Post by doxiefalconer on Jul 12, 2006 9:47:50 GMT -5
hunting without a dog, is like moving a car without the engine running....you can do it, but it takes alot more work. You have not lived until you have seen your RT go down on a bunny over a hill and see your Doxie come running to you away from your RT with a rabbit leg, or head that she has stolen.....too funny.
Post by Falcon Boy on Jun 25, 2013 10:51:41 GMT -5
Brittany Spaniel. They are smallish, and can point birds and rabbits. They would be my choice for an 'all-arounder' if you wanted something that would point.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
On Brittany I totally Agreed . I personally have a vizsla and he's taken way to long to get going an the breed is known for serious separation anxiety . My sponsor and another local friend have Brittany . They just know what to do with little training. Chase everything with fur , point bird , etc . They can be very rangy so E collars are a good addition to them in the field . They are very smart dogs , respond to positive training quickly an are great around the home .
It is good to have an end to Journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the End. - Ernest Hemingway
Post by Falcon Boy on Jun 25, 2013 12:46:18 GMT -5
I guess we should define what range-y is for each individual. I've seen pointers easily go out 1-3 miles from the handler. The Brittany's I've seen never went more than 200-300 yards.
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.
I have been reading up and found some interesting things. I grew up around "wiener" dogs but I guess I always have underestimated them. I know from experience that they can be EXCELLENT rabbit dogs, but was unaware that they are a true scent hound. Being a scent hound they can find and flush pheasants and quail. They do not really point but since they do not get too terribly far away that should be fine without worry of a premature flush. The kicker though is that I read that they can pretty easily be trained to retrieve a duck from water and it is actually a requirement for becoming part of the North American Teckel Club. Now, I do not expect them to have to retrieve anything from the water, but if they could do that then why not flush a duck off of a pond? But for sure would have to go for standard size which is proving more difficult to find than I had thought it would be.
The two I know of locally while out hawking would go well over that if not reminded to come back. But even that said , are amazing dogs in the field and good house dogs . Now , unless you are flying falcons over head 2-300 yards can put a hawk well out of range for a slip on a rabbit . I want my dog well within 50 yards for a successful flush in TN terrain. So I would consider that to be too rangey for the purpose they are used for here in our terrain , being run under Brush hawks . The 2 guys running them are on here (so I won't speak too much for them) they might chime in.
It is good to have an end to Journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the End. - Ernest Hemingway
I have been reading up and found some interesting things. I grew up around "wiener" dogs but I guess I always have underestimated them. I know from experience that they can be EXCELLENT rabbit dogs, but was unaware that they are a true scent hound. Being a scent hound they can find and flush pheasants and quail. They do not really point but since they do not get too terribly far away that should be fine without worry of a premature flush. The kicker though is that I read that they can pretty easily be trained to retrieve a duck from water and it is actually a requirement for becoming part of the North American Teckel Club. Now, I do not expect them to have to retrieve anything from the water, but if they could do that then why not flush a duck off of a pond? But for sure would have to go for standard size which is proving more difficult to find than I had thought it would be.
I grew up with mini doxies and almost everyone I knew in Maryland used them. They are fantastic rabbit dogs when from good blood lines.
As far as flushing a duck, you might find that the ducks won't leave if a falcon is overhead unless they are REALLY pushed, which a doxie probably can't do (their little legs can only take them so far so fast). Then again, i've seen diver ducks swim circles around a lab after the bird put the ducks into the water. I guess it really comes down to what you really want. Do you want something larger that will point, or smaller that will flush (and eat less)? Just something to think about since your dog will be around 10-15 years and you will probably release your first redtail and, after upgrading, a lot of folks move on to falcons or accipiters.
Once you start looking at the smaller dogs you have a number of other dogs to consider as well, like Jack Russels (the real ones from hunting lines, not the leggy 'show' variety). Another idea, in addition to the spaniels mentioned, is the English Cocker spaniel, which from the 1 individual i've seen was MUCH different than the american version (it was shorter, longer, and had shorter hair that was not 'poofy'). Small Munsterlanders might be another option.
And this begins my issue with dogs. There are so many options, research takes forever, and not every breed works for every individual!
Falcon Boy Apprentice Falconry Administrator
Ethics make the individual, not the other way around.