Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject: Non-Gundog-breed dogs working as gundogs?
Does anyone know if any other breeds of dogs are used in gundog work for picking-up? Only my OH (who has hankered for a German Shepherd since I've ever known him) saw a photo of a GS in Shooting Times (apparently 'working') and has been going on about it ever since, trying to wear me down into changing my mind about my next pup, from a Lab to a GS (I wont!!!) Anyway, it's got me wondering, can other non-gundog breeds work as well as gundogs?
Perhaps its just the shoots I have been on Becs very traditional. It is hard enough to find a shoot to get started picking up on without picking up with a non-gundog.
I remember when I started with my Weimaraner I really had to keep at it to find a shoot that would take us and I had to do 2 years in the beating line before they would let me have a go at picking up.
Interesting, but I need a REALLY GOOD reason to give my OH as to why a GS really would never-ever-in-a-million-years be able to be a gundog and therefor meet both our needs!
Interesting, but I need a REALLY GOOD reason to give my OH as to why a GS really would never-ever-in-a-million-years be able to be a gundog and therefor meet both our needs!
I think if it isn't a gundog then I wouldn't bother... like Jill says its so hard to penitrate the circle and be taken seriously! Now I don't want to start the debate again, but its hard enough with a showbred gundog never mind a dog that isn't even a gundog!
Well I've seen plenty of photos of working Standard Poodles, usually retrieving Duck rather than Pheasant though.
The only real problems I can forsee with GSD's is that they tend to be very vocal and also tend to have hard mouths. They are an intelligent breed though, so it should be possible to train them to do most things, even if it doesn't come naturally. But as a Guarding breed, they are about as far away from a Labrador as a bicycle is.
Pssst....A friend of mine has 2 GSD x GR's.....Great big soppy dogs, who love to play fetch, yet are GSD coloured. Goodness knows where you would get one from though.
I am not saying they couldn't do it, in fact, they would be more than capable (I had a GSD many years ago). You would just need to have your own shoot to be able to get them out picking up on it!!!!
Becs if you do get a GSD (which is looking unlikely ) please tell me you'll get a proper old fashioned one....not one of those neurotic, gobby, domineering ones I see so many of round here....or those ones that slope away so badly that they can't walk properly .
Interesting, but I need a REALLY GOOD reason to give my OH as to why a GS really would never-ever-in-a-million-years be able to be a gundog and therefor meet both our needs!
Becs and The Gang
OK, how about this reason: the humans have spend hundreds of years to breed/create gundogs breed with one purpose only: to assist us when we're out in the shooting field. This breed work includes 'soft mouth'.
The guard dog breeds have been bred to guard (while we've gone shooting ) and to firmly lock their teeth into some one's arm in case they break in. Total different breed - total different 'mouth'. A fox will have more picking up instinct than most GS's so there you go: if you want something different for the shooting field get a fox!
Natasha
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) and to firmly lock their teeth into some one's arm in case they break in. Total different breed - total different 'mouth'. A fox will have more picking up instinct than most GS's so there you go: if you want something different for the shooting field get a fox!
