doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Looking for a good (no allergy) bird dog !

I've been trying for several years now to find a poodle that is from hunting stock. While there is a small cadre of breeders that claim they want the poodle to become more popular as a hunting dog, they are a close knit group and have made it very hard to break in and actually get one.

If you find one please let me know, I am still trying.

Rob:

I have seen a couple of Poodles at retriever tests in Maryland and Virginia. They do fine at the Junior/Started levels, but not so well at the Intermediate/Senior levels. I think there is one who has attained Master Hunter. I will find out and see if I can find a reference for you.

Kind regards,

Lloyd:

Don't let me scare you away from the IWS. They are a great breed and it would be good for the breed to see more of them in the duck blind. I just wanted to let you know it will be a challenge to find a field bred one.

More than one breeder in the UK has told me that they fear the breed is dying out. This is a reason why they import dogs from the USA. Many breeders here want their dogs in the field because they believe in the hunting heritage and history. Sadly, most buyers want them as pets or companion dogs.

I had a little male IWS pup that I was taking care of while the owner recovered from surgery. Just for fun, I started taking him to the pond for informal fun training. At about 12 weeks old I had him retrieving to hand from both land and water, and with no training he was sitting at the whistle and would look out over the water when he heard the duck call. It was tough to give him back. He had solid field breeding on one side, and show breeding on the other. Can only imagine how he would have been if I could have spent more time with him. Owner doesn't hunt. Anyway, I was very impressed with how smart he was.

Like ball players, the smart ones get better.

There are some very good IWS hunting lines in Ireland. Unfortunately I do not remember the kennel name. Ask the question here, http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/...672c16850075e6d

Anyone know a source for wirehaired vizslas in North America?

Here's a list of 15 kennels advertising WHV's

http://www.gundogbreeders.com/breeders-by-breed/wirehaired-vizsla/

Well...I've done it. Sent in the check today. You would think at 56 I would know better, but here we go again. The dog is out of Menomen, Wisconson and she is being trained as I write this. Now I'm going to have to contend with both a 10-year old boy and a poodle puppy. Yet another adventure.

You'll have to post pics of your dog you know.

I remember Oren Benson doing retriever demos breaking out a big grey poodle and doing everything as well as the labs and chessies he was doing the show with.

One of the judges at AWS Hunt Tests I attended bred and raised Vislas and IWS, it was fun to watch them do field work after the test.

I also trained with another fellow that had IWS for waterfowl hunting, they were nice dogs.

Funny story, we were out training with his IWS and my AWS, a fellow came up and watched for awhile. Finally he walked up and said "I know I know the big one is a Poodle but what is the little one?" I told him it was a "chocolate springer with a perm".

Anybody that says money can't buy happiness never bought a bird dog puppy. And a ten year old boy to take hunting while your still young enough! You are the luckiest man on the planet in my opinion.

Mike: Thank you! I've never owned a true hunting dog before and my son is almost as high-energy, thus my mild anxiety about it all. But you are right, I do feel fortunate. I did want an older dog (for all of the usual reasons!) but he wouldn't hear of it. I guess everybody ought to get a puppy at least once in their lives, so here we are. This little girl should be a finished dog by the time we finally get her, and I've been around enough "finished" dogs to know how wonderful they can be. I'm sure it will be quite the adventure.