Have certain breeds of hunting dogs fallen out of favour over the years?

[hikingquest]

For context - in the 70/80s Dobermans and Rottweilers were de-rigueur for home guardians. They've been largely supplanted by German Shepherds, Malinois and (unfortunately) Pit Bulls.

And in Military/Police work German Shepherds are being supplanted by Malinois and Dutch Shepherds.

Has the same thing happened to any extent in the Hunting Dog world?

[finsfurfeathers]

Can't say if a breed has gone out of favour however would say maybe an increase in popularity. Seeing more interest in German wire hairs recently.
For me started on Brits however settled on english setters mostly because for me dam they look good on point.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kNoZ87]

[hikingquest]

Can't say if a breed has gone out of favour however would say maybe an increase in popularity. Seeing more interest in German wire hairs recently.
For me started on Brits however settled on english setters mostly because for me dam they look good on point.

You're right they do!

[trkyhntr21]

I would say maybe there's more people running Versatile Euro dogs now. The grouse woods where dominated by Setters and Pointers and the writings of the time reflect that.
Now with the advent of the internet and social media obscure breeds at least to us in NA are appearing.
The reason some breeds fall out of favor is they can become too popular in the wrong circles leading to people to breed dogs who have no knowledge and means to evaluate, they end up watering down a hunting dog into something else. An example is the Irish setter a dog once popular in the uplands now very difficult to find one suitable for the task. It is the same as the German Shepard example when suitable dogs don't exist you expand to find a suitable solution.
I belive that it's already happening with certain European dogs now and we will see the effects down the road.

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[Fox]

Labradoodles are becoming popular as retrievers, it makes perfect sense too.

[trkyhntr21]

I honestly don't think Labradoddles are going to replace any serious working dog breeds. I'm certain that in 40yrs time I'm not going to be telling my kids that in the old days there used to be a labs and now they have been replaced by the Labradoddle in popularity and are the better dog for duck hunters.
They are popular because people think that it offers something special which it doesn't.


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[hikingquest]

I would say maybe there's more people running Versatile Euro dogs now.

What breeds would be considered "versatile euro" dogs? I've never heard that expression (but then again I am not a hunter)

[Fox]

I honestly don't think Labradoddles are going to replace any serious working dog breeds. I'm certain that in 40yrs time I'm not going to be telling my kids that in the old days there used to be a labs and now they have been replaced by the Labradoddle in popularity and are the better dog for duck hunters.
They are popular because people think that it offers something special which it doesn't.


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The Labradoodle works better in the home though, and remember, that cross comes from 2 different retrieving breeds, there are 2 hunting dogs paired together, they should have no issues.

I think a Brittney crossed with a Setter should still be a good upland bird dog if trained too.

[trkyhntr21]

What breeds would be considered "versatile euro" dogs? I've never heard that expression (but then again I am not a hunter)

Pudelpointer, Drahthaar, Deutsch kurzhaar and probably the GWP, the Griffon etc I'm missing some I'm sure.

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[trkyhntr21]

The Labradoodle works better in the home though, and remember, that cross comes from 2 different retrieving breeds, there are 2 hunting dogs paired together, they should have no issues.

I think a Brittney crossed with a Setter should still be a good upland bird dog if trained too.

That's completly subjective as to it being better in the house.
And what does a lab cross with a poodle offer that a lab doesn't already possess. There is so so much more then breeding two retriever breeds together and thinking that you've done the dog world a favor the same can be said for breeding a Brittney and a setter what would you be trying to achieve?
In many cases the best part of buying a dog from an established breed and even from certain established lines that have been breed to a type and temperament.
To remain on topic I would think that the switch in the police dogs is due to the German Shepard being over bred for the wrong traits and the current group of police dogs being selectively bred for a repeatable sound structure and personality traits that enable them to Cull less and have smoother training programs. Which is what every sound breeding program should be regardless of job.
I'm not an expert on retriever breeds but I can tell you that how much pressure, timeline and when can be different from Brittneys to Setters to pointers and when you cross them you don't always know what you are getting and I'm certain that it would carry over in to other venues as well.

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