Looking for Advice on Which Breed to Get

I'm looking to purchase a bird dog and I'd like recommendations on which breed would best suit me. I've had GSPs and English pointers in the past. I found those breeds worked well for me then but I think their energy level would be to much for me now. I've been looking at English setters but I don't know much about the breed. What I'm looking for is a breed that is fairly calm indoors, but a hard worker in the field. Easy to train and a good family dog. I love the GSPs but again their energy level is to high for me these days. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I've never met a healthy bird dog pup that wasn't energetic. They all have to be trained, to know when it's ok to run hard and when to have house manners. English Setters are great dogs.

I know bird dogs tend to have a lot of energy in general. I guess what I'm asking is do GSPs and Pointers tend to have more energy then say a setter or a Brittany? I've been around a few Brittany's that seem to be a lot more low key than the Gsps or Pointers I've owned in the past.

You want to avoid vizslas then. They are great dogs but 1000# of nuclear power in a 40# bag.

Yup. I have a buddy with a Vizsla. The dog has a good handle but it never stops moving. Even when told to sit it looks like it's about to have a seizure. It won't break the position but it's whole body twitches while sitting.

My Brittany is 10x wilder than my pointers. All are housedogs as well. It really just depends on the specific dog. Train them in basic obedience and any can fit the bill.

I like all breeds of pointing dogs from pointers own down.

There are gsp and pointers that are calm in the house you just have to look. I have heard great things about yellow rose kennels that has pointers.

I just got my first German wirehair and I'm impressed with her personality.

I've always been curious about the wirehairs.. What do you like about her?

OH????

I have a GSP. I love her, but she is energy personified.
I really like the Brittanys I have seen. They do seem a little less wound up to me.

DD's are supposed to be pretty laid back. PM stinkbelly, he has two

Don't think DD would be categorized as bird dogs but rather versatile breed.

If you are worried about being out of control, bull in a china shop etc. definitely get a female. There is a clear trend that they have better manners, easier to train, most of the time a better house dog if thats what you want. I have never owned a GSP, but all of my hunting buddies have one and there are a couple that have been good house dogs but there seems to be a bit of a trend there of backyard escape artists/high strung etc. Best dog I ever had was a pointer that was all of that and more, terror in the backyard, not real interested in being petted, but a serious bird finding machine.

Take a look at Boykins. They are a great all around dog.

I've had nearly every type of bird dog, I love the English pointers for there work ethic, energy level and personality. The reason I like the wirehair I got is she not quite is wound up as a pointer but she has a better personality(not as skittish) better people person than a German shorthair. The Germans bread the wirehair to pretty much hunt everything. I Can't wait to get another

They breed the short hairs the same way

I have a female setter...first bird dog for me. She is a house dog, sleeps on the bed, sits on the couch, very affectionate and not aggressive, but she is snappy around very small children if they get in her face...probably because she wasn't raised around them and gets a little jealous. In that respect labs are much better as they seem to tolerate being poked at by toddlers...my setter does not. She is the antithesis of Hyper...I don't know if that's setters or just females. I think my next bird dog will be another setter or a pointer, probably a female. My only complaints are she gets frequent skin rashes and sheds a lot in the house....unfortunately there are no hypoallergenic shed free pointing breeds...

She is good in the field and loves to hunt. A few weeks a go my e collar broke mid-hunt and I had to put her on a leash and drag her back to the car to get her to stop chasing the singles of one particular covey. Mine doesn't retrieve but that's my fault as a trainer.

Mine is like that in the field but all he does is sleep in the house.

I've known a couple of Clumber's that were good bird dogs and basically couch potatoes otherwise. Just gotta' be sure both parents are OFA certified hip dysplasia free as they're otherwise prone to this condition.

Thanks for all the suggestions. You've all given me a lot to think about.

You can't go wrong with a setter, but I'm a bit biased. I would have never fathomed owning one until I got the pleasure of hunting behind a couple of really nice ones in NE and was sold. My female is as calm as a dog can get indoors, but she really puts it into hunting mode when you get her to the field. If you're interested in a puppy, shoot me a PM. I might have a few still available out of my litter that was born 1-15-15 out of a winning son of Tekoah Mountain Patriot.

Free advice is usually worth about what you pay for it. I advised my friend against getting a red setter. He got two. I love them. Here's his second;

Beautiful dog, Bill!

