top duck dogs

[dkiller]

What in you guys opinion are the top waterfowl hunting dogs in order.?

[bean1031]

I dont know which out of the four are best but I would say...

1) Lab
2)Chesipeak bay retriever
3)Golden retriever
4)GWP

[Loke]

It all depends on what you expect from your dog, and how much time and money you are willing to invest in your dog's training.

[Rick Hall]

Were I you, I'd get over all this "best" stuff, except for what you like best - for whatever reason it happens to be. A well bred and trained example of any of many breeds can handle all the waterfowling most folks get to do - and then some. If harsh weather conditions are a factor in your region, then by all means take that into account, but beyond that, there is generally more difference in potential within the breeds than between them.

(That coming from a guy whose old Brittany has amassed a duck and goose log in the thousands coming off the bench for our commercial operation.)

[h20fwlkillr]

Were I you, I'd get over all this "best" stuff, except for what you like best - for whatever reason it happens to be. A well bred and trained example of any of many breeds can handle all the waterfowling most folks get to do - and then some. If harsh weather conditions are a factor in your region, then by all means take that into account, but beyond that, there is generally more difference in potential within the breeds than between them.

(That coming from a guy whose old Brittany has amassed a duck and goose log in the thousands coming off the bench for our commercial operation.)

I agree. Get the dog you like the best, that can meet your goals/desires and train for it. I duck hunt with my male weim. He has had many more ducks and geese shot over him than the average waterfowl dog. He has limitations in cold weather, but he gets the job done. I have a friend that waterfowls w/ his EP. She won't retrieve geese, but she'll bust ice for a duck. I was hunting backwaters a Truman Lake a few years back and saw a guy using a rott. for his duck fetcher. He did an excellent job.

[BigShooter]

dk,

You talkin' salt water, fresh water, fields, oceans, big lakes, ponds, extreme cold, bustin' thin ice or 60, 70 degrees?

Of course RH is right. At a minimum you better add springer spaniels and Brits to the list and if it's warmer weather you're talkin' about then you can add a laundry list of shorthaired dogs.

[Loke]

Out on the dikes of Farmington Bay, I've seen tons of Labs (a fraction of which had any training at all), a couple of Chessies, a couple of Goldens, a German Shepherd, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, a GWP, a GSP, a WGP, several mutts, and a Standard Poodle. The best waterfowl dog will be the one that you train to the best of your ability, and take hunting as often as you can.

[IANative]

Lab, Chessie, Boykin Spaniel.

Order of merit will vary, based on hunting scenario.