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Small Game
Upland bird dogs
Uploaded on September 08, 2012Hi guys, I'm new to this forum and somewhat new to hunting. When I was a kid my father use to take me rabbit hunting with our family beagle, however between sports and everything else we stopped hunting. Now I'm 25 moved to NH and wanted to start hunting more. Right now all I hunt is birds and ducks, with a friend's lab, and deer with shotgun and black powder. I would like to be able to hunt upland birds whenever I want, as well as rabbits. I'm not a avid die hard hunter, so I don't need multiple dogs bred to hunt specific animals. I really just want one dog to flush birds and rabbits and for home protection. I limited my search to 3 dogs, bloodhound, beagle and standard poodle. My fiance loves poodles and wants to look into getting a standard poodle, however i'm not sold. I love hounds and grew up with beagles. However, I recently saw a bloodhound work with a cop and was impressed by it's sense of smell. I read online they are bred to hunt big game, deer and hogs. But could a bloodhound flush small game and retrieve if properly trained. Any experience or suggestions? Thank you
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Answer...YES! My personal experience is..purebred dogs for upland hunting, or waterfowling as well, is way, way overrated. It is promoted by the dog trainers, breeders etc. but over breeding can be a problem. It can create health problems, and in particular dogs that are way overstrung,(ie) very hyper acting dogs. The key is to have a good friend that wants to hunt with you which means spending time with the dog...not just putting it in the car, and taking it hunting. Then it becomes having a dog tha has the physical traits to do what you want. Right now I have two bird dogs, one is a mutt, has hound in him, and I call him my black lab, and got him from the pound picking out a dog that looks like a Black lab pup. My other dog is a purebred chocolate lab female that is 3 yrs. old now this season, and has 3 yrs. of hunting now. The mutt has twice the savvy that the chocolate has. Yesterday, I let them out of the rig, into the willow thicket the old guy goes, and almost immediately starts baying (the hound in him) at a ruffed grouse in the thicket probably up in a bush. It flushes, and I dump it. I try to go into the thicket, and can't get a foot in the brush is so thick. In my mutt goes along with the female, and out comes the mutt with the bird. I can hunt him on doves, and he sees them fall, and retrieves them, great pheasant dog, I hun hunt with him...makes no difference what we are hunting he knows the drill. The young purebred is more aggressive, can run circles around the old guy, but it is a pro competing with a rank amateur when it comes to savvy. But my key is my dogs are my best friends, and we hunt a lot. I have had a similar experience having a great upland dog that wasn't a purebred, but motivated to hunt because of our relationship. And it sure saved me a lot of money.
That's good that your hound can flush birds. I looked at several near by animal shelters for hounds, but all were cross bred with pits. I think i may concentrate my efforts on a bloodhound. But I would love to hear from someone who owns hunt and hunts for small game.
That is what I hunt for!...small game. Start out with doves, and grouse, then Huns, then pheasants, and do jump shoot waterfowl. I really don't know what my mutt is. Black, block face like a European lab..longer ears like a Cocker Spaniel. Medium length semi wavy hear. Not long legged so midsize dog. But an incredible bird dog because we hunt a lot, live together a lot. And he luvs water. Took him on a short dove hunt this morning. No doves so I called him back to the car to leave, and in a patch of cover he goes, and flushes a rooster. The guy has an incredible sense of smell, and where birds are located.
Welcome to New Hampshire. I have several suggestions,
1.) A Working Poodle would be a flusher and water retriever. VERY hard to find. Like many breeds, it's been bred out of them. However, any gun broke dog is better than no dog and Standard Poodles are smart.
2.) Years ago I used to keepa brace of beagles. I short legged beagle with a good electronic collar can double as a flushing dog on Pheasants...provided he stays within gun range.
3.)I've had Retrievers, Beagles , Setters, Bris and a Shorthair. I've I wanted one dog to do it all, it would be a Lab. If I wanted my birds pointed and a dog to do it all, it would be a Britt.
