Breed sugestions please.

[martin_b]

I was the proud owner of the cleverest dog in the world up untill last year, He was a Toller and I still miss him, however the time to get back on the horse and get another dog. Now although Im convinced he understood quatum mechananics and could bark in serveral languages he was could be a bit boisterous. Now Im 15 years older, almost an OAP and the wife is not in the best of health Id like a breed slightly more placid, and simpler to train but Id still want to take him rough shooting and fly fishing and on the odd driven day.

So size of a spaniel, temperament of a guide dog, intelligencence of a collie, Not to much to ask is it?

 

[potshotpat]

Sprocker. What you want you've described.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Lab or cocker

 

[Alantoo]

Some lovely looking working pups in classifieds currently.

 

[martin_b]

Thanks, any views on the French Bassett hounds? I once know a gent who had a PBGV, and she was a lovely dog.

 

[martin_b]

Some lovely looking working pups in classifieds currently.

Yes they are nice , but Im worried they would be wasted on me, I shoot every week, but that.s clays or Rifles at Bisley, I shoot game less then 10 times a year, rest of the time I'm a IT bod either lecturing or PM'ing trying to get enough money to retire.

PS ( Wife works from Home and Ive got a big garden )

 

[potshotpat]

Buy Peter Moxon books on dog training, the beauty of these books is if your pup can't read there's plenty of pictures that they can study. Good luck and enjoy the ride.

 

[long_range_rob]

I firmly believe that no matter what the breed you get out what you put in. Best of luck with the search.

 

[Keith Edmunds]

Get a Lab.....Just the mention of "temperament of a guide dog" would exclude most breeds and a lot of Labs so go for quiet, steady lines. Better to have a slightly bigger dog that you really gel with than the right size dog that drives you nuts.

 

[Hayduke]

Another vote for Lab, very biddable.

 

[wytonpjs]

Smooth Hungarian Vizsla. Easy going, very trainable, extremely low maintenance and our 5th is so laid back its great at our stage of life! The Teckel isn't although at one year, we have turned a corner but for 4 months the sleep disruption was killing us. Cute though he is, the difference to the Vizsla is considerable.

 

[Dunwaters]

German shepherd, they’re the Rolls Royce of guide dogs but difficult to place nowadays so lesser breeds dominate the role.
Easy to train and probably smarter than 60% of their owners.

 

[jimmy milnes]

If i was to add but one sentence to this thread it would be.

"Lines are more important than breed"

Ive seen labs that would take ya arm off

Springers that stand in a kennel acting as mad as a polar bear in the zoo

Cockers that scream louder than a kid that wants a McDonald's

Vizslas that dare not go more that 5 yards from its owner

And so on.
Best of luck with what ever you go with.
Jimmy.

 

[Lace1978]

Lab all the way

 

[delta wolf]

Lab, no brainer for what you describe but as above be careful on lines.

 

[StephenToast]

Labrador. Why are there even any other breeds of dog?

 

[Dunwaters]

Labrador. Why are there even any other breeds of dog?

Probably for the same reason that there are more calibres than.308.

 

[ajax2911]

I have a GBGV & she is excellent. Easiest dog to train for deer, can't imagine any dog being easier -- born hard-wired for it. They are however full of beans, especially when young. Amazing how high a little dog can jump from a standing start! Supremely intelligent, she could open all the doors in the house by 6 months old. Nice size, similar to a BMH or Springer. Very loving & affectionate temperament -- if anything, too loving (I would occasionally like a bit of personal space ). Mine is short-coated so very low maintenance. Some excellent lines up in Scotland (where I got mine).

 

[Rasputin]

What about a border terrier won’t pick up but as companion dogs I rate them highly and small enough to Chuck in a small crate in the car but enough dog to stand their ground.

 

[Bo Diddley]

We have two border terriers, and as nice as they are, they certainly don't have the intelligence of a border collie, or the temperament of a guide dog, they are devoted rat killers mind you.