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February 09, 2010
Best Dual-Purpose Dogs? - 11
by Brian Lynn
If you subscribe to Outdoor Life Magazine, then you might have seen a small article I wrote a couple of months ago on the best dual-purpose dogs. I'd like to continue that discussion here on OL.com and get your opinions on the subject. Just as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders were all-star players in two sports, the dual-purpose dog excels in more than one hunting venue. It could be the waterfowl marshes and the upland fields, treeing bears and cats, tracking wounded big game in the morning and then cornering hogs in the afternoon or any combination of game, setting or habitat you can imagine. For what it's worth, I think these five breeds belong at the top of any list: Labrador Retriever: Perhaps the epitome of dual-purpose dog, the Labrador can dominate the waterfowl scene and flush upland birds within range in the fields. Pudelpointer: A versatile breed that can work the waterfowl scene, upland fields and even track game. Springer Spaniel: Because my first dog was a springer, they tend to hold a special place in my heart. I don't think I'm being biased, however, when I say that they're very good upland dogs, as well as waterfowl retrievers. Boykin Spaniel: Like the springer, the small boykin can zip through the upland fields or hold it's own in the marshes and corn stubble of the waterfowl world. German Wirehaired Pointer: Similar to the pudelpointer, wirehairs are a versatile dog, perhaps the best and most popular of those breeds, that can make more than passable waterfowl retrieves, point upland birds with style and grace all day long and then track wounded game for miles. There are lots of other breeds out there that can excel at more than one hunting venue. What's your opinion on the best dual-, or even tri-, purpose dog breeds around? |
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Comments (11)
Interesting selections. I would have to put the Brittany Spaniel in there (but I am biased like the writer).
Along with pointing out coveys like feather-seeking-missiles, I have seen some pretty good retrieves... not just on ducks.
My favorite retrieve from my male Brittany was on a salmon in WA. Not bad, a 45-pound-dog retrieving a flopping 25-pound-fish.
(Does anybody know if it is legal for a dog to noodle?)
Woot! Woot! Finally a list I can agree with. German Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
I also grew up with Brittanys, but found their prey drive wasn't strong enough. Some of the bigger birds would back them down. I am not saying this is the case for all Brittanys, just the few that I grew up around.
the Lab gets my vote, along with the weimariner which is used for upland,waterfowl and big game hunting in Europe.
Without a doubt, hands down winner and my vote - for the Labrador Retriever. Not only an outstanding upland and waterfowl dog, but also a great family dog, who wants to do nothing more than eat, play and please his master.
An American Water Spaniel is a great icewater retriever and
a great flushing dog.Cold water seperates retrievers,real heavy cover seperates flushing dogs.AWS's should be on that list.
Hey All, I'm liking the list and the reasoning. Cody, I like how you break down what separates a great retriever and great flusher. In general anyway, I'd tend to agree with you, which is why I'd have to question both the weimaraner and Brittany (and I really like Britts!). I think both breeds would have trouble consistently holding up in icy water on multiple retrieves (and the Britt could have some trouble in big water and with big birds, just as the Boykin and Springer would)...
another interesting thought would be Setters (especially Steve Hickoff's as he pointed out to me... :) ) ... if they were used for say uplands (quail, grouse, etc) and then something extremely different like turkey hunting.
you could get really out there and start looking at Jack Russell's or other terriers used (at one time anyway) for "ratting" and now used for everything from lion hunting to big-game tracking....
thoughts?
My vote is easily the English Springer Spaniel. I have owned three and they were all very good dogs. Rarely out hunted by any of the other dogs that were in their company. Note to the Captain.. the Brittany is no longer in the Spaniel group, that classification was dropped several years ago ( a polite FYI )
Actually though any well trained dog is worth their weight in gold ( or shotgun shells ), the breed doesn't really matter !!!
Glad to see the German Wirehair on this list; too many articles are very Labrador heavy. If you put together a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (not a German Wirehaired Pointing Griffon!!! it's one or the other), a Pudelpointer, German Shorthair, and a Stickelhar you get a German Wirehair Pointer!!!(eventually) My WH was great on waterfowl before he died. He retrieved Canada geese from the Missouri River and would do anything to retrieve a duck. I find the lack of attention to the wirehair breeds on this site shameful. Thanks for seeing the light!!! they are too fine animals to ignore. Versatile describes them. Water Spaniels are great too, as are Weimars.
