Recommendations for a smaller breed for Pheasant hunting that would make a mellow family dog

KnightofTheOldeCode Buckeye Firearms Leader, Volunteer Coordinator Joined May 2005 Posts 5958 EE 100% (12) OH, USA	Posted: 4/17/2019 10:56:28 PM EDT Thank you for your thoughts.
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SDPDHunter22-250 Gold Member Joined Dec 2005 Posts 717 EE 0% (0) IL, USA	Posted: 4/17/2019 11:21:42 PM EDT [Last Edit: SDPDHunter22-250] [#1] Our family has had and hunted English Setters for over 40 years. Great hunters and an even better family dog. Really great around kids and people and very loyal. Hunting lines run from 35 lbs to 50-55 lbs.

doc_Zox Call sign: Bitmap Joined Feb 2001 Posts 28050 EE 0% (0) DC, USA	Posted: 4/17/2019 11:33:22 PM EDT [#2] Me and my Dad's favorite hunting brittany spaniel
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scrum TANSTAAFL Joined May 2004 Posts 11596 EE 100% (44) WA, USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 12:15:45 AM EDT [Last Edit: scrum] [#3] Springer spaniels are around 35-50 lbs and (in my limited experience with a few of them) good upland bird dogs. Another one to look at is Tolling Retrievers, same size range as Springers but they punch way above their weight as retrievers for waterfowl too. I've only known one and she was pretty laid back/reserved.
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myitinaw Men for Others Joined Jan 2005 Posts 25446 EE 100% (21) USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 12:20:33 AM EDT [Last Edit: myitinaw] [#4] My neighbors had a smaller English type Pointer that was an absolute joy. Docile, loyal, and he was a totally perfect kid-friendly dog.
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wingsnthings Vexatious ARFcommer Joined Nov 2009 Posts 8676 EE 100% (2) VA, USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 12:23:50 AM EDT [#5] Springer or English Setter.
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skich Member Joined Apr 2001 Posts 2166 EE 100% (168) AK, USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 1:03:45 AM EDT [Last Edit: skich] [#6] Here's another vote for English Setters. Great hunting dogs and even better family. Attached File

DanishM1Garand Member Joined Aug 2004 Posts 17011 EE 100% (4) OH, USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 10:04:56 AM EDT [#7] Llewellin Setter. All the heart of an English Setter just a bit smaller. Good house dog if a bit wound up though.

blueinterceptor

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Joined Jul 2003
Posts 6065
EE 100% (220)

PA, USA

Posted: 4/18/2019 10:29:21 AM EDT

[#8]

I’ve hunted and owned English pointers. English setters Brittany’s and springers.
Each are unique in their own way. The longer the hair, the more things like bird get stuck in them. Some dogs retrieve, flush and pointers point. I think any of the above make great family pets as they were my pets when I was a child. I hunt and own an English pointer now. Great dog. Lots of energy likes to play. Will retrieve a ball but won’t retrieve birds but that’s not his job. He finds them, the rest is up to you. My dog held a point for 20 minutes He would not move. I’m considering a second dog, I’m thinking about a second pointer but they are tall. I’m also thinking about a Brittany

doc_Zox Call sign: Bitmap Joined Feb 2001 Posts 28055 EE 0% (0) DC, USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 12:07:14 PM EDT [#9] our one Britney would get frustrated with non flushing birds and occasionally grab them if they were slow on the jump, he sometimes pulled them out of the sky. He would also grab and retrieve farm cats and groundhogs
	"None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with YOU. You're locked up in here with ME.”, Walter Joseph Kovacs, (w,stte), "The Watchmen"

Oldmikey Member Joined Mar 2013 Posts 4100 EE 0% (0) AK, USA	Posted: 4/18/2019 12:20:11 PM EDT [#10] Boykin Spaniel
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Dodgedthecoathanger Member Joined Apr 2019 Posts 33 EE 0% (0) WI, USA	Posted: 4/23/2019 12:49:27 AM EDT [#11] Griffin, European bred female GSP (American lines are big) you can get 40-50 lb females, Brittany spaniel, and English setters.

