Gun dogs that don't get there?

[Scotty99]

As others have said look towards the field trialling community for a dog or bitch that in their view will not make the grade as a field trial champion. What you should end up with good steady well trained dog that will make both a good gun dog and a family pet.

 

[Dunwaters]

As others have said look towards the field trialling community for a dog or bitch that in their view will not make the grade as a field trial champion. What you should end up with good steady well trained dog that will make both a good gun dog and a family pet.

You can do this, but “ also ran” field triallers are likely to be expensive, highly sought after and not for the inexperienced handler.
The dog is likely to be around 2 years of age and have spent its life in a kennel. The most likely faults are that it is hard mouthed, chronically unsteady or just lacking the extra drive and style a successful field trial dog needs.
I could live with the damaged game, I could live without the extra pace and style, but unsteadiness would have to be sorted.

 

[jon 12]

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

Don't disagree with what you have said, but if you do get a dog that has been treated badly and know what you are doing by showing it some TLC, it will in 99%of cases become the most loyal companion you could ever have, just needs time to learn to trust again.

 

[Rutland lad]

In 2012 I got an 18/24 month old lab from Dogs Trust. Beautiful dog, he’d been a stray in Ireland where lots of Dogs Trust animals come from. He’d never been near a driven bird day to my knowledge, but as I beat I took him with me.
There’s got to be 80% of their instincts in all of them - he watched the other dogs, and pretty soon he was flushing with the nest of them. He’d retrieve too, but he had a high possession rate and would only pass birds to me after some little trial of wills.
He soon got the idea about following blood trails and could track deer nicely. All in all, a lovely dog and he had 12 years with me passing away at 14.
His replacement was with us for 2 years before the old boy dies, and he also is shaping up nicely. The only difference is the Dogs Trust boy cost me £75. The current one cost quite a bit more. But he’s worth it !

 

[CAVHUNT]

It's great to hear about unwanted dogs getting a second chance with a hunter and when given the opportunity they go on to reveal the hunting dog within. Good on you Rutland lad.

 

[Yosemite Sam]

Consider this, would you buy a rifle or scope or even a waterproof coat that was ok but not really up to the task? Not a chance, if you want a deer dog/companion, that in all probability be with you for the next 12-15 years, go and get the best pup for the job and train him exactly the way you want him/her. Otherwise you’ll always have a nagging sense of what might have been? Just a suggestion.

 

[Lloyd90]

Consider this, would you buy a rifle or scope or even a waterproof coat that was ok but not really up to the task? Not a chance, if you want a deer dog/companion, that in all probability be with you for the next 12-15 years, go and get the best pup for the job and train him exactly the way you want him/her. Otherwise you’ll always have a nagging sense of what might have been? Just a suggestion.

Silly comparison, not all tasks are the same.

It’s about the job at hand. I wouldn’t want an extremely warm and dry coat if I was hiking a lot as you’d be boiling hot and sweat inside.

The same coat would be ideal sat in a frozen blind waiting on geese in the rain.

I’ve helped rehome several “failed” trial dogs, each owner just wanting a fairly steady dog for beating, have all fed back that each one is the best dog they have ever owned.

The dogs lacked the speed and drive to trial, but get worked 2-3 times a week on syndicate and small commercial days an do their (new) owners proud.



As dog owners / working dog owners we also all have standards.

I have been to some shoots where every dog there was unsteady, with a pack of mixed breeds chasing every pheasant/ animal flushed … with each owner accepting this as the norm… unsurprisingly those smaller DIY syndicates often had small bags and poor returns.
I didn’t go back as didn’t want my own dog to work in that way.

I have been elsewhere where an untrained dog chasing and flushing too many at once / blowing the flush, would mean you’d be in serious trouble and not be invited again.

I have also seen dogs I wouldn’t pay a penny for whose owners proclaim how good they are, as they do the job they want.

No point having a race car bred champion dog if your standards are so low you’d be happy with a dog that’s much less driven.