New Member

[QuailKiller]

Hi everyone. I am new to this fourm and this fourm was recomended to me.

Anyway, I want a hunting dog because I am sick and tired of loosing birds I shoot, and I just want a faithful companion. I hunt mostly dove, quail, chuckar, and other upland game, but I might try duck hunting out once I get a dog to get the dead ducks out of the water. What kind of dog would you recomend for me?

I am 15 years old and I don't have much money, and neither do my parents. I have been looking through my local classifieds and most lab pups are a couple hundred dollars at least. I need something cheaper, or an older dog.

I hear that puppys are easier to train than dogs 2 or 3 years old, but I may have to get an older dog. Do you think I can train an older dog. I don't have any experience in training dogs, so I don't know.

Thanks for any help.
Chris

[Casper]

Chris,

You could always check with a pound. On occasion they will get in puppies less than 6 mo. old. They can be tought to hunt but it can be a bit more difficult to achieve the training desired.

From what you hunt you will be better off with a long haired pointer. ie: wirehair, brittany, gordon, etc.

In my opinion you would be better off finding a job that will allow you to earn the funds to purchase a well bred dog and be able to afford the necessary care. You could try a local construction site and ask if they need a laborer, the local feed store, etc.

There is also the option of finding a local kennel and ask if you can stop by and fisit while they train so you get an idea of what will be expected in training a gun dog. They might even put you to work cleaning kennels, feeding, and training. maybe you can talk them into working for a puppy.

Labs make great duck dogs but dont do well on chukar. I have one and she is ony good for about 3 hrs. not long enough for a decent chukar hunt.

Just some ideas to ponder. I am sure others will have better ones.

Good luck and welcome

[sdgord]

Chris, as Casper has already said, you may be best off finding a job and saving enough money to buy a well bred dog. The price of a puppy or adult dog is actually the least of the money woes. You will find that your dog requires seeing the vet much more than you see a doctor.
You neglect to mention if your parents are in favor of you getting a pup. Whether or not this pup will be housed indoors or out. An outdoor dog requires decent housing against the weather both summer and winter. An indoor dog requires crate training and more coat care to reduce the amount of shedding.
Most decent breeders are going to be willing to give you a large amount of advice on training and care while you may think you have an idea of what it takes to raise a puppy, till you have done it a time or two you really dont have a clue. SDGORD

[QuailKiller]

Thanks for the responses.

I would like to get a job to afford a better dog and maybe someone will hire me when I turn 16 next month, but I am in school right now and it is difficult to work also (but can be done). I really don't need a perfect dog. I just want one that won't run away and will help me find birds, and be a friend.

Thanks

[Vizslaguy]

Hi welcome to the board.
I know all you want is a decent dog, now. After you have a decent dog, you will want more. The one phrase that sticks in my head is," it cost just as much to feed a bad dog, as it does to feed a good dog". Quality only stings once.
I too would advise against a Lab. Ive never hunted wild chukar, but most of my friend labs dont do "great" at prairie chicken hunting. Which I assume is somewhat comparable to chukar. LOTS of walking. I too would say Wirehair, Britt, or Gordon. But i would add German shorthair, Vizsla and Weim to the list too, again I have NO exp. with wild Chukar.
You could also check with the rescue groups in your area.?.?

[Vizslaguy]

http://www.gsprescueid.addr.com/available_gsp.htm

[Vizslaguy]

http://www.creatures.com/USBR.html

[QuailKiller]

Thanks. I will check all the places mentioned. I am kind of interested in Britanys, now. They are kind of small which I kind of like. Do they like to swim at all. I probably won't do very much duck hunting but I might do a little.

Anyway, thanks for helping.

[TAK]

Start looking for a Kennel near you that you might trade some work for. Save your coins when you can and get the best one you can. There is a few Brit people here that can steer you in the right direction.
Look around on the net. I see time to time people giving good dogs away. Ya you could get burned but I think if you look long enough and save your coins you will find something.

Wish you was closer and wish you had posted sooner. A buddy just GAVE away a great little brit female. No problems other than she was not the trial dog he wanted. I will check with him and make sure it all went as planned!

[ccavacini]

I have a six year old female Brittany. You won't go wrong with this breed. I hunt her mostly on Pheasant, but she's also hunted grouse, woodcock, and is super on quail.

She's 35lbs. and loads of fun. She has a great personality and sleeps in our bedroom.

Does she swim? Yes. She loves the water, but hasn't made any retrieves in water yet (never had to).
Good luck

[Casper]

Chris since you dont plan on doing much duck hunting a shorthair or brit would be a fine choice.

