Gun Dog Forum

This might be a brag for only a few of you guys,but I am going to brag about how well eva held up while hunting for 5 days out in north dakota,montana.
After being on the ground more than any other dog we took,her feet look like the day we left,and she was still going as strong as the first day.
No blown pads,no let down,just hunting hard everytime out.
If you guys want real hardcore go all day hunting dogs,I would certainly start at hokes place,he knows what it takes in a wild bird dog.
I myself think this is a overlooked trait,but one that is very important for a serious hunter.

Absolutely and there are no dog games that really test it!! Dogs bred solely on the basis of their dog game accomplishments really miss the boat on this IMO. You gotta breed for it and the only way you do that is to test 'em in the field for hours and hours, day after day. I know the dogs I'd go to.

Did not want to steal the post but had a question about the feet. When you look for a pup, you look at the parents and hope to get what you want. When you do look at the feet of the parents what are you looking for that might indicate the pups may carry the same. I have a short hair that has all the hunt and endurance in the world but gets cut pads often. Usually fairly deep. Now my brittanies no problems.

Maybe we could move my question to the chat.

I just look to the performance of the parents - if they've proven themselves durable in day after day, rough country performance it should bode well for offspring that are durable in day after day rough country outings. So far seems to hold true in my experience.

I've seen several of the field trial blue bloods that last about a half hour in chukar country and spend the rest of the week in the crate recovering! Not sure we're improving the breed with stuff like that but if they put ribbons and trophies on the mantle they must be better right!!?