Is there such a thing as an all-around hunting dog?

yes.....

Scooby Doo

Yup. Pet a grizzly.

http://www.navhda.org/

I pick up my small munsterlander in January...can't wait.

The HPR breeds are pretty close to that really. My main sports are wildfowling in the winter and deer stalking in the summer. I use a labrador for both. She is robust enough for cold water retrieving with a waterproof coat to match and she is excellant on deer tracking.... she does not like cover much and doesn't point... but i don't do much rough shooting.

it is a bit of a wiegh off. A HPR is not quite as cold resistant as a labrador and i wouldn't like to take one over the Humber in the winter....but they do the rest pretty well. some popular breeds here used for deer and the other applications are: Vizla, german wirehaired pointer, munsterlander.

really it depends what you want of your buddy.

interlock

What Leaky said. Versatile Hunting Dog.

On the other hand, there is no more beautiful hunting dog than a Llewellen Setter.

My son has a Black Lab and is trained as a "General Gun Dog". Not to mention Excellent "family dog"...

Another plug for NAVHDA here.

A NAVHDA Utility Test includes pointing, tracking, retrieving on land and in the water, steady by blind, duck search in pond cover.

The specific goal is to develop and breed all-purpose hunting dogs.

Leaky Waders -- enjoy the new puppy! Be careful. Those things are SMART. I have a friend with one. She is not only collar-wise, but battery-wise. If her e-collar is on, and she wants to do something she's not supposed to, she intentionally does something minor that she knows she'll get nicked for, to test the collar. If it doesn't work, she'll run off and do whatever she wants.

wishin-

Since you're in Georgia, I'm not sure if you want a hyper, big-running dog like the Vizsla I have. If you want a dog that will work fields, but will also sit still for a while, check out the Spinone Italiano.

Yes, there is quite a bit written on the subject if you do a search - this is a popular concept in Europe in my understanding, and there are a handful of breeds considered all-around dogs that can point and retrieve on land, retrieve in water, and be trained to scent track a blood trail. Weimereiner, Vizsla, GSP, GWP, the mentioned Munsterlander, and a few others are considered the starting point for an all around hunter, which also makes a good companion. A Vizsla WILL be my next dog. Upland bird training first, then if there's time, scent tracking. You may have to put an insulated jacket on some of these breeds to keep them warm if they're retrieving in water, as they don't all have a lot of fur, but other than that, they're true all arounders, *IF* you find one of the right breeding stock. Some are more birdy than others. I don't know if these make good rabbit dogs or not, however. I kind of doubt - a rabbit dog's skill/ instinct is very different.

Some are more birdy than others.

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The beauty of rarer breeds like the Vizsla, Muensterlander, Spinone, WPG, etc. is that they tend to be bred by hunt breeders. It's easy to find a hunting dog, and I have yet to see one of these breeds that wasn't bird-crazy.

Seriously, for Georgia, I'd have a look at the Spinone, though I'm pretty set on the Vizsla, myself.

when i was a boy my dad flew goshawks at rabbits we had a GWP, it was excellant on rabbit. I have found that blood tracking is very easily taught. Daisy, my lab bitch is predominantly a duck retriever, but she will track very well.... and most of all she is an excellant family pet and the kids love her.

Our lab will track, point, and loves ducks. He's worked out very well, but is being retired due to old age. If you could find a pointing lab, you'd be hard pressed to find a better all around dog.

Weim, if you can get a hold of a hunting bred one. Mine retrieves, flushes rabbits, points in the field, and tracks game. Still working on getting her to fetch me beers.

I've raised 7 generations of Springer Spaniels for pheasant and upland game. They're hard to beat. Our stud dog bred a neighbors lap dog Cocker Spaniel female. The offspring pups had freckled faces and liver and white markings. They kept one male pup and it was the BEST rabbit flusher & retriever I've ever hunted with. No kidding.

I've raised 3 generations of Airedale Terriers. They're very smart and learn quickly. But this breed can be vicious around strangers and cats. In my opinion, BEST breed for tracking wounded game. The dog thinks its a fun game to follow a faint blood trail! I have friends in Wyoming who use one Airdale with a pack of cur hounds to chase mt. lions. The Airdale inspires the hounds to keep going when the going gets tough! I know one lion hunter who has a Collie-Airdale cross which has treed many lions alone.

