Wookie Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Morning all. Got a question for you all... I'm slowly trying to bring the wife round to letting me have a dog and I'm now starting to think about the breed I want (just so that I can say things like "they make lovely pets/very obedient/don't **** everywhere") Now, originally, I wanted a Springer, but the ones that I have seen are all totally insane and even the trained ones tend to shoot off all the time without warning, so I was wondering what breeds people here have and if they'd be a good choice for me at the stables where I live. Thanks, Wookie p.s. I saw a great dog the other day, but I don't think that I'd ever get one like her... Part Pointer, part Wihamarena, part Springer and part Chocolate Lab. The result? A slightly smaller dog than a pointer, but bigger than a Springer with lots of energy, but the calmness and colour of a Lab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 Wookie look no further than here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyni Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Wookie it quite depends on what type of shooting you do most. My own dog is a black lab bitch, great mate, obiedient, was house trained within a few weeks, craps everywhere except in the house :yp: I need a dog for the ducks and I love labs. Jonny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted January 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Jonnyni, was thinking quite seriously about a lab... A mate had a choco one called Ted that was superb for everything he did around his farm, but had a bad habit of eating anything within reach. Mind you, he worked it off! As for the sort of shooting I do, it's mainly air rifle stuff, but with any luck it may well go on to 12 bore soon enough. More than anything else, I want the company. Yes, I'm married and yes, we have a cat, but it's just not the same as having a dog. I grew up around them and I miss having a pet of my own around the house. I miss the walks I used to take mine one and I'm now getting lazy enough to want something else to go get my kills for me! Saying that though, your suggestion of the Bareve German Wirehaired Pointers tiercel would go down a treat with my missus. She's Swiss and loves Waihemenranananas. I think she'd be able to live with a pointer. Just hope the cat doesn't complain I'd still love a Springer tough.... Wookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyni Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Springers are cracking dogs too but they are harder to train if its your first time training a dog. This is my first dog as I have worked abroad for some time and have now come home for good (hopefully). She is 7 months old and is coming on well but you need to put in the time not a lot of training every day (20mins) as pups get bored quickly but the rewards are great. I will be getting another dog in a couple of years and it might just be a springer for the rough shooting as they work so hard. Take your time thinking about it. As for company I could'nt ask for a better mate than my lab. Although I fell out with her for a while when she ate my DVD remote. :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elma Fud Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Unfortunately I had to put my 8 year old labrador down just before Christmas. Like you I was looking at the breeds to see what would suit me. I was offered a six month old springer, as well as a 7 month old cocker. These dogs are now ready for training. My first thoughts were great. But I soon relised that most of my dog work envolves retrieving, not flushing. So I've kindly said no to the above dogs and yesterday got myself an 8 week old Lab from http://www.ukgundogs.org/ I believe Labs are easier to train than spaniels. Now I have a young pup to bond with before training commences. My last Lab was a joy to work. With hind sight, I relised that I pushed him to hard during his training, and got stressed as a result. Training is not a race..... With this pup I will try to take things a bit slower and enjoy his training. Hopefully having a happier dog with even better results. Happy is, Happy does. I will try and put some pictures up later of my new pup..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Boys: Do not be afraid to start your pups obedience training at 8 weeks... remember to go slow and keep it fun. The advantages are that you are not having to untrain bad habits to train good one, you can develope a natural retriever by play retrieving in the hallway with a nice straight retrieve and finish, and what they learn between 8 weeks and 16 weeks will stay with them forever. Keep setions short and Fun, use lots of praise and food rewards. At 16 weeks a pup should know how to heel, come when called ,lay down, sit, stay, and retrieve to hand. This is one of the most important training periods in a young dogs life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiercel Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Wookie go for a gwp they have the patiants of job thats why so many stalkers use them you wont be sorry. I know im not.They are a breed that is more suited to my age :yp: totaly NON MANIC totaly laid back. Does not suit some but suits me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit hunter Posted January 6, 2004 Report Share Posted January 6, 2004 Speaking from my dad's experience. English Springer Spaniels are sometimes good and sometimes crazy. The first spaniel we had was brilliant, she would wait for the signal before retrieving geese, but if it was a pheasant, she would go for it - how did she know???lol. Even when my dad was fishing, she would wag her tail when his rod jerked. But the second spaniel, stupid. She was very head-strong, she was tough-as-nails, she was LOOPY. She would dig holes in our garden, which dad hated. Springers need a lot of training, they are hard to train. But as i always say - you will only get out, what you put in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyni Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 At 16 weeks a pup should know how to heel, come when called ,lay down, sit, stay, and retrieve to hand. I definately don't want to start a whole big thing here but I would be amazed if an ordinary person (as in not a professional trainer) could get a pup at 4 months to do the above 100% especially for any length of time, unless you just mean that the pup understands these commands, walking to heel for a pup at that age is amazing, they just want to explore. I do agree with the rest of your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new to the flock Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 Johnnyni: You would not expect a 4 month old pup to do a 100 yard retrieve, nor would you expect him to formally heel for an hour. But believe me they will perform a 30 yard retrieve, and heel in position for a 20 min walk. Any non perfessional trainer can accomplish this. I am posting a training program in the country sports section at the end of this week detailing the methods for accomplishing the innitial obediance training of a pup or older dog. There is no majic to training...it is just patients, persistance, and persiverance and more patients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyni Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 it is just patients, persistance, and persiverance and more patients.and a bottle of valium :yp: I hear ya now nttf and I will look forward to your post on a training program in the country sports section. Im still having problems with the heel part it really is trying my patients and I have been trying that everyday since I got her as she gets walked everyday. Any tips on that on would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyni Posted January 7, 2004 Report Share Posted January 7, 2004 NTTL I have picked up the training post in the country sports section now and it looks like you could help me too. My lab bitck 'Kara' is also 7 months "the basic training tips" is what I will wait in anticipation for. I will post there for advise in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 If well trained a springer is your best bet, i wouldn't use anything else. but as someone already said they are hard to train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 To tell you the truth, a Springer would be my first choice. I've always had "Big" dogs (Irish Setter, Flat Coat Retriever), but ever since I saw a Springer, I've wanted one. They are the right size and they have lots of energy. It would give me the perfect excuse to go out for long walks! Having said that, the wife saw the Braeve Pointer page and fell in love. She likes Pointers anyway, so there could be an argument coming up! Wookie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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