However, at 60, I like my birds pointed stylishly and my dog to cover a lot of area, so my last six have been Setters.
Another thought is get the beagle and have a Buddy get a Lab. You got it pretty much covered.
My only knock on Bloodhounds is they are big, specialized and a HOUND (not as smart as a Retriever. ;)
My Mutt headed into the willow thickets along the creek I hunt, and flushed, and retrieved two ruff grouse. So thick in the thickets I hunt around the edges you can't get a step into them. Worse day of shooting for me this season. I missed my first 4 grouse, and they were all legitimate shots I should have made. I blamed it on my sunglasses I had on, and changed them to a lighter pair.
Don't get a bloodhound! First of all, many are not very nice dogs! Not good with kids or anyone else. Be very careful around them if you're ever involved with a rescue (I speak with a LOT of experience there!). Also the racket will NOT make you a favorite in the neighborhood. I find beagles are often just as bad. If you want to hunt birds, get a bird dog! Don't try to make one out of a dog that really isn't made for it. A few suggestions: My Brittany pup is already gangbusters this year and season just started. She is in great company with my two labs. Either one of those breeds would be a welcome addition to your home and family. The Brittany breed is known for their colorful personality and dedication to hunting. They love to please but have lots of energy. Still, I am finding mine is a great house dog. Labs just can't be beat for lovely disposition and hunting ability. Both breeds will sound the alarm too if necessary. As far as control, I have no problem walking them off leash several blocks to a green space and back. They started out the season this year like they had left off yesterday. Fell right into the routine without any problems.
If you want a hunting dog, don't go to the shelters. That's a crap shoot at best. Usually a wash out entirely. And, as I have said before, if you think you're just going to be able to take one back to the pound if it doesn't work out, think again. The family won't let you knowing what might happen to it. If you don't have the money to buy a well-bred pup, start saving and wait till you do. I'm no breeder-advocating snob either. I've had as many great hunting dogs without papers as ones that cost big money. But I'm not green at this like you are. I can pick a good pup. Be safe and invest some money. You won't regret it.
Oh, and no worries about a lab not being able to hunt rabbits. Har, har! I have a helluva time getting mine to leave them alone when we're upland hunting. Brittany still can't resist.
My old pound dog busted into the thickets again today, and flushed up 4 ruffs, and I missed all 4 of them right out of the rig. He forgave me, and flushed another 2 that I got. My chocolate purebred did retrieve one, and the old guy brought back the other. From grouse to geese, this old pound dog of mine can hunt.
Hi Haverod,
Thanks for the welcome. I like poodles and I'm sure eventually I will own a poodle and hound at the same time. I think I'll end up getting a hound and my buddy will get some sort of lab (since that is all he ever owned).
I know Bloodhounds are big, but so are labs! They are very smart and have the best sense of small. I'm just worried there nose will be too good and would track old trails, people, or large animals.
Ontario, I never seen a violent bloodhound actually hound. Most are beyond friendly. However, I will save up money and by a purebred. Luckly, I found a beagle and poodle breeder in NH who specialized in hunting dogs. I also found bloodhound breeders as well.
A bloodhound? Why? Must be mad at your neighbors, and want to get even. I had a Bassett on my street one time about 20 yrs. ago, and a big pain to listen to him all the time. And don't think purebreds aren't a crap shoot. I've seen countless numbers of them that were worthless, and mostly labs. I have no trouble hunting over property that a lot of these guys first cover with their worthless purebreds. Many just walk along with the hunter, and don't hunt. And heavy cover?..many of them won't even go in it like my Mutt will. Depends on YOU, and the work you do, the relationship you have with your dog. I am hunting exceptional grouse territory right now, and am the ONLY one that hunts it..got two yesterday. Only deer hunters in the area, and it is easily accessible. They just don't have the dogs that will go in the heavy stuff my dogs will enter, and flush them out ..and especially my mutt.
