Your hunting dog(s): Kept outside or a member of the family?

[Malone LaVeigh]

OK, to start out, I'm not a dog person. I've never owned one myself, though we had them in the family when I was a kid, and I learned to hunt on stand with deer dogs driving the game.

Lately, though, I have been realizing that a dog might be a good animal to have for bird and pig hunting. And my son has asked for one for that purpose. He lives with his mother and she won't have a dog in the house.

When I was a kid, most of the people that I knew that had hunting dogs kept them outside, even if they also had a house dog. I know dogs are social animals. So my question is whether you keep your dogs in or outside, and what you think is best. Could a dog kept outside be reasonably happy if it is walked regularly and gets to play with other doggies in the neighborhood, but is by itself in a dog pen most of the time?

 

[Mrs. Armoredman]

Most of the dogs I see on Outdoor Life Network are Golden Retrivers or Labs. Sometimes I see Springer Spaniels and they mostly catch birds.


I have 2 Cocker Spaniels and I keep them indoors cause they are members of the family. If I kept them outside I would hate myslef and put effort into housebreaking them.

I like your sugesstion of allowing them to play with other dogs and yes they are socialable. It would be up to you, and how you feel about a indoor or outdoor dog. Good Luck. Happy hunting....

 

[Kingcreek]

My black Lab is a member of the family. We went out after a ringneck this afternoon and after a quick bath she is now asleep on the rug in the living room where my wife is studying. Last night she kept my 2 grand-daughters (ages 1 and 4 years) entertained. Tommorrow she will nap under my desk at work. Wednesday she will be in the duck blind. She couldn't be much happier. We have a very comfortable kennel with a pass-thru into a heated building but she rarely spends any time there and greatly resents it when she does.
The old notion that a pet can't be a good hunter is rubbish. Ours is a determined all-around bird dog that can still play with the kids.
One of the meanest things you can do to a dog is leave them alone.

 

[ksnecktieman]

My German shorthair pointer thinks he is people. And IMHO, he is better than a lot of people. He likes his tennis ball more than food, and birds more than his tennis ball. He has run his feet bloody on opening day, and that night while I am cleaning birds he will be standing beside me holding his ball waiting to play. He hunts close, his nose is sensitive, he comes when I call, and he does not hog the covers when I let him sleep in my bed.
He is my friend, my companion, and my hunting buddy

 

[one-shot-one]

family member

our english springer spaniel is member of the family, and goes out only when he need to, or if someone else is going out. i have found all dogs work/respond better if they are treated as part of the family.
that said some breeds are better as outside dogs get some good books about the breedsthat you are considering they will give you some guidance on wich breeds can better tolerate being outside/kennel dogs. if the dog can be let in just at night it can be the best of both worlds.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Yellow Lab - if the house was made of brick we might be able to keep him out . . . . he'd try to eat his way through to be with us.

Guess you could train him to stay outside, but I also think it would be cruel. He only wants to sit by your feet, play, eat and sleep. He's a good man that puppy!

He does shed, drool and make a mess like only a big clumsy dog can - if your wife is a neat freak you'll be getting rid of her, the dog or getting both medicated so they can tolerate one another.

 

[TrapperReady]

My "hunting" (and I use that term very loosely) dog was a house pet for about 8 years before I started taking him our. Given that, he does quite nicely. He remembers that he's a dog enough to stay off the bed, but does like a nap on the couch if no one is looking.

For me, I'd much rather have the dog as a companion and family member who happens to find birds for me.

 

[H&Hhunter]

NO WAY.

I lay down the law in my house! I've given my wife strict orders "do not spoil my hunting dog". My hunting dog is not a pet to be cuddled and loved on. He is a viscious hog killing MACHINE. He's a blood thirsty death rattler, not some spoiled little lap dog....

