jcbbracken Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 do springadors make good pigeon shooting hide dogs have allways had labs thinking of a change what do you say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 most dogs if trained properly will make good gundogs............i knew a lady in southern ireland ...Mrs Barrington...she used to breed sheperds for the police and for gundog work.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holloway Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 I have just got my first Springador after years of Springers so I hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 Not sure where this idea of throwing together two totally different types of dogs comes from and expecting to get the ‘best of both’ breeds. What if you get the worst of both? Almost makes you wonder why they created specific breeds in the first place 🤷♂️ But back on topic, the requirement for the dog to sit in a pigeon hide and then go out and collect a shot bird doesn’t require top level training, and as Ditchman has rightly said most dogs, even many non gundog breeds, could be trained to complete such a task. Not sure what a ‘Springerdor’ would offer over just getting a Labrador tbh, but if you do get one I imagine it could well make a good pigeon shooting dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malmick Posted August 7, 2021 Report Share Posted August 7, 2021 (edited) One of the shoots that I work my ESS on, there's a guy who works on the estate has a Staffy that was a rescue dog. It's a really steady dog, doesn't go mad when beating and retrieves well. Wouldn't be my choice but it's a nice dog and demonstrates ditchman's point. It might also be smart enough to realise that there's payback for being rescued 😂😂 Edited August 7, 2021 by malmick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr gen Posted August 10, 2021 Report Share Posted August 10, 2021 On 07/08/2021 at 21:27, malmick said: One of the shoots that I work my ESS on, there's a guy who works on the estate has a Staffy that was a rescue dog. It's a really steady dog, doesn't go mad when beating and retrieves well. Wouldn't be my choice but it's a nice dog and demonstrates ditchman's point. It might also be smart enough to realise that there's payback for being rescued 😂😂 I had a staffy cross springer that my wife got from a rescue home. He was two years old at the time. He was an absolute natural, he would work cover all day long but would suffer with nettle stings and bramble scratches that drove him mad in the evenings due to his thin coat. He would also retrieve as good as most trained dogs but when it came to hide work, as soon as the gun went off he would be off taking the net and poles with him every time, he was a night mare.. he will always be one of my most memorable dogs God bless him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 My springadork in the hide a couple of weeks back: Basically, you risk a mutt with spanner manic energy, but looking like a lab, so people are lulled into a false sense of security, then surprised when they go off like a rocket. He brings back pigeons (hand back needs work). He has been beating with one of the girls on our DIY syndicate. His 'failings' in the field are down to my inexperience/lack of consistency as a trainer, not him or his uh, 'breed'. I say go for it. For full disclosure, he isn't even a proper springador, his mother is a springador, the father a lab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 As said it’s not about breeding but training. If you want to go for a mongrel over a pure bred that’s a matter of personal choice. Given labs are bred to be calmer and springers to hunt and be energetic it’s going to be pot luck as to which characteristic prevails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 2 hours ago, udderlyoffroad said: My springadork in the hide a couple of weeks back: Basically, you risk a mutt with spanner manic energy, but looking like a lab, so people are lulled into a false sense of security, then surprised when they go off like a rocket. He brings back pigeons (hand back needs work). He has been beating with one of the girls on our DIY syndicate. His 'failings' in the field are down to my inexperience/lack of consistency as a trainer, not him or his uh, 'breed'. I say go for it. For full disclosure, he isn't even a proper springador, his mother is a springador, the father a lab. look at that dog..............it thinks the world of you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B725 Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 More like it wanting his sandwich 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 Closer to "Are you going to hit something so I can retrieve it?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holloway Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 My observations so far 5 months old ,this is my first change away from springers I was always put off by people saying you will get the worst of both breeds.I met a vet who has bred Springadors and he managed to convince me that his were always the best of both and I should give one a go. This girl has got all of the instincts in bucketfuls and is as hot as any of my previous Springers were at this age. I have already come to the conclusion that any problems or failures will be my own as she has everything she needs to do the job very well.The more dogs I have had and have trained makes me realise that most if not all of there problems are caused by my own failings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted August 13, 2021 Report Share Posted August 13, 2021 Would have thought most mongrels are trainable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbbracken Posted August 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2021 On 11/08/2021 at 09:31, udderlyoffroad said: My springadork in