I'm really impressed with their range. It's not unusual to have them out 300 yards. The only negative thing about them is that their color makes them difficult to see in the field. That would have been a deal killer for me a few years ago, but the Garmin takes care of that.

I agree that every breed can have dogs that are good house dogs and some that aren't. It's a lot of how you train them and how they have been bred.

I have a friend with a drahtaar and his dog is a great house dog. I have gsp's that have lived in the house and been fine.

My problem with some of these dogs when you get away from the gsp and pointers is how diluted the breed has become. I think you have to be real careful when buying those dogs to make sure you are getting a dog that will hunt.

I've hunted with lots of bad examples of all the popular breeds, and a few very very good examples of most of them. The common denominator with most of the bad was too much kennel time and not enough people time. IMHO the bottom line is if you spend enough time with them and really, really socialize them properly any of them will turn out great for you. As far as how they do in the house, my brother has a 7 month old pointer that behaves perfectly in the house, but if dad is home pup is inside. He spoils his babies. My pup (litter mate) is just shy of being a terror in the house because I don't let him in much. My 3 yr old pointer, on the other hand, can be trusted to stay inside all night, but he actually has bladder control...

And you may try picking the fattest, sleepiest pup in the litter. I have seen that personality carry through adulthood.

Take the time and read about this breed Deutscher Wachtelhund

I've seen Pudlepiunters come up in a couple of conversations, but have never actually seen one. Anyone know what they are about?

Google them

Between big thumbs and autocomplete, looks like I massacred Pudelpointer.

I have Googled them, but I was hoping for feedback from someone that has seen them work in the field. Most of what I have found on the Internet is from people that breed them, which are not necessarily going to be unbiased.

Bradw

I propose the Spinone Italiano I am getting a new pup Saturday. I lost my last to sago poisoning last May. The breed is very little known in the US and are hard to find however they are well worth the search They are an old breed and are in paintings by Micheal Angelo. They are highly affectionate pointers slow methodical close workers and tireless. They love water and are unbelievable natural retrievers. Cody was almost human. My wife house trained him at 8 weeks old in 4 days. I had owned beagles, English pointers, Brittneys, and labs all great dogs. However none of them compared to a Spinone. Do yourself a favor and google the Spinone italiano you will not regret it.

You might try versatile dogs .com. as there are many owners of PP there.

I have never seen one personally but no one has had nothing but great things to say about them. They are made up of mostly pointers so they have nice run and range to them. Can be very energetic but stable temperaments from what I have read

I like the English Setters

get a britt. great house dog great hunter great with kids no dog more loyal i have or had all breeds

Get the breed you see in the field most where you hunt. There is a reason certain breeds predominate in certain areas. Get the dog from a trainer/breeder who is familiar with where you hunt. For instance, a lot of lines of GWPs don't do well where I hunt (S. Texas) due to the heat. Some of the snowbirds I know brought dogs down here from home and won't hunt them here because they fear heat stroke.
Some breeds may be too slow for the type of hunting you do and some may work to fast. Stick with what you see from reliable breeders and you will have a better chance of getting a good dog suited to the kind of hunting you are doing.

Good dogs can adapt to the habitat and bird numbers as needed. My pointer ranges 800 yards on the prairie and 200 yards in the woods. Same with my shorthair. They both point birds in the dry desert to the humid woods

Exactly

Mundo nailed it.

Having lived with a Brit now for several months and having grown up with an English Setter, I'd say the setter was a little more laid back on the house. He is so calm and chill, but the second he hits the field he's a machine.

I'll also second (or third) the comment that he's not the best around little kids. He'll snap at you pretty good if you startle him awake while he's sleeping.

S

My setter has a ton of energy and only has two speeds, stop and 100mph. He is a terrible house dog but he is a great hunting dog. I would not trade him for anything.

That sucker has a nose. I saw him catch the scent of a planted quail 8 feet away with the wind to his back.

Hard to paint any breed with a broad brush. I'd gladly trade off all my other dogs for more setters! Haha

YEP! I like all pointing breeds from pointers on down.

Even after you pick the breed, you still need to find the bloodlines you like of that breed. Then narrow it down even farther to the bitch and shire that have those qualities. Then hope they past those qualities on to the pup you pick from the litter.