Wife and I are debating between these two dogs. I want the dog for dove/duck hunting. Pros and cons of both?

I have had labs. One was great and duck guides would borrow him during hunting season. The other one not so much. I have also hunted with a gsp duck hunting that was pretty damn good. We just wanted to try something new. Just want to know yalls experiences with them

Same boat haha. He'll smell it and look up at me like wtf now Dad

I have a Brittney who was a great dove dog till age caught up with her. The smaller dogs do so much better in the heat of dove/teal season. While my buddies are watering and worrying about cooling their labs my Brit was just chilling in the shade waiting for the next bird.

She is HRC started on ducks but I never really hunted with her on ducks so didn't stick with that. It took more work to get her to bring back the larger ducks but she caught on pretty fast.

I would select a GSP or wired hair for my next all around bird dog.

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Finn Maccumhail said:

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Here's your answer: https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2957336

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That's a very good option.

Had a Brittany that loved retrieving doves, even those that landed in the middle of the tank.

ebtexag12 said:

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I have had labs. One was great and duck guides would borrow him during hunting season. The other one not so much. I have also hunted with a gsp duck hunting that was pretty damn good. We just wanted to try something new. Just want to know yalls experiences with them

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I wouldn't use an N of one to make a decision. Go with a breed known for certain qualities and you'll improve your odds of getting the kind of hunting companion that suits you. In addition to the Boykin and Drathaar, other versital retrieving breeds not mentioned that may be worth considering are the Italian Spinone and not sure how this one has been overlooked..........Golden Retriever

I had a Brittany growing up that we goose hunted with, and he was also really good at retrieving doves. No formal training beyond what a 12 yr old can teach after reading a few books. That dog was fearless. It would bowl over a wounded goose and retrieve it every time. Once he even jumped up and grabbed a goose out of the air that was flying off after we winged it. He was good for at least 2 or 3 birds a hunt that we never would have found without him. All around exceptional bird dog and great family dog...especially for a boy growing up. I still miss him 30 years later...

I've since had 2 golden retrievers that are exceptional family dogs, especially with young kids. They were both a lot of fun to dove hunt with, but the problem is while they really want to retrieve they don't have a good nose so they have a hard time finding a dove unless it is flapping around on the ground. In a plowed field, with a dead dove or one that is sitting still, I would have to walk up to it and point it out or make it flop around and then my golden would be super happy to retrieve it. But the overall quality of dog was well worth the drawback.

My brother-in-law has an awesome Spinone Italiano - his second one. She's young and not quite as experienced as his first but they are fine dogs, good with kids and as big as they are, they are good family/house dogs and great versatile hunting companions.

Have two GSP brothers...one is a retrieving beast and points reluctantly, the other is a great pointer but does not retrieve..go figure. Together they are a great pair quail hunting

SanAntoneAg said:

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Had a Brittany that loved retrieving doves, even those that landed in the middle of the tank.

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Water retrieves are the best. Had two french brittanys that loved to retrieve. Also have one now that is completely worthless because he is gun shy.

If I was serious about duck hunting I would probably get a lab. I prefer quail and dove, so a britanny was a better fit.

I duck hunt with a springer and she does a great job.

I too come from duck hunting with Labs. I have had two Labs and both dogs I trained the same way. One could do anything and I still mourn the day she passed. The other one with the better hunting pedigree was completely worthless. I bought my GSP when I started quail hunting and my good Lab was getting too old to hunt. I wanted a dog that was more versatile and settled on the GSP. So, It's only a sample size of one but my GSP loves to water retrieve. If it's a quail, dove or duck that falls in the water when I'm hunting near a pond then he works like a champ. But asking him to sit still in a blind or boat for any extended period of time is work. This is just my limited experience with the breed. Hope this helps with your decision. FWIW- I'm satisfied enough with this dog that I will buy another GSP when he is gone.

Finn Maccumhail said:

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This so much. My next gundog

If you only want a dove/duck retriever then you might be better off getting a different breed.

But for you guys that can't get a gsp to retrieve ducks or anything else for that matter - you really need to do more research before you buy your next dog.

This is my female at just over 1 year of age. Yes, that is ice.


And here is the male I just bred her to a few weeks ago.



If you want a gsp (or any other breed for that matter) that retrieves waterfowl and your breeder can't show you photos like these and/or provide you with testing results - then you need to keep looking. Identify what you want the dog to do, then find the one that is most likely to do it through selective breeding.

Great dogs!! We have a black lab and a Boykin, but may look at one of those when the time comes.

Brittany is great for flushing. You aren't looking to hunt upland game it sounds like. Dont get a flusher. Get the retriever

My 1.5 yr old GSP is a retrieving machine...lives for it.

ebtexag12 said:

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Wife and I are debating between these two dogs. I want the dog for dove/duck hunting. Pros and cons of both?

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They'll retrieve, but I would get a retriever for those types of hunting and a family dog. I am biased towards goldens.

Not trying to derail your thread, but my wife and I are discussing adding either a Brittany or a toller as our next dog. Anyone had experience with tollers?

We have a 13 month old GSP and she's a great pointer / retriever. If she's in the yard, the retrieving usually deteriorates into "keep away" but she's still a pup and we let her get away with playing. In the field, she's all business and enjoys her job. The main difference is in the field she knows as soon as she brings the bird back, then she gets to go find another one (which is what she loves).

A good description of retriever vs pointer - a retriever will sit there until you tell it to go get something - a pointer wants to go find something,

Boykin

Don't want a lab, get a Boykin. Want a lab, get a Boykin anyways. Per Boykin Spaniel Society Website: "The Boykin Spaniel was first bred by South Carolina hunters during the 1900's to provide the ideal dog for hunting ducks and wild turkeys in the Wateree River Swamp...Stamina in hot weather and eagerness to please make this dog a favorite in the dove fields, but Boykins have retained their spaniel flushing abilities and readily adapt to a variety of upland game hunting including pheasant, quail and grouse. An aptitude for water retrieving combined with their compact size assures these dogs a place in the duck boats and blinds as well. Boykins have often been described as "the dog that doesn't rock the boat." They are even effective in deer driving or in tracking wounded deer. Like many of the sporting breeds, Boykin spaniels make the transition from hunting companion to family pet easily. Boykin spaniels are true dual-purpose hunting dogs."
http://boykinspaniel.org/pages/the-boykin-spaniel-breed/boykin-spaniel