Bingo Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Interested to hear some of your thoughts. I currently have a 2 year old lab, he is primarily a pet and is fantasticly patient an kind with my one year old son. I also use him picking up. We are thinking about getting a second dog at some point in the next year . It'll probably be another lab as they are great with children and I was brought up with them. However I have joined a rough shoot where the cover is difficult to get into and probably more suited to a spaniel...and there is a need for dogs to flush. Is it worth trying other breeds out or should I stick with what I know (also know a good breeder)? Are other working dogs also good pets and companions for small children? Whats it like working more than one dog at a time? What do you think? Cheers BINGO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 bingo I have a german wirehaired pointer who is 8 months old. He is great with my boys who are 2 and 4. I am about to start training him properly but when out walking he is very keen to get into cover. He is the first gundog I have had so I can't talk from experience but if you want something a little different it might be worth thinking about one. Harry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave C Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 (edited) I had a GWP who was also a great family dog and would protect the kids with his life. Like DH said they are different, but they are not for everyone as some can be head strong, but with the right amount of training they are a very versitile alround hunting dogs and great freinds. My heart would say GWP, but my head would say Spaniel Dave. Edited April 29, 2009 by Dave C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanielboy Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Pointers are good dogs and a mate has one, but they can be quite rangey. they seem to be better suited to working at distance, but do a great job when working! personally for me the best combo would be a lab and a spaniel. but each to their own i suppose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingo Posted April 29, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Have to say I love the look of GSPs but imagine that they are a lot more hard work than labs... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 Why do you think they would be more difficult than a lab? Still have to feed and walk them. I walk into the field and he exercises himself. They do hunt at range but that is in their breeding. If you want a dog that will only work closley to you then a springer would be a better option. I would recomend reading up on hpr breeds and see them working. Harry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 Personally in your situation I'd get another lab, thats despite the fact I've got a GWP as well, they are great with kids mine lives with a 5 month old and there aren't many dogs that you can trust as much. However they are harder work than labs that seem to be born half trained. I'll get shot for this but I'd avoid the springer in your circumstances they need more exercise and aren't quite as good with kids as well as being headstrong in the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 (edited) Personally in your situation I'd get another lab, thats despite the fact I've got a GWP as well, they are great with kids mine lives with a 5 month old and there aren't many dogs that you can trust as much. However they are harder work than labs that seem to be born half trained. I'll get shot for this but I'd avoid the springer in your circumstances they need more exercise and aren't quite as good with kids as well as being headstrong in the field. Agree with al4x. If you've got one lab and know and are happy with how he works get another, springers are not as good around kids - not talking aggression from my experience (i've got a springer, a lab and two kids), just more excitable causing a more stressful environment all round - and handling one springer at a time is enough for most people so your lab would either be at heel or pleasing himself. IMO if you want to run the two dogs together get another lab. Edited April 30, 2009 by wgd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted April 30, 2009 Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 Why do you think they would be more difficult than a lab? The fact that a large number of gundog trainers have kennels full of labs and spaniels and won't touch HPRs tells its own story. An HPR working well, holding point, flushing on command and putting game up in shot is a joy to watch and shoot over - I've been lucky enough to do this with a friend's FTW GSP... but achieving this is a whole different story. And since the OP is looking for a dog to work thick cover he wouldn't be getting the best from the breed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingo Posted April 30, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2009 Cheers for your posts...think it will be between another lab and an HPR, my girlfirend particularly likes the look of GWPs and Slovakian Wirehaired Pointers so may see if I can visit breeders in the future to see what their natures are like. Harry, when I say I think they might be more hard work, we give my lab about 2 hrs worth of exercise a day and he then sleeps most of the time...I was under the impression that HPRs had a a higher tempo and were therefore more demanding, i.e. nag you coz they are bored? BINGO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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