I don't think that there are any best dogs for hunters. I have seen good and bad dogs of every bird hunting breed. Actually the same could be said for coon dogs, too. There are lots of good dog owners out there that can bring out the best in a certain dog, and there are lots of owners who will Never own a good dog, no matter what they pay.

My personal experience has been with Labs, viszlas, Gordon Setters,German shorthairs and German wirehaireds. My two favorite dogs were both German Wirehaired pointers. Their disposition, talent, and personal relating to me was what I wanted in a dog at that time. One did everything right at age 3 1/2 months, the other took a year longer, but they ended up the same in my eyes. Their range was perfect for me, their pace was "smart" and they could hunt all day. Wonderful hunters and companions. I have had three others of the same breed that were not nearly as good with me. Unfortunately, both of those really good dogs are gone and I am hoping for one more good companion for the next 10 years. I'll be lucky if that happens, and if not, I still have two dogs for hunting companions that I can enjoy, but not maybe quite as much.

My thought, too, is that the best dogs are the ones that get the most chances. They need lots of chances.

Last edited by Daryl Hallquist; 06/21/12 03:35 PM.
http://www.bakercollectors.com/