What kind of dog would prefer for a "non-pointing" type hunting dog? And why?

[weathergirl]

Personally I think a golden retriever is just about the perfect dog, and could never imagine being without one.  I genuninely am curious, though, why anyone would choose a lab over a golden retriever?  Not that labs are bad, but I'm curious why people would choose one when they could have a golden retriever?  I think the only thing that has been mentioned is fur...maybe we haven't ever had really furry ones though. 

Anyway, just curious.... 

[npaull]

I've never met a golden that didn't smell. A lot. I think labs smell a lot less.

[thatkidwho]

Grew up with a english cocker and irish Springer setter. I've been thinking about a lab or a retriever but now am I leaning towards a Boykin.

[rosscrazyelk]

In one word.....BOYKIN.
Half the size of a lab...twice the heart

right there with ya on that one. Love my boykin

[BOWHUNTER45]

Lab ....for me ...had springers and I will not go that way again ... Hard head little buggers.. Lab just fits the bill perfectly ...Good nose - listens- retrieves and lovable  What else you want !    and the Golden retriever would be up there on my list too !!!!

[huntingfool7]

Personally I think a golden retriever is just about the perfect dog, and could never imagine being without one.  I genuninely am curious, though, why anyone would choose a lab over a golden retriever?  Not that labs are bad, but I'm curious why people would choose one when they could have a golden retriever?  I think the only thing that has been mentioned is fur...maybe we haven't ever had really furry ones though. 

Anyway, just curious.... 

Like Springers (my pick), there are field bred and show bred lines.  Pick the wrong line for your intended pursuits and you'll most likely be disappointed.

Field bred springers have a different look than show dogs.  Less hair, lighter build, head shape and ear location is different. 
I don't know what BH45 had but my chocolate lab was harder headed than the three springers I currently own combined with rocks left over.  God bless her, she was a good dog...hard headed but good.

[Stilly bay]

I don't know what BH45 had but my chocolate lab was harder headed than the three springers I currently own combined with rocks left over.  God bless her, she was a good dog...hard headed but good.

too many people let generalizations, anecdotes, and singular personal experiences determine their choices instead of facts or research.

Like Springers (my pick), there are field bred and show bred lines.  Pick the wrong line for your intended pursuits and you'll most likely be disappointed.

  excellent point! the difference between many bench strains of dog and field strains are huge. they might as well be different breeds

[shootem]

So you guys with experience, what is up with the Boykin Spaniel? They seem like an interesting breed.

[RadSav]

Our dogs are family first and then hunting dogs.  Yet that doesn't mean they aren't amazing bird dogs.  I had red dogs and labs growing up all the way through highschool.  Even used my labs guiding duck hunters for one year.  Pretty hard to beat in tidal duck waters.  But once I was introduced to spaniels that was it.  Never knew hunting could be so effortless and quiet.  Now I hunt with guys that have labs and I'm annoyed almost immediately.  About the difference between a freight train and a high performance dirt bike with a good muffler.  And one hell of a better nose!  Only the GSP seems to have the endurance my little field bred Springer had up until about age eight.  Though they did run every single day for at least an hour (usually more) up until then.  So they were quite fit.

I've been blessed to have two of the finest Springers to ever hunt the uplands - Upland Dancer Rescue (Dancer) and Sandy River Rescue (Sandy).  I bet I spent less than five days training each of these girls.  They were just born perfect hunters and super lovers.  And I rescued both of them from hard handed abusive A-Holes before they were seven months.  In each case I told the previous owner he could have the dog back if he could successfully kick my arse.  Neither low life took the challenge and we ended up with two of the best kids life could bless a man with.  Sure wish at least one of those guys had tried.  They needed a serious beating.  I think it would have been worth the jail time. Beat a puppy half to death...what kind of low life does that?

Anyway (pause for temper cool down), I can't speak highly enough about the springers.  Only draw backs I've found is their ears aren't too blackberry brier tough, they dry slowly hunting snows on the ice, two of them in one house can produce the loose hair volume of five normal dogs, and if you hunt in an area with a lot of seeds and burrs you had better cut them 3/8" or shorter or most of your day will be lost picking crud out of their fur.  They aren't going to win any swimming contest either.

