BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[e4c4ever]

Just wondering if there is an all around hunting dog?

One that has a great nose for scent, swims good and retrieves, hunts for birds/waterfowl, all varmints, big game. is there such thing at all? I read somewhere that the weimaraner is a good choice.

Could this be true?

[Don Fischer]

You know what they say about the jack of all trades! I would not even attempt to get one dog to do all that. You will find individual's that will make all sort's of claims for their chosen breed, most are terriblely defeficent in most areas and adequate in other's. The owner's that champion them are blinded by prejudice. I have watched a good number of Weimeraners and have never seen one that would eat my grocery's. None that I've watched did anything related to hunting well but some are quite good looking, others, houndy.

What is it you really want? Sounds like a buddy to go hunting with you. In which case, which game do you hunt the most? That's the place to start. A big problem is you included varmit's and big game. For the other's you mentioned there are a number of good breeds that excell in certain things and do well in others. First to mind would be the German pointing breeds (not the Weimeraner) and the Springer Spaniel from hunting stock. Have also read some very good things about the Water Spaniels but know little about them. Just enough to think they deserve a look. Avoid trial type German Shorthairs, English Pointers (there go my two favorites) and English setters.

Depending on where you live, concider the coat of the dogs, will it have to protect from very cold weather? Very hot weather? Probally the best coat I could think of is the wirehair. It's also much more utility dog than specialist. Handles most things well but won't stay with a lab in water, a Springer in tight brush or the GSP, EP or E. setters in style and range.

You've asked a tuff question to get a good answer to. Perhaps an Airedale, I had the site for them on my old computer that crashed and don't know where it is any more. If I can find it again, I'll post it. Nice bunch of guy's.

Try this:http://www.huntingairedales.com/ Not the site I was looking for but does look promising.

[e4c4ever]

Yes, I do need a hunting buddy! Thank you for the useful info. Well, right now there is so much that I want t odo. But i feel that I may want to do pheasant and duck hunting the most. I'll check out that site! Again thanks.

[hunter777]

Airedales seem to be the dog of choice to alot of trappers. They can be very useful on the trap line at running down a coyote if it pulls out. They mark every place the yotes and fox mark and are very smart, I have even heard of a few guys that run them with thier bear hounds and on boar. I have met a few and really like thier disposition.

[huntergirl07]

well , my labs are trained in varmits, duck, goose, pheasant, if that what u mean?

[Don Fischer]

It is amazing how many thing's a dog can be trained to do acceptably well. If your dog makes you happy then that's about all that matter's. But don't decieve yourself that a lab can go with a pointer, a pointer can retrieve with a lab or that either make's as good a protection dog as a german shepard. :thumbsup1:

[hunter777]

"If your dog makes you happy then that's about all that matter's"

Don, I think you hit the nail on the head there! :thumbsup1:

[NWbearhunter]

IMHO.... a lab is an all around great hunting dog.

Good nose to find birds in upland hunting, good strong swimmer to retrieve ducks and geese, strong dogs and smart.


WWW.ASSIST2HUNT.COM

[AustinCo]

I have a friend with a Drathur (sp?) and that thing can really get with upland, ducks, rabbit and even coon! The darn thing scares the heck out of me when I'm over there? Something in it's eyes.

[Don Fischer]

Austin, call it a wirehair, same thing unless your one of the VVD people. I saw a photo of the first wire brought to this country. It was in a muzzle. I've also known a good number of them and don't recall running into a bad one. But that's not to say there isn't one. Go with your instincts, you've been around enough that your probally right.

[AustinCo]

Wirehair it is! Drathur sounds a bit too Transilvainian :evil:

[Alex Myrin]

I own and breed my own pointing labs, they are GREAT! They can do it all! Point and retrieve upland birds, they are powerful swimmers and have great marking abilities, they will just about die to retrieve or hunt!

[Alex Myrin]

This is my little Annie when she was I believe 13 weeks old, pointing a chukar 15 feet away.

[Alex Myrin]

This is a six week old pup from a previous litter pointing a chukar.

[e4c4ever]

I think... I would love to get a pointing Lab! Anyone want to gimme one? ::neener: