Any duck hunters...and duck dogs hanging out here? I always had labs for duck hunting, last one recently died at the age of 15. I have been looking for a new dog, and was instantly drawn to a breed that DOESNT SHED! At least not nearly as much as a lab does. So, I got my new pup yesterday, an American Water Spaniel named Zeke. Now starts the puppy madness...he better swim and bring back ducks next year!
Any Duck Hunters Here?
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What an absolute cutie! When I first saw the thumbprint of the picture, I thought it was a Boykin Spaniel. The Boykin has the American Water Spaniel in it's lineage. What size does an American Water Spaniel reach? Here is a picture of one of my young Boykins for comparison.
Larry
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I thought about a Boykin, heard nothing but great things about them. But, I was warned that for our colder conditions the AWS would be a better option. Should grow to similar size as yours, 30 - 45 lbs. Thats a beautiful dog that you have.
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When my dad graduated from OSU and started working for the state, he got a lab puppy named, of course, Duke. Duke was to be a family dog, yes, but also a duck retriever. My dad and my uncle hunted a lot of ducks together. About the time when we should have started serious retriever training with Duke, my uncle passed. Dad didn't hunt many ducks for a few years and training Duke never got done. So, Duke became a wonderful family dog, but as a retriever of game? He seemed to see himself as an assassin, working for the dog mafia and taking out the competition. And you didn't have to shoot it or send him for it, he'd just choose his victims according to his whims. I think he thought we hunted, so he should, too. With all that, he was the perfect companion. And he was greatly loved. He lived to be 14, and it seemed too short. But I treasure every memory of my friend.
That's a good looking new friend you've got there. May you have a long, long time to make memories together.
That's a good looking new friend you've got there. May you have a long, long time to make memories together.
Alk8944
US Veteran
Haven't hunted ducks or geese in years, but when I did I did it in the Poultry section of the local want ads! No dogs, boats or decoys! It was also far cheaper this way and you get better eating birds this way.
Local golf courses are a good resource too.
Local golf courses are a good resource too.
DeplorabusUnum
Member
Haven't hunted ducks or upland game since my yellow lab Maisey died about 10 years ago. She was about 10% hunt dog, 90% family pet. She endured the hunt in order to make it to play time, which consisted of fetching the plastic decoys thrown repeatedly into the lake.
One time I went with a buddy and his yellow lab. We had finished the hunt and were loading up in my Dodge quad cab. He asked me where to put the bag of ducks. I said to toss them in the back, meaning back seat. Unknown to me he opened the canopy on the bed, and set them inside with the dogs. When we arrived at his place and opened the back... never seen so many feathers, and two yellow labs with red faces looking sheepishly like they knew they were busted. What a laugh we had.
You have a beautiful pup there. Hope you have lots of good times hunting with that boy.
One time I went with a buddy and his yellow lab. We had finished the hunt and were loading up in my Dodge quad cab. He asked me where to put the bag of ducks. I said to toss them in the back, meaning back seat. Unknown to me he opened the canopy on the bed, and set them inside with the dogs. When we arrived at his place and opened the back... never seen so many feathers, and two yellow labs with red faces looking sheepishly like they knew they were busted. What a laugh we had.
You have a beautiful pup there. Hope you have lots of good times hunting with that boy.
OK,, right here's a good place for a duck huntin' story, ala Johnny Carson. He told the story about the time a friend talked him into taking up duck hunting.
He looked square into the camera with those beady little eyes and said said the following:
Before you go duck hunting there's some things you need to be aware of to help you decide whether or not you are a duck hunter. If you like waking up in the middle of the night, standing in a cold shower and tearing up hundred dollar bills and flushing them down the toilet you have the makin's of a duck hunter.
I thought that was an exaggeration. I have been duck hunting a few times in my youth. It's not my thing but it wasn't THAT bad.
