Need help choosing a dog breed

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Ya, a lab would probably be my first choice but wife said "hell no". Too big, and shed too much.  I like my dogs on the larger side, my wife likes ankle-biters. Personally I think anything small enough to punt does not qualify as a dog.

Here is my list so far. Anyone help me order them from strongest to weakest in terms of retrieving? The german wirehaired is a bit too heavy, but looking at length of fur on the AKC site I might be able to get some give on the weight if I go with a female and exagerate the weight difference between males and females a bit. I am still open to other suggestions as well. Other breeds that meet the shedding requirements but are only slightly over 50 Lbs may be doable.

English Cocker Spaniel - 26-34Lbs
Springer Spaniel - 40-50Lbs
Boykin Spaniel - 30-40Lbs
German Wirehaired Pointer - 45-75Lbs
Brittany - 30-40Lbs

Sounds like you need to "convince" your wife to like labs ; ).  They don't shed to bad, let her hang out with a husky and the lab is nothing. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Here is some motivation, can't go wrong and really they don't shed more than I do ; )

[Atroxus]

Budget is very limited if I want to get a dog soon. Once I have a list of possible breeds we will be looking at rescues shelters and such to try to adopt. Not planning on a purebred, but not completely ruling out the possibility of saving my pennies either if I can't find anything suitable from a shelter. If I did go for buying a dog from a breeder that would push my timeline back well into next year or farther. If I can find a suitable adoption dog though I may be looking at around Christmas time this year. I had a cocker spaniel as a kid. Great dogs but I may have a hard time getting my wife to go for one because of the fur.

a good dog is worth the research, wait, and money. your going to be spending hopefully 10+ years hunting behind this dog- might as well stack the deck in your favor...

IMO the best bet for a guy with limited bird dog experience on a budget would be a field bred english springer. the average show springer usually has enough hunt in them to get you by. but a good field bred english springer with moderate obedience training will be able to teach you more about bird hunting than you would ever be able to teach it.
I also think the odds of finding a strong hunting springer in a rescue are pretty good.

even german shorthairs will leave dust bunnies if you don't suck it up, but a springer can't come close to a lab for shedding.

some *censored* will undoubtedly bring up springer rage, today springer rage is as common as rattlesnakes on the West side.

I am not totally against saving up for a field bred dog, but if (and I realize this is a pretty big if) I can find a dog to adopt for a fraction of the cost of a field bred dog I will jump at the chance. I am also not in a huge hurry either. Until I can find a dog I can just use the fishing pole retrieve for duck hunting, or try to tag along with bird hunters who already have dogs. 

My britt is short hair - not all britts have the long coats, the house is very clean and shed hair free.  You can pick up her bed and shake it and no hair mat will fall off it like a lab bed.

and she makes for all the points you mentioned, but I haven't taken her coon hunting but she loves fur - I have question weither she'd put a coon in a tree, her nose would be to the ground and she'd harass the hell out of a coon until it went up some bark


I've seen her run up a tree and catch a squirrel with her paws about 6-8 feet up a tree like a cat and knock it down and kill it.


You did not mention if you wanted a pointer or flusher

I am not even sure what the difference is between a pointer and a flusher. Needless to say I have a lot of homework ahead of me before I actually get a dog. My primary concern though would be a dog that will bring back whatever I manage to shoot down.

Sounds like you need to "convince" your wife to like labs ; ).  They don't shed to bad, let her hang out with a husky and the lab is nothing. 

We have a friend who has a lab/dalmation mix that sheds like mad, so it's unlikely I would make any progress in that department.

[KFhunter]

this was my 1st foray into a pointing breed dog, it's a big challenge. 

Honestly, I'd buy a started dog if I had to do it again.  That grass awn set back training a long time, it was a year getting that all figured out and it's still not 100% as she has a lump still, and probably nerve damage.  It nearly killed her. 

that FYI isn't breed specific, all of them can be killed with a grass seed. Amazing huh.

[Atroxus]

Holy crap! That was caused by a grass seed?! 

Very cute dog though, I hope she heals up well for ya. 

Btw your avatar pic is awesome!

[Stilly bay]

I am not even sure what the difference is between a pointer and a flusher.

OH BOY!!
in that case go on hunt with a flushing dog and go on a hunt with a pointer to see what you like best.

[Atroxus]

I am not even sure what the difference is between a pointer and a flusher.

OH BOY!!
in that case go on hunt with a flushing dog and go on a hunt with a pointer to see what you like best.

Should I take that as an offer? 

[KFhunter]

Holy crap! That was caused by a grass seed?! 

Very cute dog though, I hope she heals up well for ya. 

Btw your avatar pic is awesome!

yup, wasn't the first time she was cut open either.  They'd cut her 3 times prior I do believe, although not all the way across the back like that one - this one was the worst.

[BIGINNER]

What about weimaraners?  I've had several.  Still have a couple and have a litter on the way.  Great dogs. Great with kids. Females are around 45 lbs and great hunting dogs.  Plus their beautiful.      but good luck getting a weim to go into the water in the middle of winter,   

[KFhunter]

What about weimaraners?  I've had several.  Still have a couple and have a litter on the way.  Great dogs. Great with kids. Females are around 45 lbs and great hunting dogs.  Plus their beautiful.      but good luck getting a weim to go into the water in the middle of winter,   

cold water pretty killed that suggestion 

unless you like to snuggle in the blind 

[Stilly bay]

I am not even sure what the difference is between a pointer and a flusher.

OH BOY!!
in that case go on hunt with a flushing dog and go on a hunt with a pointer to see what you like best.

Should I take that as an offer? 

be my guest. we could turn my labs (flushers) loose in the morning, and my setters (pointers) loose in the afternoon and get you past bird dog kindergarten in one day.

[KFhunter]

no pointing labs   

[Stilly bay]

no pointing labs   

now your just gonna confuse the hell out of him.

[KFhunter]

I'll be making a new loft next year I think, too hard to pick up decent flyers in my area.

Eventually, I'll have a full working kennel + birds

unfortunatly with my work I'll never be able to trial

[whitey]

I have 1 suggestion..
A Poodle..
Just saying..