Gun Dogs

[Big D]

Agree with all that has been said. I'm a Lab/Springer guy (just lucky, I guess), but I would add that you should ensure that any new pup come from a hunting/field trial line. As an example, most show-bred Springers, Labs and Goldens will be less than stellar in the field.

[TARNATION !!!]

Opinion thread for sure.
I firmly believe that all canines are natural born predators. The instinct is not far below the surface; therefore, most any breed - with a minimum of encouragement, can perform in the field. I have had labs and pointers and also taken along family pets that you wouldn't ever think of as hunting dogs, including shelties and two mini-American eskimos. They all can find and flush. Point and hold is another story. For that I loved TAZ my GSP.
At the moment I have CHARLIE (LabxHusky) and KYRA (mini-American Eskimo) They are both fun to watch when they get birdy.
Rich is so right - Upland without a dog is a walk with a gun

Upland with a dog is indeed a pleasureable walk with a gun and a great meal afterwards. (Well, if we do our part - the best dog, best shotgun, best ammo still needs us to place the shot pattern over the bird)

CHARLIE

[Chuck Heald]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

Agree with all that has been said. I'm a Lab/Springer guy (just lucky, I guess), but I would add that you should ensure that any new pup come from a hunting/field trial line. As an example, most show-bred Springers, Labs and Goldens will be less than stellar in the field.

Words not to take lightly. The last class I took with Hickox in Idaho, a student brought his house pet Springer. That dog could care less about a bird. It wouldn't even walk over to it when tossed on the ground. I've seen the same thing in two labs around the neighborhood. I had a live pigeon in my birdbag at a local city park, waiting for dark to run a drill with my lab. Two neighborhood ladies had their labs there watching us. I teased them (the ladies' dogs, not the ladies) with the live bird. Neither dog (nor lady) was interested.

Predatory drive is bred, not trained. Training hunting dogs is just about harnessing that predatory drive.