We would like to get a dog. Here is my situation. We live on 60 acres so a dog can roam but will have a dog pen for when we are gone. We have a pond. Will have dog in house to be with us. Have 2 cats so want one that will get along with them. Would like to stay away from a large size dog, one that drools, one that won't jump in pond everyday, good with kids, not hyper and will flush out birds. Wife is home during the day so dog will not be penned up all day but will be while we are gone. Our Samoyed dug up everything in our yard and ran off at every chance but we lived in the city when we had him. Now live in the country. There are deer and other dogs around also. I think I would prefer a male but what is everyone elses take on sex? I prefer all the preferences but the flushing part. My husband wants a hunting dog. Can we get a dog with the above characteristics? Our Sammie needed constant brushing and hair in house was terrible. Would like to avoid that this time.
Need help choosing dog
- Thread starter dlhoward
- Start date
Did you get rid of your Samoyed becuase of those behaviors?
. . .
The characteristics of many dogs that flush out birds is medium to large size; medium to long hair. They can be kept short, but IMO they have hair for a reason (to protect the skin. have you ever *ran* through a corn field, or ran through tall unkept grass and weeds with shorts on. It's not comfortable), though some brushing after running in the field is in order. Since many of the breeds will readily retrieve out of the water you will probably have to keep an eye on the dog to keep them out of your pond.
UKC gundogs info
http://www.purebredpuppy.com/UKC/Gun-Dogs/main
My suggestion would be to keep your eyes and ears open to see if there's any already trained hunting dogs that their owners can no longer keep, and to also check out some shelters. You might find an awesome spaniel mix, lab mix, or golden mix that meets your discriptions and shows some drive to hunt.
As well as male or female, it really doesn't matter as long as their spayed or neutered. If they're intact the male will be more likly to be distracted from the hunt and be more likely to roam. The female will have to be kept confined during her heat - which means no hunting.
Also, you post confused me a little because it says "Wife is home all day..." which suggested to me that the husband was posting, but then later "My husband wants a hunting dog..."
LOL and the interjections about your sammy
HTH lol
. . .
The characteristics of many dogs that flush out birds is medium to large size; medium to long hair. They can be kept short, but IMO they have hair for a reason (to protect the skin. have you ever *ran* through a corn field, or ran through tall unkept grass and weeds with shorts on. It's not comfortable), though some brushing after running in the field is in order. Since many of the breeds will readily retrieve out of the water you will probably have to keep an eye on the dog to keep them out of your pond.
UKC gundogs info
http://www.purebredpuppy.com/UKC/Gun-Dogs/main
My suggestion would be to keep your eyes and ears open to see if there's any already trained hunting dogs that their owners can no longer keep, and to also check out some shelters. You might find an awesome spaniel mix, lab mix, or golden mix that meets your discriptions and shows some drive to hunt.
As well as male or female, it really doesn't matter as long as their spayed or neutered. If they're intact the male will be more likly to be distracted from the hunt and be more likely to roam. The female will have to be kept confined during her heat - which means no hunting.
Also, you post confused me a little because it says "Wife is home all day..." which suggested to me that the husband was posting, but then later "My husband wants a hunting dog..."
LOL and the interjections about your sammy HTH lol- Joined
- Jan 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,444
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 36
You seem to have some conflicting characteristics.
For example, you dont want too much hair in the house, but you dont want to brush alot. Typically, dogs that dont shed are the dogs that need the most brushing as their hair gets easily matted. Although you really need to frequently groom any dog.
I would also like to know what happened to your sammy....
If you got rid of him because of his behavior, I really would not reccomend any dog in the future.
Elissa
For example, you dont want too much hair in the house, but you dont want to brush alot. Typically, dogs that dont shed are the dogs that need the most brushing as their hair gets easily matted. Although you really need to frequently groom any dog.
I would also like to know what happened to your sammy....
If you got rid of him because of his behavior, I really would not reccomend any dog in the future.
Elissa
I think you should research the Brittany, size wise, temperment, and compatability with children it would be a good fit. Good Luck!
http://www.akc.org/breeds/brittany/index.cfm
http://www.akc.org/breeds/brittany/index.cfm
My sweet Sammie died
After 7 wonderful years with Snowball he died of kidney failure. He also had hip problems which are common with purebreds. As far as me saying he dug up everything in the yard that was during his first 3 years of puppy stage. He got better after that but sure had alot of destruction the first 3 years. He was our first dog 25 years ago and lived in the city. We both worked then. If I had my choice I would go to the pound or animal rescue and adopt a dog. I know we could get a sweet angel that had no home. But my husband was really wanting a hunting one. But maybe he may have to take companionship over hunter.
After 7 wonderful years with Snowball he died of kidney failure. He also had hip problems which are common with purebreds. As far as me saying he dug up everything in the yard that was during his first 3 years of puppy stage. He got better after that but sure had alot of destruction the first 3 years. He was our first dog 25 years ago and lived in the city. We both worked then. If I had my choice I would go to the pound or animal rescue and adopt a dog. I know we could get a sweet angel that had no home. But my husband was really wanting a hunting one. But maybe he may have to take companionship over hunter.
A shelter, or pound dog, could make an excellent hunter. That way, you and your husband (and the dog) all win. You get a shelter dog, your husband gets his hunting dog, and a dog on death row will be given a new chance at life. Anyway, I also agree that a Brittany Spaniel, among others, would make a nice choice. You can find a Brittany Rescue, or find a spaniel mix at any local shelter.
That way, you and your husband (and the dog) all win. You get a shelter dog, your husband gets his hunting dog, and a dog on death row will be given a new chance at life. Anyway, I also agree that a Brittany Spaniel, among others, would make a nice choice. You can find a Brittany Rescue, or find a spaniel mix at any local shelter. 
A shelter, or pound dog, could make an excellent hunter. That way, you and your husband (and the dog) all win. You get a shelter dog, your husband gets his hunting dog, and a dog on death row will be given a new chance at life. Anyway, I also agree that a Brittany Spaniel, among others, would make a nice choice. You can find a Brittany Rescue, or find a spaniel mix at any local shelter.
That way, you and your husband (and the dog) all win. You get a shelter dog, your husband gets his hunting dog, and a dog on death row will be given a new chance at life. Anyway, I also agree that a Brittany Spaniel, among others, would make a nice choice. You can find a Brittany Rescue, or find a spaniel mix at any local shelter.
Field bred springer spaniels have less hair than the show springers. They also have a lot more energy though and they'll need plenty of exercise. They're going to be in the 40-50 lb range though. Brittanys are smaller, but they are pointers, they do not flush. They have a pretty manageable coat, but they also have a lot of energy.
Here's some good info on field bred springers
http://www.essfta.org/
Here's a forum for brittanys
http://my.brittanys.com/my/category-view.asp?showall=true
This is a good site about brittanys, but it seems to be having problems right now. Maybe it will work later.
http://www.huntersheart.com
Here's some good info on field bred springers
http://www.essfta.org/
Here's a forum for brittanys
http://my.brittanys.com/my/category-view.asp?showall=true
This is a good site about brittanys, but it seems to be having problems right now. Maybe it will work later.
http://www.huntersheart.com