Post by: wiremonkey on July 06, 2013, 01:29:15 PM
Post by: WRL on July 06, 2013, 02:07:40 PM
How small are you wanting?
WRL
Post by: Curly on July 06, 2013, 02:15:09 PM
or a boykin spaniel
and Brittany spaniel's are fairly small too. :tup:
Post by: ghosthunter on July 06, 2013, 02:15:47 PM
I have a lab.
Post by: lokidog on July 06, 2013, 02:31:04 PM
english cocker spaniel
or a boykin spaniel
and Brittany spaniel's are fairly small too. :tup:
This, or a small golden. Our little girl is 43 pounds at 11 months. Perfect size, though a goose might be more challenging. :chuckle:
Post by: Tman on July 06, 2013, 03:35:22 PM
Post by: AspenBud on July 06, 2013, 03:49:31 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on July 06, 2013, 05:02:59 PM
IMO English cockers and springers are really great dogs if you are looking for a smaller sizes. but be careful, there are some 80 pound springer spaniels out there.
. Or are the bigger dogs really the only ones worth having? :dunno:
There is no advantage to having a bigger dog. Bigger dogs get tired out sooner than smaller ones, I don't care how well conditioned they are. Bigger dogs can't handle the heat as well And often bigger dogs have more developmental and structural problems.
I always wondered why some guys are so proud of their "100lb" labs, its not a hunting dog I would want. I think 50-75 is just right
Post by: singleshot12 on July 06, 2013, 06:14:49 PM
Post by: huntingfool7 on July 06, 2013, 06:17:32 PM
I run springers. My male weighs in at 41 lbs and my girl weighs in at 36 lbs.
Great hunting dogs in a small package!
Post by: steen on July 06, 2013, 07:20:46 PM
I run chocolate and yellow sisters. the chocolate is just under 40# and the yellow is 45#. They are killer upland dogs and are great in the duck blind. Small labs are hard to find but not impossible.Red Setters, small and sweet family pets with plenty of go in the field. My daughter just had a litter of 8 July 3, grandkids of our Ruby dog!
Post by: jetjockey on July 06, 2013, 08:02:43 PM
Post by: KFhunter on July 06, 2013, 08:26:21 PM
my next grouse dog I think
I don't think you'd regret a good french britt
Post by: Bmcox86 on July 06, 2013, 09:13:16 PM
Nothing Better than hunting with a Setter!
Post by: JODakota on July 06, 2013, 10:30:55 PM
Post by: GrampasGuns on July 06, 2013, 10:47:15 PM
Post by: Curly on July 07, 2013, 05:48:11 AM
Post by: AspenBud on July 07, 2013, 07:48:25 AM
If that weight range is "smaller" to you I would take a look at labs bred for upland work if you have a small house or yard. Otherwise go with an English Cocker from field lines, do not buy one that has AKC show titles all over it.
Post by: pens fan on July 07, 2013, 07:55:27 AM
Pointer or flusher? Plan on hunting ducks also?
I saw an english cocker a couple of weeks ago. Maybe 20 pounds at three years.
Post by: wiremonkey on July 07, 2013, 08:34:44 AM
Post by: akirkland on July 07, 2013, 08:14:33 PM
Post by: huntingfool7 on July 07, 2013, 08:35:09 PM
How big is your yard and how much time are you able to spend with the dog?
Pointer or flusher? Plan on hunting ducks also?
I saw an english cocker a couple of weeks ago. Maybe 20 pounds at three years.
Pens Fan, aren't you a Boykin spaniel guy? How heavy are those good looking little dogs?
Brittanys are a great little hunting breed. They don't do anything for me in the looks dept. but that's a personal thing.
Post by: skinzner on July 07, 2013, 09:10:37 PM
Post by: AspenBud on July 07, 2013, 09:20:02 PM
The English Cocker spaniel also seems like it would be good although I would worry about the ears a bit more.
As long as you don't go for the AKC bench type that shouldn't be a worry for you. The field type is not the same.
If you're looking at Brittany's you should check out some field trials and look at setters and Pointers as well. Trial bred shorthairs also tend to run smaller.
Post by: netcoyote on July 08, 2013, 07:11:10 AM
English Setter
Nothing Better than hunting with a Setter!
