mrmints Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 I've got a couple of questions regarding looking after gun dogs. I have an arrangement with my wife whereby if/when we move to a bigger house, I can get another dog. However, I think I can get around this by attaching a kennel to my garage. We don't need a bigger house if the dog doesn't live in it! 1.) Are gun dogs good (or bad if you look at it this way) guard dogs? ie will they bark at everyone who walks down my road at night? 2.) Are they happy being out alone in the kennel when another dog lives in the house? ie will it look so sad that my wife will want to bring it in and lavish it with affection all day?! 3.) Can gun dogs happily be walked with non-gun dogs? 4.) Are gun dogs ok in their run/kennel all day if they're walked once or twice before or after work? 5.) How big does the kennel/run need to be? I plan to have part inside the garage and part out, connected by dog flap. Obviously as big as I can make it, but are there any minimum requirements for a spaniel that will live in it all day, every day? 6.) Any one know of a good book or website for a beginner to looking after (not training yet) gun dogs? Thanks in advance for any help. Best regards, Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes, yes, yes, yes, depends on dog size but 8x4 is good and book would probably depend on breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Yes, yes, yes, yes, depends on dog size but 8x4 is good and book would probably depend on breed. Can I suggest a Portuguese Pointer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmints Posted September 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Can I suggest a Portuguese Pointer? that's not a suggestion that has ever been made to me before. Why do you recommend them? thanks for responding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1087 Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 If you have never had a gun dog before I would go with a lab one of the easiest dogs to train in my opinion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 that's not a suggestion that has ever been made to me before. Why do you recommend them? thanks for responding! Sorry it's a bit of banter that occurs on here. If you want your first ever gun dog I personally would never recommend anything other than a Labrador from a decent lines. The parents of the pup would need to have at least hip & eye tests, they'd preferably be also elbow scored & be tested clear for CNM & PRA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmints Posted September 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 How much will a decent lab pup set you back? looking at my garage and the necessary conversion, i could easily give the dog 8x4 inside, but the outside bit would be much narrower, more like 2.5*8. Too small for something as big as a lab? chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1087 Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 A good lab will cost about £500 to £800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 Dog pups are cheapest, particularly if you play a waiting game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 before you follow the advice of buying a lab. What do you want the dog for ? Pegshooting, hideshooting or wildfowling, then a lab is fine but if you are on a grouse moor you'll want a HPR and for rough or walked up shooting you'll need a spaniel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1087 Posted September 5, 2013 Report Share Posted September 5, 2013 A HPR is hard work for his first working dog a lab will do all the above just fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker boy Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 The correct dog to get should be a dog that is bred to do the job you require of it. But nowadays the look of the dog seems to be the most important thing for the new gundog owner. Shame really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 As above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 before you follow the advice of buying a lab. What do you want the dog for ? Pegshooting, hideshooting or wildfowling, then a lab is fine but if you are on a grouse moor you'll want a HPR and for rough or walked up shooting you'll need a spaniel. I would ask the same question. Most gundogs will do a bit if everything, but if you do only one sort of shooting it could be more difficult to say have a springer to be a peg dog, it can do it but a lab would be more suited. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Ive got a lab so bit bias but she will do everything i want, when i use her for rough shooting i still keep her fairly close as i noticed her walking to heel/peg manners started to stray but does the job if i did bit more rough shooting id get a spaniel ive even tracked shot deer with her bit of a site watching her try and pick it up bless her If your serious about a dog may be worth looking to get a part/full trained dog they come up for sale regular and a slightly more mature trained dog wont cost the earth Training wise theres plenty of books and films on youtube etc to get you going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 It does depend on the type of shooting u do and wot u expect off the dog But for 90+% of folk a lab would do everthing u'll ever need (from beating, picking up, wildfowling, hide work, rough shooting, very adaptable breed) and be relatively easy to train, but to be fair so would a springer with the right training. I would strongly advise not to get a HPR, esp as a first dog unless u need a dog to point A proper old fashioned lab willl hunt and hit cover no problems, u don't need a spaniel for that, but a lab tends to take cold or wet conditions and water work better purely due to it's coat type and is more suited as a peg dog althou spaniels can do it My other advice no matter wot breed of dog u go for is to check the lines, I personally don't like heavily FT breeding which is now the fashion (i think modern FT to dogs are bred far to specialised now for for trailing and not for working) I would far rather have a pup of a decent bitch i have seen work and know wot its like. I also no longer bother if a pups parents have been health tested, (or KC registered althou all mine are) if i know the owner know the dog and trust them and there keeping a pup for them selves. There is a lot of very good beating/working dogs that only have 1 litter so are never health tested, that would not put me off (althou many will disagree with that) Would be different if i never knew the owners/breeders and buying a pup off an advert but with word off mouth i would be happy to uy an un health tesed pup From reading another post of ur's i would mibee hang fire if this is ur first season shooting, see wot other guns/beaters use dog wise and ask plenty questions, and possibly try to get a pup of them when the time comes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmints Posted September 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm definitely going to be waiting until next year, maybe May time before buying anything. The idea of an older/part trained dog does appeal, but presumably you need to get very lucky to get what you want, when you want it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm definitely going to be waiting until next year, maybe May time before buying anything. The idea of an older/part trained dog does appeal, but presumably you need to get very lucky to get what you want, when you want it! There are quite a few part trained or trained dogs out there give it a google, you need to know what you want it for so you buy the right dog for your needs. Also be prepared to pay for the right dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PERCE Posted September 6, 2013 Report Share Posted September 6, 2013 (edited) Most part trained dogs are sold because they have a fault, also be aware there's a fair few sharks about, it's very much a buyer beware market. Edited September 6, 2013 by PERCE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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