I grew up with a beagle and never had an issue. She would only bark when she was on the trail of another animal or if she saw one on the property. I know people who have labs and retrievers who bark anytime someone comes to the door. The only time I ever heard my beagle bark at a person was a long time ago. My brothers and I were young and some strange guy came to door "offering" his services. My beagle immedaitely started to bark and get agressive. We didn't think much of it, back a few days later the same guy was arrested in a near by street for B&E.
I got to admit I am baisis when it comes to hounds, but I had nothing but good luck and good times with my beagle. I owned other dogs, who are much more messy, barkers, and horrid hunters.
Odds are you will own a barker, and a loud one if it is a beagle. I'm bookin it at about 4 to 1. And that one?...had his larnyx removed.
A beagle resides half a block east and a hound one block to the south. Many nights I pray that a meteor the size of an eighteen wheeler will fall on each of those houses! Damn, I am sick of listening to that! Listen, if you have your mind made up on a silly bloodhound, go ahead and have at it. You have asked for advice and it has been given from guys who have been down the road a long time. The first time one of those bloodhounds or beagles finds your downed upland they will eat it on the spot. I'd almost bet my truck on that. Again, good luck trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Sayfu also got lucky. My advice is don't gamble. If you want a dog to hunt birds with, buy one ... and go hunt birds.
I'm not just looking for a dog that can bird hunt. I want one that will also hunt rabbits as well. I appreciate you guys given me opionions, but every dog barks. My buddies lab is a big time barker, my neighbors retriever barks like crazy. But, I know they never tried to discipline the barking. Like I said my beagle hardly barked and I would teach my next hound to do the same.
You're sure not looking for my Mutt because he's not for sale. My Mutt is a great cottontail rabbit dog. We run them through the sage brush, and the key is to have lava rock around where they live. When I don't see him running a rabbit he bays at them, and I know he is running one. I just have to watch snap shooting through the Sage, and hitting my dog. Not too many better rabbit dogs than my Mutt. Sure no upland bird hunting purebred. We run rabbits to extend my upland season. Rabbit hunting goes until the end of Feb.
A good trainer can train a smart dog to do about anything. I hunt pheasants with a mutt that looks similar to a golden retriever. We bought him off the street from someone that lived in an apartment in Denver. He didn’t know how to retrieve or swim and he was gun shy and very submissive. I worked with him for a couple years and he is finally becoming a confident, birdy, good all-around dog that flushes, retrieves, and has a decent nose. Look for a dog that is smart and wants to please, and has a decent prey drive. It is best to buy a puppy and teach it discipline. Then find creative ways to train it. Breed is secondary.
get a britt, their easy to train,have great desire, not too big, and make great family dogs.
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Answer...YES! My personal experience is..purebred dogs for upland hunting, or waterfowling as well, is way, way overrated. It is promoted by the dog trainers, breeders etc. but over breeding can be a problem. It can create health problems, and in particular dogs that are way overstrung,(ie) very hyper acting dogs. The key is to have a good friend that wants to hunt with you which means spending time with the dog...not just putting it in the car, and taking it hunting. Then it becomes having a dog tha has the physical traits to do what you want. Right now I have two bird dogs, one is a mutt, has hound in him, and I call him my black lab, and got him from the pound picking out a dog that looks like a Black lab pup. My other dog is a purebred chocolate lab female that is 3 yrs. old now this season, and has 3 yrs. of hunting now. The mutt has twice the savvy that the chocolate has. Yesterday, I let them out of the rig, into the willow thicket the old guy goes, and almost immediately starts baying (the hound in him) at a ruffed grouse in the thicket probably up in a bush. It flushes, and I dump it. I try to go into the thicket, and can't get a foot in the brush is so thick. In my mutt goes along with the female, and out comes the mutt with the bird. I can hunt him on doves, and he sees them fall, and retrieves them, great pheasant dog, I hun hunt with him...makes no difference what we are hunting he knows the drill. The young purebred is more aggressive, can run circles around the old guy, but it is a pro competing with a rank amateur when it comes to savvy. But my key is my dogs are my best friends, and we hunt a lot. I have had a similar experience having a great upland dog that wasn't a purebred, but motivated to hunt because of our relationship. And it sure saved me a lot of money.