:yeah:
My setter is from sporting setter line. He's about 45 lbs and fast as lightening and great on upland birds. If you look at setters stay away from the show setters, they are much larger dogs. Don't get a setter if you think you want to use him for water.
[smg id=11620]
Post by: johng on July 08, 2013, 10:00:41 PM
Hi,
Lots of great suggestions so far.... I am still learning the whole hunting game (4th season coming up) but I went with a Brittany a year ago. He is a great little dog. Opie is 1.5 years old and weighs just over 35 pounds but he can hunt All Day. In fact, that is one of his many nicknames. AD.
We headed afield with him just as a pup last season and I can say that he was kicking up birds when other dog breeds (which will remain nameless- haha!) had no idea birds were in that area. He is smart, friendly, super super high energy (like he needs to be ran every day or he goes bat *hit crazy), loving and fairly easy to train. I got him from Jim Lallas of Acme Hunting Club in Deming, WA. (www.acmehuntingclub.com (http://www.acmehuntingclub.com))
So far he doesn't seem to be too keen on getting in the water though. From what I hear Britts will retrieve ducks but just something to be aware of if you want him to get a duck for ya.... we plan to work on that more this summer.
Good luck and let us know what you get.
p.s. I have lost 15+ pounds since owning a Brittany...
p.p.s.... here are a couple of pics of him... how can that one guy say Britts aren't handsome looking dogs?! :)
Post by: huntingfool7 on July 09, 2013, 06:08:07 AM
Post by: JJD on July 09, 2013, 09:18:16 AM
Post by: AspenBud on July 09, 2013, 09:31:34 AM
Shameless plug for my favorite breed over.
Post by: pens fan on July 09, 2013, 09:32:59 AM
Pens Fan, aren't you a Boykin spaniel guy? How heavy are those good looking little dogs?
Brittanys are a great little hunting breed. They don't do anything for me in the looks dept. but that's a personal thing.
[/quote]
Huntinfool, most of my males have run 40 pounds. Females 30-40.
But, i am becoming a believer in that they will grow as much as you feed them.
People have their reasons for liking a particular breed. Just like cars, theres all different brands and models, and lemons in everyone of those. I won't stand on anyones soapbox to promote what i think is a great alternative, but i do like to get them to question their reasons.
Boykins are a special breed and not for everyone. Neitjer ate labs or Brits
Post by: wildweeds on July 09, 2013, 12:09:01 PM
Honestly, if you're looking for a bird vacuum in the uplands I would take a serious look at Pointers. Not all lines run to the next horizon (get a dog of elhew lineage) and I've talked with plenty of shorthair, Brittany, and setter owners who told me they'll never go back to those breeds after owning a Pointer. At 45-55 lbs generally, I'm not sure they qualify as small and they do need a fair amount of exercise to be good house dogs, but they're really second to none. If fur and ducks are part of your game plan they are not a good option however.
Shameless plug for my favorite breed over.
Post by: AspenBud on July 09, 2013, 01:27:07 PM
I had one elhew lined pointer and would never own another,riddled with inherited genetic defects,not a good birdfinder and not easy to work with.I'll stick with my grouse bloodX shooting dog blood setters that weigh in at under 40 pounds.Honestly, if you're looking for a bird vacuum in the uplands I would take a serious look at Pointers. Not all lines run to the next horizon (get a dog of elhew lineage) and I've talked with plenty of shorthair, Brittany, and setter owners who told me they'll never go back to those breeds after owning a Pointer. At 45-55 lbs generally, I'm not sure they qualify as small and they do need a fair amount of exercise to be good house dogs, but they're really second to none. If fur and ducks are part of your game plan they are not a good option however.
Shameless plug for my favorite breed over.
What kennel did it come out of? Wehle's? That's not the norm from what I've seen. Especially if we're talking about places like Nitro Kennel's out in Missouri, Superior Pointers in Wisconsin, or any number of kennels dedicated to Coverdog trials.
Post by: wildweeds on July 09, 2013, 04:35:42 PM
Post by: jetjockey on July 09, 2013, 04:58:47 PM
Post by: AspenBud on July 09, 2013, 06:40:12 PM
Can't fling mud Bud,Joint is still in operation and selling hundreds of pups per year
If they're selling hundreds of pups a year that's most likely the problem. All I need to know.
Post by: Blackjaw on July 10, 2013, 07:35:21 AM
I have field bred cockers because they excel at the type of cover I like to hunt (a FB Springer would as well).