Hey Oldilox! Not trying to ignore the wirehairs at all! Much of what I try to write on here is general canine stuff that can be used by anyone and/or training tips that can be used by either pointer or flusher dogs, despite breeds. I will definitely cover the versatile breeds (at least in relation to NAVHDA) and topics in the future, as well as hound stuff, which I'm dying to learn more about and have a possible outlet to learn some first-hand info about! Thanks for the post and glad you liked the list! :)
I vote Pudelpointer, really smart, loves water and a great nose comes as standard equipment. But like others I am biased. The truth as far as I can tell after hanging out with NAVHDA, is that all the breeds mentioned as well as many that have not; produce great all around dogs. Yeah some prefer water and some would rather point, but most can do it all if trained. It's the bond that develops between us and our dog that really makes one stand out over another.
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Interesting selections. I would have to put the Brittany Spaniel in there (but I am biased like the writer).
Along with pointing out coveys like feather-seeking-missiles, I have seen some pretty good retrieves... not just on ducks.
My favorite retrieve from my male Brittany was on a salmon in WA. Not bad, a 45-pound-dog retrieving a flopping 25-pound-fish.
(Does anybody know if it is legal for a dog to noodle?)
Woot! Woot! Finally a list I can agree with. German Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
I also grew up with Brittanys, but found their prey drive wasn't strong enough. Some of the bigger birds would back them down. I am not saying this is the case for all Brittanys, just the few that I grew up around.
the Lab gets my vote, along with the weimariner which is used for upland,waterfowl and big game hunting in Europe.
Without a doubt, hands down winner and my vote - for the Labrador Retriever. Not only an outstanding upland and waterfowl dog, but also a great family dog, who wants to do nothing more than eat, play and please his master.
An American Water Spaniel is a great icewater retriever and
a great flushing dog.Cold water seperates retrievers,real heavy cover seperates flushing dogs.AWS's should be on that list.
My vote is easily the English Springer Spaniel. I have owned three and they were all very good dogs. Rarely out hunted by any of the other dogs that were in their company. Note to the Captain.. the Brittany is no longer in the Spaniel group, that classification was dropped several years ago ( a polite FYI )
Actually though any well trained dog is worth their weight in gold ( or shotgun shells ), the breed doesn't really matter !!!
Glad to see the German Wirehair on this list; too many articles are very Labrador heavy. If you put together a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (not a German Wirehaired Pointing Griffon!!! it's one or the other), a Pudelpointer, German Shorthair, and a Stickelhar you get a German Wirehair Pointer!!!(eventually) My WH was great on waterfowl before he died. He retrieved Canada geese from the Missouri River and would do anything to retrieve a duck. I find the lack of attention to the wirehair breeds on this site shameful. Thanks for seeing the light!!! they are too fine animals to ignore. Versatile describes them. Water Spaniels are great too, as are Weimars.
Hey All, I'm liking the list and the reasoning. Cody, I like how you break down what separates a great retriever and great flusher. In general anyway, I'd tend to agree with you, which is why I'd have to question both the weimaraner and Brittany (and I really like Britts!). I think both breeds would have trouble consistently holding up in icy water on multiple retrieves (and the Britt could have some trouble in big water and with big birds, just as the Boykin and Springer would)...
another interesting thought would be Setters (especially Steve Hickoff's as he pointed out to me... :) ) ... if they were used for say uplands (quail, grouse, etc) and then something extremely different like turkey hunting.
you could get really out there and start looking at Jack Russell's or other terriers used (at one time anyway) for "ratting" and now used for everything from lion hunting to big-game tracking....
thoughts?
I vote Pudelpointer, really smart, loves water and a great nose comes as standard equipment. But like others I am biased. The truth as far as I can tell after hanging out with NAVHDA, is that all the breeds mentioned as well as many that have not; produce great all around dogs. Yeah some prefer water and some would rather point, but most can do it all if trained. It's the bond that develops between us and our dog that really makes one stand out over another.
Hey Oldilox! Not trying to ignore the wirehairs at all! Much of what I try to write on here is general canine stuff that can be used by anyone and/or training tips that can be used by either pointer or flusher dogs, despite breeds. I will definitely cover the versatile breeds (at least in relation to NAVHDA) and topics in the future, as well as hound stuff, which I'm dying to learn more about and have a possible outlet to learn some first-hand info about! Thanks for the post and glad you liked the list! :)
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)