Gun Dog Up
Choosing the right gun dog for your hunting needs
Credit: (Boberosa Gun Dogs)
Source: www.boberosagundogs.com
Published: Mar. 08, 2010
How does one choose the right gun dog? There are so many options out there. In reality, choosing the right breed of gun dog isn’t so much about the dog as it is about the hunter. When it comes to selecting the right breed of gun dog a hunter must evaluate their hunting styles and preferences. Once you evaluate your needs the next step is to evaluate and research the breed that can fill that standard. There are five areas that you should evaluate before selecting your next gun dog. Where you hunt, what you hunt, what style of hunt you prefer, family compatibility, also the limitations and the health of your companion are the 5 factors that you need to evaluate before you select your next breed of gun dog.
The first category is where you are going to be hunting. Hunters pursue upland all across the county. In every part of the country there are several types of terrain. We categorize them into several areas. Those areas include; large open fields, fence rows, ditches, thickets, woodlots, food plots, rocky terrain, and to many others to list. The thing to remember is that each area has its challenges for your dogs. For example, we prefer to hunt our Springer Spaniels on wild pheasants. We understand that our dogs have limitations in large open fields. They can wear down much quicker in open fields compared to our English Setters. The Springers are much better at hunting the ditches and fence rows for our hunting needs. We understand that our Springers can cover those open fields but it can shorten the time they can spend afield. A pointer might not be as good of an option in a thicket because if they are on point in an area you cannot access, then what good is pointer in an area like that. We are not saying certain breeds cannot hunt all areas, but we are saying that certain breeds are more adapted to hunt certain types of terrain and cover. You should select a gun dog that best fits your needs for the type of places you hunt.
You next need to evaluate what type of upland game you will be pursuing. Just like hunting terrain there are certain breeds that are better than others for certain types of game. Pointers are great for birds that hold well, quail, and grouse are a couple of examples of upland birds that hold well. Flushers are experts at taking out wild, running pheasants. Remember that pointers are also excellent at hunting pheasants and in our opinions flushers are equally suited to hunt quail and grouse. With that said there are subtle differences that make certain breeds better suited for certain types of upland game. Study the breeds you are interested in and then match those breeds to the type of upland game you will predominantly hunt. There is also the question of wild vs. pen raised birds. Wild bird hunting is the major league baseball of upland hunting. While pen raised hunt club birds can be a little like slow pitch softball. The speed at which a wild rooster moves is ten times faster than a pen raised bird. Wild coveys of quail are gone in the blink of an eye, not so with hunt club quail. We are avid proponents of hunt clubs as they offer those who don’t have a lot of access to wild bird’s great opportunities to hunt and a great opportunity to work your gun dogs. On the other hand saying a hunt club hunt is just like a wild bird hunt is a tough sell for us. Know what type of hunting you are going to be doing as certain breeds are much better suited for hunting a club versus wild birds. A dogs’ range is a factor in deciding which is best. Certain breeds are built to cover large fields and range at quite a distance. Hunt clubs generally are broken up into small sections so a closer ranging breed can be a better option if you predominately hunt at these clubs. These are just couple of things to consider in selecting your next breed.
What kind of hunter are you? In saying that we mean, what style of hunter are you? We are all hunters and have a lot of respect for our fellow hunters. With that said, we might not all get as much joy out of a hunt as the next guy, because we all hunt differently. There are varying styles of hunters and we all hunt upland game in different ways. Some like to just get out to spend time with friends, enjoy their time outdoors, and to hopefully have the opportunity to bag some game. Some are very serious they want excellent dog work, a full daily limit, but want that excellent family companion to sleep at their feet at the end of a long days hunt. Then there is the other section of hunters. We fall into that category. While we love the time with friends, the outdoors, the dog work, and we want a dog that can sleep at our feet at night. When it comes to the hunt we hunt upland birds like they wronged a family member. We push hard and expect our dogs to be able to handle the pace. We plan our “attacks” by detailing how we are going to hunt certain fields and change strategies on the fly during the hunt. Each breed can fulfill each hunters’ needs. Some are better suited for certain types of hunters versus others. Labs and other flushers typically have that type of hunting demeanor we love. Yet they know to hunt at same pace of the hunter. Pointers are great for doing a lot of the work for the hunters covering the fields with grace and allowing the hunters to take in the intangibles hunt. Flushers demand constant attentiveness by the hunters, because of the speed at which the flush takes place. Pointers don’t need such attentiveness because the hunters can have more time to prepare for their shots. Each specific breeds of pointers and flushers do certain things better for each style of hunt.
