English Pointers???

[Hillbilly]

We have a kennel place down where I live out in the country that breed English Pointers. I would love to hunt for upland birds someday. On English pointers are they good mannered dogs? Are they hard to train/conduct in the field. Like to know some info on these hunting dogs???

Thanks

[carbonhunter]

Pure hunting machines.........depends on the pup with temperment. You could train it, but to do it all RIGHT it would take some serious time. and you would need to get the dog on REAL bird alot.

[Tominator]

Pretty much agree with Aaron here--they're built for one thing--finding birds.

I've never had one or hunted over them, but I've heard they can be a bit hard headed because all they want to do is hunt, and you better have some birds for them to find.

Another consideration for Pointers is their short hair. If you plan on kenneling them, make sure you insulate their house very well because they're not really built for the northern climates.

[need2hunt]

I had one English pointer, one of our neighbors owned him and was moving and couldn't take him with so he asked if we wanted him. That dog was a machine!!! The guy took us out to a huge field, had the dog on a leash, made him whoa and stay, took the leash off then walked all the way around the dog and tapped him on the head.... wooosh!!! he was gone!!! My dad turned to me and started to say "I don't know if I want a dog that ranges that much" but he never got through the sentence before the guy says "he's on point!!" That dog found 10 wild birds in about 15 minutes... including one that he pointed, the owner flushed the bird, the dog stayed on point until the owner came back to give him the "go" tap, and then the dog wouldn't move... the owner tapped him again, dog still wouldn't go... a third time and now the owners getting a little embarassed... then I tell him "Walk out in front of the dog about 10-15 feet"... sure enough there was a second bird there that flushed and that dog wasn't going to leave it.

He was a great dog but personnally I like a dog that will stay nice and close like a English setter (the setters we had were bred to hunt close).

[Modillo]

i want to get me a german short hair. but i have a dog that is going to make a fine bird hunting dog. she is a year old and about 5months old we took her out and fired the guns around her and she did not flinch. infact she was wanting to get out and get the bird lol. but she is not a pure bred hound. she beagle mixed with another breed we dont know. her name is penny because of her copperish red coloring

[kooter]

a buddy of mine has a bunch of pointers. they are really good bird dogs, but they do like to run along way when hunting. they are excellent though. will hold point until you get there no matter how far they are away from you

[carbonhunter]

[ QUOTE ]
I had one English pointer, one of our neighbors owned him and was moving and couldn't take him with so he asked if we wanted him. That dog was a machine!!! The guy took us out to a huge field, had the dog on a leash, made him whoa and stay, took the leash off then walked all the way around the dog and tapped him on the head.... wooosh!!! he was gone!!! My dad turned to me and started to say "I don't know if I want a dog that ranges that much" but he never got through the sentence before the guy says "he's on point!!" That dog found 10 wild birds in about 15 minutes... including one that he pointed, the owner flushed the bird, the dog stayed on point until the owner came back to give him the "go" tap, and then the dog wouldn't move... the owner tapped him again, dog still wouldn't go... a third time and now the owners getting a little embarassed... then I tell him "Walk out in front of the dog about 10-15 feet"... sure enough there was a second bird there that flushed and that dog wasn't going to leave it.

He was a great dog but personnally I like a dog that will stay nice and close like a English setter (the setters we had were bred to hunt close).

[/ QUOTE ]

I was going to say, A setter that hunts close???? My setter has the southern blood and she is normally about 80-100 yards out.

[need2hunt]

[ QUOTE ]
I was going to say, A setter that hunts close???? My setter has the southern blood and she is normally about 80-100 yards out

[/ QUOTE ]

The setters I ran would stay 20-40 yards for the most part... they were bred to stay close... a couple of the first setters I had would range more - alot more I should say... and that to me makes for an agrivating hunt, I payed more attention to the breeding from then on and have been very happy ever since.

[too_pointer]

I pretty much started my bird hunting with an English Setter. I was spoiled on how well she hunted and stayed close. The English Pointers and German had alot more stamina though, they would hunt hard all day. I also like their short coats, especially in the burrs. I would get another German if I had to do it all again.
too_pointer

[Iambenelliguy]

I am a lab man myself, but if I ever do get a couple of pointers they will be English pointers. Pure hunting machines and well mannered dogs. I've never seen a dog hunt as good as these types of dogs.

[redryder]

Great pictures and some great looking dogs. I have had springers, pointers,setters,shorthairs,several beagles and a couple mixed breeds. Nothing finer than a good huntin dog!

[WILD_BILL]

I haven't hunted w/ pointers or setters. I heard thay can be kind of range-y. The good thing about labs is you can train them to hunt upland game and waterfowl and they stay close.

[Iambenelliguy]

if you want to start sending pictures i could put up some with my labs limits of phesant and quail