fergie Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Ok as some of you may have seen I’m after a Gundog this is not an instant buy so no particular rush I can wait to find the right breed of dog BUT The wife doesn’t want a Spaniel or a retriever and neither of use want a Labrador, She mentioned a Red Setter but after reading some replies on another forum I’m not keen I have shown her a Clumber spaniel and she ok. The Size don’t bother me too much as we have a 35kg boxer and a sturdy staff at 20kg. But some people have said that a working clumber is hard to find So what other choices do I have? I wish to train or at least try to train it to flush birds, rabbits and retrieve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonevo Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 (edited) Get one of these mate unbelievable dogs but is it a spaniel. gundog The Irish Water Spaniel resembles a stocky Poodle. The coat consists of dense curls, sheds very little, and is a solid liver colour. The dogs are strongly built, and a bit taller and more square-ish than other spaniels. There is a curly topknot upon the head and the face is smooth. The most distinguishing characteristic of these dogs is their long "rat-like" tails, which are a striking contrast to their otherwise curly coats. Dogs range in height from 22 to 24 inches (56-61 cm), and weigh 55 to 65 pounds (25-30 kg). This is an active breed that is usually found in a real working retriever environment. They are intelligent, quick to learn, alert, and inquisitive. They sometimes display humorous antics while working, earning them their "clownish" reputation. With proper socialization they can be gentle dogs with family and children, but are often shy around strangers. Irish Water Spaniels require lots of exercise and need an experienced trainer, and therefore are probably not the best choice for a casual dog owner. Edited December 1, 2009 by jonevo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Go here: http://www.workingclumber.co.uk/ and here: http://www.sedgehurstclumbers.co.uk/ and you will find a good working Clumber. Debbie and John are wonderful people and very helpful. NTTF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 If you go for the clumber i know a lad who works them and occasionally has pups for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Have you thought about any of the HPR breeds? German short, long or wirehaired pointers Hungarian Viszlas, short or wirehaired Italian Spinone Bracco Italiano Large Munsterlander Weimaraner Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer Korthals Griffon Brittany All should do what you want and more with some training. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 I've had three Border Collies and a German Shepherd Dog who would all hunt, flush and retrieve. In fact one of the sheepdogs thought that she was a pointer! Unless you are wanting a trials contender you can afford to widen your search a bit more. There are plenty of breeds that can be taught to do gun dog work a reasonable level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted December 1, 2009 Report Share Posted December 1, 2009 Golden retriever, flatcoat retriever, all the HPRs listed above (personally I would go GWP if I went down the HPR route), sussex spaniel, field spaniel.... the list is endless given the number of breeds there are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CollioureII Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 Ok as some of you may have seen I’m after a Gundog this is not an instant buy so no particular rush I can wait to find the right breed of dog BUTThe wife doesn’t want a Spaniel or a retriever and neither of use want a Labrador, She mentioned a Red Setter but after reading some replies on another forum I’m not keen I have shown her a Clumber spaniel and she ok. The Size don’t bother me too much as we have a 35kg boxer and a sturdy staff at 20kg. But some people have said that a working clumber is hard to find So what other choices do I have? I wish to train or at least try to train it to flush birds, rabbits and retrieve Fergie....don't be influenced byyour wife or how the dog looks when deciding on a gundog....you should start with examining the shooting you are doing and the terrain you are doing it on EG...My wife didn't like springers........and I started looking at GSP & GWP's....hwoever after I was out shooting with some lads in the gunclub it soon became quite apparent that my choice had to be a spinger. All the shooting i do is flushing pheasant out of heavy cover, brambles, thorns, goarse bushes the lot....I tell ya if you try send a lab or a pointer into that, the dog will turn around and look at you as if to say you must be joking.......however you should see a hard springer working a ditch....unbeleivable..... So I got a springer and within a day my wife was totally mad about the springer pup A good tip........ when it comes to picking the pup out (assuming the breed is not approved by ur missus) is to get her to pick it out....beleive it or not women have a btter eye for this and she will instantly be mad about it because you can say the dog picked her So good luck and remember pick a dog most suited too your shooting and terrain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fergie Posted December 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 I have got to be honest a springer wouls be the most suited for my hunting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
banjobill Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 Get one of these mate unbelievable dogs but is it a spaniel.gundog The Irish Water Spaniel resembles a stocky Poodle. The coat consists of dense curls, sheds very little, and is a solid liver colour. The dogs are strongly built, and a bit taller and more square-ish than other spaniels. There is a curly topknot upon the head and the face is smooth. The most distinguishing characteristic of these dogs is their long "rat-like" tails, which are a striking contrast to their otherwise curly coats. Dogs range in height from 22 to 24 inches (56-61 cm), and weigh 55 to 65 pounds (25-30 kg). This is an active breed that is usually found in a real working retriever environment. They are intelligent, quick to learn, alert, and inquisitive. They sometimes display humorous antics while working, earning them their "clownish" reputation. With proper socialization they can be gentle dogs with family and children, but are often shy around strangers. Irish Water Spaniels require lots of exercise and need an experienced trainer, and therefore are probably not the best choice for a casual dog owner. good man they are a brilliant dog what will do anything you ask of it. gladd they have more than `1 supporter on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BB ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roadkill Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 All the shooting i do is flushing pheasant out of heavy cover, brambles, thorns, goarse bushes the lot....I tell ya if you try send a lab or a pointer into that, the dog will turn around and look at you as if to say you must be joking All depends on the training, the chap who trains my dog with me has 7 labs and they work heavy cover and even mine at 9 months goes in the brambles and doesnt bother its all about introducing them to it at an early age Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 All depends on the training, the chap who trains my dog with me has 7 labs and they work heavy cover and even mine at 9 months goes in the brambles and doesnt bother its all about introducing them to it at an early age Training AND the dog's personality itself can affect this. I've seen trained spaniels that still shy at cover and young labs that naturally demolish it. I had a GSD that would bulldoze any brambles, and one of my three border collies would face anything. My current 'basket case' spaniel wouldn't stray off a path when we first got her. Now she scents around the cover and will wriggle in if there's anything to flush, but she still doesn't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonevo Posted December 2, 2009 Report Share Posted December 2, 2009 IRISH WATER SPANIELS THE TRUTH Have been out with a friend who has one,will work in any condtions,it is fearless and bomb proof,it doesnt matter were the game is this big mop will find it,wether its bramble, gorse, pond or marsh. FANTASTIC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 just get a sprocker and tell her its a new breed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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