Gun dogs that don't get there?

[Cogswell & Harrison]

When I joined here or not long after I sadly lost my Chocolate Labrador, she was just shy of 14. It's taken me the best part of two years to get my head in the right place to look for another dog so I wondered if there is such a situation as gun/deer dog/lab that do not quite make the grade and are best growing up and becoming pets? Is there such a thing?

Thanks.

 

[pete evans]

I don’t know the answer to this but my concern would be that rather than getting a dog that wasn’t good enough you’d end up with a dog that has some other problems. There must be good dogs fitting your description out there, just doubt they will be from a specific source but more likely a combination of circumstances. Good luck but select wisely.

 

[Bo Diddley]

When I joined here or not long after I sadly lost my Chocolate Labrador, she was just shy of 14. It's taken me the best part of two years to get my head in the right place to look for another dog so I wondered if there is such a situation as gun/deer dog/lab that do not quite make the grade and are best growing up and becoming pets? Is there such a thing?

Thanks.

You might be lucky and get a dog/bitch as a reject from someone in the trialling world. depends on what contacts/connections you have.

A pal got a superb black lab because it just wasn't fast enough to win. 14 months old, it had loads of restrictions placed upon it as to what my pal could do about breeding.
It will be the best dog he ever had.

Good luck, keep looking, keep asking.

 

[Tim.243]

When I joined here or not long after I sadly lost my Chocolate Labrador, she was just shy of 14. It's taken me the best part of two years to get my head in the right place to look for another dog so I wondered if there is such a situation as gun/deer dog/lab that do not quite make the grade and are best growing up and becoming pets? Is there such a thing?

Thanks.

Other options are "not made the grade for trialing" dogs which will have a lot of qualities but not to have FTC on their CV
I took Toby out beating on monday he worked no more than 20/25 yds flushed a lot of birds as the shoot wanted.
But if it is in them then it is.

 

[scoby3030]

My Spaniel was originally bred for trialling, the breeder sold him to me because he wouldn't make the last 5 % needed to be a top trialling dog.
Proven to be a great working and pet dog, just turned 14 so doesn't work anymore.

S

 

[Dunwaters]

The shelters are full of them.
Not necessarily failed, just working dogs that ended up in the wrong place.
If you have no intention of trialling or breeding and a pedigree doesn’t matter, have a poke around your local rescue organisations.
You could also reach out to the breed societies and field trial organisations, they often know of dogs that need rehoming.

 

[Malxwal]

Know people who are daft enough to pay very good money for trial dogs that don't quite cut it.
But maybe they're mugs, and such dogs are available on much more favourable terms...

 

[Puds]

My parents and my GF’s in-laws both have cockers that were rehomed because they are gun-shy. Great pets, just didn’t make the grade as workers.

 

[Moray Outfitting]

One of the best dogs in my Keepering career came from a trialler. It was a big spaniel. Went to see it. The owner could make this thing stand on its nose and spin on a sixpence. I immediately said "whats wrong with it". He came back with" It's a spaniel with a brain". Now guys stop laughing. But it was a great dog. If the handler didn't see the bird down but the dog did, no ammount of whistling and handling would stop this dog going to where it was. Not running in mind you. Hw worked wonderfully for me . The problem being though , is that you get so used to a good dog, that what comes after has a lot to live up to.
But like the OP, it is exactly a year since I lost my 13 year old Bavarian/border cross. Now looking to get another for stalking. A pup is not on the cards. But as mentioned before, what problems does another older dog have ??? J

 

[Bowland blades]

When I joined here or not long after I sadly lost my Chocolate Labrador, she was just shy of 14. It's taken me the best part of two years to get my head in the right place to look for another dog so I wondered if there is such a situation as gun/deer dog/lab that do not quite make the grade and are best growing up and becoming pets? Is there such a thing?

Thanks.

Yes ! However you need to decide the priority specialism and train that first . Many stalkers have a do it all ( i had one once ) But picking up a Pheasant clean is a lot different than holding and or baying.
I say I managed to get in right but to be fair that was more the great dog than me , My current deer Dog does all the deer dog stuff but he later decided " its ok to peg birds and the odds are he generally kills them and easts them . Don't risk using show bred dogs it isn't they cannot but its a grater gamble .

 

[Lloyd90]

When I joined here or not long after I sadly lost my Chocolate Labrador, she was just shy of 14. It's taken me the best part of two years to get my head in the right place to look for another dog so I wondered if there is such a situation as gun/deer dog/lab that do not quite make the grade and are best growing up and becoming pets? Is there such a thing?

Thanks.

What’s the context?

Are you looking to re home one of these “failed” Gundogs just as a pet?

 

[Cogswell & Harrison]

Thanks for your replies folks. It seems from reading these that there are such situations as "working" dogs that do not make the grade but I need to research specific breeders and trainers. I have only looked at typical rescue centres and charities so far and whilst I have no desire to bypass these and go down the new puppy route, pretty much all dogs at these centres would not fit into my home life situation and when they do I'm beaten to it.

Yes, to answer the above, this would be a family pet filling a personal void whilst giving the dog a second chance. That's not to say that it would be an inside or fireside dog, I'm surrounded by woodlands, coast, beaches and public land so the intent would a very active partnership but not in a hunting or stalking situation.