 

[crawfish]

My black Lab T'Ba stays in the house when we are there. When we leave she is in the fenced yard. I have two self contained above ground kennels that go unused because T'Ba stays inside. Dogs like people are either “people orientated†or “lonersâ€. Many of the bird hunting breeds take very well to family living some don’t like the English Short Hair. Most of the breed has lots of field trial blood which tends to make them big running and “jumpyâ€. Lots of the pig dogs here in NC are American Pit Bull or crossed with that breed. A bazillion years ago I used to breed them. They are very family friendly but I’d think a catch dog would have lots of aggression bred in. You need to see the pups with the mother and father if possible, see how they act around their family. You’ll get a feel if that pup will be a lick my face or take off my nose kind of dog.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I'll buck the trend here. My English Pointers are outside dogs. They get out plenty for excersize and training. On super cold nights they come inside and sleep in their crates. The reason they say outside is that it was my agreement with my wife when I got the my first dog that it would not be inside. Weird thing is, it is ok for her cat to stay inside

 

[Kingcreek]

It was by Wife's decree that the delux kennel was built and the dog sat at the gate and longed for the house. First cold night came and her new decree was that poor pup needs to come in. Been in ever since.

 

[HSMITH]

My black lab is a duck dog, pheasant dog, and family member. She stays in the house, sleeps on the bed, and keeps us company. I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Art Eatman]

Well, there's dawgs and there's dahgs. The former will come up and lay their head on your knee and look up at you with those big brown eyes as if to say, "I luv yew; I'm a dawg."

Dahgs. Yip-yaps. About a pound and four ounces of coiffeured, perfumed noise with pink toenails and rhinestone collars. Fit only to be trolled behind a slow-moving boat in search of large trash fish such as hammerheads...

I like dawgs.

Symbiosis. Dawgs need people like people need dawgs. Town folks generally are better off with medium-sized dogs rather than the really large breeds. Indoors or outdoors, the excitable, noisy types are more trouble than they're worth.

Kids need dogs. Dogs listen but don't judge or lecture. Adults need dogs since a dog will love anybody, no matter how sorry that person is--and a dog's sincerity is to be trusted.

(It takes a compassionate man to love a three-legged Chihuahua, but it's pretty darned sorry to name that dog "Flat Tire".)

Anybody who won't let Phaideaux into the house needs to rethink their position on that issue...

Art

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

Thanks for all of the good perspectives. Unfortunately, the ex is pretty adamant over no dogs inside. She's definitely not a neat freak, but it's a small house and she already has two indoor cats.

I've heard that if you bring the dog in as a puppy and raise it with cats, the cats will establish dominance early, and the dog will not be a problem with them. Anyone have experience with this? I'm planning a remodel soon with a screened-in back porch, so maybe they could share that space, along with some running room outside for the dog.

Also, anyone have a suggestion for a medium-smallish all-around hunting dog? And how important are pure breeds? Ideally, I'd like to rescue one from the pound.

 

[TrapperReady]

Malone - My wife and I had two cats long before we got any dogs. In one fell swoop, we adopted two mutts from the local pound... both as 10-week old puppies. They were roughly cat-sized when we got them.

Within a few days, the dogs realized that they were at the bottom of the familial food chain... and for the past 9 years, despite both of them reaching about 55 lbs. the cats still reign supreme.

If you are truly looking at getting a hunting dog, I'd recommend getting one bred for it. I grew up with mutts, and love them dearly, but of our two... one is gun-shy and the other is pretty marginal at finding birds. I keep trying to convince my wife we should get another dog, but she'll only agree to a replacement, not an addition. With four furry critters and two young sons, I can't really argue with her logic.

If you are looking for an all-around hunting dog, IMO that means a lab. Can't help you much on the size issue. It seems that a lot of the specialty dogs (English pointers and such) are smaller... but don't fit the general purpose definition too well.

BTW,

Unfortunately, the ex is pretty adamant over no dogs inside.

If she's an "ex", who cares what she thinks?

 

[rock jock]

Uh, I hate to say this H&H, but your wife is really UGLY.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Uh, I hate to say this H&H, but your wife is really UGLY.

Yeah but she has a cold nose , long whiskers and she's very obediant.. Not to mention smart and she's going to find you and when she does she's going to kick your A****..

