gibber34

Have any of you waterfowl hunted over one of the versatile breed dogs? I'm wondering if they are as good as advertised for waterfowl hunting? I'm looking at a wirehaired pointing griffon and have reservations about cold water retrieves and their willingness to sit still in the blind. I have a lab who is getting up there in years and has been a great dog. I like hunting upland over a pointer, but hunt waterfowl mainly. Thoughts?

J. Abbas

I have run Drahthaars, my opinion the best dog I've owned. I've seen many a Drahtahhar and German wirehair hunt in anything a lab will.

lizard55033

Trying to define a "Versatile Dog" really depends on where in the nation your living...

chipper140

Finding a good pointing dog that will retrieve ducks is a rare combo. You will need to search for a good breeder with an exceptional trainer. As far as a wirehair goes they were breed for all types of conditions just like a lab. They take the cold and just like hunting a lab when it gets close to putting ice on the water you will want to have a vest on them.

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J. Abbas

again. Drahthaar: Verein Deutsch Drahthaar Group North America:: Official Website pointing, waterfowl, blood tracking, ect. Everything rolled into one. Pure breedings, only the best specimens are allowed to breed, ruled and governed correctly.

IowaHunter641

A pointing lab is a really good choice.

lakerwaterfowler

I would agree, I am just waiting until I settled down in a location. Then this is the breed I will be getting.

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oh-bufflehead

I am on my second Pointing Lab, I can't tell you what a find this was, great hunting dog and family companion. Both mine are from Jim Helms at jimsank pointing dogs in Ord, Nebraska.

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Iowa Outdoorsman

I have a wirhair that is 2 and a half and she is a really good all around dog. Points well, gets my ducks, but most of all she handles real well.

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deanlange

I have seen a lot of good pointing labs at tests this summer. Check out the APLA site for classifieds as well as a few good local breeders.

I see you are in Rockwell City. There is an APLA test coming up this fall in Webb, IA. Good chance to see the dogs in action

mallard26

ill second this post!! pointing labs are amazing!!

i have a pointing lab now and lost one this past january... both exceptional water waterfowl dogs... never had any big problems with my boys pointing a duck while on a retrieve... if you train them right you shouldnt have a problem...

my lab that i lost would never point a duck, but would point a pheasant every chance he got... and the only time he locked up while on a waterfowl retrieve, he locked up on a rooster.... 75+ yards out while he was retrieveing a duck... i commanded him to "take it"... he flushed the rooster and brought back the duck...

another instance i had, i doubled on roosters and one was stone dead, and the other was a cripple... he brought back the first bird and went after the second, and locked up on that bird... once again 75+ yards out i commanded him to "take it" and he dove in to get the bird and retrieve to hand.

i also highly recommend a release command with any dog if you cant already tell... i have my shorthair on the same command right now he reacts slightly different, comes around to the other side to pin the bird in.... actually jumps the bush in most caseswithout busting the bird pretty neat to watch.. and hes only 1 year old... will be even better on wild birds this fall

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vickieschessies

We are finding the weimaraner is fitting that same bill. We are finding this breed can hunt just about anything. Depending on how cold of temps you are hunting in I think they can take some pretty cool temps.

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