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

Boykin fits them all perfectly except the shedding.

German shepherd

My grandson and his Lab. They are gonna grow up together.

Great pic

Looks like you have an offensive tackle there Brent.

He's not even 5 months old. He's a big 'un.

My vote is the lab, and have owned 2. Great all around dog. I agree with previous post...he seemed dumb for the first 2-3 years I think it was, then the light-switch turned on. He sleeps inside and will not pee on the floor. Yes, he does shed. Retrieves anything...and have used him to track down deer. Im going with a yellow lab next. Good luck !

I don't know what labs yall got but out of all the dogs I have owned the labs learned way faster than the shepherds or goldies I have owned.

I like labs for gentleness, but all the ones I had were like a rat on acid and chewed anything and everything.

The best dogs I've ever had, by far, were heelers. They are very smart and live to be outside working for you. They are good in the woods also, but idk about the bird hunting. They also make perfect companion dogs and will bond very closely to you. They are very protective of family.

I've always wanted a black mouth cur, for many of the same reasons as the heeler, but they have a strong hunting instinct.

All that being said, i think I'd look into the GSP. Those are some pretty dogs.

Sorry for your loss.
Hard for some to believe, but Standard Poodles are amazing from the right genetics. They fit your needs perfectly, not cheap and hard to find.
We have Labs and will highly recommend you find a great breeder before you decide.

Go with a English lab. I've had mine for 4 years now and she's been great. She can stay inside or out. I use her for bloodtrailing deer and hogs. She goes everywhere with me. When I go hunting she pouts if I don't let her at least ride, then she happily stays in the truck until i get back. NO chewing!! And doesnt bark unless there is actually something there that shouldn't be.

No I don't own one. Been around a few. Thinking that my next dog will be one.

I think they can be a bit pricey.

a blue heeler is really good with kids, easy to train and will track a deer. I have a half heeler half collie and its the best dog ive ever had

The wife and I have been looking hard at all these recommendations. We ruled out labs, shepherds, drahthaars, goldies, and heelers because we prefer something under 40 lbs.

We seem to have narrowed down to these :
- Boykin spaniel (wife is in love with this one)
- Mountain fiest (my favorite so far)

Now I see Tom Munoz is using the german wirehaired dachsund. My wife loves their look but is afraid that their coat will be really coarse ... She wants something she can love on and likes smooth/soft fur.

Anyone have any experience with a Wirehaired Dachsund?

I could drop all of my wants above except for deer tracking if we found one my wife thinks is loveable and would be good with the grandchildren

I still say mountain feist. The reddish brown is my favorite color

Not a great hunting dog, but nothing will replace a Schnauzer...
This my Buddy
Otis...he thinks he needs a bite of whatever I was eating

I wouldn't want one of the ugly jokers, but a standard poodle fits your mold precisely.

I'm with SFC3....I'd have to whip somebody over this gal! Miss Scarlett is a squirrel chasin' fool too.

I've had 2 Schnauzers ... LOVE THEM but my #1 req is an excellent nose for deer tracking. They may be able to track but the Boykin, Dachshund, and Fiest are much better options.

I read somewhere the Dachshund's nose is second only to the Bloodhound.

Man that sucks, I hate to heat that

I BET you could teach one to do it...If mine knew they were good to eat...I wouldnt have to even shoot it...

An my WIFE would kill someone over Otis...graveyard dead...

me too, although I had a long haired dachsund that would get the job done. The mountain Feist have the natural immunity system that make them a very good choice. You'll have a partner that will circle and check back in frequently.

My mom had a Schnauzer that found deer every year. Was pretty good at it too but id still say the others are better.

Dang women are impossible. My wife keeps adding to the list LOL. Anyway, here is the entire list we are considering from. She is going to remove one, then I will, back and forth until we have just one left and that will be our next dog ...

English Springer Spaniel Field Bred
German Shepherd
Boykin Spaniel
German Wirehaired Pointer (aka Viszla or Draathar, not the dachshund)
German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP)
Mountain Cur
Mountain Fiest
German Short Haired Pointer
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Australian Cattle Dog ( aka Blue heeler )
German Wirehaired Dachshund

I'm on my 3rd Dachshund and they are all I'll evear have. Major kills whatever comes in the yard if he can catch it. Birds, squirrel and a possum so far. Can hear a flea fart over in Madison County and goes nuts about it

Your list is very diverse! A lot of those breeds are going to require a ton of exercise and training. Think hard about how much time you will have to devote to the dog. If an hour walk in the morning & an hour training in the afternoon isn't feasible then expect a bored dog. Bored dogs get into mischief!!

The King Charles Cavalier Spaniel is an excellent lap dog but meets none of your hunting requirements.

Yeah, its a long list but truth be told its going to boil down to the Boykin Spaniel and the English Springer Spaniel Field Bred ... I can tell her favorite is the Boykin and I'm just not sure which of the two I favor. I'd have gone for a Cur, Fiest, or GW Dachshund but she's already eliminated them

Texas Blue Lacy.

We've whittled it down to this and it's my turn to drop one :

• English Springer Spaniel Field Bred
• Boykin Spaniel

Wow, that's a hard decision for me. Both are more than adequate for tracking and hunting. Both are loaded with personality. Both are great with (grand)kids. Both are highly intelligent and trainable ...

Decisions ...

Bear in mind that Spaniels and cockleburs don't mix well in case you hunt or have outings where cockleburs are present. More than once I had to dang near shave the Cocker Spaniels we had.

I don't think these two dogs will do what you want. Both breeds are high drive hunting dogs. I thought you wanted a pet? Get a dog you can train, a dog that will do what you tell it to do. Who wants a dog that will run off and not mind. Just about any dog can be trained to track a blood trail. Get a dog that will protect your family. Get a dog that will become part of your family.

Get a German Shepherd and have a pal for the next 15 or so years.
However, they do shed and I mean really bad, but that is a small price to pay for a lifelong companion.

The Boykin will be a pet or a hunter. Great, smart little dogs.

Well we came to an agreement and it's gonna be a Field Bred English Springer Spaniel

Now to find a decent breeder ...

Thanks for all the info !

I have had over 200 dogs. Bird dogs, revtrivers, hounds, curs. There are dumb dogs in all breeds. The smartest I have owned were a Chesapeake lab cross, mountain cur fiest cross, and a redbone. The smartest I have ever seen was a austrailin shepard. The common denominator was that they were very social, and had to have frequent interaction with there Masters

Thats good to know

Not a field springer, but we are on our second springer spaniel. Absolutely great. If I had gotten to her before her former owners, she would be as good or better than any Brit I had when I bird hunted.
Fun pet, too.

Then go get another Schnauzer...They'll be buddies