He looked square into the camera with those beady little eyes and said said the following:
Before you go duck hunting there's some things you need to be aware of to help you decide whether or not you are a duck hunter. If you like waking up in the middle of the night, standing in a cold shower and tearing up hundred dollar bills and flushing them down the toilet you have the makin's of a duck hunter.
I thought that was an exaggeration. I have been duck hunting a few times in my youth. It's not my thing but it wasn't THAT bad.
My hunting buddy bought one years ago and it was afraid of water!! No matter how much he tried to get the dog to retrieve, when placed in the water with the owner along side, it only wanted to get back in the boat. Great pet, but was not worth a darn as a retriever!!
My retriever is shown below, much younger than me!!!!!!!
My retriever is shown below, much younger than me!!!!!!!
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My hunting buddy bought one years ago and it was afraid of water!! No matter how much he tried to get the dog to retrieve, when placed in the water with the owner along side, it only wanted to get back in the boat. Great pet, but was not worth a darn as a retriever!!
My retriever is shown below, much younger than me!!!!!!!
So far so good for this one...introduced him to the edge of my pond and he didn't want to leave it. Looks like you had a heck of a hunt that day!
Rpg
Member
For years, I duck hunted with a Brittany.
She wasn't much as a retriever: she'd go to a downed duck or goose if it was on the ground and stand over it. She'd find the bird, but figured that was the end of her part in the endeavor. If it landed in the water, she figured it was my fault and she had no responsibility for it.
When I lost the Brit, I got a Springer and followed with a string of Springers for the next 40 years. My Springers have all been great retrievers, although their coats aren't the best in very cold water.
Springers shed like crazy!
She wasn't much as a retriever: she'd go to a downed duck or goose if it was on the ground and stand over it. She'd find the bird, but figured that was the end of her part in the endeavor. If it landed in the water, she figured it was my fault and she had no responsibility for it.
When I lost the Brit, I got a Springer and followed with a string of Springers for the next 40 years. My Springers have all been great retrievers, although their coats aren't the best in very cold water.
Springers shed like crazy!
OP
Had a chocolate lab some years back, he was a phenomenal duck dog. One day a rottie female came a calling when the lab was out in the yard, and the rest is history. So we took one of the pups, lab rottie mix, absolutely the best dog I ever owned...he's the one that recently passed at 15. The picture is where I hunt, Lake Champlain. That's NY on the opposite shore, and that dog would swim to NY to retrieve a cripple. He was 110 lbs of muscle and determination...and a cupcake to everyone and everything he met. A once in a lifetime dog.
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They are great dogs, and you are probably right about the colder conditions, especially where you live. Here in SC, if I was hunting on what I considered a really cold or windy day, I had a camo neoprene dog vest that was just the ticket. My dogs were always on the smaller size, both females, and about 25 pounds.
Larry
cherrypointmarine
Member
We have a Samsung tv and they offer all sorts of free channels on their streaming service . They have one channel , the outdoor channel and on Monday nights they have shooting and hunting shows . There's one about bird dogs , duck , pheasant , he covers them all . I have Aussies which are extremely smart and easily trained , but watching those dogs makes me feel humble . What these dogs can do is amazing . One week they were showing this competition for duck dogs . There was no winner , it was pass or fail . I don't hunt , but I would love to have one of these duck hunting dogs . At least down here they wouldn't freeze like they do in those northern waters .
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I am a long time Pheasant, Quail and Grouse hunter and only hunted Ducks once - about 2 years ago. Unfortunately for us, our hunt was on the coldest day of the year (8ºF) and it was so cold it was impossible to enjoy ourselves. It was so cold, the Ducks were glad to be shot - lol! So only from that one experience, I can't say I enjoyed myself. We did have a heater in the blind but it was pretty much useless. Maybe I would try it again on a better day but no immediate plans for now.