 

[Jamesneale89]

One of the best dogs in my Keepering career came from a trialler. It was a big spaniel. Went to see it. The owner could make this thing stand on its nose and spin on a sixpence. I immediately said "whats wrong with it". He came back with" It's a spaniel with a brain". Now guys stop laughing. But it was a great dog. If the handler didn't see the bird down but the dog did, no ammount of whistling and handling would stop this dog going to where it was. Not running in mind you. Hw worked wonderfully for me . The problem being though , is that you get so used to a good dog, that what comes after has a lot to live up to.
But like the OP, it is exactly a year since I lost my 13 year old Bavarian/border cross. Now looking to get another for stalking. A pup is not on the cards. But as mentioned before, what problems does another older dog have ??? J

Speak to @Tom D

One of the best dogs in my Keepering career came from a trialler. It was a big spaniel. Went to see it. The owner could make this thing stand on its nose and spin on a sixpence. I immediately said "whats wrong with it". He came back with" It's a spaniel with a brain". Now guys stop laughing. But it was a great dog. If the handler didn't see the bird down but the dog did, no ammount of whistling and handling would stop this dog going to where it was. Not running in mind you. Hw worked wonderfully for me . The problem being though , is that you get so used to a good dog, that what comes after has a lot to live up to.
But like the OP, it is exactly a year since I lost my 13 year old Bavarian/border cross. Now looking to get another for stalking. A pup is not on the cards. But as mentioned before, what problems does another older dog have ??? J

speak to @tom

One of the best dogs in my Keepering career came from a trialler. It was a big spaniel. Went to see it. The owner could make this thing stand on its nose and spin on a sixpence. I immediately said "whats wrong with it". He came back with" It's a spaniel with a brain". Now guys stop laughing. But it was a great dog. If the handler didn't see the bird down but the dog did, no ammount of whistling and handling would stop this dog going to where it was. Not running in mind you. Hw worked wonderfully for me . The problem being though , is that you get so used to a good dog, that what comes after has a lot to live up to.
But like the OP, it is exactly a year since I lost my 13 year old Bavarian/border cross. Now looking to get another for stalking. A pup is not on the cards. But as mentioned before, what problems does another older dog have ??? J

speak to TomD, he’s just a post up looking to potentially rehome his stalking dog……

 

[Jamesneale89]

Bloody phone has a mind of its own, apologies for multiple tags

 

[NullMac]

The idea that a trial dog is the peak of the pyramid is a fallacy. If you get a failed trials dog just make sure it hasn’t had the life beaten out of it. It’s a hard hearted world and you don’t want to be taking on a dog traumatised by an overly competitive moron

 

[Overlay]

Other options are "not made the grade for trialing" dogs which will have a lot of qualities but not to have FTC on their CV
I took Toby out beating on monday he worked no more than 20/25 yds flushed a lot of birds as the shoot wanted.
But if it is in them then it is.

Yep My philosophy from my first Lab gifted to me by a dear old keeper friend Lenny, his words was to look at the pedigree a while then look longer at the pup and spend time with it to see if you have found what you want, I stuck with that and haven’t had a bad dog for either beating (spannels) picking up / retrieving and Labs for retrieving or GWP / teckles for tracking, if you have found the dog you want you will know, it will pick up what you want, providing you give it the time it needs and treat it right and gel together, you can't train a dog to want to work for you, you'll get the best out of a dog when it wants to work for you

 

[Bowland blades]

Yep My philosophy from my first Lab gifted to me by a dear old keeper friend Lenny, his words was to look at the pedigree a while then look longer at the pup and spend time with it to see if you have found what you want, I stuck with that and haven’t had a bad dog for either beating (spannels) picking up / retrieving and Labs for retrieving or GWP / teckles for tracking, if you have found the dog you want you will know, it will pick up what you want, providing you give it the time it needs and treat it right and gel together, you can't train a dog to want to work for you, you'll get the best out of a dog when it wants to work for you

To be straight , The Lab was a dog that worked in icy sea retrieving lost gear etc . There are perhaps more labs today working in assistant dogs globally . The labs are very,very good dogs for stalking deer in the hands of stalkers in the uk . I have also owned worked a GWP only one mind - and i will never have another one bottom of my list of deer dogs. My last two Labs made things very easy . I mean a lab will follow a lightly hit running pheasant / Hare better than any breed . deer are ever so easy to a good lab ( and most are really, really good at them after all you really do is facilitate and remind them of its manners )
My previous Lab came on a fox drive and was the only dog / hound to get onto a fox that day ( discounting what the terriers did underground )
We are talking about the worlds most prolific and successful dog for practically any work let alone its natural place as an Assistant in Shooting / Stalking .

 

[del.gue]

I have a Sprocker. Both parents were working (I know them both). Sadly after over 2 years training she became gun shy and is now just our pet living the good life. She still likes to retrieve dead things though.
A was tad miffed at the time, but It happens.

 

[old 30-06]

It was when Covid was all about and we were locked up. I was offered a cheap (I like "cheap") dog when the cost of real ones went through the roof. Hence I ended up with my Springer Spaniel. She goes shooting and loves it. She is not a shooting dog. She is terrible. She is useless. She is also part of my family, loved and spoilt.

 

[NP435]

It was when Covid was all about and we were locked up. I was offered a cheap (I like "cheap") dog when the cost of real ones went through the roof. Hence I ended up with my Springer Spaniel. She goes shooting and loves it. She is not a shooting dog. She is terrible. She is useless. She is also part of my family, loved and spoilt.

Not all dogs will work, but you love her and spoiled her so just enjoy her company. One friend of mine had a Weimaraner truly a magnificent dog, and one gunshot he fled for the truck. Nothing could change that. Imo it was a lack thoughtful training to the sounds. I was really blessed with my labrador he would work all day everyday never bothered by gun fire or weather.