Darn that Ty Stockton. Now instead of figuring out when I can road-trip to Cabela's to spend my holiday gift certificates on new waders and a new reel, I'm considering if I should become a two-dog household. And it's all my Wyoming Wildlife News editor's fault.
A few weeks ago, Ty brought his new Golden retriever, Cricket, into the office. One look into those soft brown eyes and I just melted. Then the little sweetie laid her head on my leg to be scratched and I was a goner. I swear dogs can sense dog people, and Cricket quickly pegged me not only as a dog person, but as a dog person who loves strawberry blonde Golden Retrievers with soft kisses and doggy breath. She spent the rest of our time together warming my feet, and I got the "gotta get a puppy" bug.
I've thought about a new dog for a few reasons; my dog, Hoops, would love the company and companionship of another animal, and I like the challenge and reward of training. And I figured if I'm looking at another dog, it should be one that I could use to fuel my new interest in hunting. The only problem is, I have an obsessive personality. Couple that with an aversion to risk, and it takes me forever to make a decision. I shopped for a DVD/VCR combo for months; imagine how long it will take me to decide on a living creature that's going to be with me for the next ten to fourteen years.
All the articles and books I've read offer the same three pieces of advice when selecting a breed consider the kind of hunting you'll do most; consider your family and lifestyle; and look at what kinds of dogs hunters in your area are using to help narrow down your choices.
Okay, that's easy enough. I want a dog best suited for pheasants and some grouse, but one who could expand her talents and help on the occasional duck hunt. According to the experts, hunting dogs can generally be lumped in four categories: pointers, flushers, retrievers and versatiles.
Pointers, as a group, are athletic and upland bird specialists who make extended searches for game, often well away from a hunter. When they locate game, these breeds go on point, and in theory stay on point until the hunter flushes and shoots the bird. Pointing breeds include the English pointer, the English setter, the Brittany and the German short-haired pointer.
Flushers are more team players, working closer to gun range, running short patterns in front of the hunter. A trained flusher drives game into the air, sits at the flush and shot to mark the fall of the bird, then retrieves on command. English spaniels, English cockers and water spaniels fall into this category.
Retrievers generally work from the hunter's side, often from a blind. They use their innate skills to locate downed birds, or allow themselves to be guided by their handler by whistles and hand signals. They are ideally suited for waterfowl hunting, but can also hunt as upland flushing dogs. Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers and Chesapeake Bay retrievers fall into this category.
Versatile breeds don't really have a specialty, but have a wide range of use that makes them appealing to lots of different hunters. This group includes the Vizsla, Griffon and Weimaraner. These dogs can do just about anything, but most are used for upland bird pointing and limited retrieving.
Right, then. I want a flusher that retrieves. Or was that a retriever that flushes? Maybe the second consideration can help narrow the field a bit more-- consider my lifestyle and family situation.
I have a small yard and a male dog who would love a playmate. We'll make lots of trips to the dog park and take walks for exercise, but I definitely need a dog that's more laid-back and mellow. I want a female, because Hoops will submit to just about any female out there, but his manly pride has started more than one scuffle at playtime. My new dog needs to be big enough to hold her own with her canine brother, but Hoops is 78 pounds of fun, and my townhouse (and my sanity) can't handle two giant dogs. So I'm looking at something in the 30-50 pound range.
Great, I've narrowed the field a bit - a Labrador, Golden and Chessie are all too big, as are the Griffon and English setter. The Viszla is probably too energetic, I've never met a Springer spaniel I liked, and after living with a neurotic Weimaraner named Sophie for two years in college, I'll take a pass on those dogs too. I know, I know, one bad apple shouldn't spoil the breed. But Sophie ate us out of house and home, literally, she chewed a hole in the side of the house and ate three couch cushions. I'm sorry, but I hold a grudge.
Finally, step number three, find out what kind of dogs experienced hunters in my area are using. Just looking around the office, there's not a common recommendation in the bunch. Ty just got a Golden, Al has a Viszla, Madson swears by his Brittany, our deputy director never goes anywhere without his Griffon and my boss's trusted field companion is Stella, his Labrador. My dad hunted pheasants with our trusty Basset hound, Coco. Different hunting friends told me to get a Springer spaniel but not a German shorthair. Another friend said whatever I did, stay away from the Brittany and English cocker. One friend strongly recommended a standard poodle.
A poodle? Seriously?
"Don't laugh," he the best duck dog I've ever owned in my life, and he's darn good with pheasants too. Poodles were originally bred as hunters. Charlie's a great retriever, he loves the kids and he doesn't shed" explained my friend Kent from Indiana. "We just got a Labradoodle puppy that's a poodle/lab cross. I'll be hunting with him too."
Finally, after a month of reading, researching, visiting with friends and family, I made a decision...
What do you think of the name Ty for a Guinea Pig?