Would I have cockers if I wanted to hunt geese 90% of the time? Nope.
Would I have cockers if I wanted to sit in a blind most of the time? Nope
Would I have cockers if I wanted to chase chukar most of the time? Nope
Would I have cockers if I wanted to hunt big/open fields most of the time? Nope
That is not to say they can't do all of the above (except most of them can't drag a big goose back), but they are not best suited for that kind of work.
OK, maybe I would still have one because I like their personality, but it wouldn't be my go to dog if I primarily hunted in the ways described above. :chuckle:
Post by: wiremonkey on July 10, 2013, 08:02:54 PM
Post by: huntingfool7 on July 10, 2013, 08:07:32 PM
Post by: Stilly bay on July 10, 2013, 08:11:41 PM
Netcoyote, as long as we're talking about good looking pups, I'd like to say :tup::yeah:
X2
Post by: netcoyote on July 11, 2013, 09:38:38 AM
Netcoyote, as long as we're talking about good looking pups, I'd like to say :tup::yeah:
X2
Thanks guys. Appreciate the compliment. Unfortunately this year I will have to hunt grouse without my buddy of 9 years. Boomer tore a cruciate ligament in his leg while we were out on a scouting trip in April. Broke my heart. He's now in rehab trying to get back in shape from a LSS surgery. He won't be in shape to hunt this fall but I might be able to get him in the field next year and strong enough to hunt.
Here's a pic of him a few weeks ago with his bandage still on. He really looks bummed out. He's got the bandage off now and stitches out but he's only able to walk a short distance. Gotta be real careful to exercise him gradually to get back into shape.
[smg id=12078]
Post by: pens fan on July 11, 2013, 03:38:06 PM
Post by: johng on July 11, 2013, 04:30:59 PM
Poor Boomer! I can tell he does look bummed. It's amazing what dogs can convey to us.... hope he heals up well NetCoyote and you guys can chase grouse together next season. :tup:
Hey Pen Fan, what kind of breed are those dogs? I like the looks of 'em! 8)
Post by: johng on July 11, 2013, 04:31:57 PM
American Water Spaniel? :dunno:
Post by: 3dvapor on July 11, 2013, 05:36:41 PM
Post by: pens fan on July 11, 2013, 06:13:11 PM
Post by: wildweeds on July 11, 2013, 07:31:42 PM
Poor Boomer! I can tell he does look bummed. It's amazing what dogs can convey to us.... hope he heals up well NetCoyote and you guys can chase grouse together next season. :tup:
Hey Pen Fan, what kind of breed are those dogs? I like the looks of 'em! 8)
Post by: netcoyote on July 12, 2013, 06:27:54 AM
Boomer looks like Acme jim's Drummer which is a littermate to my Field Champion
Boomer's line goes back through Mahoney's Kennels. Dickie's Eastside Flash/I'm Dick Too/Tricky Dick.
Post by: wildweeds on July 12, 2013, 08:02:37 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hunt101.com%2Fdata%2F500%2Fmedium%2Fsonny_2010.jpg&hash=4fe3d497ade90b59ce2029cee8966d08879980e1)
]This is my FC from that breeding,35 pounds
Boomer looks like Acme jim's Drummer which is a littermate to my Field Champion
Boomer's line goes back through Mahoney's Kennels. Dickie's Eastside Flash/I'm Dick Too/Tricky Dick.
Post by: netcoyote on July 12, 2013, 08:33:48 AM
Good looking dog there wildweeds!
Post by: pens fan on July 14, 2013, 05:35:15 AM
http://www.pheasantblog.org/lap-dogs-for-longtails-small-dogs-will-work-for-big-bad-roosters (http://www.pheasantblog.org/lap-dogs-for-longtails-small-dogs-will-work-for-big-bad-roosters)
Post by: rosscrazyelk on July 15, 2013, 10:20:02 AM
Post by: canyonduck on July 15, 2013, 11:38:35 AM
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi272.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fjj197%2Fcanyonduck%2FMontana%252009%2FDSC00883.jpg&hash=0afa74306e474bd12bee45975433089a05478c77)
Post by: Justin7mm on August 09, 2013, 09:16:50 PM
Post by: pens fan on August 10, 2013, 08:45:15 PM
Post by: johnocl2 on August 13, 2013, 09:02:29 PM