I can't imagine a better pet, a better hunting companion or a better K-9 child.  Dang I loved that Dancer dog.  And that love hasn't been lost on the two girls we have now.  Even if the little Sandy dog wasn't such a good hunter she would still be one of the best girls ever.  Just wonderful, wonderful dogs.

I know this isn't the "Show you bird dog" thread so sorry for getting carried away.  But here is a paint/picture of the two current springers, Upland Skagit and Sandy River Rescue, chasing a rooster out of the blackberries.  Notice the briers catching on Sandy's ear.  Other than age that's about the only thing that has ever slowed my springers down.

[Special T]

I will likely always be a Chessie fan. My first was Very docile  in comparison to my second, lab like. My second is more like chessies are typically, so I'm told. I find that i appreciate the guard dog nature of my hunting companion. Chief Comes to work with me each day and patrols my shop/work yard. He lets me know when people enter the property, but never seems to hassle the customers. Meth heads, sketchy folks wont get out of their rigs and usually have no business at my place.

[AWS]

Have owned a couple of labs over the years, plus GSP, GWHP and AWS.  I have to go with another American Water Spaniel(AWS) or Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.  As a spaniel hunt test judge I have a place in my heart for the field bred English Cocker, if I didn't hunt ducks so much that would be next..

When you watch dogs doing water work it is amazing how much they use their tail.

As you can tell from my handle you know my leaning.

[wildweeds]

I actually had a litter of springer pups years ago,no papers but purebred,sold a pup for 50 bucks to a guy,that guys brotherinlaw had a lab pup from national champions,they were duckhunters,imagine my surprise when the guy with the springer called to brag that the springer outdid the labrador sea duck hunting every time because the lab was a pansy in the big water.I ended up getting that dog back because of a divorce and a stupid move by me to say I knew a farmer who needed a new truck dog.Farmer didn't want 2 dogs(his was 15 years old) at one time.I ended up keeping the dog and he was definatly a hunting dog,no water to big,no hill to steep.Heck that dog even herded cattle.For all arounding the Springer is far superior to any other retriever/flusher breed IMO.
And you forgot the part about them being excellent Co pilot truck dogs.

A freind of mine is involved with dog rescue/foster dogging she placed a purebred/papered 5 month old springer in a foster home earlier this week because............. the dog chased the owners  cat.Should the dog need a home and the foster folks don't keep him(Their dog just died and they are in rebound mode).The dog will come up for adoption.I told my freind it would be a shame that a hunting dog with drive to not be in a home that hunts.

everyone should own an English Springer Spaniel at least once during their hunting career. they can do any thing a labrador can except maybe bucking waves in big water situations. pheasants don't stand a chance against a springer.
great pheasant dogs, great duck dogs, and super family dogs.

[RadSav]

imagine my surprise when the guy with the springer called to brag that the springer outdid the labrador sea duck hunting every time because the lab was a pansy in the big water.

That's something I have never seen.  I've seen some labs that couldn't smell the water they were swimming in, but never one fearful of it.  That's crazy!    His daddy must be so proud

[Stilly bay]

imagine my surprise when the guy with the springer called to brag that the springer outdid the labrador sea duck hunting every time because the lab was a pansy in the big water.

That's something I have never seen.  I've seen some that couldn't smell the water they were swimming in, but never one fearful of it.  That's crazy!    His daddy must be so proud

yeah, there are plenty of sad stories about springers retrieving ducks in the big water until they succumbed to hypothermia and drowned because their owners didn't have enough sense to stop them.
Springers are amazing dogs with tons of heart and drive but everything has its limits.

[jetjockey]

That's what good vests with flotation are for.  I'd be willing to bet there are more labs that have lost their lives due to the same thing.....   We hunt over springers every year for pheasants in PA.  Those dogs are awesome.  I've also hunted over a fair amount of labs, and Id take a springer every day in the uplands.  I know this will stir the pot with many, but labs do not impress me in the upland fields.  Plus I love the size of a well bred field springer.  40-50 lbs is nearly perfect IMO.