Gundog Training Forum

I posted this while wondering about my wife's favourite gundog breed - the G.S.P. . My wife's liking has nothing to do with how well the breed works, she just likes them as family pets. This surprises me considering the GSP is a large breed in comparison to the spaniels, brittanies or even the labs that have been our other pets.
There is just something in the GSP breed's nature that she likes. Her all time favourite dog was "Dirk" a GSP I bred myself.....he was also the only dog we have ever owned that decided he preferred my wife to me ! He was allowed to sit on her lap, the only dog ever permitted to do that ! He weighed 65 - 70 lbs but even that was O.K. ...as long as it was "Dirky Boy !"

While he was up there he liked to open his huge jaws and engulf my wifes throat …. I used to egg him on to finish the job but he never did ! He'd sit there and sort of gently chomp up and down on her throat without even putting a dent in her skin ….nae wunner I called him a mummy's boy , the big sap !

For myself, I don't really have a favourite gundog breed . For me dogs need to be good family pets and good workers, if they are those two things I will be happy with them. My favourite dog at present though is still my cocker "Charlie" ...he and I were made for each other !

Wullie

Ha, its a good job your mrs never reads your posts

As you know i came into the dog thing very late in life, i never ever thought i would want one or get one but i always knew that if i did it had to be a spaniel. I had no preference for which model but went the cocker route for no reason other than there smaller stature. I dont think i could have anything else now especially as i have come across some real mad springers. I thought cockers were sposed to be the hyper ones !!

Well my choice is obvious, having said that, one of my clients has recently acquired a vizsla x lab bitch pup which to me is a better balanced, athletic lab which I could work with, nice colour too. Another lady I often meet on the morning walk has a rescue `English' working type of setter, totally anxious with other dogs, but it has a good nose and gorgeous set on pigeons out in the field. If I had the ground I would be happy to have one in the pack of Munsters to keep them covering their ground at pace

Springers, I appreciate the others especially a HPR in full flow but spaniels are special

Need I even mention the best breed?

Springfield Pointers wrote: ↑Thu Aug 30, 2018 8:55 pm Need I even mention the best breed?

Aw go on, spoil us.

I enjoyed my time shooting over spaniels, and in particular Cockers, in the past but now that I’ve shot over pointing breeds would never go back. It’s a far more efficient and relaxing way of finding and shooting game and I love how you can stand back and enjoy the spectacle of watching the dogs get on with it under their own initiative, often in a dramatic setting, without having to micro manage them all the time.

Naj

I am glad I don't have to choose and sorry I don't have time to try many more. I started with Springers and so I guess they will always have a special place. "No one ever forgets their first". On the other hand I am really enjoying my time with my current active dogs a Cocker and a Chesapeake. I have very little experience with pointing breeds but I did once keep a young Pudlepointer bitch for a friend who was a breeder and NAVDA trial guy. Her nave was Eva and she was shy and very soft. My friend though she would benefit from a season of living in the house with a family and just hunting. Over about four months with me she really came out of her shell and I was very sorry when he asked for her back.

I guess we never forget the first or the one that got away!

Judy wrote: ↑Thu Aug 30, 2018 9:03 pm

Springfield Pointers wrote: ↑Thu Aug 30, 2018 8:55 pm Need I even mention the best breed?

Aw go on, spoil us.

In fairness. I've seen very few of them during my time in the UK. I totally understand why Spaniels are the shooting dog of choice in the UK. They are certainly incredible dogs. Pound for pound, I do think though, that my favourite dogs to shoot over in the UK environment are the little brown Cockers. They are a lot of fun, and they fit on your lap once you get to the pub. Love them.

Any breed so long as it does the job!