Hayraker, no offense at all. I agree with and respect what you're saying. Though, it's always good to do some research. I wanted to go on some guided hunts this year and get to know the sport from an experienced hunter. Then, next year my son and I can go at it alone. I was wanting to get a puppy next year and hopefuly he/she would be ready by next season (2014-2015 season).

I agree, it would be a lot to deal with......

Hey Deuces, this is season two for me and hopefully season one for my dog. If you want a dog, I would consider much of the advice on here. Unfortunately, when I got my Labs, I did not duck hunt so two of them are good at retrieving tennis balls.

My third lab is 2 years old and I have been able to teach him some basics using some DVDs to start to train the dog (you can rent them online vs buying them. He is not fully trained and I blew out my knee this year (13 years in the Army for me), which put me and Gordo behind on his training
schedule.

If you want to train your dog yourself, there are tons of DVDs and multiple retriever clubs in Dallas that can help you with that. You can usually partner with people who are training dogs because they need people to help with their dogs.

My friend sent his dog off to a trainer for $500 per month, which is another option vs. buying a started dog. We will see how well he does next month when he gets back. He and his wife just had a baby, so the 15-20 min a day to train the dog were not really an option for him.

You have already seen the started dog option, definitely the one option that you can implement immediately but potentially not the most cost effective.

You may want to ensure you like duck hunting first and remember that the dog is a full time commitment all year round. For me and many others, we simply enjoy being with the dogs.

I am in McKinney, so if you want to try to hunt together, give me a shout.

Thanks for all the great advice guys. I really do appreciate it.

Deuces- as others have said, thank you for your service!!! Two quick addional pieces of advise. First, don't set arbitrary deadlines. "I have to find a dog by ____". When you find the right partner you'll know it. Second, take a look at BowWowFlix. Like netflik, for only a few $$/month you can rent videos as fast as you can watch them. They all contain tons of great learning opportunities.

Now a word of caution..... Dogs and dog training is extremely addictive!!!! Make sure your schedule, your better half and your wallet are well prepared in advance!!!!

Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Will love you to death. Strongest and most determined dog I've ever had. Very protective. Our's is 12 and still going hard. I rather a female and not fixed. My .02

You have any pics of the old lady.?

My buddy had one and it was the greatest dog. Chesapeakes are very protective almost to a fault. They know who is family and they will work their butts off you. You have to be one dominate male in the house or they can turn on you.

Enough said...

I got a chessie and I've never had an issue with him being aggresive towards anybody or any animal. He might lick your face off with that big ol tongue though.

They have bred most of that out of them but every now and then nature gives you a throw back. I have gunned over nothing but CBR's for the last 30 years and until I got Spade I would have said the same thing about them licking you to death. You don't get between me the ducks and the dog, you don't get between me and the dog and you never ever get between my daughter and the dog!! We are his humans and he doesn't like to share. He is all business and is hands down the best working dog I've ever owned. That dog in just two years has prolly fetched more ducks than most will in a life time. But I do wish he was more of a modern CBR on his attitude. They were bred to be protective to guard the boats of the market hunters when they were in town trying to find a buyer for their ducks. I love em and would never hunt with another breed.

Yeah I hear ya. I just get tired of hearing "oh its a chessie. Watch out it'll tear your face off."

Well that's just what rookies say that have never owned one. I get tired of hearing it too.

I just pulled the trigger on a pup for my nephew this weekend from Elite Gun Dogs in Troy, Texas. I have known the Sutton family for a while and I could not leave without one of these pups.

Here is a link
http://www.elitegundogs.com/index.php?id=link

J.J. has a very nice dog, in fact, my dog is his dogs sire.
My biggest conerns in any breed are:

1. Trainability
2. Temperment
3. Reputaion
4. What are they truly bred to do? Point, Flush, Retreive,Pet,etc.

I hate when someone says,"Yea, I want a dog, but I don't want a lab. Everyone has a I want to be different."

There are reasons everyone has a lab, especially for hunting.

JUst to clarify, "Bird dog" is a term normally referring to pointing breeds, and while there are pointing labs, mostare called retrievers. Whether black chocolate or Yellow, or even goldens, retrievers are what you are talking about.

A good lab puppy from a reputable breeder, is still your best bet as there are lots of good breeders around. Stay with a registered dog with a good pedigree showing some HRC or Field Champions in both parents. Stay away from so called "meat dog" breeders. You can even look at a field trial dog that washed out of competition and find a good dog for your needs.

Chessies are a unique challenge, they tend to be one person dogs, can be aggressive to people and other dogs, and would not be my choice for a dog around small children. How ever they are tough in cold wet elements. Just don't plan on hunting one with other retievers in the blind.
The Boykin's are another great retriever breed with great personality and drive in a small package. Be open minded about you training your dog , it is not hard to do but your have to invest time in research and training. If you have any more questions please ask, that is waht this forum is about helping out. JB

If your dog will be inside consider the shedding aspect, I have a lab and vacume every other day. The inside of my truck is horrible after a season.

Jeff,

30 years with CBR's? Wow that is awesome. They are such a great breed of a dog. This will be one of my next dogs. My buddy Steve had one and that thing would come up to you and just look at you in the eyes. It would not bark or growl, just watch you. After the dog got comfy with me being in the house it backed off and accepted me into the family but at times I had to ask Steve, UH, is your dog ok with me being in the house?

In the end that dog is what sold me on the breed. I shot over one a few times at my club and they are fun to watch. I love the soft mouth on them. They are so strong to the water but take such good care of the bird once they get it.

My lab was a whiner in his day. Would sit next to me and just whine all day until a bird went down. I have not seen this out of CBR. The intensity they get in their eyes is amazing.

Can anyone post some pics of the CB going out for a bird and coming back to the blind? I need a new desktop pic.

Jay

Seriously you can't hunt a CBR with another dog in the blind???????????? I most have stumbled onto a rare string of CBR's because all mine are cool with other hounds in the blind, all mine love kids especially my kid. They are one man dogs there is no doubt about that and they are all business on a hunt.

Here is some of CBR's eating small children

More of them eating strangers!!





One more of a small child being mauled by a CBR!!

A few more retrieves

And a few more

All business