Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs Potential bird dog?

So my wife convinced me back around Christmas to get a standard Poodle for my kids. He's a red poodle which is pretty rare from my understanding. Handsome fella and smart as a whip. Have a duck guide friend here in NC who said guys in Currituck use them as duck dogs. Anybody here have any experience with them with anything other than ducks? At first I doubted I would ever turn him into a serious dedicated hunting dog, but my vet recommended that I give him a job to keep him from being bored so this just might be the thing for him.

I am open to using him for ducks, but I really dont hunt a lot of places that would require much from a dog. I do however like the idea of him retrieving dove or quail (if I could ever find any). Just curious if anybody on here has ever had any experience with them or know of somebody who has had luck

Also, dont worry I told my wife I would NEVER cut his hair like the fancy poodles most people think about

A club member up here in Connecticut had a standard poodle years ago for duck hunting. He worked pretty well.

Originally, poodles were bred for hunting. Some of them still have the instinct and smarts.

Yup. If you’ve already got the dog, no reason not to try. Maybe he’ll hunt and maybe not. If you’re still in the market, find a breeder who produces gun dogs. You won’t lose anything by doing so.

My vet had two standard poodles he hunted. He primarily hunted quail. Poodles are known to point, and retrieve including water retrieves. I suggest you give your dog a chance to show he is a hunter.

Regarding pointing, the foot in the air is not something that all pointers do. My GWPs, which have standard poodle in them, just stop, but you know they are pointing. Example:

I hear tell some bird dog trainers start their dogs by putting them in a empty room with a quail or two. You'll soon know if he is "birdy" or not. You could try on some planted birds but it's not as definitive. Good luck. 👍

Get some help from a good local Bird Dog Trainer. Rio7

Good advice. An objective assessment might save lots of frustration and expense in the long run. Just be sure it’s not an open ended training program if the dog is not going to perform. If it’s a dud in the field just accept it as a pet, since that seems to be the initial goal.

We got him back around christmas of last year so like you guys said, might as well see if he can hunt. I havent done much with him so far, but i have walked him around the woods behind my house (both on a leash and off) and he definitely is interested in birds. According to the breeder i got him from his mother is a decent bird dog.

I've taken my Airedale to a local bird dog trainer. He recently had a poodle graduate his board and train. I didnt see the dog, but he claims is was not a nuisance in the field and that it held its own.

Amazing. I wouldn't try it knowingly but might as well make lemonade out of lemons. I hope it works!