Gun dogs for the choosing: author Falk tells us there is no one perfect gun dog, but there are a number of breeds that come close to this ideal

Apple pie without ice cream? A movie without popcorn? A ball game without beer and hot dogs? Some things go so naturally together that one without the other rings a little flat. Whether hunkering down in a duck blind or traipsing dogless through autumn woods, both trigger the obvious feeling a vital ingredient is missing. That's when the thought of some day owning a good hunting dog becomes irresistible.

Soon, the budding aspiration profiles a vivid mental image of a crack game-finder, diligently hunting for the "Boss" with breathtaking style and impeccable manners. Inevitably, the picture becomes obsessive, fairly screaming for fulfillment. Then follows the always perplexing crucial question: "Which is the best breed to choose?"

Too Many Tasks For One Dog?

If you're blessed with an abundance of small game and birds, plus a wide diversity of terrain, you could face a very formidable quandary. On the one hand, you have the uplands: home to the ruffed grouse and the woodcock, the ringneck pheasant, the bobwhite quail, and just possibly sharptail grouse and Hungarian partridge, too.

Now, toss in the lowlands with a glut of various ducks and geese, in such varied milieus as rocky seacoasts, big rivers, sprawling marshes, large and small lakes and woodland potholes. Considering this horn of plenty, it's a rare man, indeed, who can resist the idea of enjoying less than the whole enchilada. And of wanting a dog he can use to hunt it all. Such a dog could offer a quick, easy solution to the basic question. But, which breed embodies these dream talents?

Regrettably, the answer is: none! No single breed exists that can qualify for the title, or measure up to the image, of an all-purpose, "do everything" dog. Grieve not, though, for it's equally true that very few, if any, sportsmen today can find the time to hunt all the game species offered in an assortment of country such a fortunate region encompasses.

"Okay," you grumble, "if no single breed's the answer, that still leaves me out in left field. So which breed do I choose?"

Preliminary Questions

First to consider, of course, is your personal situation: size of home and family, opportunities you can devote to training and ample areas to work a hunting dog plus whether he'll live indoors or be kenneled outside. Keeping these uppermost, you should then seek a breed compatible with those constraints that is best suited for the type and species of game you really prefer and most often hunt.

These guidelines will lead you to concentrate on selecting a specialist, a breed that excels on a few specific game species, rather than a wide assortment.

Your choice will be made among dozens of different sporting breeds eligible for purebred registration in the American Kennel Club. To help you narrow what is a rather daunting number, and to provide at least a solid starting point, 1 offer as my own personal selection the descriptions and specialties of five breeds.

Best Breeds Far Upland Birds

Should the elusive ruffed grouse and migratory woodcock be your primary hunting targets, there is no more thrilling and enjoyable approach to this type of gunning than over a classy pointing dog.

Other types of dogs, such as the flushing spaniels, have successfully brought lots of grouse and woodcock to bag, it's true. But, if it's more than just meat you're after, you're short-changing yourself by hunting these splendid game birds with anything but a pointing dog. And, no two pointing breeds we know of are better suited to the sport than the English Setter and the Brittany.

English Setter

If seniority in working the coverts of the northern half of the country alone were considered, then the English setter definitely has earned and deserves the status of favorite grouse and woodcock dog breed. For more than a century the , stand-by of Yankee gunners, the setter is particularly well adapted to working the punishing covers that grouse and woodcock usually inhabit.

The setter's longhaired coat easily wards off the north country's brisk autumn climate and punishing brier tangles. And, when he's bred and trained specifically for such regions his close to-medium range and moderate pace eminently qualify him to work the brushy woodland edges favored by grouse and woodcock.

Even his coloring--basically white, and ticked or patched with black, black and tan, orange, lemon or chestnut--provides the hunter a distinct advantage by making the dog highly visible, whether moving or on point, in darkened thickets and tangled alders.

