hutchie the white hunter Posted August 13, 2012 Report Share Posted August 13, 2012 Can't see how training comes into it. If a dog is physically not up to the job due to size, type of coat etc etc all the training in the world isn't going to make any difference. right ok i didnt mean any old dog ie a yorkie lol but gundogs, what i mean is that if you train even the smallest of springers for water / marshes it will do the job no bother ive had springers that have been much better swimmers than labs ,worked in the worst conditions poss ,but if you feed and train your dog well then there is not a problem it will do the job with ease so i think training and good ownership plays a very big part in how any dog performs in any conditions,so i dont think size is very important due to the fact that my gwp is 45kg (large dog) can be left standing to a duck out at 70yrd by my dads springer but the two dogs will be out all day and perform up till the end with 100% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Your missing the point. You or Dad's dog may be capable of spending the day cold and wet completing retrieve after retrieve in poor conditions but in general Spaniels etc are not. I've had many Springers as well including one that was more than capable of holding its own but in my opinion the modern day version does not fit that bill. Being the dogs they are many would no doubt try but is that really fair? Especially when there are better more capable breeds for the job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Neoprene jackets are a godsend for Spaniels. Really do a great job keeping them warm if they get a soaking early on in an outing. Also help to some degree with both camoflage and flotation (not that is really much of a problem) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 The dog bred specifically for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Lab for me. My spaniels legs aren't long enough to cope with the mud! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 As an observation,although I`ve always used Chesapeakes and am currently running on a young black lab, for the previous forty years I`ve also had Flatcoats which no one has yet mentioned. Although they seem to be having more than their fair share of genetically transmitted problems I`ve always found them to be physically very tough and superb in the water with, possibly, the best nose of all the retriever breeds. A real shame that they are racked with physical problems as well as the one shared by Chesapeakes which is the price the breeders charge. A Chesapeake may, arguably, be better than a lab for wildfowling. But it is`nt worth twice the price, which is what some Chesapeake (and flatcoat) breeders are asking. Small wonder that both are still minority breeds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hutchie the white hunter Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 The chesapeake is a great dog in water , and has got a built in water retrieving radar ,but im not disputing the fact there is a specific job for each breed of dog its just that more and more, im seeing people with untrained and unhealthy dogs and expecting them to work wonders thats my point ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Chesapeak . . . . . ginger rottwilers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon 3 Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 A good friend uses a flatcoat for fowling, he is a cracking dog on the marsh and is not at all bothered by even the strongest currents. They have a litter now which is there 4th generation of workers, they do fetch a high price and they are still inundated with enquiries. Think they have a couple of bitches and a dog left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anser2 Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) I usualy have had Labs , but my previous bitch a golden retriever knocked the spots of any lab I have seen. She was still having the odd easy flight at 16 and had her last day in a pigeon hide at 17 ( though my younger lab did the bulk of the retrieving. ) I am not so sure it was the breed , perhaps just the individual dog , but its said you always have one dog in your life that you are at one with and Penny my old retriever was that one dog for me. She had the looks ( her grand father was best in breed at Crufts) and the skills needed for a fowlers dog ( 9 field trial champions in her blood line ) and most important her temperment was great. I tried to get another working strain golden retriver , but the price was well beyond my pocket with at the time no goldens going much less than a grand for a pup. So settled for a Lab again and Meg has proved to be a very good wildfowling dog , but her only problem is she is not a golden retriever. [/b] In the cold light of day a good Lab is just as good as a good golden retriever , but if there is a slight difference it can be summed up as style . As for spanials I love the breed , but i have seen too many very cold , wet muddy spanials shivering for hours in the bottom of muddy creeks to ever think about using them myself for wildfowling. Edited August 14, 2012 by anser2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asa Bear Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Chesapeak . . . . . ginger rottwilers Say that to his face! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reabrook Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 (edited) Neoprene jackets are a godsend for Spaniels. Really do a great job keeping them warm if they get a soaking early on in an outing. Also help to some degree with both camoflage and flotation (not that is really much of a problem) I like the neoprene jacket but they don't make up for a good thick oily coat and I very much get the impression that they only slow down the process of a dog getting cold and not prevent it. As an observation,although I`ve always used Chesapeakes and am currently running on a young black lab, for the previous forty years I`ve also had Flatcoats which no one has yet mentioned. Although they seem to be having more than their fair share of genetically transmitted problems I`ve always found them to be physically very tough and superb in the water with, possibly, the best nose of all the retriever breeds. A real shame that they are racked with physical problems as well as the one shared by Chesapeakes which is the price the breeders charge. A Chesapeake may, arguably, be better than a lab for wildfowling. But it is`nt worth twice the price, which is what some Chesapeake (and flatcoat) breeders are asking. Small wonder that both are still minority breeds. As a Wildfowler I'm attracted to both breeds but it's the inherent illness and reasonably small gene pool from which to choose that puts me off. I've looked at several Chessies over the years including one that was being hailed as the best Wildfowling dog ever. It wasn't, or rather was but only on the owners mind. I usualy have had Labs , but my previous bitch a golden retriever knocked the spots of any lab I have seen. As for spanials I love the breed , but i have seen too many very cold , wet muddy spanials shivering for hours in the bottom of muddy creeks to ever think about using them myself for wildfowling. Never really considered a Golden until watching a very decent one work a year or two ago and now think Imwould probably have one if I could find the right one. There's certainly more to choose from than Chessies or Flatcoats. Your comments about Spaniels sums it up for me Edited August 14, 2012 by Reabrook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudpatten Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 Chrispti.For that, I WILL set the ginger rottweiller on you the next time you come round my house. As MPK says, he can never understand why the ginger hatemonster is always so angry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
graham Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 labs for me , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 I like the neoprene jacket but they don't make up for a good thick oily coat and I very much get the impression that they only slow down the process of a dog getting cold and not prevent it It was my brother who used to wildfowl with springers, he bought a neoprene jacket and I admit at first I just laughed but I was soon convinced when I saw how warm and dry the dog was at the end of a flight when the jacket came off. The dog may have had several swims in ice cold water but within a few minutes the best place to keep your hands warm was between the neoprene jacket and the dog, toasty! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 15, 2012 Report Share Posted August 15, 2012 (edited) bought a neoprene jacket and I admit at first I just laughed but I was soon convinced when I saw how warm and dry the dog was at the end of a flight when the jacket came off. The dog may have had several swims in ice cold water but within a few minutes the best place to keep your hands warm was between the neoprene jacket and the dog, toasty! Agree with all of that. Except for maybe using the dog as a glove Edited August 15, 2012 by wildfowler.250 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoggy Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Labs all the way for me. Although, I wouldn`t mind having a Chessie oneday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xav Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Springer for me. Mine is a good swimmer, not as strong as a lab for sure, but competent. I can trust her to find any pricked bird at night when I go for an evening flight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazco2121 Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 <p> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazco2121 Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 lab for me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird Lugton Posted August 24, 2012 Report Share Posted August 24, 2012 That is such an awesome photo of your dog, clearly he's keen as mustard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Lab :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.