How to choose a hunting dog

Hunting upland birds is a guess for the most part. Unlike decoying ducks or bugling elk, it is impossible to draw upland birds to you. You are constantly seeking your quarry. Some days are just going to be tough and that's the case no matter where you hunt. To eliminate some of the "guess work", the number one tool you have at your disposal is a good dog. This begs the question; what breed of dog is the best for me?

The first thing you can do is understand the species that you are hunting. For this area of Montana pheasants generally hang around water and specifically seek cover that is thick, heavy or sometimes even impenetrable. Having a dog that is willing to get right in the middle of this thick nasty stuff is invaluable. Breeds most likely to "bust" heavy cover include; labs, golden retrievers and numerous spaniel breeds. Many people would argue that the best "Pure Pheasant" dog you could have is a Springer Spaniel and I would completely agree. Springers are lively dogs that exude confidence in thick brush. Their smaller stature allows them to root and burrow under and around cover that most labs or goldens wouldn't even consider. Although generally not as good of retrievers, springers often have a natural desire to pick up downed game. If you're looking for a pure pheasant dog a springer is the perfect choice.
If your focus is strictly huns and sharptail you will most likely be hunting wide open cover; such as edges of wheat fields, CRP, sage brush and prairie grass. In this terrain the strongest argument can probably be made for an English Pointer as they tend to range longer and have stronger pointing instincts than all other breeds. Their stamina and toughness is unmatched. This is important when covering large pieces of territory and when holding points for long periods of time is critical. Other versatile breeds like a German Shorthair or Wirehair retrieve better than a pointer and you only lose a little range, however the German breeds have less natural pointing instinct often causing them to "creep" into birds. Other people have success with Brittany's or Setters although these breeds may lack some "toughness" as well as range. While there are plenty of options for huns and sharptail, strictly hunting these birds is probably best accomplished with an English Pointer. German Shorthair's rank a close second, with Setters and Brittany's 3rd and 4th respectively, followed by a Wirehair.
If you're looking for a good all around dog to hunt numerous species with, I would consider a lab as your only choice. There's a reason they are the number one selling dog in America (golden retrievers being #2). They make great pheasant dogs, are usually willing to hunt thicker cover and their 2 layered coat keeps them warm in the winter. A lab is second to NONE in a duck blind. Labs, particularly smaller labs 70# or less, will also make admirable hun and sharptail dogs when given enough conditioning prior to the season. Around the house labs are easy to train, they are smart and very willing to please. A well trained lab is easily the most versatile and effective birddog for the average hunter. So the question is this: do you hunt mostly one bird? If so, choose a dog that fits that game. If you hunt a little bit of everything, get a smaller lab and train, train, train. Good Luck!

Learn more about this author, Jeremy Devries.