Absolutely beautiful pup!! I am jealous
Here is my say 1973 brush with duck hunting. I met a friend of a friend that likes to hunt ducks. He asked me if I wanted to go. I said OK. 3am on the day to go, I got up, and got ready and made a thermos of coffee. He shows up, and we take off. get to spot, unload boat, fill it with needed stuff. break ice skim all the way to spot ( several hundred yards ). Wait a few hours, and finally a duck is coming straight for us. Shotguns open up from all over the pond. Shot raining everywhere. My guy says shoot it, so I did. We retrieve it, and he says, oh no, can't shoot Green Winged Teals. We finally left, and I never went again. For me, I classified the sport right up there with ice fishing.
Here is my say 1973 brush with duck hunting. I met a friend of a friend that likes to hunt ducks. He asked me if I wanted to go. I said OK. 3am on the day to go, I got up, and got ready and made a thermos of coffee. He shows up, and we take off. get to spot, unload boat, fill it with needed stuff. break ice skim all the way to spot ( several hundred yards ). Wait a few hours, and finally a duck is coming straight for us. Shotguns open up from all over the pond. Shot raining everywhere. My guy says shoot it, so I did. We retrieve it, and he says, oh no, can't shoot Green Winged Teals. We finally left, and I never went again. For me, I classified the sport right up there with ice fishing.
As kids we remember springers, Irish setters, Weimaraner and finally a lab
as dogs that my father had for his hunting activities.
The Weimaraner did not like cold water and temps and laid near the kitchen stove at my fathers duck club to get warm and dry off, as we got ready for lunch or a late breakfast.
as dogs that my father had for his hunting activities.
The Weimaraner did not like cold water and temps and laid near the kitchen stove at my fathers duck club to get warm and dry off, as we got ready for lunch or a late breakfast.
Nice looking dogs and pics of ducks on the ground. I was a duck hunter for many years, but we never had dogs. I didn't have the time necessary to devote to them, so I chose not to have one. We had beagles when I grew up hunting rabbits pheasants and quail in central Ohio. A good dog is a joy a blessing and a curse all rolled into one.
I miss it a lot, but duck hunting is a young fit mans sport.
I miss it a lot, but duck hunting is a young fit mans sport.
I had a lot of retrieving dogs. Not only did I duck hunt...I guided the waterfowlers..34 yrs. No it's not a CHEAP endeavor. One of the best retrievers I was ever hunting with was an AWS. We shot ducks and he retrieved many. Then the geese came to visit. Some stayed. The dog actually had to drag one back. They were almost too large. But he never stopped. I still remember his name...which really was Duke. Hunting the Chesapeake I had a Chesapeake. That dog just never stopped. And the water wasn't too cold for her. But when that dog came out of the water...you WANTED to be somewhere else...esp when it was ccooolllddd. I had 2 lifetime labs though. A chocolate that another guide had. I did train him and that dog was great. He was my wife and daughters' protection dog. and he was serious about the duty. The other was a small lab(maybe 60 lbs full grown) given to me as a puppy by a hunting party and their wives. Carried her in my coat the day she was given to me. Retrieved well over 3000 geese, couple thousand ducks and literally well over 10,000 doves(we also "guided" dove shooters). I hope your pup turns out to be a wonderful companion....and a Duck Hunter! It's a great sport
ancient-one
US Veteran
I never had a dog. We hunted on a river and could usually pick the dead birds when they floated up on a sandbar' I didn't like to eat ducks and always gave them to people who did.
I got tired of getting up in the middle of the night, driving 50 miles, breaking ice to get the decoys out and most of all freezing my butt off. I quit and never regretted it. Spent my time fishing, quail and squirrel hunting.
A good hunting dog is a blessing to have, no matter what you are hunting.
I got tired of getting up in the middle of the night, driving 50 miles, breaking ice to get the decoys out and most of all freezing my butt off. I quit and never regretted it. Spent my time fishing, quail and squirrel hunting.
A good hunting dog is a blessing to have, no matter what you are hunting.
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