3 Breeds and a Hard Pressed Decision Maker

[yellow dog]

Okee dokee

[Sharon]

Mine does work at a high level. Any flaws he shows are my fault, but i am networking and learning. Most of the breeds are better off being less popular. I found a woman who puts spinone italianos in beauty contests!!! There goes another good breed lost to the beauty contests.
I would say having a more diverse range at field trials is a positive, and that may be what you were trying to say

Not all

Spinone Illinois

[jobbershunting]

Wesman- I was in the same situation as you. I wanted a waterfowl dog that I could also use for upland/small game, but more importantly I didn't want a lab. I am a pretty calm and quite individual but I am easily aggregated and patients is always something I have had to work hard on. I knew that I didn't want to deal with the youthful enthusiasm that comes with lab, same reason I ruled out GSPs, I wanted a gun dog that would mature quickly.

My first choice was a German bred wirehair (DD) but I was dissuaded away from the breed for various reasons, none of which have turned out to be true in hindsight, but that is another topic all together.

I settled on the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. They have a strong natural retrieving instinct, a well bred WPG has a double coat - decent enough for waterfowling late into the season, they excel on small game and are a methodical, good all-around pointer for the hunter on foot. And...for your family life, they have an on-off switch, in the house they are nearly ghosts, more often then not they prefer to be in a room where no one else is, just laying down quietly.....oh and they don't shed.

Negatives;

They bring into the house a lot of debris and sand in their coat...its fifty-fifty, do you want dog hair or debris lol.
They can be difficult to train to an advanced level as they get bored quickly of repetitious training.
They dribble water everywhere after they take a drink
Depending on the year, waterfowling over water and without dry land to run around on, may be out of the question come December.
They are the slowest hunters of the pointing breeds, definitely not a breed suited for chasing Huns out west.

Person preference aside, when you say late season waterfowling, how late do you mean? Very few waterfowlers in Ontario take advantage of the full season. So if you only make it out for one or two hunts past the mid point of December, is that really worth making that criteria the deciding factor in your dog purchase.....that of course will be in your family life for the next 10+ years.

[Thinking]

I run a PP, and am very happy with his hunting ability, he hunts waterfowl primarily with upland, bunnies, deer and blood tracking thrown in. All I will say is if you decide to go with a PP, there are a good selection of breeders if you are willing to go for a drive or have the pup flown to you. Don't select a breeder based on geography alone, it's a dog you are going to have 12-15 years.

[zoli 16ga.]

'I don't think PP is well suited to late season wf in ON, neither is GSP. Tollers are somwhat nuts from what I've seen, so I'd keep looking'

I'm getting a pup from Cedarwoods. Here's some of their's waterfowling. Don't need a hard core retriever, so 70% upland work and 30% retriever works for me. Looks like they can take some cold.




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[Thinking]

You'll find PP to be as hardcore a retriever as VDogs get

[Roper]

Going back to the original Question: Which of these 3 breeds should I pick.
Obvious answer is the one your wife likes.
That way it will be our dog and not your dog.

[Sharon]

'I don't think PP is well suited to late season wf in ON, neither is GSP. Tollers are somwhat nuts from what I've seen, so I'd keep looking'

I'm getting a pup from Cedarwoods. Here's some of their's waterfowling. Don't need a hard core retriever, so 70% upland work and 30% retriever works for me. Looks like they can take some cold.


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I love that first picture- beauty.

[Sharon]

I know this post will stir up debate, I am really justhoping to hear from current or previous owners in hopes to have moreinformation other than what I have researched to assist me making my decision.

For the past month I have been researching extensively on dog breeds. I havefirst set out my criteria in terms what I am looking for and in no order ofimportance.

-Waterfowling (Early and Late Season)
-Upland Game (Flushing or Pointing)
-Trainability
-Family (Fiancee approval lol) - I need a gun dog, but have to have the ok onfinancing the animal with an approval
-Other Dog friendly

3 breeds I have in mind (in no order) and where I would think about gettingthem are:

Pudelpointer - Pineridge Pudelpointers - These dogs seemed to be very versatile,come from a great family chain at Pineridge, added bonus is that my Fiancée cantolerate the breed, w

German Shorthair Pointer - Again, seem to be a very versatile breed, TwentyValley Pointers is where I have been viewing pups and the current breeding dogsthey have. (Fiancé is not sure on the breed)

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever - Love the look of these dogs, my cousin hasone named Denver, he is a good boy. Fox Grove Kennels is where I initiallythought of but I know there are a couple others. This is my Fiancée’s #1choice, but I am interested in all three and value your input!

Please let me know what you think of the breeds I have in mind and also thebreeders. Runners up to these breeds would be a Golden Lab or a ChocolateChessie, these are ones I know my Fiancée would 'Ok', but are not on the top ofmy list.

Thanks!

W
PS, this is not a debate on whether or not my Fiancee has me by the nuts either haha she is a great girl and encourages me to get out in the woods at every opportunity, I allow her to have input as it is a financial commitment our household will be making and she should be involved in the decision making process.

You're the hunter. You should get what will meet your needs . jmo No one can make this decision for you. Peruse the threads, research and let us know what you decide.

[zoli 16ga.]

With your criteria, a versitile dog is the tool you need, so of your three choices, the PP would fit the bill the closest. Check out the Cedarwoods PP website.

I spent the last year deciding my next dog also.


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