Thinking about a new Bird Dog

[12 Volt Man]

I had a Ponting Lab that was a very good dog. She was very obediant and good with my kids. I had to get rid of her a while back when we sold our house. Now we are almost done building a new house and I am thinking about another dog. This dog will primarily be an around the house and yard dog, and has to be good with young kids. It will also be used to hunt Pheasants in the fall. I have access to a Pheasant Hunt Club. Probably will visit 4 to 5 times a year.
I considered another Lab and decided I would go for something that sheds less. Although I do think that Labs are the best all around dogs.
I also considered a German Shorthair.
I think I have narrowed it down to an English Pointer with Elhew lines. Here is a pic of the Sire at the Kennel I may go with. I will probably get a male.

Anyone have any experience with Pointers? Please share.

 

[Selfdfenz]

I would advise you to consider reading up on the versatile hunting dog breeds. NAVHDA or one of the similar sites might have some info you would be interested in. I started with Labs and they are good dogs in many, many ways.
I found the GSP great dogs but a bit hyper, mine ranged to far. Really loved my GWP, perfect range and smarter than Einstein but not too sure they would be great around small kids. I’m considering a Visual or another GWP.
Most of the American pointers I’ve been around were pretty business like but not to high scoring in the companion animal dept. I think they range too far for me. Ditto for the Setters but they were strictly field dogs, lived in kennels all the time etc. Kennel dogs don't tend to have much personality IMHO.
S-

 

[Dr.Rob]

Have you considered a springer spaniel? They were made for pheasant and they are great with kids. I've had three. Make sure you get a field dog and not a show dog, cuz brushing a showdog thats been in the field is an all day affair.

That's a strong looking dog, btw. Stong, good lines erect tail, good floppy mouth to grab up scent.

 

[Beaker]

Also, be very careful when choosing a breeder for Springers. Some lines have earned a reputation for instability and aggression since they became popular.

This is almost certainly less of a problem in field lines than show.

Italian Spinones are a rare breed (basically a rough-coated Italian pointer), but I've never heard anything but good things about them. They're very intelligent, very loyal, and last I heard there was no record of a Spinone biting anyone. (Probably due to rarity, as any dog will bite under the right circumstance, but I can vouch for their gentle temperament. Fabulous family dog.)

 

[HRT]

If you hunt with others or keep multiple dogs in a kennel I would stay away from the Elhew pointers. Good bird finders, in general good with people but they have a well deserved reputation as fighters. They are not just nip and go fighters but fight to win. Bob Wehle (Elhew is Wehle backwards) up in I think NY did a good bit of close breeding to get the bird finding and style of the line but the line or close breeding yielded a non dog tolerant dog. Of course there are exceptions. I would try to find some field trialers and chat with them. Personally I am the owner of a 4 yo Brit and a 7MO English Setter. The pups mother (Grand Daughter of Tacoa Mountain Sunrise) is a joy to hunt quail or woodcock over and is great around other dogs or people.

 

[Iain]

Another vote for springer spaniels. Mine has always been a house pet after my cousin (aunt owned both parent dogs) spoiled him as a pup. You couldn't ask for a better nature, never bitten or snapped but went mental the time the bailjumper was in our garden.

There were 15 other pups in the same litter of which 7 others survived. The others are all working dogs, gun dogs and beating dogs and people paid a lot of money for them because of the reputation the sire has in the region.

Don't worry about the pedigree, ours has the bandiest front legs ever, but there is half an inch of muscle standing off his shoulders and the willingness to go all day when you want him to. If you ask me, retrieving is in his nature, when he play fights with his teeth he rarely leaves much of a mark on my arms, but I know he really could damage them if he wanted to.

Careful with the coat, you can get it clipped rather short though.