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What’s Your Perfect Trio of Gun Dogs?

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September 15, 2010

What’s Your Perfect Trio of Gun Dogs?

By David DiBenedetto

Recently I read that Tennessee may open a sandhill crane season, and I briefly imagined sending Pritch out to retrieve one of these behemoths. Thirty-five pound dog attempts to bring back a four-foot bird—a bird known to peck at the retriever’s eyes if not fully dispatched. Nope. No crane hunting for Pritch. I’d need another dog.


All of which got me thinking: If I had unlimited money, space, and no job, what would make up my dream kennel of dogs? My list got real long real quick, so I decided to limit myself to three choices.

Boykin spaniel: I started with a Boykin spaniel because (besides the fact that I’m biased) I love the compact nature of this breed. They’re perfect for small boats, wood duck swamps, and dove fields. In short, the Boykin’s strengths match my own most common hunting/recreation situations.

Yellow Labrador: My next choice would be a Lab. I know, nothing too surprising here, but I decided on a Lab for a couple of reasons. I like that I could hunt the dog in extreme cold conditions and open water the Boykin couldn’t handle. And the dog would be great around the house. Why not a Chessie? Well, if you’ve read this blog long enough you know I’m an amateur trainer with basic skills. And I fear I wouldn’t bring the best out of a Chessie.

Brittany: I don’t own quail land, but I do sometimes get a few invites to hunt the birds. In place of a GSP or Pointer I went with a Brittany. I love the nature and look of these dogs, and the fact that they hunt well in the close quarters of the Lowcountry.

So those are my personal choices for the perfect trio of dogs. (If it was up to my wife we’d have three Boykins.) I’d love to hear your choices. I know some of you may say, Labrador, Labrador, Larbrador. And a few of you might even go with some hounds. Either way, let’s hear it.

Comments (21)

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from Bioboy wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

My three are very similar, with the exception that I'd exchange the boykin for a vizsla because I already have one and she can't be beat. That being said you can't be a lab during cold season duck hunts and I've thought about getting a brittany previously so if given the chance it'll probably be my next dog.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from TJ wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Under those guidelines GSP for a little bit of everything,some sort of hound(haven't made up my mind), and a bloodhound for tracking game.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from sloth5202 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Springer, GSP, Chessie. I hunt mostly pheasants here in the upper mid-west both the Springer and GSP are amazing pheasant hunters but they have completely different styles so if I'm in the mood pants filling flush i take the Springer. If I have big ground and tightly holding birds I bust out the GSP. The Chessie for those cold late season duck hunts fighting current and ice. He would also be a good meat dog if I need a retriever to find some cripples in the CRP.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jlyon.24 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

GSP upland game,Lab for ducks, Beagle for those wabbits.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jlyon.24 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

GSP upland game,Lab for ducks, Beagle for those wabbits.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Coachcl wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

English Setter, GSP, and Black Lab.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from dighunter wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Beagle for rabbits (which I already own), Walker coon hound because coon hunting is one heck of a lot of fun and fits well into a schedule with very little available daylight hours, and a black lab for duck hunting and a house pet.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from GordonIrish Girl wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Lucky for me, I already have a trio, which includes: a Boykin, and Irish Setter and a Gordon Setter. Love 'em and their versatility!!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jamesti wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

two black labs and a yellow one.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from jbird wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Well I have a terrier-mix mutt that is a beast on rabbits, so I'd keep her. I have a yellow lab, but she's old, fat, and cannot smell. The only thing she hunts is the food bowl, but for a duck blind, I'd definitely have another since I love the breed dearly. My third would be a brittany, simply because that's what my buddies had when I went quail hunting many years ago, and theirs performed marvelously.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from pinopolis wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

1. Lab, 2. Boykin, 3. Springer

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MLH wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

English Cocker Spaniel, Irish Red & White Setter, and ... perhaps a wolfhound or two to deter unwanted canines from pestering the other two.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from buckeyebob wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

Red lab, black lab, Brittany

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from kelmitch wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

UK Springer of great lines,French Brittany,Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from hammer72 wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

I already have a trio now. Its just not 3 different breeds. I have a English Springer Spanial that is my pride and joy dove dog. I also have 2 Treeing Walker puppies that are in the process of becoming coon dogs. So if i had to pick a 3rd breed it would have to be the German Shorthair pointer because i love the look of these dogs.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Elmer Fudd wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

why do I think Pritch would take *stern umbrage* at the notion she couldn't handle it?! Hope she never finds out!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from countitandone wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

DDiB ~ Man are you ever clairvoyant. If only to quote you, "Labrador, Labrador, Larbrador." Spellcheck?

One of the best flushing dogs I've ever seen was a, not joking here, Jack Russell. This pup was amazing, smart and totally thrilled at every flush.

These terriers are also used as rescue dogs...find the injured and bark and jump like hello!

My final answer, Labrador, Labrador, Labrador...

