Beauregard of Rebel Ridge - My Setter Pup

[Setter Man]

Proud dog-dad and understandably so. Looking forward to meeting him in May or this fall. Lucky for us there are enough couches at the Oxbow for the dogs - hopefully they'll be willing to share with us.

Cheers,

Jay

[Gary Laudermilch]

Yes, a beautiful setter. He gets his height from Bo. It takes a leggy dog to run the Grand National. You will have many fun years with that guy. Let him run!

[Ed Norman]

What a beautiful setter. Dave I live up near BigD, in northern lower michigan. If your over this way during grouse season, get a hold of me, I would love to watch that dog hunt.

[Kentucky Bird Hunter]

Dean, I so agree. Thank you. You have captured the situation perfectly. Labs and Setters are both wonderful dogs in their own right. They both do what they were born to do wonderfully, even though those tasks are not necessarily the same. Different breeds and temperaments, for sure, but worthy of our love and attention (and access to our furniture!) no matter the breed.

And I'm fairly certain that there will be another Lab in our future to pal around with Beau.

Dave

[esetter - Gerry Addison]

He looks really nice. Big Boy!

[Marty K.]

Dean,
I have been a Lab guy my whole life but I'd love to have a Setter as you chose after your Tobie..I wondered if you would expound on the specific differences you have found having experience with both......

Thanks, Marty

[Big D]

I'm not Dean, but... I've been a Lab/Springer guy fro the last 30 years or so. To me, the difference is that flushers/retrievers understand that hunting is a team sport. Pointers/setters, not so much

[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by John Dallas

I'm not Dean, but... I've been a Lab/Springer guy fro the last 30 years or so. To me, the difference is that flushers/retrievers understand that hunting is a team sport. Pointers/setters, not so much

John, I wish you could be with me when one of my Gordons (true of all 10 that have owned us for over 30 years) stops and looks back at me for direction while we are hunting. I've had them come in to check on us when we were unable to cross a creek quickly, or if one of us stumbles or falls. If that's not a team player, I don't know what is.

However you characterize breeds, the one thing that is so wonderful about a hunting dog is the bond that you as the hunter can create with your pup.

If humans were more like dogs, there would be a lot less trouble in this world.

[Dean Romig]

I wouldn’t necessarily subscribe to that. It has mostly to do with the training/trainer on how
a dog sees himself in the hunting picture. Maybe instinct tells a pointer/setter to be a ‘self-hunter’ or maybe not, but if recognized early a wise trainer can overcome such a trait.

I think labs are generally speaking, just more biddable, more easy-going and more susceptible to consistency in training.

But each dog is different regardless of the breed. I’m just speaking from my own experience. Grace is stubborn - Tobie never was.
Grace thinks she knows what she should be doing, where she should be going, how close she can get to a bird... better than I. I need to remind her sometimes just who the boss is. But I only need to remind her once. We may always have our differences of opinion but I blame myself for not getting her on to birds often enough in her first couple of years. We were on Grace’s first live bird training weekend when we learned of Kathy’s health situation.... Everything in our lives changed from that moment on.

We love Grace passionately and she is almost the grouse dog I want, and with patience and consistency we will get there soon - this year hopefully.





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[Twombly setters]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

I wouldn’t necessarily subscribe to that. It has mostly to do with the training/trainer on how
a dog sees himself in the hunting picture. Maybe instinct tells a pointer/setter to be a ‘self-hunter’ or maybe not, but if recognized early a wise trainer can overcome such a trait.

I think labs are generally speaking, just more biddable, more easy-going and more susceptible to consistency in training.

But each dog is different regardless of the breed. I’m just speaking from my own experience. Grace is stubborn - Tobie never was.
Grace thinks she knows what she should be doing, where she should be going, how close she can get to a bird... better than I. I need to remind her sometimes just who the boss is. But I only need to remind her once. We may always have our differences of opinion but I blame myself for not getting her on to birds often enough in her first couple of years. We were on Grace’s first live bird training weekend when we learned of Kathy’s health situation.... Everything in our lives changed from that moment on.

We love Grace passionately and she is almost the grouse dog I want, and with patience and consistency we will get there soon - this year hopefully.





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I have hunted several times with Grace and all she needs is a season with above average bird numbers, don't worry she will be great.