I live in Pa, and I am leaning towards a Gordon Terrier as a hunting companion. I'm interested in birding, small game, and water fowl. It might be hard to hit them all, but I'll try. My wife and I are having a baby in a year, and I'll stop traveling for my job by then. The dog that I would like to have should be even tempered, smart, and not squirrely. Does anyone have a particular favorite breed they could recommend or a breeder?

I would suggest that you consider a Golden Retriever. They are a more mellow dog and are very good with children. They are also excellent field dogs as long as you go with one that has hunting/field trials in their immediate breeding history. The Goldens bred as show dogs are very different from field dogs.

chute- You really threw a wrench in it when you added small game. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only wild birds you have in Pa. are grouse and woodcock. This is were a pointing dog shines. Waterfowl-labs get the nod. Small game(Rabbits/squirrels)-look no further than a beagle. Help us out, what do you think you will hunt, say 80% of the time.
Mike

Good question. I am sure that it will be small game and upland birds most of the time. There are pheasant releases once in a while. I guess I wouldn't be hunting waterfowl very often.

Thanks

Can you separate them a little more. Like will you hunt small game more or upland more. That will make it MUCH easier.

Brian

For the bird hunting you describe I would suggest a GSP. We have never had one that wasn't an all round family dog and great with kids.

Chutestrate,

Do you mean Gordon Setter?

The game you're after is important, but even more so is your definition of "hunting companion". The choice of hunting dog can run from a buddy to pal around with to a professional working dog and everthing in between.

It's the rare dog that will be a serious asset in the field without a lot of time and training from you, but many dogs can be enjoyable and well-behaved companions with a minimum of effort. You need to really put a point on what you want out of a dog and how much sweat you're willing to put in.

Lots of guys get shy about admitting they just want a canine pard. I'll tell ya, some of the happiest and most content hunters I know have kinda ineffective dogs. The dogs are obedient and don't hurt their chances in the field, and might even flush a bird now and then. The key is that the hunter and dog have a blast together and can't wait for their next chance to hunt together again.

Wow there is a lot to this. By upland game I am talking about squirrels, rabbits, grouse, pheasant, quail, etc. I hope that I haven't butchered the meaning. It would be great if I could train the dog to point at birds and flush the rabbits and squirrels. I am definately looking for a hunting companion as well. I love to train dogs. I think that I am pretty good at it. If it takes a lot of time and work that is ok by me.

Thank you for asking all of these questions. It is helping me to re-shape my expectations about a hunting companion.

Chute-Upland game refers to the various birds such as Pheasant-Chuckar-Quail-Hungarian Partridge-Sage Grouse(I think I got'em all) and squirrel/rabbit are considered small game. Were not trying to run you around in circles, but when you try to hunt 2 completely different game with one dog it makes it extremely difficult to narrow down a dog. I personally like German Shorthaired Pointers. Back in the old country these dogs were bred to do exactly what you are looking for. Point birds-run rabbits and fox-tree and bay bear and hogs. But you would be hard pressed to find a dog like that anymore(not saying there not out there) We Americans molded them into more of a bird dog.-Mike

Don't worry about it. All of you are making extremely valid points, and I have to catch on to it. I came here looking for answers from all of you, and that is what I am getting. Thanks!!!

Now that I am a little clearer on the differences I guess I am looking for a hunting companion to hunt upland game with then. There isn't much of a rabbit population where I hunt, and squirrels aren't hard to find. I just need to wear a little fox pee on my boots, and I'll find them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

�Gun dog� might be a handier term for what we�re discussing. The hunter running the dog is the �handler�.

Wise handlers train and use gun dogs in accordance with the dog�s nature - if you want a dog that works close don�t be tempted to buy a Big Runner figuring you can train him to act otherwise. Sure, a dog can be trained to do almost anything, but a natural close-working dog will generally outperform a Big Runner trained contrary to his nature. Plus, it�s a lot easier for the handler. Similarly, a pointer can be trained to be a decent retriever, but he will never be a serious threat to the natural retriever�s job security.

That said, a pointing dog is incompatible with squirrel and rabbit hunting � it�s against his nature. A �point� is a breeding-modified stalking maneuver, refined to the degree that the dog actually freezes at the moment of truth. Encouraging a pointer to chase game on the ground is going to be a problem when using the dog on grouse or pheasant � unless you don�t mind if he chases them too�but then why use a pointer?

Even different breeds of pointer have a wide variation in their natures. I like German shorthairs, which some call �a walkin� man�s huntin� dog� � they work close and beat heavy cover like few other dogs can. I used to hunt with a Gordon setter breeder in Kansas and if we hunted wide-open spaces I�d just leave my shorthair in the truck. This handler�s method was to pull the truck over to the shoulder and let out a Gordon or three. His dogs would cover a half-mile radius while we never moved our feet. The handler would watch the dogs using binoculars and if one of them went on point we�d hike over. On the other hand, if we were hunting brushy draws, shelterbelts, etc. my shorthair would kick azz.

A pointing breed will take more time to train than a flushing breed, but depending on your needs it can be well worth the investment. The pure theory of a gun dog that will find your quarry at long distance and hold it in place until you�re in position to shoot is tough to top. However, the skill of the dog and handler, or lack thereof, is what it�s all about � a pointing dog that flushes at long distance might just as well be the PITA Poster Dog.

Mull over the type of cover you hunt, the type of game, and the how you want to interact with the dog. For me, it�s the vision of a pointing dog hot on scent and finally slamming on point. For others, it�s the flush dog bounding through cover like a heat seeking missile. The good news - if you obtain a well-bred dog and put in the training time in � it�s ALL good.

Incidentally, my pointer has been conditioned to ignore rabbits while we�re bird hunting, but rabbits will commonly circle behind the dog as rabbits tend to do � nobody told the rabbits my dog wasn�t hunting them. I could shoot a lot of rabbits while pheasant hunting with a non-rabbit dog. The same goes for squirrels, which like to climb a tree up ahead and yammer at the dog. I generally don�t shoot any of these critters because I�m careful about what I�m reinforcing in the dog � I don�t want the dog to get any bright ideas about squirrels and rabbits. The same thing goes for feral cats - oh wait, I SHOOT those.

It sounds to me like the dog you need is a Springer Spaniel. They will flush and retrieve anything, they can be trained to work very close if you so desire, and they are great family dogs. I can put you in touch with an excellent breeder out of Mitchell, SD if you are interested.

Easy answer: pointing lab. These dogs are the best of all worlds: smart, great pets, great friends, great with kids......they're just plain great! I have three! Yes, I do raise them but I have no pups available now, so this is not a solicitation, just one guy telling another what I have found that has worked out great at my house. If you want to know about breeders to stay away from, send me a PM. I wish you the best in your selection!

Good hunting!

A buddy of mine was looking for the same thing. He researched it extensively and settled on a Pudel Pointer. Cant vouch for it yet, as its a young pup but based on research, its one of the best retriever/pointers. I'll let you know how it turns out. Here's a few links. This is the Kennel where he purchased his dog Pudel Pointer - Cedar Wood Kennels and here is a link to some good pics, although its written in German so I cant read it Pudel Pointer Pics



Roads

No one suggested a Brit..excellent dual purpose dogs..and they are typically smaller..for home companions/kids, than some of the others mentioned. I`ve had three. I raised my sons on them, and as the kids grew and began to hunt, a pointing dog is hard to beat for teaching kids bout wing shooting.
Good luck.