A strongly deep-rooted hunting desire, pointing instinct to spare and a classically good nose are talents to which the average setter justly lays claim. And, although maturing a bit later than some pointing breeds (most setters reach their peak at about age three), they seldom forget the lessons taught or the field experience accumulated. Complementing these credentials are a bright, alert personality, a gentle and affectionate nature, and an always companionable demeanor.

Notwithstanding his specialization on grouse and woodcock, the average well-bred field setter can stylishly handle other upland game birds as well. He can capably hunt bobwhite quail, appropriately increasing his range and pace in the open cover they favor, and also riagneck pheasants in the brushy coverts preferred by this running champion.

Weighing 38 to 50 pounds, the field-type setter stands approximately 21 to 24 inches at the withers and sports a long tail.

The English Springer Spaniel

For sheer efficiency at beating the ringneck's running game, the Springer is top dog. No other breed seems so naturally skilled at finding and flushing the big roosters, and then fetching them to hand after the successful shot.

He has a longhaired, mostly white coat, patched and ticked with black or liver markings, a tail traditionally docked to six or eight-inch length, and a sturdy frame designed for work. Staying power, a sensitive nose, passionate hunting desire and determination are hallmarks of his hunting field credentials.

Training him to the peak of polished performance demands considerable dedication. But the average Springer from field stock has enough natural interest in hunting so that anyone devoting reasonable time and effort to his schooling can turn out a very functional gun dog. A spaniel's inability to take rough handling in stride is the vital thing to remember. Treated harshly, he'll shut down like a frozen computer, visibly sulking and sullenly refusing to respond. Persist with patience and kindness, however, and his innate eagerness to please will generally conquer most training obstacles.

Once properly trained to hunt within 25 to 30 yards of the gun, the Springer can dependably find and flush ringnecks from whatever cover they inhabit. Nor should you overlook his retrieving abilities in water. Swimming capably, he excels in fetching ducks or smaller geese from all but the swiftest, coldest water. In fact, he comes about as close as any breed to being a good multi-purpose gun dog.

The average field-type Springer weighs about 40 to 50 pounds and stands about 18 to 22 inches high at the withers.

The Brittany

On much the same basis that the setter makes a good choice for grouse and woodcock hunting, so, too, does the Brittany. The only member of the spaniel family that points his game rather than flushing it, the Brittany bears a fair passing resemblance to the English setter, except that the Brit is born either with a short stub tail or none at all.

Imbued with sharp scenting powers, intense hunting desire, and persevering nature, the Brittany wears a longhaired coat that adapts him well to typically cold northern weather and thorny brush. Standing out in any cover, his mostly white colored coat is overlaid with patches and flecks of either orange or liver.

On average an early developer, the Brit can be relatively easy or somewhat problematical to train, depending on the methods used. Apt to be a bit thin-skinned, he usually responds best to the firm but gentle training approach. But, push him roughly, or too fast, and like most spaniels he'll pout.

Seldom displaying the range and pace of the average setter, the Brit generally hunts at a practical distance from the gun in grouse and woodcock country. His lively style and obvious enthusiasm make him an enjoyable dog to gun over, and only his sack of a full feathered flag detracts from his lofty pointing stance.

Natural retrieving ability and typical spaniel love for the water serve him well for latching the occasional duck encountered in the potholes and streams of the upland back country. And, like the setter, he can be relied on to do an adequate job of handling bobwhites and pheasants, under average conditions.

Most field-bred Brittanys stand from 17 to 20 inches at the withers and weigh about 32 to 37 pounds.

Of course, not every upland bird hunter favors grouse and woodcock. In agricultural parts of the nation, the ring- neck pheasant--that flashy Asian import that years ago won his citizenship, has become kingpin. And, for the avid rooster hunting gunner, there's really only one breed to consider.

Best Breeds For Waterfowl

A good retriever is anything but a luxury for the serious waterfowler. Is there anything more distressing than watching a crippled duck or goose swim off and disappear into the reeds on the far shore to die a wasteful death? Using a properly trained retriever proves a good conservation measure to avoid many such incidents; it also saves untold wear and tear on the hunter.

Two of the most outstanding fetching breeds obtainable are the Labrador and the Chesapeake Bay retrievers.