That's good that your hound can flush birds. I looked at several near by animal shelters for hounds, but all were cross bred with pits. I think i may concentrate my efforts on a bloodhound. But I would love to hear from someone who owns hunt and hunts for small game.
That is what I hunt for!...small game. Start out with doves, and grouse, then Huns, then pheasants, and do jump shoot waterfowl. I really don't know what my mutt is. Black, block face like a European lab..longer ears like a Cocker Spaniel. Medium length semi wavy hear. Not long legged so midsize dog. But an incredible bird dog because we hunt a lot, live together a lot. And he luvs water. Took him on a short dove hunt this morning. No doves so I called him back to the car to leave, and in a patch of cover he goes, and flushes a rooster. The guy has an incredible sense of smell, and where birds are located.
Welcome to New Hampshire. I have several suggestions,
1.) A Working Poodle would be a flusher and water retriever. VERY hard to find. Like many breeds, it's been bred out of them. However, any gun broke dog is better than no dog and Standard Poodles are smart.
2.) Years ago I used to keepa brace of beagles. I short legged beagle with a good electronic collar can double as a flushing dog on Pheasants...provided he stays within gun range.
3.)I've had Retrievers, Beagles , Setters, Bris and a Shorthair. I've I wanted one dog to do it all, it would be a Lab. If I wanted my birds pointed and a dog to do it all, it would be a Britt.
However, at 60, I like my birds pointed stylishly and my dog to cover a lot of area, so my last six have been Setters.
Another thought is get the beagle and have a Buddy get a Lab. You got it pretty much covered.
My only knock on Bloodhounds is they are big, specialized and a HOUND (not as smart as a Retriever. ;)
My Mutt headed into the willow thickets along the creek I hunt, and flushed, and retrieved two ruff grouse. So thick in the thickets I hunt around the edges you can't get a step into them. Worse day of shooting for me this season. I missed my first 4 grouse, and they were all legitimate shots I should have made. I blamed it on my sunglasses I had on, and changed them to a lighter pair.
Don't get a bloodhound! First of all, many are not very nice dogs! Not good with kids or anyone else. Be very careful around them if you're ever involved with a rescue (I speak with a LOT of experience there!). Also the racket will NOT make you a favorite in the neighborhood. I find beagles are often just as bad. If you want to hunt birds, get a bird dog! Don't try to make one out of a dog that really isn't made for it. A few suggestions: My Brittany pup is already gangbusters this year and season just started. She is in great company with my two labs. Either one of those breeds would be a welcome addition to your home and family. The Brittany breed is known for their colorful personality and dedication to hunting. They love to please but have lots of energy. Still, I am finding mine is a great house dog. Labs just can't be beat for lovely disposition and hunting ability. Both breeds will sound the alarm too if necessary. As far as control, I have no problem walking them off leash several blocks to a green space and back. They started out the season this year like they had left off yesterday. Fell right into the routine without any problems.
If you want a hunting dog, don't go to the shelters. That's a crap shoot at best. Usually a wash out entirely. And, as I have said before, if you think you're just going to be able to take one back to the pound if it doesn't work out, think again. The family won't let you knowing what might happen to it. If you don't have the money to buy a well-bred pup, start saving and wait till you do. I'm no breeder-advocating snob either. I've had as many great hunting dogs without papers as ones that cost big money. But I'm not green at this like you are. I can pick a good pup. Be safe and invest some money. You won't regret it.
Oh, and no worries about a lab not being able to hunt rabbits. Har, har! I have a helluva time getting mine to leave them alone when we're upland hunting. Brittany still can't resist.
My old pound dog busted into the thickets again today, and flushed up 4 ruffs, and I missed all 4 of them right out of the rig. He forgave me, and flushed another 2 that I got. My chocolate purebred did retrieve one, and the old guy brought back the other. From grouse to geese, this old pound dog of mine can hunt.
