Well this sucks but we have to put our Abbie down tomorrow morning. She has an aggressive cancer in her jaw that surfaced 2 weeks ago. We had to put her sister Lucy down in August so we will be dogless. I'm pretty much ready to get another dog but my wife wants some time because right now she is heart broken. Abbie is 12, Lucy was 14 (the little one) ...



Anyway, when the time comes I want to be ready and know what kind of dog I want. So far that would be a Fiest but I'm still trying to get educated about them. I fully intend to invest a lot of time training my next dog. Things I specifically will be looking for are :

0) I want a dog that is trainable. I plan to sign up for training classes as soon as possible

1) I want a dog I can take with me in the woods when scouting. One that will stay with me unless I release it to roam and one that will come back when I call it.

2) I'd like a dog that can track a downed deer by its blood trail

3) I'd like a dog that will bird hunt (quail, dove ... ) with me

4) Gotta be good with the grandchildren and loveable for my wifey

5) Prefer one that does not shed but this is not a requirement

Ya'll have any ideas? So far the Mountain Fiest is looking pretty good ...

Man I hate that...I know it's tuff having to let go of them specially when they are part of the family...

Original Mt cur but I doubt it or the Mt feist fits the bird bill. Some folks are crossing the original Mt curs with bird dogs and that might be an option.

Very sad. We have a chocolate Lab ( her name is Lucy too)that can do all of the things you're looking for - and she lives in the house. Very obedient and smart. A Lab would be my recomendation.

Rocket, thats tough. sorry for what you guys are going thru. Like Ryano said, doubt a mountain feist is going to fit your requirements for birds. There are some GSP's in the classified that would fit the bill.

Thanks

I suppose I could drop the bird hunting requirement ...

Here, I've rearranged them in Order of Priority :

0) Gotta be trainable, plan on taking it to training classes and spending time with it each day. Absolutely required

1) Gotta be good with the grandchildren and loveable for my wifey. Absolutely required

2) One I take with me in the woods when scouting, that will stay with me unless I release it to roam, will come back when I call it. Pretty much required ...

3) I'd like a dog that can track a downed deer by its blood trail, not a requirement but a strong wanna

4) I'd like a dog that will bird hunt (quail, dove ... ) with me but this is not a requirement, just a wanna

5) Prefer one that does not shed but this is not a requirement, just a wanna

I'd stick with the mountain feist. I've got one and she's the best dog I've ever had. Listens welleasy to train at least the basics sit stay come go hunt show me the squirrel etc. Doesn't bark unless there's a reason too doesn't eat much and you'll have a dog that hates cats and loves to hunt. Mine goes pretty much every where with me

How long you had her?

I'm so sorry to hear this sad news. I've found that a new dog can help soften the blow after losing an old friend.

I'm partial to Labradors because that's mostly all I've owned. My Dad's female Lab came to live with me after he passed away and she can track a deer like nobody's business. She'll retrieve anything you shoot - including raccoons. The last one I shot out of a tree never made it to the ground before she had it. But on the other hand, she's the sweetest dog you'll ever know. Good with kids and smart as a whip.

Sending thoughts your way as you prepare to say goodbye to Abbie.

Draathar

Thanks Tambo ...



Now thats a cool dog! You have one?

never seen those before, are they high dollar?

x2

Since she was a puppy bout a year and a half

Sorry about your dogs. Look at a Boykin Spaniel. They do shed but not bad.

Good luck

Sorry about your dog.


To me you described a lab to a T. My 9 year old female lab does everything you mentioned, she sheds a little but nothing to bad. She goes with me alot scouting, dove, duck hunting and she even found a few deer for me. she is as gentle with my 4 and 1 year old as she can be. Very very protective of them as well.
Also a GSP sounds like a dog close to those requirements.

Sorry for your loss, buddy. I agree about the Labs. My labs do all those things.

Labs are awesome.I have had every color in the book too.Every black lab I had was wired up and dumb as box of rocks until about 2 years old and then just like turning on a switch they changed into great dogs.The best lab I ever had though was a blonde lab.Great temperament and smart from a puppy.I have a bloodhound now and this dog has exceeded all expectations.After I got him all I heard was negative remarks.Other than my Blue heeler that died 3 years ago he is the best dog I ever had.That heeler was my baby.My wife said at times she thought I loved her more than my wife.If I had my way I would take every heeler I see.

Small dog - Boykin Spaniel and large dog - Lab