Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs Need a new best companion

Lost my Irish Setter yesterday to IMHA . Thinking of new pup to share my last years with, and hunting an occasional mountain grouse. Smaller setter preferred.any suggestions. Thanks Randall

My BEST companion dog was a female Australian Cattle Dog. She was also the best flushing and retrieving dog west of the Mississippi!

And here comes one of everyones favorite breed. I say English Cocker...and now you are quickly up to two. Probably best to go with what you know and prefer. Or hang around some others and make a decision based on your experience rather than....

I'd look for a Llewellyn setter from one of the smaller sized bloodlines. It's what I plan to do when I retire next year.

338Rem is a good one but he's getting a little old so might only be good for the first field or two.....

Wachtelhund.

Lost my Chessie a little over a year ago. If I end yp getting another gun dog it will be one of the smaller breeds for several reasons. I'm thinking it will either be a Boykin spaniel or a golden retriever. Just to be clear, when I say a golden retriever I'm not talking about those oversized white monstrosities currently so popular with the pet set. I'm talking about a field bred dog that meets the breed standards. There is only one breeder of goldens I'd consider, she''s been breeding them over 30 years, she knows what she's doing and her dogs do it right and make it look easy. But in any case, I'm leaning toward a Boykin.

Whatchoo talkin bout Willis!!!

Who would want a Llewellin as a companion? Anyone who likes loyal dogs.

If you're looking for a companion thatlives with you and hunts with you, a French Brit might be a good choice. They make wonderful companions and are generally gentle spirits. But if you need a wide ranging rough and tumble, or open rough water dog, or a dog that stays in a kennel probably not. I'm not familiar with your grouse, but for our eastern pheasants( if you still find any), ruffled grouse, and woodcock they're pretty great.
Not much can compare with a new puppy to fix a broken heart.
Bfly

Brittany would be my choice.

German Shorthaired Pointer would be my choice, wicked smart and can do it all.

Good luck in finding the dog that will be your best friend for years to come :o)

Pudelpointer. She's an absolute sweetheart, smart, with amazing prey drive. She calms down in the house and amps up when outside. We've been spoiled. Good luck on your search!

No breed gets more attached to their owner than an American Water Spaniel. Some are too attached and can be overly protective. In between an English Field Cocker and an English Springer in size but hunting machines of upland or waterfowl. Not sought as pets as they look like mangy Springers and all chocolate in color, but chances of getting one with a great nose and natural retrieving instincts is extremely high. Take cold weather well.

Large Munsterlander. Not only a versatile pointer/retriever but bred for blood trail tracking and their good at it. Lost mine last June, reserved female pup from an owner that plans a litter the next heat his female has. Great family dog and loyal companions. Pic of mine in avatar

Hard to replace a Chessie, but a Boykin comes very close and in a more compact package.

I have a 12 year old Boykin Spaniel I hunt (Not as often or as fast anymore) both fur and feathers. Very easy to train. She struggles with a large goose but will retrieve it. She is a great companion, rides on me motorcycle with me. Is small enough, I can grab her from water and place back in canoe with one hand without tipping over.

This was posted earlier today in the classifieds. Could be a match made in heaven.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...8-months-in-mich-need-homes#Post18983267

Hard to beat a good lab, or an Airedale.

I sent a pm. Have a really nice litter of shorthairs that are calm and very smart. Out of proven dogs that can reach back into the 60s-70s in 5 or 6 generations.
Line bred Wildburg lines...Essers Chick very close multple times. Going to put on classifieds when I get a chance
8wk old and ready to go.

sorry to hear that ,a dog can part of the family and loosing a great pet is very hard. i have always been a lab man but for now i have no dog anymore. good luck finding your new companion,Pete53

You might want to go the "The Red Setter field Trial Club" And see what's around. American Field group but smaller dogs Less hair and full of brains. I have three. 10 yr old male and one of his son's and daughter's. Stormy is about 50# if I remember right his son a bit bigger. His daughter, Abby, might make 40# but have never weighted her. The male pup's mom I had, Sis was about Abby's size. As for the hair, Stormy was 10 in last Oct and has never had a haircut. Hair seems harder than E Setter hair and while they do pick up burrs, not even close to what my E Setters did!

Stormy



Snicker



Abby

Good looking setters!

X2 ... If you're not going to use it for water fowl, buy a smooth coat PP. Very clean dogs, very little shedding. Mine is 10yrs old. I've never brushed him. Very biddable. Good with kids and other folks. Kinda goofy but serious when needed.

Damn Don those are fine looking dogs.mb

How about a Scottie? They never quit.



Get two; one for you and one for your wife.

L.W.

I used to run labs when the waterfowl hunting was good. When it got lousy I switched to English setters and never looked back. My last two setters--- The blue belton)male) is a Decoverly dog, he tipped the scale at 100 lbs. The Orange Belton(female)m is frome from Laural Mt Kennel in the UP of Michigan. Both lived in the house and were fantastic hunters and great friends. I lost the Male several years back. The I ran the femal at my clubs annual youth phesant hunt in Dec and she made a lot of kidds happy by pointing a ton of ringnecks.

My favorite is the Wire Hair Visula. Not common like the short hair, very calm, all weather, smart and great family dog.

My daughter has a Wire Hair Viszla.
Her's was the first of that breed I'd ever heard of.