Those of you who hunt with dogs, what are your favorite breeds? I'm now seriously investigating my options and looking for a good breeder. This will be my first hunting dog.
I hunt small game, deer and waterfowl. So I'm looking for an "all-around" dog. Obviously the only time I'd want to use him for deer hunting is for blood tracking. But that's not the main reason I want to get him. He'd mostly be for waterfowling and maybe some rabbits and shed antler hunting.
I'm basically debating between an English Labrador and a German Wire-Haired Pointer. But I've not settled on that. I'll probably get him in spring 2017.
It needs to be a good family dog and OK around small children. I don't care if he doesn't like random people coming by or not, but he can't be a jerk to everyone.
I've only ever had male dogs. Are females better for hunting?
Anything else I should be thinking about? Can you recommend any books on gun dog training? I've got room for him to exercise daily and I've been reading about dog training for years.
I hunt small game, deer and waterfowl. So I'm looking for an "all-around" dog. Obviously the only time I'd want to use him for deer hunting is for blood tracking. But that's not the main reason I want to get him. He'd mostly be for waterfowling and maybe some rabbits and shed antler hunting.
I'm basically debating between an English Labrador and a German Wire-Haired Pointer. But I've not settled on that. I'll probably get him in spring 2017.
It needs to be a good family dog and OK around small children. I don't care if he doesn't like random people coming by or not, but he can't be a jerk to everyone.
I've only ever had male dogs. Are females better for hunting?
Anything else I should be thinking about? Can you recommend any books on gun dog training? I've got room for him to exercise daily and I've been reading about dog training for years.