Most Versatile Hunting Dog

[wildweeds]

That's why the americanized breeding GWP's are less sharp than their imported draht counterparts.Make no mistake I've seen some mean wirehairs,the worst one wanted to flat out eat us alive at the pigeon racers place,he ended up having to put the dog down after several biting/attack episodes.

Somehing else to consider is how much time you have.

GWP for instance are great dogs both at home and in the field but do have a personality quark, not liking to be left alone.  They are very loyal and loving dogs, mine really wants to be next to me all the time. Other GWP owners have said the same thing about theirs needing company as well.

Mine is also really protective of my family and especially my little boy. Has not a care in the world introduced, but will not let a person or dog anywhere near without the introduction.

But then again, if you want a dog that will hunt hard, have decent house manners, be really loyal and protective of your family the GWP would be hard to beat.

GWP's are great dogs. But it's important to remember where they come from. These dogs were originally created to not just track, retrieve birds, and point game. They were created to be able to kill a fox and take on something as big as a boar. They are back ally brawlers. If they have an attitude it's there for a reason.

[Tyler_C]

ok, as far as the brittany, should i look at the american or the french?

[AspenBud]

That's why the americanized breeding GWP's are less sharp than their imported draht counterparts.Make no mistake I've seen some mean wirehairs,the worst one wanted to flat out eat us alive at the pigeon racers place,he ended up having to put the dog down after several biting/attack episodes.

Somehing else to consider is how much time you have.

GWP for instance are great dogs both at home and in the field but do have a personality quark, not liking to be left alone.  They are very loyal and loving dogs, mine really wants to be next to me all the time. Other GWP owners have said the same thing about theirs needing company as well.

Mine is also really protective of my family and especially my little boy. Has not a care in the world introduced, but will not let a person or dog anywhere near without the introduction.

But then again, if you want a dog that will hunt hard, have decent house manners, be really loyal and protective of your family the GWP would be hard to beat.

GWP's are great dogs. But it's important to remember where they come from. These dogs were originally created to not just track, retrieve birds, and point game. They were created to be able to kill a fox and take on something as big as a boar. They are back ally brawlers. If they have an attitude it's there for a reason.

Yeah

http://drahthaar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=photo&action=display&thread=21

[jetjockey]

ok, as far as the brittany, should i look at the american or the french?

Doesn't really matter.  If you want a great duck retriever, I'd suggest force fetching either one.  Don't let that discourage you either, even great Dogs with Retriever in their name get forced fetched.  French Brits tend to be a little smaller and work closer in.  American Brits can very from close working gun dogs to the occasional 500-1000 yard All Age dogs, and probably average 5-10lbs bigger.

[wildweeds]

Jet's right on the size difference,My vet has 2 french britts and they are small,like 30 pounds soaking wet.Only two I've ever seen and they both came from the same  North Dakota kennel.Not as outgoing as an American Britt judging those two, more aloof and laid back.

[Tyler_C]

i don't necessarily need a GREAT duck retriever, just a dog that will retrieve birds, land and water, and  a tennis ball for exercise.

[pens fan]

Sorry. The first part of the question was the ultimate hunting breed. I as not aware that only pointers qualify

[Curly]

Yeah, personally I think flushing dogs might fit better as the ultimate hunting breed, but he did say point naturally, retrieve naturally, etc.  So, I took it that he was looking for a pointing breed.

I don't think of most pointing dogs as being able to withstand cold water retrieving, so I think I'd have to eliminate the GSP, weimaraners, Brittany and setters.  That pretty much leaves GWP as the versatile pointing breed, IMO.  (But I don't have the experience w/ pointing breeds, though, like a lot of these guys).  Only pointing breeds I've spent much time around are Brits and GSP........and neither of them I'd consider being good on water retrieves.

I think there are more options if you throw flushing dogs into the mix............ (Lab, Chessie, Boykin, Springers, etc. I think could all be versitile hunting dogs.........maybe more so than the pointers (w/ maybe the exception of GWP).

Then there is the Pointing Lab.  A pointing lab may just be the most versatile pointing breed............but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around seeing a lab as a pointing dog.  I just haven't been around any.........I think if I'd ever seen a good pointing lab in action, I'd say for sure that a pointing lab would be the most versatile pointing breed under the description the OP was getting at.  (Just a regular old lab, may be the most versatile under a different set of criteria).

[AspenBud]

I don't think of most pointing dogs as being able to withstand cold water retrieving, so I think I'd have to eliminate the GSP, weimaraners, Brittany and setters.  That pretty much leaves GWP as the versatile pointing breed, IMO. 

German Wirehaired Pointer
Drahthaar
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Spinone Italiono

If cold weather duck hunting will be part of the game, those are the pointing breeds I would stick with.

Then there is the Pointing Lab.  A pointing lab may just be the most versatile pointing breed............but I still have a hard time wrapping my head around seeing a lab as a pointing dog.  I just haven't been around any.........I think if I'd ever seen a good pointing lab in action, I'd say for sure that a pointing lab would be the most versatile pointing breed under the description the OP was getting at.

These are a great option.

[Shannon]

You are leaving out the pudelpointer probably because most people haven't seen one. The pudelpointer is just as tuff as any GWP/Drathaar I've seen and they usually have a higher octane in the field than spinone's and griffons and at par or better than a GWP. They are not for everybody but if your serious about a great pointing dog that does well in cold water retrieves you owe it to yourself to check out the Pudelpointers. I highly recommend Bob Farris of Cedarwoods Gundogs in Boise.

[AspenBud]

You are leaving out the pudelpointer probably because most people haven't seen one. The pudelpointer is just as tuff as any GWP/Drathaar I've seen and they usually have a higher octane in the field than spinone's and griffons and at par or better than a GWP. They are not for everybody but if your serious about a great pointing dog that does well in cold water retrieves you owe it to yourself to check out the Pudelpointers. I highly recommend Bob Farris of Cedarwoods Gundogs in Boise.

Apologies, I forgot about them.

Weren't Bob's dogs featured on American Gun Dog at one point?

[Shannon]

Yeah he was featured on one of there episodes. They've been in a few magazines also.

[Curly]

Pudelpointers sound like great versatile dogs.  Looks like several breeders in OR and ID.

breeder link:  breeders

[Shannon]

They are great dogs. I'm not sure why they aren't more popular other than they are a little more money than the average GSP or GWP. I just stumbled onto them when I was looking for a good water dog that was a pointer.
My dogs hit the water like this whether its 80 degrees or 18.

[Curly]

Wow.  Great pic.