Most Versatile Hunting Dog

[Tyler_C]

Hey guys, in your opinion, what is the ultimate hunting dog breed?  A breed that will point naturally, retrieve naturally, both land and water, track, etc.

I have recently heard of the small munsterlander and i kind of like it.  Do you guys know of this breed?

What's your opinion of the ultimate versatile hunting dog?

Thanks!!!

[washingtonmuley]

Lab

[JLS]

Depends on your priorities within the parameters you gave. 

For mine (heavier on the upland, lighter on the waterfow), it's a German Wirehaired Pointer.

[wildweeds]

You'd probably find yourself better off with a German Wirehair,they got way more genetic pool to draw from as compared to the small munsterlander.Munsterlanders have long hair,if that is a concern of yours.

[washingtonmuley]

Depends on your priorities within the parameters you gave. 

For mine (heavier on the upland, lighter on the waterfow), it's a German Wirehaired Pointer.

Waaay to high strung for me. My lab has out hunted GSP's on upland birds each time we have hunted around them and there is no way they will hold up in the cold water compared to a lab. Good breed if you only want upland.

[Curly]

Depends on your priorities within the parameters you gave. 

For mine (heavier on the upland, lighter on the waterfow), it's a German Wirehaired Pointer.

Waaay to high strung for me. My lab has out hunted GSP's on upland birds each time we have hunted around them and there is no way they will hold up in the cold water compared to a lab. Good breed if you only want upland.

Are talking GWP or GSP?  JLS recommended GWP..............   

[JLS]

Depends on your priorities within the parameters you gave. 

For mine (heavier on the upland, lighter on the waterfow), it's a German Wirehaired Pointer.

Waaay to high strung for me. My lab has out hunted GSP's on upland birds each time we have hunted around them and there is no way they will hold up in the cold water compared to a lab. Good breed if you only want upland.

Not true at all.  My GWP pup is easier to have around the house at 6 months than my lab was at two years.  He has at least an equal nose, if not better, and his endurance is off the charts compared to my lab.

His mom retrieved over 100 ducks last year out of the Columbia at Hermiston, well into January.  She was 2 years old at the time.

[washingtonmuley]

Depends on your priorities within the parameters you gave. 

For mine (heavier on the upland, lighter on the waterfow), it's a German Wirehaired Pointer.

Waaay to high strung for me. My lab has out hunted GSP's on upland birds each time we have hunted around them and there is no way they will hold up in the cold water compared to a lab. Good breed if you only want upland.

Are talking GWP or GSP?  JLS recommended GWP..............   

My bad. I meant GWP but I have owned GSPs that were just as high strung.

[Tyler_C]

Longer hair isn't a concern for me.  Just want the most versatile dog.  The 'do it all' dog. 

[LndShrk]

Hey guys, in your opinion, what is the ultimate hunting dog breed?  A breed that will point naturally, retrieve naturally, both land and water, track, etc.

I have recently heard of the small munsterlander and i kind of like it.  Do you guys know of this breed?

What's your opinion of the ultimate versatile hunting dog?

Thanks!!!

Chessie.  Yea they don't really point naturally but everything else they do makes up for it. 

[Holg3107]

My neighbor has a 6 month old munsterlander. He was thinking the same thing trying to get the ultimate hunting dog. The dog is far from "small" and seems to be doing ok so far and has made a few retrieves this year. He seems pretty high strung and kind of hard headed (just like a lab) but is still just a pup so I will report back to you next year when he's a bit older. Cool looking dog and great personality. Truly I just don't see any real distinctive traits that a lab doesn't have.

[NW-GSP]

DRATHAAR! Nuff said-   Why cause it can retreive your lab!

[NW-GSP]

Info on the drathaar here http://www.vdd-gna.org

[seth30]

Lab

[CoryTDF]

Most dogs are purpose built. You can't REALLY say one dog is perfect for both as each breed tends to be just a little better at one than the other. Labs are great all around dogs and can hold up to cold weather. You can buy pointing labs but primarily they are a flushing type dog when it comes to upland. The same goes for Chesapeake. When you start getting into the pointing dogs you start drifting farther away from the waterfowling ability. Can they swim? yes? can they hold up to December temperatures and swim? Not many. Like was said earlier if you plan more upland than waterfowl than go with a pointing breed that also enjoys water. If you plan on more waterfowl or enough waterfowl hunting in the cold go with a Lab. There is a trade off either way you go. None of the short hair dogs can stand up in the cold water! Anybody who try's to make a case for that is IMHO uneducated, irresponsible, and uncaring. Short hair dogs have no place in cold water for long periods of time that is just asking for hypothermia.

For my money and my needs I use Labs. Labs chosen from working lines that tend to be on the smaller size (55-65 pounds). They can deal with the cold water and are small enough to hit the field for upland and no fizzle out like larger dogs do. when looking for a lab do your research and make sure you are getting a working dog. Short legs, big head, fat body means it's a show type lab and not ideal for working or hunting.