doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Poodles that hunt?

Poodles were at one time great hunters. As for their hair cuts, it was originally done by the estate owners in France to designate their dogs in the field. So different land owners dogs had different "doos" when running together.

George, do you know if they worked well for upland also?

The lady that gave me my Boykin/Watchtelhunde cross...used to raise hunting poodles and claimed she ran them in field trials up north some where.

RR:

My Bouviers will hunt ..... when they feel like it. They love to flush birds but will never wait until I get close enough for a shot to do it .... They'll find a downed bird but after that they feel their job is done ...... I've tried to teach them to retrieve but after the first time they bring it back they can't understand why you would throw it away again.

They are great with cows, sheep and small children.

Al

I have read, (but cannot reference) that the "silly cuts" actually evolved from hunting. The hair was kept longer over the joints to keep them warmer while the rest of the hair was cut close to keep down on briars. Hence the pom poms on the ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, neck, and such. I'm sure the French took it to extremes.

Poodles get a bum rap, due to the edible minature ones carried around under feebs' arms, and the poor sad show ring dogs being unspeakably and cruelly groomed ringside by over-imaginative fellows who could use a little time digging ditches for a living, just so's they know reality when presented with it.

I competed in dog agility courses a bit back and just got the biggest kick out watching working standard-bred poodles. Dey IS da workinest gem'mans, i do say. Bright and energetic, their worst drawback was that liked to embellish a performance by mebbe doing the required action twice or throwing in a curvette and extra jump -- out of sheer joy at working.

Thru those poodle folks I found out about the existence of real full sized, standard bred hunting poodles, and would presume that they have not disappeared in the decades since then. My canine is Chesapeakes and will be 'til I can't, but were there not those wavyfurred brown dogs, a spirited, intelligent poodle would be just fine in blind or boat or field. They are not wimp dogs, as mentioned above, and will give a full day of hard work.

In fact, I do believe a good slidey-breeched gun or two would be lovely and appropriate for such a noble creature: perhaps a short Ten and a Sixteen, true thinking hunter's gauges.

Go French!!! ;~`)

I seem to recall someone saying the American Water Spaniel didn't shed, and I know they are definitely good upland dogs. Might want to ask about them too. The few standard poodles I have known were quite nice dogs and not related except by general appearance to pitiful little lap pets.

I only saw them work as retrievers, but I was impressed. Being half Lab I would think they could do anything an upland hunting Lab could do...Geo

One of the biggest and most serious problems facing those that appreciate and use hunting poodles is the jealousy of non poodle users. They have been known to put Velcro on bushes as a form of poodle trap.

I have had a couple of American Water Spaniels and I can say for sure, they shed. Not as bad as some dogs, but they do shed. They also like to fish as well as hunt.