TR



TR

I have a German Wirehaired pointer. They were bred specifically to hunt bird/fowl/game and track. Many of them in the NAVHDA circles. Smart dogs, good drive (birdy) and affectionate for the family. They are indoor dogs and dont do well in kennels. They love to be part of the family and love to please.

But they definitely need stimulus. I dont take mine out for a few days and gets antsy. They are a longer ranging pointer. Some will range very far in open fields (well over 100 yrds) Guys like these in the open prairies for hunting on horseback. MIne is a medium ranging dog in heavy cover, if she goes on point I need to be quick to get to her as she is learning and doesnt hold a point long. BUt its only her first year and Ill have many many more. Plenty of time to train her right.

As others have mentioned look at NAVHDA. Most all of the NAVHDA breeds are not a lab that is not field bred like you see (nothing against labs, just an example!!) But are bred, trained and raised by hunters to be a hunting dog. Try http://www.gundogbreeders.com/dog-breeders.html

I'll vote for old yeller. My yellow Lab would hunt about anything - even cats (the real ones, not just housecats).

The first thing I look for in a hunting dog is it's willingness to swim in cold water and will it fight a bear or cougar. I've heard that Airedales are great, but I never tried one. I even tried a Rhodesian Ridgeback once.

If I could only have one working dog, it'd be a gritty lab. I also love Plot Hounds that are bred with a little Pit in them.

I saw a guide (on Tee Vee) in Africa that used Jack Russell’s for big game. They were gritty little strike dogs.

Another plug for NAVHDA here

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AB - I thought in the OP that an All Around hunting dog was mentioned. NAVHDA breeds are all just upland bird dogs (pointers and setters). How many Pointers or Setters have you seen swim 100 yards in icy cold water to retrieve a duck? I personally don't think the breeds mentioned on the NAVHDA website are all that versatile. I bet none of those breeds will run a bear or cougar.

Slabuda - unless a dog swims, it's not a hunting dog IMHO. (BTW, I bet we live close to each other.)

German Shorthaired Pointer. They were bred to be the all around hunting dog, webbed feet and all lol. They could use a good vest during the colder months though. Smart and very trainable if your willing to put forth the time and effort.

How many Pointers or Setters have you seen swim 100 yards in icy cold water to retrieve a duck?

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Are you familiar with the NAVHDA Utility Test? If they can't do that, they don't pass.

The test includes tracking, duck search in the water, water retrieve through decoys, finding and pointing upland birds, and land retrieve.

"Unless a dog swims"? If it doesn't willingly enter the water and swim, a dog won't even pass NAVHDA Natural Ability as a puppy.

I bet none of those breeds will run a bear or cougar.

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Vizslas in Europe are used on fur more commonly. People in the US tend not to use VHDs that way, but they are capable of it.

Since you live nearby, come on down to the Utility Test we are running in May. Your beliefs about these dogs will change.
http://treasurevalleynavhda.com/

Does a Vizsla have the coat of a Chessie? No. They can use some neoprene in the ice. But Chessies aren't exactly good for chukar.

I think this old boy will do. He even has his own gun. We have always had labs not perfect for everything but pretty versatile dogs for hunting.

My current Lab pup has a field trial/hunt test pedigree, and I started her out to be a "duck" dog. Somewhere early in her training, I transitioned her to a trailing/tracking training program, and she has excelled and loves it. She is 19 months, and her best trail was on a hog 16 hours after I shot it. She has "found" several deer for me in the last two seasons, and she has figured out what I expect from her.

Cross a lab with a pointer until you get a lab coat and a pointer instinct... That would be an all around perfect hunting dog.

I'm not endorsing this breed. I've seen them, but I don't know anything about them. However, they're what you describe, mbt2001.

http://www.wesslpointer.com/

That said, there is a whole list of VHDs, that are proven all-around hunting dogs. Labs aren't the end-all, especially if you want to cover some ground in the heat without your dog dropping dead.

The exact dog that works for you, in your environment, depends on a lot of factors.

Since you live nearby, come on down to the Utility Test we are running in May. Your beliefs about these dogs will change.
http://treasurevalleynavhda.com/

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Thanks for the invite. It'll be interesting for sure.

It's kind of a Texas thing, but I have a Blue Lacy who's primary job is blood tracking, but she's starting to get the whole retrieving thing down, and will track and bay a hog, and trail, tree, and fight a coon.

Oh, and for the poster that mentioned Ole Yeller...he was a Lacy.