Dog advice please....

[Hairy Spiker]

Everyone will have a different perspective on this, im sure! Looking to buy a dog that can be a family pet but also do a bit of work aswell. First priority is, must be good with my 6 year old boy. Secondly i'd like to do a bit of picking up, flushing and tracking if possible?
When did it become necessary to remortgage your ****ing house to get a dog? I mean its £1k for a Russell now! My Grandad couldnt give them away.
Anyway, was thinking on lines of Vizsler, lab maybe pointer?
Any help, input or experience would be appreciated.

 

[JMikeyH]

This may be of interest to you, £600-£650

Sold: - LabxEnglish pointer x lab pups

Should hopefully have some pups due 1st of December labEnglish pointer x fox red lab. Just putting feelers out if anyone is interested in a pup feel free to message me for more info both fantastic wildfowling and hide dogs and the bitch is also used for deer when needed.

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[sportingspaniels]

Springer or Labrador will suit you fine. Forget about everything else

 

[Essex stalker]

Springer spaniel, sounds perfect for you

 

[Hairy Spiker]

This may be of interest to you, £600-£650

Sold: - LabxEnglish pointer x lab pups

Should hopefully have some pups due 1st of December labEnglish pointer x fox red lab. Just putting feelers out if anyone is interested in a pup feel free to message me for more info both fantastic wildfowling and hide dogs and the bitch is also used for deer when needed.

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

Thanks. I have to say, lovely looking dogs. What area are you please? Im in North Devon

 

[JMikeyH]

Thanks. I have to say, lovely looking dogs. What area are you please? Im in North Devon

I'm nothing to do with the dogs or seller I'm afraid though I wish I was! The seller is @Pro_carper and he is based in Cumbria

Cheers

 

[Hairy Spiker]

I'm nothing to do with the dogs or seller I'm afraid though I wish I was! The seller is @Pro_carper and he is based in Cumbria

Cheers

Sorry I wasn't paying attention. Thankyou tho

 

[tfox]

I'd go with a hungarian wirehaired vizsla, excellent pets, fantastic to watch them work a scent and will retrieve all day.

If you're wanting to go picking up I'd be wary of a spaniel as they generally don't have the patience for sitting still while birds are dropping all around them.

 

[Gazza0208]

I agree, Cocker and or any Spaniel are difficult to keep still, that's what they are, but for walked up and general working days off the gun they are just perfect, picking up, you got to be lucky.I went from Labs to Cockers some ten years back and have been lucky from what I seen around me. Its all a bit up to you with any dog in my opinion, the more work you put in the better the end result, the "Dog ramp" in prices wont last, I know of I guess fifty being dropped in the local area soon, as its "Easy Money" there was enormous demand and no supply, it will by year end revert to no demand and all supply. Given I had another in the future a Wirehaired would be my next.

 

[biffo]

Lab, first second and third choice!

 

[Malxwal]

If you're not into grinding your teeth and embolisms, get a lab . Having said that, it's probably my wee rescue sprocker that causes me least stress.

 

[john_little]

Not surprised by these headlines with the hike in puppy prices!

 

[Hairy Spiker]

Thanks for all the input so far. I'm sort of thinking a Lab might be best at the moment. I think I will hang on until after Christmas and hopefully the prices will of returned to being sensible again in my area. I was looking at Labs which were around £2.5k and Vizsler was up as much as £3.5k, just mental. I would never do that. If someone offers somthing at sensible money, it might happen before Christmas! Never say never.

 

[Hairy Spiker]

Not surprised by these headlines with the hike in puppy prices!
View attachment 179284

Thats on the news alot round here aswell

 

[jer]

Lab is the best option if you want a family pet and a working dog, their temperaments are generally the most suitable especially with children. All of the mentioned breeds will generally have better abilities with some aspect of what you want to do and the only thing labs are not particularly strong with is flushing in dense cover, everything else a good lab should excel at. I've just got myself a lab pup for precisely what you describe, the most important thing for me is being safe and suitable with my 4 and 7 year old grandkids, I have seen more than a few HPRs that have an edge to them that puts me off feeling comfortable with children around.

 

[sh1kar]

Either of these work well

 

[@northernuplands]

Hi Rich.

Seen you are looking for help and advise in training a dog to help you recover game. Be happy to help you out with some advice and point you in the right direction to finding what you need whilst avoiding the cover spike in prices. Feel free to get in touch and we can arrange a chat!

 

[countrryboy]

To get a decent working pup Christmas or after is not the ideal time, most folk with decent working dogs will be to busy working them at this time of year.
Having pups ready about Christmas means ur bitch will lose most of the season for work.

I'd also say a lab is the sensible choice, does most things reasonably well and relatively easy to train.
No doubt other breeds could do wot u want but will be harder to train as ur training them for something different than they were breed for.
If going lab try and buy a more old fashioned type with a decent think coat, enter cover far better.
Most of local shoots all labs in beating line, if a lab won't enter cover to flush a bird how will it enter cover to pick it?? Never had any problems sending proper labs into thick whins or brair wether beating,shooting over or picking up

 

[The Burpster]

I have 3 Springadors. (Labxspringer). They are excellent house dogs, my older two have just started their 5 season of Working (both 7 this year) the pup is about to start his training. They both work cover and will retrieve, and Are a ‘keepers dream as they won’t go into cover if there isn’t anything in it but won’t give up if there is. I work 3-4 shoots locally and was invited by word of mouth to all 3 due to their excellent nature.
I firmly believe you get the best of both breeds with them plus they never get fat or lazy which Labs are so easily prone to in their mid- late years. Found them easy to train and minimal vets bills.

 

[Farmer_J]

Hopefully this one will turn into a good all rounder, she’s doing well so far. I agree about a lab or springer and even a springador as mentioned above which was our first gun dog and a brilliant all rounder. But everyone’s dogs the best and it’s a lot like ammo, most will recommend what they use.