Gun Dogs

[C.O.B.]

Yesterday a friend who has two Llewellen setters and I went for a Pheasant hunt. I had Crazy Gaisy my GSP. The dog work was superb by all three and we saw and shot quite a few birds. Some shots were good some not so good.

One of the not so good shots will stand out in the memory bank for a long, long time. We were working a ditch and all three dogs were birdy. Finally they all locked up on point with Daisy streched out in a classic point paw raised her stubby tail straight up. Ella one of the Setters hard on point facing Daisy and Gracie the youngest dog backing solidly. It was the prettiest point I have seen Daisy ever make and I didn't have the camera. Well the bird flushed which was a hen with nothing around her except clear blue sky and I missed her not once but twice as she put hundreds of long snowy yards between us. I swear Daisy and Ella cussed my out

John, Dave's setter Ella will lay down when she points a bird. On the way home I asked him about it and he said the same thing you did about the gamekeepers netting birds. It's nice to learn something new.

[King Brown]

Dean, the Nova Scotia Toller or Little River Duck Dog (of Yarmouth County) as they were known when I made a little film on them 58 years ago is companionable, used in tamer waters but not in the hard stuff of the ledges and off-shore islands. They are often hard-headed and I wouldn't recommend one. Having said that, last week I saw a really good Toller not a kilometre from my home, a dandy spirited little fellow who loved his job. So I'm generalizing more from how I feel than experience. I know Tollers are used in tough stuff on our South Shore but not as many now as years ago.

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

This is me and Radar my Chesador. He is half Labrador which gives him a lovable personality. He is also half Chesapeake which makes him stubborn as heck! Being half Chessie also makes him have “grit”, that is strong character and perseverance! Radar is a special dog to me. He is my Ol’Yeller or Lassie-dog. Radar is my companion as well as hunting partner.

Radar is a great waterfowler and fine upland dog. He hunts close and I like that. I love to see him get “birdie”. We do as Chuck pointed out; cover a lot of ground together. That’s fine for he is 11 and me almost 5 times that. We tire together.

Being 11 years old I know that I have but a few more years with Radar. I love him so that his passing will hurt me more than I can imagine. That makes me think about what dog will be next? For me, who wants a companion and gun dog, I think it will be a Pointing Lab or Standard Poodle.

Good luck in your analysis and decision. Dogs bring joy to our lives. Also, we can learn a lot from our dogs if we take the time to learn.

[Dunnigun]

Mark, that is a neat dog. I've never heard of that breed and please tell me it combines the best of the two. Great pics. Could you tell us what the two guns are and a bit about them? Thanks, Brian

[Double Lab]

Mark;
Great picture. Maybe it's the lighting but you look much older than Radar. Enjoy your buddy while you can. God gives them to us for a very short time so the love and affection they give us is concentrated. You never hunt alone when you hunt with your dog. Give him a treat for me on Christmas morning.

[charlie cleveland]

that is one fine pal you have there...most of the times man will out live his dog and we have great love for them..but sometimes the dog outlives us..i have seen a dog grieve his self to death over the passing of thedogs owner...such great love... i dont think i could match this love...all that i can do is love my pal whish is a little jack russel shes 3 shes making a fine squirl dog shes a fine companion will even help you finish your ice cream cone once in a while...what would we do with out our partners of the field and home... charlie

[King Brown]

Good advice from John and Chuck. I've been lucky with Labs in the sense that I never got a palooka (although we all know that generally the owner makes the dog). With my current Jake I knew that he would be my last dog because of my age. I scouted for field experience and fortunately there's a kennel fairly close to home owned by a duck and geese hunter, former Ducks Unlimited worker, and dog trainer. I'm living out my years with a champ, bird dog through and through. Choosing a dog is serious business!

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Hi Brian,

That photo was the subject of a recent Parker Pages article which I wrote from a revised version of the first thread listed below. In this thread I list the guns and qualities of my Chesador. I invite you to join the Parker Gun Collectors Association (PGCA). It will be the best $40 you ever spent! The Parker Pages alone are worth that and more!

A good dog, pheasants, and Parkers:
http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/sho...ighlight=Radar

Back to the Chesador. These are an old cross bread often from accidental litters between owner's Labs and Chessies. Radar had the strongest personality of his litter and although several experiance dog owner/trainers had him as their first pick they said no way and chose one of his siblings. I had last pick and according to the breaders, got the best of the litter. I would not argue with that!

The following threads have photos of me and Radar which shows how big a part of my life he is.
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, I want to go where they go!”

http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/sho...ighlight=Radar*

http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/sho...ighlight=Radar*

http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/sho...ighlight=Radar

http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/sho...ighlight=Radar

http://www.parkerguns.org/forums/sho...ighlight=Radar

[Bob Jurewicz]

"MY PHEASANT!!!"

[charlie cleveland]

now that pup loves to have his picture took.... charlie