Bitch or dog

[Outdoorsman]

Its probably been done before but is there a preference of dog or bitch for working and for any reason, im thinking springer or cocker probably. I only ask as ive saw 3 different people with 3 different springer dogs and there all absolute looneys they work well but look a bit wild some times then i know some one else who has 4 bitches and they are all trained to the nines, they seem alot more methodical when searching and go straight to a retrive any advice?

[WGD]

If you only have one dog, a male won't come into season during the season.

 

The rest is down to breeding and training, the biggest looney in my kennel is a bitch. My trial dogs are dogs.

[Outdoorsman]

Hhmm cheers i thought there might of been something else in it but that will do for me

[guzzicat]

A bitch is trouble twice a year, a dog is trouble all the time A Bitch !

[PERCE]

a dog is trouble all the time

 

Only if you allow it

[rimfire4969]

I have always had bitches no real reason apart from I really don't like dogs *****, not that I like other animals ***** you understand, it's just the lipstick thing. Differences in the dogs is down to breeding and training. You don't have to let seasons get in the way either.

[fenboy]

I have always had dogs , I did consider a bitch when I brought my latest but decided the cons out weigh the pro's for myself.

 

As for people saying dogs are a pain all year ignore it .

[lurchers]

There is no difference in either its your preference which you want,as they will both do the same job atb with what you choose.

[rjimmer]

I've always thought that bitches seem to do more for male owners, while dogs appear to be more biddable for female owners. Hormones perhaps!

[kent]

A dog now all the way for me. Dogs of given breed are stronger and that's important to me

Also they don't come into season when you least need it

My last two dogs have also proven better natural guards and all but one of the bitches I have had were poor

[Outdoorsman]

Think ill get a dog and have a go at training it cheers everyone

[malmick]

I opted for a dog, so I can take him down the pub for a sly pint

[Royboy]

I've always had bitches because I was alway told don't have a dog because there wild.

A mate of mine had a lab bitch and if it ever had pups I wanted one, it had pups but only one bitch and that was spoken for ! I decided to have a dog and he's ace ! Best dog I've had

[TONY R]

No difference in the practical working capabilities of a dog or bitch, i run dogs wont have bitches myself, they break down at the most inopotune times like right in the middle of wildfowling season.

[motty]

No difference in the practical working capabilities of a dog or bitch, i run dogs wont have bitches myself, they break down at the most inopotune times like right in the middle of wildfowling season.

Break down?

[TONY R]

Break down?

A oft used northern term for a Bitch who is in season or in heat , An example of this tern would be my bitch has just broken down meaning the bitch is in proestrus.

[motty]

It doesn't bother me if my bitch is in season at any time.

A oft used northern term for a Bitch who is in season or in heat , An example of this tern would be my bitch has just broken down meaning the bitch is in proestrus.

[TONY R]

Well that is your prerogative i guess, and you are not on your own with this line of thinking.

[Outdoorsman]

Ill just add another thing on to this, some one told me not to keep it in the house if i want it to work i should build a kennel and keep it out side anythoughts

[rimfire4969]

Ill just add another thing on to this, some one told me not to keep it in the house if i want it to work i should build a kennel and keep it out side anythoughts

That old chestnut, depends what you want my workers also live in the house they are part of my family and are great pets to my children and they work as well as all dogs I beat with. I only have 2 spaniel bitches so no real problem but if you want 5 dogs outside would be easier.

[Royboy]

Ill just add another thing on to this, some one told me not to keep it in the house if i want it to work i should build a kennel and keep it out side anythoughts

My dogs sleep in the house, There gun dogs, pets and gaurd dogs. If any body is about at night they let me know 👍

[scotslad]

It doesn't bother me if my bitch is in season at any time.

 

I hope ur not working ur dogs on shoots or taking paid days with ur bitch sitting at the peg putting off every other dog on the shoot that day.

Possibly fair enough if they're will be no other dogs there but even down the foreshore not really fair if u meet another dog. I've always ran dogs but most of the other boys i know say there bitches never work right during there season anyway.

1 lad who used to beat on the same estate, don't think he could ever tell if/when his bitches where in season so would just spray them in the stinking stuff (anti-mate?) and bring them anyway. Could hardly breathe in back of landy's (usually 6-8 bodies in back + heap of dogs) for the stink, no idea how all the dogs felt with there more sensitive noses.

 

Ill just add another thing on to this, some one told me not to keep it in the house if i want it to work i should build a kennel and keep it out side anythoughts

 

Even if u decide to keep it inside a kennel/run is very handy, gives the dog its own safe space and u can put it out there throu days if ur at work or away for day and saves it being in house all day. Might be handy if u have kids to give the dog some quiet time, most dogs like there own space too.

But plenty of very tidy gundogs are also family pets more about training than how u kennel them as long as they have the right rules etc

[TONY R]

I do not keep dogs in a run outside, they live in the adjoined garage utility room, i built a four car detached garage.

Keeping them this way they have acces to the passage way and main house if they want vertualy anytime.

I tink scotslad touched on a good point with them needing a quite time area, if my dogs need a break from the house they will go out into the passage and look at the garage side door, just open it and let them in there.

The GSPs rarely want to go to bed, and Labradors are similar but a bit more indipendent, but i am convinced Springers need more out time than the other two breds based on the dogs i have owned and seen over the years.

I simply can not see why any dog would be a better worker when kept in an outside run kennel etc, in fact the pack interaction in the house is in my opinion a good thing that builds the bonds stronger so to speak.

I once heard it said a wildfowling dog needs to be outside in the cold to help it make coat and be accustomed to freezing cold conditions. This could perhaps have some merit, but keeping dogs the way i do in house and resting and sleeping in the garage works as far as i can see.

Obviously not everyone lives in a bungalow with a 60s style adjoining garage, but a conservatory or similar would offer the same kind of kennel arangement, on vertualy any house.

 

I hope ur not working ur dogs on shoots or taking paid days with ur bitch sitting at the peg putting off every other dog on the shoot that day.

Possibly fair enough if they're will be no other dogs there but even down the foreshore not really fair if u meet another dog. I've always ran dogs but most of the other boys i know say there bitches never work right during there season anyway.

1 lad who used to beat on the same estate, don't think he could ever tell if/when his bitches where in season so would just spray them in the stinking stuff (anti-mate?) and bring them anyway. Could hardly breathe in back of landy's (usually 6-8 bodies in back + heap of dogs) for the stink, no idea how all the dogs felt with there more sensitive nose

Bang on the money.

[NickB65]

Dog or Bitch.... no difference really bat the obvious. Some say bitches are better workers but I would say that is down to how they are trained. I have always used to favour bitches but I have a dog now and he is just as good. All the handlers I work with have a mix and neither is as good as the other. There are some great bitches and some amazing dogs and just as many unruly of both......

 

They are what you make them.

[Outdoorsman]

Champion some good replys there, i intend on having a working dog and family pet i cant wait to go buy one now, theres some springers localish to me that have been docked and dew clawed i might go look at tomorrow see if i can secure one, is there any thing in particular to look out for