Having your next gun dog as a family companion is important to most hunters. Everyone wants that on/off switch with his or her hunting companion. Research certain breeds personalities before making a selection. Most gun dogs can make great family companions, but they can take some understanding on the family’s part. They need daily exercise to burn off that boundless energy, and they will need constant discipline from all family members. There are breeds that are real people pleasers and their world revolves around keeping their handlers happy. Other breeds only have a one-track mind, which is all about hunting. Understanding those personalities can help in selecting the right gun dog.
Lastly understanding the limitations of certain breeds and making sure your select from reputable breeders will allow you to have a healthy, happy hunting companion for years to come. Limitations include, the length of time a gun dog can hunt, temperature precautions, and the skills of certain breeds. Certain breeds are built to hunt all day long with few breaks; others cannot cover ground as well and need breaks on longer hunts. Temperatures are important in selecting a new gun dog. A black lab will over heat faster than a yellow lab on a sunny day due to the color of the coat. Also a labs heavy coat can limit how long they can hunt before overheating. German shorthairs can be better for longer hunts in warmer climates because of their shorter coats. Those are just a couple of examples to think about when making a gun dog selection. Lastly, always buy from a reputable and trustworthy breeder. We believe honesty is always the best policy, and you have to trust the breeder. Always remember, many will tell you what you want to hear. Even with 20 plus years of experience we have been fooled. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Always get references from the breeder and make sure they offer health guarantees on their gun dogs. The sire and dam of the breeding should have all heath clearance based on what the breed can suffer from. If those requirements are all met then they are someone you can trust in purchasing your next gun dog.
In conclusion, there is no ‘wonder’ gun dog out there. There are a lot of great breeds of gun dogs to choose from. All of these dogs will fill a void in an upland hunter’s life. Some are just better matched to certain hunters. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. It is up to you to select the gun dog that best fits your needs. If you are reading this article you have the best tool to begin your search, as it is as easy as a couple of clicks and some excellent reading on all the breeds of gun dogs available.
Hunt Hard and Shoot Quick,
Jared Knipper
Boberosa Gun Dogs
Reader Comments
2 Comments on Gun Dog Up
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Really enjoyed the article. I would like to add one thing about the individual dog breeds. When making your choice on a breed, there are certain desirable traits within the same breed, as there can be undesirable traits, depending on what your looking for. Some Breeders have high run dogs that have a little trouble in a house environment. While another breeder of the same breed has dogs that are very well manured at home and turn it on in the field. So within the same breed you can have a choice as well of what you are looking for. Thanks Guys looking forward to your next article.
03/10/10 12:00 AM by BleuBijou -
Expanding on BleuBijou's comment. Many breeders actually intentionally cultivate different "strains" of the same breed for certain personality and physical traits. For instance, one Labrador breeder may breed "show" dogs with fuller coats, stockier builds, more pronounced physical features and a calmer personality, while another breeder may raise "field trial" or "hunting" dogs by putting more focus on high energy and/or "birdiness" and less emphasis on the physical appearance of the dog. If you purchase a "show" dog, you may find that the dog bred for stockiness, which looks so good in the show arena, wears out more quickly in the field and lacks the stamina of a "field trial" or "hunting" strain.
05/20/10 12:00 AM by BiffSarin