The Labrador Retriever

Few other retrievers, in fact few other breeds, have experienced the constantly rising popularity the Labrador enjoys. And justifiably so. He embodies all the qualities the hunter values and admires in a gun dog. Then, just to ice the cake, he combines these with the traits most appreciated as an ideal house pet in the home.

His smooth shorthaired coat comes in one of three solid colors: black, yellow or chocolate. A substantially built dog, the Lab is an excellent swimmer, thoroughly at home in the water. He has a fine nose and a dependable eye for marking downed ducks.

Coupled with a biddable nature, keen intelligence, an almost unquenchable fetching instinct and a colossal eagerness to please his owner, he is one of the easiest breeds to train once past his adolescence, which can exceed two years of age.

Few retrieving tasks prove insurmountable for the Lab. His endurance, tenacity and confidence all pull together to produce successful retrieves under all but the most nearly impossible water conditions. He can ably negotiate both land and water speedily, and is physically capable of fetching even hefty Canada geese.

While assessed here chiefly as a waterfowl retriever, the Labrador has another use that endears him to any hunter. Given suitable opportunity and proper training, the breed proves highly functional in a pinch-hit flushing role on upland birds. Working much as a spaniel, he quarters ground ahead of the gunner. Once picking up hot scent, he bores in and busts birds out of the cover to provide the gun a shot.

Measuring from 22 to 25 inches at the withers, the average Labrador tips the scales at between 60 and 75 pounds.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Universally acknowledged the monarch of all water dogs, the Chesapeake is truly in a class by himself. Unarguably, no more rugged water dog exists. A powerhouse swimmer, able to endure the roughest, coldest waters Nature can dish out, the Chessy is our top choice for the waterfowl hunter whose preference is principally sea duck gunning along the windswept-rocky coastal areas.

The Chessy's dense, double thick coat amply protects him against freezing weather and icy water. His coarse outer coat varies from chocolate brown to dead grass color, this latter a natural camouflage aid in or outside the duck blind. Since it tends to acquire an oiliness, some folks find it objectionable in the house. But it's that very oiliness that helps the breed shed water so readily and is integral to his ability to withstand water temperatures that would shiver the timbers of most other breeds.

Sometimes described as brother to the otter when swimming, the Chesapeake is instilled with extraordinary courage, boundless confidence and steadfast independence--qualities that generate an eagerness to confront any retrieving task his boss asks of him.

Obviously, this independence contributes little to the ease of training the average Chessy to the degree of impeccable performance achievable with other fetch dogs. Yet, combining patience with determination, he can be fashioned into a very functional retriever, always counted on to get the job done.

While less adept than the Labrador at spaniel-type work in the uplands, the Chesapeake normally handles that pinch hit role when necessary.

Averaging about 65 to 70 pounds, the working Chessy stands at 25 to 26 inches high at the withers.

Path To Pleasure

No matter which of the breeds on our personal list you may select, be sure you buy your puppy from a reliable breeder or reputable kennel and that the pup comes from field, not bench show ancestry.

Make certain, too, that you get the proper papers to register the pup. Get them at the time of purchase, not with the promise of sometime in the future. Obtain a list of the shots the puppy has been given and ask if he's been wormed. Afterwards, make certain you take him to your own veterinarian for a thorough checkup, no more than a few days after you bring the pup home.

Whichever breed you buy, if he's given the proper kind of care and training he deserves, you can bet he'll pay you back with total devotion and faithful service for the rest of his life.

RELATED ARTICLE:

1 A quick and sure retrieve of a mallard dropped into a wood/and pond marks the kind of performance that has endeared the Labrador to gunners across the country.

2 The Chesapeake is a splendid water dog. This wonderful specimen is "Can," short for "Chesshar's Bull Canvasback." Call Dustin's Retreivers at [530] 696-2601, for more information.

3 A good breeder, like Dustin's Retrievers, will socialize their pups, instilling in them that lifelong desire to please. Young Joshua Dustin dutifully takes on this task It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

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