kentish Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Actually I'd prfer a bitch, but looking for a gundog as a family pet, running companion and something I can train hopefully to start wildfowling with. Don't especially want a pup but must be young and biddable. Springer/field spaniel/Cocker or an HPR breed. Don't want anything too big, and preferably local. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 I think your selling yourself short not considering a retriever breed considering you want the dog for Wild fowl... as well as the other things you mention I imagine it will be around family and a good lab will be less likely for the family to spoil and mess up. Whilst cockers are brilliant little dogs I certainly wouldn’t buy one with its intended purpose being wild fowling. Just my opinion as if you get the dog and it’s not up to it your stuck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kentish Posted May 16, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Fair point, I'd happily consider a lab or retriever, would have to be on the smaller side though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Working labs are considerably smaller than almost every HPR except for a Brittany, which is only a dog for experienced HPR handler who wants to shorten their own life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 Spaniels really don’t like the cold and wet of the shore whereas labs thrive on it. There are some smallish ones about if you find the right breeder. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&W FOX Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 I've seen a spaniel trying to retrieve a goose. It didn't go well. By the time it worked it out the flight was over!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derbyduck Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 the saying goes a lab is born half trained and a spaniel dies half trained ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 I think that saying was made up by someone that failed to train a spanner so stuck with Labs 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 16, 2020 Report Share Posted May 16, 2020 16 hours ago, WalkedUp said: Working labs are considerably smaller than almost every HPR except for a Brittany, which is only a dog for experienced HPR handler who wants to shorten their own life. Smaller in height, but some labs appear to be thicker set than some HPR’s. It’s not just the size though as well. A labs thick double coat that’s pretty much designed to sit on the foreshore. Natural retrieving. Notoriously simple to train for even a beginner. I wouldn’t say the same thing about many HPR’s ... the name itself is a bit of a give away, they're designed to hunt and point before retrieving, active dogs that want to be on the go. I know HPR’s are very versatile but would you recommend one as a first dog to train? 🤔 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 I would only recommend as a first gun dog but only to someone who is fit and doesn’t shoot 🤣. A Labrador is a great gun’s dog, whereas HPRs are great gundogs. Hard to split your attention from the dog to the gun, generally the suit women better. Lots of the best gundogs I’ve known are were the husband shoots and wife just works the dog. My shooting buddy wanted to get an HPR but I persuaded him to get a Lab. I’ve trained different dogs and would say Labs are on par with a good HPR for land retrieves, but far better in water, just much more natural. The labs have also been much steadier out of the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Lots going to depend on the age of the kids personaly would go for a swamp collie every time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harkom Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 A labrador may not be the most appropriate dog as a running companion, during the hotter months of the year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rapid .25 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 15 hours ago, B725 said: I think that saying was made up by someone that failed to train a spanner so stuck with Labs 😁 👍😁😁😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 10 hours ago, Lloyd90 said: Smaller in height, but some labs appear to be thicker set than some HPR’s. You say thicker set, I would say fat 🤣 I appreciate they have a lovely double coat but almost every Labrador including countless working dogs I’ve seen has been very unfit. The only ones you can guarantee to be in good shape are the keeper’s dogs on upland shoots. I saw one squeeze through stock netting, a great dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 This is what an actual athletic (or working dog) looks like... you don’t see many lads in the in the Olympic athletic events with rolls of fat 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 (edited) WalkedUp That dog is in great condition. Edited May 17, 2020 by JDog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 1 hour ago, WalkedUp said: This is what an actual athletic (or working dog) looks like... you don’t see many lads in the in the Olympic athletic events with rolls of fat 🤣 What a cracker, would love to hear his exercise routine he looks in top shape. I would love to shoot walked up over him, but I’m not sure I’d want to send him into frozen water 😬 Fat labs float better 😂😂😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 That is truly one fit dog, how old is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 He was 10 when that picture was taken in Jan, my dogs get 30/45mins in the morning due to work and children. Mainly heeling on the walk. But they work twice a week from mid July to mid February. They are very thin coated and whilst great at swimming in icy water they get very cold if sat still for periods afterwards. They get frostbite on ears so Vaseline helps. Labradors are much much better on the marsh than HPRs, it is no contest. If I had time and money I wouldn’t buy a flash car, I would build better kennels and get a lab or Chessie and a little cocker. The fittest dogs I’ve seen have owners who cycle off road or have land they can hunt over everyday, such as open Moor. I’m against free running on land ground nesting birds use during April/May/June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Well if he was that fit at 10 its a credit to you, just a pity the fat lab owner's can't see it 👍👍👍👍👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 It’s bad health to let your dog overweight. Lots of owners obsess over hip scores and then let their dog get fat which is much worse for their joints than an extra point or two on the sire’s hip score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 9 minutes ago, WalkedUp said: He was 10 when that picture was taken in Jan, my dogs get 30/45mins in the morning due to work and children. Mainly heeling on the walk. But they work twice a week from mid July to mid February. They are very thin coated and whilst great at swimming in icy water they get very cold if sat still for periods afterwards. They get frostbite on ears so Vaseline helps. Labradors are much much better on the marsh than HPRs, it is no contest. If I had time and money I wouldn’t buy a flash car, I would build better kennels and get a lab or Chessie and a little cocker. The fittest dogs I’ve seen have owners who cycle off road or have land they can hunt over everyday, such as open Moor. I’m against free running on land ground nesting birds use during April/May/June. Those chessies are big brutes, I have heard they are quite protective and aloof (not always a bad thing). I have joined a fowling club this year. I also wish I had more room and a kennels I’d either look for a lab or a chessie specifically for fowling However for now young Ted is going to have to do his best and I will try and avoid sending him on anything too hard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 Could be another thread entirely... Dream kennel - what dogs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 4 hours ago, Lloyd90 said: What a cracker, would love to hear his exercise routine he looks in top shape. I would love to shoot walked up over him, but I’m not sure I’d want to send him into frozen water 😬 Fat labs float better 😂😂😂 all my dogs "showed a bit of rib"............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted May 17, 2020 Report Share Posted May 17, 2020 17 minutes ago, WalkedUp said: Could be another thread entirely... Dream kennel - what dogs? As I have read, everyone should train a cocker at least once... just to see how lucky they are with the other breeds It would have to hold a spaniel or two ... maybe 2 springers, a cocker, something for foreshore shooting (Lab or Chessie) and a bit of a do it all'er in a HPR. Maybe a GWP but I do like the HWV's This is all pending on the condition that I have access to lots of hand, with lots of game ... personally if push came to shove I would settle for loads of land with loads of game and make do with a brace of spaniels to manage the lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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