I live in N. Nevada where brittanys and GSPs are the top dog of choice for chukar. You can usualy look in the paper and you will find them priced anywhere from about $250 all the way up to 7 or 800 with most around about 500. I occasionaly I look and will usualy find that about 6 months after an add was placed you have a lickly chance of seeing a pup for free or for a discounted price. They are usualy pups that people bought on an impulse not knowing that they are a "very"active dog and love to run and sometimes they turn that energy into destuction. Be wary getting one of these pups they could have issues (gun shy, been beaten, had no social interactin, etc.)Do some reading and research before you get a pup so you know what to expect from pup the first day you bring it home through its first year of life. Also have your folks look into it so they understand these dogs and are willing to treat it as a member of the family.

Any dog will swim if encoraged at a young age.

Dont be afraid to ask questions while you wait for the day you get to bring home your new prospect. Also reread some of the previos threads (when your done w/ home work first ) just to start your learning.

[ckfowler]

I love my setter and she brings birds to hand but if what you want most is to recover cripples, a good retriever will fit the bill. Look into rescue groups locally and online and if patient, you might find a started dog needing a home. My first dog as an adult was a Britt from the pound and it took 5 years for us to really figure it all out. That said, the next 7 years, pheasants were in real peril when we went out! Get a couple good training books and start reading now.

[Ryan]

Hey Chris,
Like yourself I am in school, college to be exact. I found that when you are in school you just dont have the time to put into to training a dog well. Between homework and a job there is very little time.

I would join a club. Members have dogs are are more than willing to take guys like us out and support this addiction.

Wait until you have gone through high school and college or university and buy a dog with some lines in it. This is what I am doing. my breeder is http://www.topgungsps.com/ . I chose a Shorthair because they fit what I need to do with them.

Right now I have a setter which I left at home. My dad said he would keep up on her training and exersize. I am greatful for this.

Now as for a dog you want everyone here has mentioned the good things about teir breeds but not the bad side so I am going to try to give you this off my experince of the breed(s) or what I have heard about them.

Setters: beautiful dog to see hunting but the long coat means extra grooming. Thistles and burs get caught in the coat easily and if in hot weather the dog will overheat much faster than a dog with shorter hair. Very timid you need a soft hand to train alot of these dogs.

Vislas: I have never actually seen one but from what I hear they are also a dog that needs alot of time and patience.

Pointers: One of the best dogs you can buy for beginners. Easy to train and they hunt darn near everything. Short so wont do well in extended periods of time in cold weather.

GSP: Again another of the top dogs easy to train. Shorthair so once again not a dog for long periods of time in the cold.

Brittany: No one needs a brittany. Brittany's are an addiction. They will outlast any other breed and go anywhere. Medium lenght hair. Great for winter and summer. I did find that with this breed that the hair works into furniture and carpeting and is a bit harder to pick up compared to setters and pointers. If you want a dog that is caffine on 4 legs this dog is it.

You can talk to the other people here about their breed good or bad.

Just remeber spend the money for a good dog, wait till you have the time to properly train it, and a hunting dog needs alot of exersize.

[markm]

Chris,

I'm probably getting in here a little late, but I would echo what Ryan says. I'm 2 years outta college and waited until I was done with school to buy my first dog. I knew I wouldn't have enough time to have a good gun dog while I was in school. I still don't seem to have all the time I would like, and I've got a pretty flexible job.

Not trying to discourage you, it can be done, if your parents are supportive of you getting a dog and you have, maybe some other gundog owners around that can help you with training questions. As always the group on this forum can give you every thing you need short of hands on training.

As far as breed choice, with your location I would probably go with a Brittany. I'm definitely no expert, but would think that their longer coat is better suited to your climate. I'm a Vizsla guy telling you this, so I'm not just pushing my favorite breed on you. V's are great, and I'll probably never go with a different breed, but I realize they aren't the dog for everyone. Good luck with whatever you decide. Remember you got a lot of hunting days ahead of you.

[ezzy333]

I'll tell you the same as most of these other post but with one important difference. If you are short of money, I have been there. I advise you get a job and save just as much of it as you can over the nest few years so you can go to college and finish your education. In the mean time do just what you are doing and try to find the cheapest dog you can. You will learn as much or more training a pup of questionable breeding as you will the best bred pup in the world. The pup may not turn out great but you will be as proud as you can be since you trained it, and that is as it should be. Then after school and the years you have spent with your dog you will be ready to invest in a better quality pup but I will guarantee you, there will never be a dog that you will think more of than the sweet little mutt that was your first dog, the one you learned the most from.

Ezzy

[snips]

You might try some of the better breeders and see if they have a pup that is sold cheaper for some reason. I currently have a pup with a overbite, 4 mo old, that we are selling cheaper with limited reg. Super dog, hunting and pointing already, shame you are so far. But, breeders sometimes have a pup like this that is still bred as well and can do everything as well as the rest.