Im looking for a little insight on my next dog. I have done a lot of research on these dogs on here as well as other sites, but I wanted to get actual owner experience if possible. But, everyone feel free to add their experiences with these dogs. I also wanted to let you know what this dog will be primarily intended for.
So I just recently lost Roxi my black mouth cur of 11 years a few months ago. I got her my first year in college, so we basically grew up together. I was devastated and thought "I will never get another dog again!" Well come to find out...A boy still needs his dog. So, I am going to start looking over the next few months for my new companion.
I grew up hunting/fishing but when i moved to college I was away from my family and working/going to school. SO, trips were few and far between. Once i graduated and got back into it, my dog was just not really used to it. She was extremely gun shy and i didnt have her kennel trained anymore.(because she was the perfect dog and didnt need to be kenneled to not tear stuff up) I tried to bring her to the lease with me and on the boat and she just never took to it. She would always seem scared/nervous so I stopped bringing her.
My next dog I want to go EVERYWHERE with me. As well as be my hunting partner. Heres a little backround on my lifestyle which might help determine which dog you wthink would be right for me:
I live in Spring, TX which is a surburb. I do not have big property for the dog to roam. The wife and I both work full time and are gone 10-11 hours out of the day. I have a neighbor across the street who has agreed to come over once a day during the first few weeks/months to let the puppy out. I Hunt and Fish year round. I primarily hunt Pigs and deer on my lease and intend to teach the dog to blood trail. I also do 2-3 dove hunts and 2-3 duck hunts randomly and it would be nice to have the dog as a retriever as well. Not sure I can keep a dog trained to retrieve with that few amount of hunts per year, but Im thinking of getting a dove/duck lease and going more to work the dog. I also take my boat up to conroe after work a few times a month and on the weekends just to cruise around and i want to be able to bring the dog. I primarily fish the coast for Saltwater species though. The wife and I are trying to have a baby as well so we need something that will be good around children.
So my top interests are:
Blood Tracking/Shed hunting
Retrieving Dove/Ducks
Not too aggressive around children/other dogs
So, I have decided between 3 dogs:
GSP:
Ive always said this would be my next dog. I really want the liver/roan color female. They say they kennel well and are good around children/other dogs. The only downside for me is the size. I would prefer something in the 35-40lb range. But this isnt a huge issue as they are only abt 10lbs heavier. I relaize a lab would probably be best suited for my needs but I dont want that big of a dog. I realize GSPs are pointers and more upland dogs, but I would like to train it to retrieve Dove/Ducks/bloodtrail
Blue Lacy:
Obviously being a bowhunter Ive heard really good things about them and being the State dog of Texas is awesome. The size is more suited for what I want. Dont know if they would retrieve well, but my primary concern is blood trailing. The main downside i see about them is actually how they would fit my lifestyle. I hear they are super intense and sort of protective(which can mean aggressive) as well as needing a full-time job and A LOT more attention/work than i think i would be able to provide on a DAILY basis.
Mutt:
I got my black mouth cur mix from the shelter and she was a great dog and had no health issues until the last 2 months when she contracted Lymphoma. My parents had a springer spaniel that had so many issues that it has kind of scared me from getting a pure bred dog. Ive seen on here that you can pretty much train any dog to blood trail. So, if i just didnt care about the retrieving part i dont think a mutt would be out of the question. Not to mention a heck of a lot cheaper lol
So I just recently lost Roxi my black mouth cur of 11 years a few months ago. I got her my first year in college, so we basically grew up together. I was devastated and thought "I will never get another dog again!" Well come to find out...A boy still needs his dog. So, I am going to start looking over the next few months for my new companion.
I grew up hunting/fishing but when i moved to college I was away from my family and working/going to school. SO, trips were few and far between. Once i graduated and got back into it, my dog was just not really used to it. She was extremely gun shy and i didnt have her kennel trained anymore.(because she was the perfect dog and didnt need to be kenneled to not tear stuff up) I tried to bring her to the lease with me and on the boat and she just never took to it. She would always seem scared/nervous so I stopped bringing her.
My next dog I want to go EVERYWHERE with me. As well as be my hunting partner. Heres a little backround on my lifestyle which might help determine which dog you wthink would be right for me:
I live in Spring, TX which is a surburb. I do not have big property for the dog to roam. The wife and I both work full time and are gone 10-11 hours out of the day. I have a neighbor across the street who has agreed to come over once a day during the first few weeks/months to let the puppy out. I Hunt and Fish year round. I primarily hunt Pigs and deer on my lease and intend to teach the dog to blood trail. I also do 2-3 dove hunts and 2-3 duck hunts randomly and it would be nice to have the dog as a retriever as well. Not sure I can keep a dog trained to retrieve with that few amount of hunts per year, but Im thinking of getting a dove/duck lease and going more to work the dog. I also take my boat up to conroe after work a few times a month and on the weekends just to cruise around and i want to be able to bring the dog. I primarily fish the coast for Saltwater species though. The wife and I are trying to have a baby as well so we need something that will be good around children.
So my top interests are:
Blood Tracking/Shed hunting
Retrieving Dove/Ducks
Not too aggressive around children/other dogs
So, I have decided between 3 dogs:
GSP:
Ive always said this would be my next dog. I really want the liver/roan color female. They say they kennel well and are good around children/other dogs. The only downside for me is the size. I would prefer something in the 35-40lb range. But this isnt a huge issue as they are only abt 10lbs heavier. I relaize a lab would probably be best suited for my needs but I dont want that big of a dog. I realize GSPs are pointers and more upland dogs, but I would like to train it to retrieve Dove/Ducks/bloodtrail
Blue Lacy:
Obviously being a bowhunter Ive heard really good things about them and being the State dog of Texas is awesome. The size is more suited for what I want. Dont know if they would retrieve well, but my primary concern is blood trailing. The main downside i see about them is actually how they would fit my lifestyle. I hear they are super intense and sort of protective(which can mean aggressive) as well as needing a full-time job and A LOT more attention/work than i think i would be able to provide on a DAILY basis.
Mutt:
I got my black mouth cur mix from the shelter and she was a great dog and had no health issues until the last 2 months when she contracted Lymphoma. My parents had a springer spaniel that had so many issues that it has kind of scared me from getting a pure bred dog. Ive seen on here that you can pretty much train any dog to blood trail. So, if i just didnt care about the retrieving part i dont think a mutt would be out of the question. Not to mention a heck of a lot cheaper lol
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