Rescue dog?

[Tungulria]

there are specific charities that rehome working dogs. also dorset dog rescue get in a lot of ex working dogs from ireland. in amongst the cruelty cases there are more promising dogs that may be more suited to your requirements if that's the path you choose. it's a difficult decision for sure.
only one discrepancy with Al's comment is you may still have to deal with the house training / chewing etc if this part has been missed out with the dog in its previous home/s.
Good luck!!

[NikkiD]

go for it and rescue one

[AlandJake]

only one discrepancy with Al's comment is you may still have to deal with the house training / chewing etc if this part has been missed out with the dog in its previous home/s.
Good luck!!

I won't disagree as this is our first dog and I don't have much wider experience of doggy life.

I would add that there's rescue and there's rescue. We have young children so were careful how we came by our dog. We went through Labrador Lifeline Trust (big plug ) and they checked us out and also all the dogs they rehome. Many need to be rehomed due to change in family circumstances and no fault of the dog's. We would never have taken in a "stray" or one with behavioural issues and I'm guessing you will have your own views on that too.

We have been incredibly lucky with Jake and he has responded incredibly well to training. However he turns seven this month and I do sometimes wonder whether we will ever get good enough to go out on a shoot together, and more importantly get asked back again

That said, and don't tell the wife, I've seen the most beautiful young bitch in action and if she ever has pups I'm putting our name down for one...

[RoseHolly]

go for it and rescue one

Agreed

My dog has had a very tough start, starved, hit, not walked, no training and 5 homes by the age of 3, and after hard work she is the most focused, obedient and well behaved dog. A joy to have.

Despite her start this she is trained in competitive obedience, has dabbled in working trails and heelwork to music, will be entering agility comps this year, as well as scurries, has achieved all her KCGC awards and has been to gundog training days where she has always had great comments, I know you are after a working dog, but the point is, as someone else said already, you can teach an old dog new tricks, and with hard work and perseverance you end up with the most fantastic relationship

[trekmoor]

My daughter very recently got a rescue pup. A pointer bitch . She cannot be shown or trialed even if she was good enough and she has two main problems. She "yickers" very noisily if anxious or excited or impatient and she chews whatever she can get her jaws around. She has a lovely nature however and I enjoy taking her for walks with my own dogs. She does like to run hard but she returns pretty well and I have begun to train her to whistle recall. She is a very nice family pet which is all my daughter wants.

I think you have to make up your mind if "just a pet" would do for you or if you really want and need a gundog. If you do really need a gundog then I would not take a chance on a rescue dog becoming that dog. Beware of the stories previous owners may tell of how good their dog is . My son has a rescue cocker spaniel described as "fully trained but needs his training brushed up on." Mitch is the most loving but naughty cocker I have ever encountered and he does hunt very hard and he is very keen on retrieving game. ...... I took him to a couple of shoots and quickly discovered he whines constantly or even yaps during drives. He runs in every time. He buries game and he is very hard mouthed. I handed him back over to my son where he still lives as a much loved family pet ..... he has no faults as a pet.

Do you need a gundog or is a pet all you need ?

Wullie

[Malfuss]

Wow, thanks for all the comprehensive replies. I hadn't realised what a good response I'd get. I'm at work at the moment and just finished my break but I'll try and respond at lunchtime or this evening.