jpg)
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4885446
01/03/14 09:38 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,423
kindall
Extreme Tracker
|
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,423 |
I've seen people send a dog to the trainer, and then fall on hard times.
They release the dog to the trainer and he/she sells it. There is nothing wrong with those dogs. Other people realize they don't have as much time to hunt them as they used to, and sell them.
Shopping with your husband is like hunting with the game warden.
Experience is what you get, when you didn't get what you wanted.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Bigjoe8504]
#4885536
01/03/14 10:16 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068
NorthTXbirdhunter
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068 |
The is something to "dogs breeding."
All a guy has to do is look what dogs
Typically dominate field trial events. It's
Not a Brit or setter. Sir, you are comparing apples and oranges. First of all, for a first dog, easy to train, I dang sure will not start with some jacked-up, hot blooded, crazy, run the limits, fire breathing field trial dog. I did that for many years and hunting was just not fun anymore. I made a conscious switch to setters and have never looked back. They are smarter, honest, and just an all around better fit for me. I really like hunting again. And like I said before, come put a dog down and hunt with these "soft" setters of mine. I think you will be surprised. All day long and they are hard as a rock. I have run them for 3 hours with a mule and when I pick em up they are still pulling to go. Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't a soft dog typically mean a dog that doesn't take negative reinforcement well? In that case MOST pointer breeds would be considered soft and some softer than others. Has nothing to do with drive, just how you train them. You would take years training a Walker Hound to sit if you used the same method as you would use to teach a DD. Hounds (coonhounds, foxhounds, beagles) tend to take a harder approach to training and are not considered soft dogs in general. Generally the more (training wise) brains a dog has, the softer a dog is. Now that that is out of the way, If you are familiar with britany's and the way they are, why not get you your own britany. As stated earlier, any breed can have a good outcome (as for a hunting dog) and the breeder should be able to help you pick one that fits your needs. There's always rescues and crosses available out of decent hunting dogs for cheaper amounts if you have no aspirations of breeding. Also as stated above, if your budget allows it, it's always easier to start with a started dog (regardless of type of hunting you will be doing.) "Soft" dog to me means one that can not take the pressure of training, scared of a bird, scared of a gun. Even if you get some of them to point, they are soft to conditions in the field, terrain, other dogs, stays lost alot, or stays at heel most of the time. When the going gets tough, soft dog lays down. It is breeding that gets you the dog you need to perform at the level you want. So many people try to find the cutest puppy they can find instead of running the whole litter of puppies to find the bolder ones and the pups that can think. I look for smart pups and one's that want to handle and satisfy me. The measure of a bird dog is not style and point to me as much as what he has between the ears.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4886403
01/04/14 06:03 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 64
AWSjr
Outdoorsman
|
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 64 |
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#4887477
01/05/14 12:51 AM
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,550
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,550 |
Setters get cockleburs-pointers don't.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4887647
01/05/14 02:27 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,401
CCBIRDDOGMAN
Bird Herder
|
|
Bird Herder
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,401 |
My English pointer comes home more beat up than any of the Brittany's do. Yes,I have to cut a few cocklebur's from them but they aren't as tore up as he is.
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out. I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: CCBIRDDOGMAN]
#4891193
01/06/14 07:19 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 117
orpco
Woodsman
|
|
Woodsman
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 117 |
I've had english pointers, german shorthair, and Brittany. I've hunted behind several brittany's. That's hard to beat for first dog. Especially if it needs to interact with rest of family. English pointers seem to take several years to slow down enough to interact with family. Thats been my experience, I'm sure it varies from dog to dog though.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Huntmaster]
#4891465
01/06/14 08:52 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068
NorthTXbirdhunter
Pro Tracker
|
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,068 |
Setters get cockleburs-pointers don't. Just deal with it. It has never been a problem for me. It is not so much a game changer to make me want to switch dogs.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: NorthTXbirdhunter]
#4891632
01/06/14 09:56 PM
|
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,550
Huntmaster
Veteran Tracker
|
|
Veteran Tracker
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,550 |
I can appreciate your love for you setters, I've too have had them all- but the right
Fire breathing, ground covering, bloody, twelve o'clock tail,
Muscles rippling, nose that can wind a bird across county lines-is hard to beat and something
Most people have never seen. With that said-I started with a mix
Between a Brit and setter that I wouldn't have sold(or it would have to be a stupid price)
What a dog!!
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4901892
01/10/14 07:42 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,498
reeltexan
THF Celebrity
|
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,498 |
a vote here for pointers or brits.
either will be a great dog to have.
![[Linked Image]](https://i.postimg.cc/KjZZqFj8/point-with-bird.jpg) "If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." Ronald Reagan
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4902001
01/10/14 08:31 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 70
z3n
Outdoorsman
|
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 70 |
My hunting buddy's dog is a brit and he's outstanding...both for pheasants/upland and waterfowl...  -z
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4937424
01/27/14 10:37 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374
Jtmeeks
OP
Bird Dog
|
|
OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374 |
this dog would also be a outoor dog in a kennel. i will be training it with alittle help from my dad but i will be buying everything on my own.im 13 so i dont want a real roudy, hardcore field trial dog that is hard to train. thanks for the imput
Last edited by Turkeyslayer1221; 01/27/14 10:38 PM.
I don't always exaggerate, I just remember BIG!
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4938548
01/28/14 02:03 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 224
BobMac
Woodsman
|
|
Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 224 |
Get a Boykin,Great at home and in the field. Spay pam on there ears and the burr's come right out.
Chase perfection and accept excellence- Vince Lombardi
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: z3n]
#4975110
02/15/14 07:59 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 140
TexaShot0341
Woodsman
|
|
Woodsman
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 140 |
Z3n, that looks like a Springer to me.
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4975710
02/15/14 07:56 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 450
Guns Up
Bird Dog
|
|
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 450 |
try a Pug or a Palmeranean. either are superb pointers  
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Guns Up]
#4976425
02/16/14 01:36 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374
Jtmeeks
OP
Bird Dog
|
|
OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374 |
try a Pug or a Palmeranean. either are superb pointers The best there is!
I don't always exaggerate, I just remember BIG!
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: scalebuster]
#4976433
02/16/14 01:44 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,164
Chief Joe
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,164 |
"It is the same boiling water that softens the rice, which hardens the egg." It's not always about the circumstances, but what you are made of....
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Chief Joe]
#4977059
02/16/14 11:14 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374
Jtmeeks
OP
Bird Dog
|
|
OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374 |
Seems they are calmer but I love the drive of a English pointer
I don't always exaggerate, I just remember BIG!
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: Jtmeeks]
#4978074
02/17/14 04:17 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,622
HMK
THF Trophy Hunter
|
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 7,622 |
Well Now, I'm sorry to say that each and every one of you are Just WRONG!!!! The best by far is your ole lady. She points well, trees well, retrieves well, however; she does cost a fortune 
back when we used to eat housecats we marinated them in louisiana hot sauce and soy sauce then season them with lemon pepper........then onto the grill slow cooking them 3 hours........excellent folded in tortillas and pico de gallo----Newgulf
|
|
|
|
Re: Best beginner bird dog
[Re: HMK]
#4979178
02/18/14 02:16 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374
Jtmeeks
OP
Bird Dog
|
|
OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 374 |
Well Now, I'm sorry to say that each and every one of you are Just WRONG!!!! The best by far is your ole lady. She points well, trees well, retrieves well, however; she does cost a fortune 
I don't always exaggerate, I just remember BIG!
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, sig226fan (Rguns.com), TreeBass, txcornhusker
|
