wildergamebirds
|
|
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2007, 09:31:45 PM » |
|
Sorry, I thought I had posted this, already.
You need two dogs (at least). That’s just too much of a compromise. Weimaraners were supposedly bred to do both (protect as a companion, I believe, rather than protecting an estate). I apologize, in advance to fans, but I’ve never seen one do both, well. And they are definitely not the easiest bird dog for a beginner to train.
It is hard for a lot of people in this country to think of a German Shepherd as a herding dog, since they have been used so much as guard, and patrol dogs. Overseeing the flock in their pasture is easy to transform to protecting the “pasture” and everything in it from “predators”.
Hunting dogs (and I assume by that you mean bird dog, and probably one of the pointing breeds), leave home to find game in someone else’s “pasture”. Dogs that are strictly retrievers are not as bad about this, but I don’t think they are likely to patrol your “estate” well. Brittanys, many setters, and some pointers raised close to people will protect the pack, especially the pack leader, and the immediate “den” area. Anything outside an area of a few acres, will usually be viewed as hunting grounds, and that can extend out to infinity, unless you are hunting with him. There are probably a few dogs in the world that could do both, well, but your grandchildren will be old, before we could locate one.
So, no, there is not a breed, or mix that you can depend on to do both, well, and yes, most hunting dogs, of any type, are likely to wander off the property to hunt on their own. In fact, these unauthorized excursions can do more to undo good training than a poor trainer making mistakes. A dog that is truly steady to wing, or wing and shot may stay on point out in the brush, somewhere, making it nearly impossible to find. That is only one nightmare scenario.
Also, you don’t want to be out hunting with the guard dog, 3, or 300 miles from home when the bad guys show up!
Personally, I would check with rescue organizations for a young German Shepherd, or mix, in good health, and temperament. But go with a bird dog of pure, and known breeding. Brittanys, Vislas, and Setters tend to bond better with their owner/trainer than pointers. I think most of the retrievers, and flushing dogs are about equal in this. Nothing will be more useful, if you intend to do some, or all, of the training yourself.
Since you seem to be happy with the way the Shepherd/Husky patrols, I would suggest training his eventual replacement the basics of obedience, and let them run together. The youngster should pick up most everything he needs to know. This does NOT work as a method of training a bird dog, with the possible exception of basic retrieving, and is a no-no, if the Shepherd kills chickens, or has any similar bad habits.
Jack
|