the hide a couple of weeks back: Basically, you risk a mutt with spanner manic energy, but looking like a lab, so people are lulled into a false sense of security, then surprised when they go off like a rocket. He brings back pigeons (hand back needs work). He has been beating with one of the girls on our DIY syndicate. His 'failings' in the field are down to my inexperience/lack of consistency as a trainer, not him or his uh, 'breed'. I say go for it. For full disclosure, he isn't even a proper springador, his mother is a springador, the father a lab. good looking dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIDES EDGE Posted August 16, 2021 Report Share Posted August 16, 2021 The best gun dog I have had was a Springador its mother was a pure bred Lab and father a pure bred Springer looked like a black lab with a white bib she was brilliant at all types of shooting a mate had her litter sister which was also a very good gun dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouser Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 I was at the midland a few years back, one of the displays was a lady using a Rottweiler as a gun dog, and really good at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 I've got a proper mongrel (accidental mating between a Lab and a NZ Huntaway) he wont make a field trial champion, but we go rough shooting and if restrictions allow we will be wildfowling this winter. I will also be taking him picking up this winter at a local rough shooting club. I think he'll do OK, but he wont be brilliant! Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted September 1, 2021 Report Share Posted September 1, 2021 13 hours ago, Aled said: NZ Huntaway Never heard of them, had to google it! They look like a mixture of Dobermann / GSD / Rottweiler, with maybe a hint of collie thrown in depending on which picture I'm looking at! On 11/08/2021 at 00:07, Mr gen said: I had a staffy cross springer I'm absolutely intrigued by that combination, do you have any photos you'd be able to share? I'm imagining a little muscle-packed tank with big floppy ears 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted September 2, 2021 Report Share Posted September 2, 2021 Well i think you are correct Jim Neal, the NZ Huntaway breed came about due to crossing whatever working sheep dogs were available in an area. Cheers Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr gen Posted September 2, 2021 Report Share Posted September 2, 2021 12 hours ago, Jim Neal said: Never heard of them, had to google it! They look like a mixture of Dobermann / GSD / Rottweiler, with maybe a hint of collie thrown in depending on which picture I'm looking at! I'm absolutely intrigued by that combination, do you have any photos you'd be able to share? I'm imagining a little muscle-packed tank with big floppy ears 😂 Here he is. He looks more Staffy in this photo buy everything he dud was spaniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Neal Posted September 6, 2021 Report Share Posted September 6, 2021 On 02/09/2021 at 11:13, Mr gen said: Here he is. He looks more Staffy in this photo buy everything he dud was spaniel Gorgeous looking lad, big old chunk of muscle!! Kind of got the floppy ears but without the long hair on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 On the little mates syndicate I used to be in a mate of one of the guns twice brought a doberman cross that he said was a "great working dog" . It actually was great at not listening to a word he said and running like a Ferrari at full chat through the cover crop about 300yds in front of the guns putting every bloody partridge and pheasant up with no chance of getting a shot at them . When the shoot captain shouted for him to get that ******##"* dog on a lead and fox trot Oscar the owner got really peed and stormed off thankfully to be never seen again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 10 hours ago, hodge911 said: On the little mates syndicate I used to be in a mate of one of the guns twice brought a doberman cross that he said was a "great working dog" . It actually was great at not listening to a word he said and running like a Ferrari at full chat through the cover crop about 300yds in front of the guns putting every bloody partridge and pheasant up with no chance of getting a shot at them . When the shoot captain shouted for him to get that ******##"* dog on a lead and fox trot Oscar the owner got really peed and stormed off thankfully to be never seen again Sounds like a good keeper! I believe part of beauty of proper rough shooting, is that you have to train your dog properly (or at least half train it) so that you can keep it within the range of shot. Plenty of dogs on shoots that are well out of range of shot (basically out of control), whilst the owners proclaim what great working dogs they are. A well train decent cross breed is better than a pure bred dog that’s not been trained and allowed to run riot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12gauge82 Posted September 13, 2021 Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 Dog breeds are always evolving, even the traditional breeds that we think have been around for hundreds of years. I'm sure the springer or lab could be improved on by someone with the right knowledge and at lest 50 years or so of very selective breeding. Cross two well known working breeds, with proven parents and you'll likely get a good working dog that could be worse or better than a purebred, if your not running trials I wouldn't worry and go for what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted September 14, 2021 Report Share Posted September 14, 2021 Just been looking on gumtree and someone selling Springer X bull mastiff . Why the hell would you cross those 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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