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Box Call wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

I would go with a Boykin, Chessie, and my ever present Brittany. We can use Boykins in WV to hunt turkey in the fall, the Chessie on the OhioRiver for ducks and the Brittany for woodcock and grouse. Oh, what a trifecta.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from herrinchoker wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

Chessie for cold weather hunting, car/boat/house guard, chick magnet, portable mouse trap, cat control device, and in general a damn good friend.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from muddman wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

Probably have to go with a Boykin (which I already own), Black Lab and a GSP. I think this would be a versatile group that could pretty much take care of whatever I threw at them.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from thedraketaker wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

boykin, BOYkin BOYKIN! all the way

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from birddog wrote 1 year 31 weeks ago

My perfect trio would be a Brittany, then use the springer and then the black lab. I've had all three that can perform all 3 tasks. But I love the dogs and like to have as many as I can handle. I've had some amazing dogs and enjoy watching them work. They can also give you "if looks could kill" look when I don't perform and can't give them what they love to do.

0 Good Comment? | | Report

Post a Comment

from jamesti wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

two black labs and a yellow one.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from Bioboy wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

My three are very similar, with the exception that I'd exchange the boykin for a vizsla because I already have one and she can't be beat. That being said you can't be a lab during cold season duck hunts and I've thought about getting a brittany previously so if given the chance it'll probably be my next dog.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from TJ wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Under those guidelines GSP for a little bit of everything,some sort of hound(haven't made up my mind), and a bloodhound for tracking game.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from sloth5202 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Springer, GSP, Chessie. I hunt mostly pheasants here in the upper mid-west both the Springer and GSP are amazing pheasant hunters but they have completely different styles so if I'm in the mood pants filling flush i take the Springer. If I have big ground and tightly holding birds I bust out the GSP. The Chessie for those cold late season duck hunts fighting current and ice. He would also be a good meat dog if I need a retriever to find some cripples in the CRP.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jlyon.24 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

GSP upland game,Lab for ducks, Beagle for those wabbits.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jlyon.24 wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

GSP upland game,Lab for ducks, Beagle for those wabbits.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Coachcl wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

English Setter, GSP, and Black Lab.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from dighunter wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Beagle for rabbits (which I already own), Walker coon hound because coon hunting is one heck of a lot of fun and fits well into a schedule with very little available daylight hours, and a black lab for duck hunting and a house pet.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from GordonIrish Girl wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Lucky for me, I already have a trio, which includes: a Boykin, and Irish Setter and a Gordon Setter. Love 'em and their versatility!!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jbird wrote 1 year 36 weeks ago

Well I have a terrier-mix mutt that is a beast on rabbits, so I'd keep her. I have a yellow lab, but she's old, fat, and cannot smell. The only thing she hunts is the food bowl, but for a duck blind, I'd definitely have another since I love the breed dearly. My third would be a brittany, simply because that's what my buddies had when I went quail hunting many years ago, and theirs performed marvelously.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from pinopolis wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

1. Lab, 2. Boykin, 3. Springer

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from MLH wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

English Cocker Spaniel, Irish Red & White Setter, and ... perhaps a wolfhound or two to deter unwanted canines from pestering the other two.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from buckeyebob wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

Red lab, black lab, Brittany

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from kelmitch wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

UK Springer of great lines,French Brittany,Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from hammer72 wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

I already have a trio now. Its just not 3 different breeds. I have a English Springer Spanial that is my pride and joy dove dog. I also have 2 Treeing Walker puppies that are in the process of becoming coon dogs. So if i had to pick a 3rd breed it would have to be the German Shorthair pointer because i love the look of these dogs.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Elmer Fudd wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

why do I think Pritch would take *stern umbrage* at the notion she couldn't handle it?! Hope she never finds out!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from countitandone wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

DDiB ~ Man are you ever clairvoyant. If only to quote you, "Labrador, Labrador, Larbrador." Spellcheck?

One of the best flushing dogs I've ever seen was a, not joking here, Jack Russell. This pup was amazing, smart and totally thrilled at every flush.

These terriers are also used as rescue dogs...find the injured and bark and jump like hello!

My final answer, Labrador, Labrador, Labrador...

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from Box Call wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

I would go with a Boykin, Chessie, and my ever present Brittany. We can use Boykins in WV to hunt turkey in the fall, the Chessie on the OhioRiver for ducks and the Brittany for woodcock and grouse. Oh, what a trifecta.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from herrinchoker wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

Chessie for cold weather hunting, car/boat/house guard, chick magnet, portable mouse trap, cat control device, and in general a damn good friend.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from muddman wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

Probably have to go with a Boykin (which I already own), Black Lab and a GSP. I think this would be a versatile group that could pretty much take care of whatever I threw at them.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from thedraketaker wrote 1 year 35 weeks ago

boykin, BOYkin BOYKIN! all the way

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from birddog wrote 1 year 31 weeks ago

My perfect trio would be a Brittany, then use the springer and then the black lab. I've had all three that can perform all 3 tasks. But I love the dogs and like to have as many as I can handle. I've had some amazing dogs and enjoy watching them work. They can also give you "if looks could kill" look when I don't perform and can't give them what they love to do.

0 Good Comment? | | Report

Post a Comment

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