Hi Haverod,
Thanks for the welcome. I like poodles and I'm sure eventually I will own a poodle and hound at the same time. I think I'll end up getting a hound and my buddy will get some sort of lab (since that is all he ever owned).
I know Bloodhounds are big, but so are labs! They are very smart and have the best sense of small. I'm just worried there nose will be too good and would track old trails, people, or large animals.
Ontario, I never seen a violent bloodhound actually hound. Most are beyond friendly. However, I will save up money and by a purebred. Luckly, I found a beagle and poodle breeder in NH who specialized in hunting dogs. I also found bloodhound breeders as well.
A bloodhound? Why? Must be mad at your neighbors, and want to get even. I had a Bassett on my street one time about 20 yrs. ago, and a big pain to listen to him all the time. And don't think purebreds aren't a crap shoot. I've seen countless numbers of them that were worthless, and mostly labs. I have no trouble hunting over property that a lot of these guys first cover with their worthless purebreds. Many just walk along with the hunter, and don't hunt. And heavy cover?..many of them won't even go in it like my Mutt will. Depends on YOU, and the work you do, the relationship you have with your dog. I am hunting exceptional grouse territory right now, and am the ONLY one that hunts it..got two yesterday. Only deer hunters in the area, and it is easily accessible. They just don't have the dogs that will go in the heavy stuff my dogs will enter, and flush them out ..and especially my mutt.
I grew up with a beagle and never had an issue. She would only bark when she was on the trail of another animal or if she saw one on the property. I know people who have labs and retrievers who bark anytime someone comes to the door. The only time I ever heard my beagle bark at a person was a long time ago. My brothers and I were young and some strange guy came to door "offering" his services. My beagle immedaitely started to bark and get agressive. We didn't think much of it, back a few days later the same guy was arrested in a near by street for B&E.
I got to admit I am baisis when it comes to hounds, but I had nothing but good luck and good times with my beagle. I owned other dogs, who are much more messy, barkers, and horrid hunters.
Odds are you will own a barker, and a loud one if it is a beagle. I'm bookin it at about 4 to 1. And that one?...had his larnyx removed.
A beagle resides half a block east and a hound one block to the south. Many nights I pray that a meteor the size of an eighteen wheeler will fall on each of those houses! Damn, I am sick of listening to that! Listen, if you have your mind made up on a silly bloodhound, go ahead and have at it. You have asked for advice and it has been given from guys who have been down the road a long time. The first time one of those bloodhounds or beagles finds your downed upland they will eat it on the spot. I'd almost bet my truck on that. Again, good luck trying to make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Sayfu also got lucky. My advice is don't gamble. If you want a dog to hunt birds with, buy one ... and go hunt birds.
I'm not just looking for a dog that can bird hunt. I want one that will also hunt rabbits as well. I appreciate you guys given me opionions, but every dog barks. My buddies lab is a big time barker, my neighbors retriever barks like crazy. But, I know they never tried to discipline the barking. Like I said my beagle hardly barked and I would teach my next hound to do the same.
You're sure not looking for my Mutt because he's not for sale. My Mutt is a great cottontail rabbit dog. We run them through the sage brush, and the key is to have lava rock around where they live. When I don't see him running a rabbit he bays at them, and I know he is running one. I just have to watch snap shooting through the Sage, and hitting my dog. Not too many better rabbit dogs than my Mutt. Sure no upland bird hunting purebred. We run rabbits to extend my upland season. Rabbit hunting goes until the end of Feb.
A good trainer can train a smart dog to do about anything. I hunt pheasants with a mutt that looks similar to a golden retriever. We bought him off the street from someone that lived in an apartment in Denver. He didn’t know how to retrieve or swim and he was gun shy and very submissive. I worked with him for a couple years and he is finally becoming a confident, birdy, good all-around dog that flushes, retrieves, and has a decent nose. Look for a dog that is smart and wants to please, and has a decent prey drive. It is best to buy a puppy and teach it discipline. Then find creative ways to train it. Breed is secondary.
get a britt, their easy to train,have great desire, not too big, and make great family dogs.
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