English Pointer or Wirehaired Pointing Griffon...

[Fred]

Hello I'm looking at getting a bird dog but can't decide between these too. I've been researching it but I'm hoping I can get some advice from some people with more experience.

I want a great Grouse and Woodcock dog, some pheasant. I don't plan on hunting any waterfowl, pretty much all upland.

I don't want a big running dog, I'd like the dog to stay close most of the time.

It will be a house dog living with me all the time.

I will be in a somewhat colder envirnment in the U.P. of Michigan.

How the dog looks doesn't matter to me it just has to be really birdy and hunt driven.

Money won't take part in my decision, just the ability of the dog.

There will be no kids around.

I want a good hunting companion as well as a friend to have around.

Ease of training would help alot.

I will more then likely be hunting daily so they have to be able to endure such circumstances.

I will be training them entirely on wild birds.

I will be the only one living with it so I don't want it to have a tendancy to be timid.

Thanks for helping with my decision, I know I will have to make it on my own but your advice will help.

[big steve46]

Why not also consider a E. Setter or L. Setter?

[Maverick]

Sounds like he has better taste then that!!

If the area you are hunting is colder the you may want to go with the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon as it will better with stand the cold then the shorter coated english pointer.
Other then that they will both get the job done for you. Just research the breeders and ask lots and lots of questions and check referances.
Also see both parents working if at all possible.
Good luck in your search, let us know what you get.

Mav...

[Casper]

We cannot make your decision for you. All we can do is give a biased opinion to what we think is better. Like Maverick said both will get the job done. Both have their Pros and Cons. Since you stated that you plan on only hunting the uplands your decision should reflect accordingly. There are other breeds that their main job is hunting the uplands and they have exceled at them to a great deal. Those breeds include the Pointer, Setter, Brittany, and the GSP. That does not limit it to just those breeds.

Good luck in your search

[gundogguru]

With the kind of hunting you want to do I would go with the Griff. Have you considered a German wirehair. The Griff will make a better house dog and be easier to live with than a feild pointer. The griff will be more likley to work closer than the pointer will. Good luck.

[Ryan]

I agree with gundogguru here. You should buy a closer working dog. Also even if you say you are not hutning waterfowl upland birds may go down into a pond or lake. The extra layer of coat helps keep them warm when they go in for them water retrieves.

Although depending on your location and weather the heavier coat my be a problem. So you may have to shave your dog in the summer to keep him/her cool.

Casper has hit the nail on the head. We cannot make you decision for you. You should go out and hunt or see quite a few dogs of both breeds work.

Big Steve lets stay with the breeds he is asking about here.

[grousehunter08]

Thats like compairing a corvette to a volvo. In general a pointer is high energy high drive, I have never seen a griffon range like a pointer not that they dont have the drive but they dont have the speed and in my opion the nose

[Steve007]

Thats like compairing a corvette to a volvo. In general a pointer is high energy high drive, I have never seen a griffon range like a pointer not that they dont have the drive but they dont have the speed and in my opion the nose

Yes. How important is style to you, and the adrenaline thrill you get when you see dog snap into a quivering focused solid point?

Are you a high-style thrill hunter or a meat hunter?

[bean1031]

Ya Llewellins are great dogs!

[BigShooter]

If you will consider a wirehaired dog I will second the suggestion that based upon your criteria you consider the German Wirehaired Pointer.

[Greg Jennings]

Did no one notice that this thread was 2 years old?

Greg J.

[BigShooter]

Greg,

Good catch! Usually I watch for that but I'm sure I only looked at the reply date.

Mark

[lvrgsp]

Well by God he better have an update for us Greg, you can't just leave us hanging like that for two years.
So what did you get and how is it working out for ya?
Chip