ReaperWaterfowl Member Joined Jan 2013 Posts 914 EE 100% (34) IL, USA	Posted: 4/23/2019 10:00:45 AM EDT [#12] In my experience, mellow and upland dogs do not go hand in hand. They need to work to some extent everyday to keep their sanity

TopBillin Member Joined Dec 2016 Posts 347 EE 0% (0) ON, CAN	Posted: 4/24/2019 10:14:07 PM EDT [#13] Quote History Originally Posted By ReaperWaterfowl: In my experience, mellow and upland dogs do not go hand in hand. They need to work to some extent everyday to keep their sanity View Quote Plus 1 on this. Loving family dog but needs to be worked every day. They'll repay you in love though. Attached File Attached File Attached File
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bankfraudguy

Joined Jan 2008
Posts 1322
EE 0% (0)

USA

Posted: 4/24/2019 10:28:16 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Originally Posted By ReaperWaterfowl:
In my experience, mellow and upland dogs do not go hand in hand. They need to work to some extent everyday to keep their sanity

View Quote

Times 3.

My setter is one of those dogs that make you sometimes think they're human. So very smart. And moody, which is confused with stupidity. The dog can hunt straight out of the box, and once past the puppy stage, is very docile in the house. He sheds worse than my lab though, and if not exercised, resembles an over pressure boiler about about to let go.

Buckeye33 Joined Mar 2011 Posts 179 EE 100% (18) OH, USA	Posted: 5/2/2019 7:53:56 AM EDT [#15] How about a Beagle. They’ve been the go to dog for everything on land since God made land.

ryandushku Member Joined Oct 2016 Posts 3051 EE 100% (1) WI, USA	Posted: 5/2/2019 8:10:21 AM EDT [#16] Coonhound? Lol. I actually watched mine track and flush a grouse on Easter weekend Attached File
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johnh57

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Joined Jan 2013
Posts 9684
EE 100% (7)

MT, USA

Posted: 5/2/2019 8:45:10 AM EDT

[Last Edit: johnh57] [#17]

Small Munsterlander. They seem to get good reviews. I've never seen one personally.

Buddy of mine has a english pointer. That dog is wonderful at finding pheasant in the thickest mass of brush and cattails. She will not lower herself to retrieve though, we have to send my weims after downed birds.

Eta: re burrs and longhaired dogs. I use Cowboy Magic on my longhaired Weim. It still takes a bit after a day in the field to brush him out, but its much easier than if I don't use it. Realy good stuff. Spray him the night before hunting and give him a good brush. Makes the coat slick so it brushes out much easier and doesn't tangle.

KnightofTheOldeCode Buckeye Firearms Leader, Volunteer Coordinator Joined May 2005 Posts 5980 EE 100% (12) OH, USA	Posted: 5/22/2019 11:45:52 AM EDT [#18] Many thanks for all of your great recommendations gentlemen. Looks like if things go as planned I will be bringing home a English Setter Brittney mix pup from a litter of a friends hunting buddy.
	"If people do their Best what else is there?" General Patton. www.myspace.com/myohiosecondamendmentpage

HAGDADDY Cimarron Goat Poker Joined Jan 2010 Posts 2860 EE 100% (176) KS, USA	Posted: 7/2/2019 1:16:21 AM EDT [#19] Vizsla. Smaller end of the pointing dogs. Great hunters. Absolute awesome family dogs. They call them velcro dogs for a reason.
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Currently Member Joined Aug 2006 Posts 880 EE 100% (2) USA	Posted: 7/2/2019 2:07:30 AM EDT [#20] Quote History Originally Posted By HAGDADDY: Vizsla. Smaller end of the pointing dogs. Great hunters. Absolute awesome family dogs. They call them velcro dogs for a reason. View Quote No kidding, my wife has never been able to go to the bathroom alone since we got her.

Puck

Joined Nov 2008
Posts 89902
EE 100% (9)

MN, USA

Posted: 7/11/2019 1:22:43 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Originally Posted By HAGDADDY:
Vizsla. Smaller end of the pointing dogs. Great hunters. Absolute awesome family dogs. They call them velcro dogs for a reason.

View Quote

I'll +1 this. I've had Labs most of my life and my wife comes from a Springer family, but we're on year two of being Wirehaired Vizsla owners, and I can't imagine not having one around in the future.

He's one of the smartest dogs I've known, and has about twelve dogs' worth of personality.

Otherwise, tough to beat the aforementioned spaniels or a Brittany.

Proud member of Team Ranstad
RIP Dad

getalab Member Joined Dec 2012 Posts 526 EE 100% (7) MS, USA	Posted: 7/17/2019 4:59:51 PM EDT [#22] Mellow and pheasants = lab

Recommendations for a smaller breed for Pheasant hunting that would make a mellow family dog

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