Suggestions on my first hunting dog?

This is going to be my first dog as far as taking it as solely my own resposibility. I want a dog that can be my best pal and a dog that I can hunt with. The only dogs that seem to really interest me are german shorthaired pointers and labs (maybe then ill get into some bird hunting.)
Now i know the best thing to do is to buy a purebreed dog breed to hunt. But, I cant rationalize spending $600-800 for a purebreed. Ive been looking at the shelter but you never know what to expect when buying a puppy there.

 

I bred champion hunting dogs for 10 years and won over 40 state championships in hunting and another 50 or so first place.

The first thing you have to be prepared for is the commitment. If you want a real hunting dog, you need to work them and work them all the time. Even when you are at home you have to keep the same ethic in with the dog. Hunting breeds have it in their genetics and if you foster that part of them, they will shine like you can't believe. They actually live a better life feeling they are doing the job they were meant to, you see this in all working dogs no matter hunting, herding, etc.

As far as going with a purebred, I can tell you that if you want the absolute best line, you will have to pay up (probably more than what your thinking). It's not to say that you can't get a great dog out of the pound that will do what you want but it depends on what you really want as a desire and/or what you want to achieve with the dog.

Some people look for what's called a 'standard' which means they qualify every aspect of the dog from confirmation (physical structure) to blood lines back as far as the dog can go back. For instance, one of my bloodlines went back to a hunting stock in England all the way back to the 1800's. The line is what is called 'proven' and again, that goes to physical traits that approximate the standard but also goes to demeanor and how well the line performs in trials testing what that dog was actually bred and created to do. Remember, the physical traits are important, but every breed also has very breed specific qualities like awareness, temperament, energy levels, aggressive or passive behaviors, etc. and these need to be looked for in your dog (not always easy to do without a history of the stock).

Before you do get a dog, there are some simple things you can do first and foremost that will help you in your decisions.

1. Read as many books on each breed that you can find, that you are interested in. Learn everything you can about that particular breed, it's history (like who actually created the breed, where, why, what other breeds were used to create it, and other fascinating information), qualities, characteristics, physical structure, physical and psychological potential problems, etc. While doing this you will more than likely start to lean towards one specific breed, or find another breed totally out of the question for one reason or another as well.

2. Go on the Internet and look up the breed or breeds you find yourself most interested in and search for the breeder directory for that particular breed or breeds. Find the breeders closest to your area and then look at their websites and take a good look at their dogs, you will start to see 'your dream dog' start to develop as you look at photos. Take your time and check out as many breeders as you can and meet their dogs (most breeders are more than happy to show you around their kennels). You will find many breeders are hardcore traditionalists in the sense that they work their dogs regularly, are proud of the lines, and have generally won contests against other breed standards. I've found that I fall in love with a certain bitch or stud and then I have to get a pup from the next time they are bred. But by actually seeing a lot of dogs like this you can narrow down your choices much more easily and later you will find your dog to be more what you actually wanted instead of settling (this isn't like picking a woman, with dogs you actually have choice of every feature within reason and you can keep looking, you will find the one!).

Another good place to see lots of dogs of a certain breed are to ask the breeders if there are any local 'trials' or kennel shows (these can also be found by googling clubs of certain breeds). If there are, you can see a ton of breeders from across the country at the same time with usually their best dogs all in one place. They will not generally bring puppies to shows as it's normally prohibited and often extremely frowned upon as puppies tend to be open to diseases carried by adults.

If you do see a bitch or stud and sure you want a pup from their litter you can talk to the breeders and they will actually allow you to put money down to get the very first pick (say you want the first pick of a female for instance). Then when the pups are born, they will often allow you to come several times in their first few weeks to see them and pick one. It's pretty damn cool watching your new dog start from that young.

Finally, another way to get a dog if you don't want to spend a fortune but have your heart set on a certain breed is that almost every breed has a rescue program for that particular breed. Because certain lines have particular problems, this can often be a great way to not only score a killer dog, but help a dog who has been given up for one reason or another. Many rescue programs will put you on a list if they don't have a dog at the moment and when one shows up, they will give you call. When I was a breeder, I told any customer who bought a dog from me that I would take that dog back unconditionally any time to avoid the dog being abandoned in a shelter or worse.

Finally, if you aren't concerned about anything but just finding a companion that you will be happy with trying to train and work no matter the out come, and or don't want to spend lots of hard earned cash, go for adoption at the pound. Some of the best companion dogs come out of the pound and there are never enough adopters for the animals in shelters. Also, mutts tend to have less physical problems then that of purebreds because the qualities that are trying to be bred into a breed over and over create havoc on the genetic makeup of the dogs (this is why many breeds like German Shepherds have hip and hearing problems, etc).