 

[rock jock]

and she's very obediant

Well, that makes up for the ugly part.

 

[St. Gunner]

The dog in the pic with my Daughter is Bandit(Pitbull) taking a nap one day. The other pic, Bandit is the dog attached to the ear of the hog. So you can have it both ways. Bandit is what we call a catch dog, his job is to grab and hold the pig. I lead him up to the hogs the dogs have bayed and turn him into grab them. I prefer my catch dogs to have total trust in me and so some house time is an important part of that. He doesn't stay in all the time, but he does on occasion, mainly if he gets hurt hunting.

Steve

 

[duckslayer]

My wife prays that when we have children, that I love them half as much as my labs The rule around my house for visitors is...if you don't want dog hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.

 

[Kestrel]

Art - Funny description re: "SNDs" (Small, Nervous Dogs). I have no use for them, myself. Animals barely making it into the "Dog" classification.

Our dog stays inside. I don't hunt with him, though. Funny thing about him is, he wants to chase after animals outside, but when it comes to mechanical things, like a vacuum cleaner, etc., he's nervous about that.

Steve

 

[Byron Quick]

Raising dogs around cats and vice versa. It depends on the adult animal's mindset. If the adult animal is used to being around the other specie then yes, it's OK. If the adult is aggressive toward that specie then the odds are that it will be aggressive against the kitten or puppy.

I had a Doberman bitch that had just birthed a litter when I got a kitten. She raised the kitten right along with her pups. After the cat was grown, it would walk in front of her and flop down on the ground. She'd nose it a couple of times and then pick the cat up in her mouth. Tossing her head, she'd move the cat to the back of her mouth. The cat would be hanging out of both sides of her mouth like a rag doll. Then she go up to the fence and let all the little old ladies out for a stroll see the cat she'd dispatched. Later on, she'd curl up in the sun for a nap. The cat would curl up for a nap on top of her.

 

[TaxPhd]

My Gordon Setter, "Max the Wonder Dog," is an inside dog all the way. Get him out and he will hunt non-stop for days, but if he isn't hunting, he wants to snuggle with his people on the bed or couch.

My pointer, Sue, is a kennel dog. She stays at my partners kennels with some 4-6 other dogs. When cold, they sleep in crates in the garage, but it has to be pretty cold. They also get turns in the house, but six high-strung hunting dogs in the house at the same time is a bit much.



Scott

 

[skeetlover]

I often stumble into my dark room after hours of homework with a strong desire to curl up in my warm bed and end up finding a big ball of fur curled up near my pillow. No I don't hunt with her and yes shes a member of the family. She is a 35 lb border collie.

 

[Art Eatman]

We had a couple of cats when I first brought my wife a present: An Alsatian Shepherd. Just a pup, and the cats would chase him and he'd run under the bed. He grew. One day he realized he was bigger, during this chase scene, and the cats' body language was pure-dee "Oops! Big mistake!" In later years he became the baby-sitter for the ocasional litter of kittens. He also guarded baby deer and other critters in my wife's menagerie.

And my wife. Shame on anybody who ever made her nervous. Schultz von Schweinstall had a mouth on him like a six-foot barracuda.

My best hunting dog was a mix. Dobie, Shepherd and Weimaraner. Very obedient 50-pounder. Fast as greased lightning. Lousy on quail, though. He wouldn't hold a point; they'd flush. He'd trail one through the air and grab it when it settled back on the ground. He'd bring it to me--unhurt.

I'd inherited my grandfather's rambling old house, doing smalltime ranching on a couple of hundred acres along with my day job. Indoors/outdoors was no problem for cats, dogs, deer...My wife never could figure out how to housebreak a goat or a goose, though. No horses indoors...

You learn all sorts of things with a yard full of critters. Chickens'll drink scotch and water. Low tolerance. A gamecock with the blind staggers is, er, "somewhat odd", I guess you could put it. He tried to mate my son's football; no satisfaction. After becoming quite enamored of a large coffee can, you might understand his new name of "Bucket-....er"

I'm not wired up to endure a small apartment...

, Art