There are very few things as rewarding as the companionship of a good dog, it will add years to your life and make you a better human.

Good luck!

 

my dad and i hunt and we have a drahthaar. It is an amazing hunting dog in the water or on land. It is closely related to a German Wire Hair. We did alot of researching before we got her and she cost a pretty penny. But she is also a great family dog. It is obvious she was bread for hunting and always has it on her mind when we are at home. So if you are just a casual hunter i would not reccomend one but if you go out alot i would suggest a drahthaar.
We have spend months of time training her. Even though it comes naturally to her. But with any hunting dog you have to be prepared to spend countless hours, days, and weeks working with it.
And we mainly hunt Duck, dove, quail, and pheasant.

 

Apparently I have alot more to look into. Im definetly going to take my time in making my decision on the right dog. What other kinds of dogs are good for hunting? As far as birds.

Ive been asking around i tihnk i can get a good bear hunting dog for cheap. But I cant bear hunt with one dog and I probably wouldnt know where to start so it would be useless?

Well I know one thing. This dog will be well taken care of. Got my first bag of puppy chow today and started building a dog house. im hoping my next day off of work i can get this thing finished.

 

Sounds like a good dog. Ive been searching for that breed but there are none around me.
Yeah im not sure about hunting alot. I dont even know where i would hunt birds? Arghhhhh this makes me wonder about wanting a hunting dog as far as birds.

 

Excellent info! Thank you for this. I will definetly be using all of this information in my quest for the perfect puppy. I really want to rush getting a dog. But im definetly not going to. Because im making a commitment for years.

 

lots of people around her hunt with Catahoulas...I dont hunt with mine but hes probably been the best dog ever hes 16 years old now

 

what you going to hunt OP? i think most people around here use dogs for bear, rabbet and birds and coons. i think some state allow dogs for deer but not sure, TN does not any ways.

 

Here was my hunting dog before he was killed earlier this year by my neighbors pitbulls.

He was the greatest hunting dog and best friend ever. He was my 11 year old Chocolate lab I got in Japan and he has traveled the world with me. I highly recommend a Lab.

This picture was from late January hunting on my friends property in Washington. BTW, this was a HUGE goose.

 

Sad story, I feel for ya. I would say a few words about pitbulls but it would end up in a fire fight with someone who doesn't understand genetics but think they do, so I will just keep my trap shut. And, that is a beautiful dog.

 

Thanks, I am sure I would agree with you and have many of the same things to say as well.

I am just glad I got a chance to hunt him. He was the best natural hunting dog myself and many fellow hunters had ever seen. He took to it like he had been doing it his entire life. I am getting another lab soon and I only hope he is half as good as DJ was at hunting.

I say go with a Lab.

 

I'd highly recommend a lab as well, you will have no better best friend/hunting partner.

And both of my labs have been attacked by pits, one time in a Petco, one time on a public beach.

 

This is my pointing lab. If you want a good hunting dog, generally, you get what you pay for.

 

cant go wrong with a gsp

 

Im sorry about your choco lab, thats terrible and dont get me started in pits either.

I use to have a Catahoula, I dont hunt btw. Great dog, miss her everyday, tough as nails, scared of everything, but would defend out house to death if needed.

I have a lab now. SHes my best buddy. Wife gets jealous of her. But I think she came from a hunting breeder cuz she does not stop chasing toys, and will drag me into a lake. I wish she was more laid back when she was outside. Either way I think we will always have a lab. Shes perfect size too, 65 lbs.

 

For any bird I would highly recommend a lab. They are great for hunting, they learn quick, are loyal, full of energy, love the water and love people. The best dog I ever had was a yellow lab, I can't recommend them enough, and would recommend them for anyone looking for a hunting dog or a family pet.

 

Im sorry to hear that man.

 

Beautiful dog

 

I guess the hardest thing im finding is dogs that are local. I know that everyone has a dog where i live and everyone hunts. But, i cant find any breeders? Or maybe im not looking in the right place?

 

GSP? i had one. that dog had endless energy. you couldnt tire him out. if you didnt exercise him religiously and give him a "job"..kiss your possessions goodbye. the most destructive force of my adult life. i had to load him up with a backpack and run him daily. never again.

my brother got a wired hair pointer..if a GSP is a 10 on energy..a wire hair appears to be a 8.75.

i would go with a LAB.