The author’s griff (pick #3) after a successful hunt.
When it comes to waterfowl hunting, Labrador retrievers reign supreme—and for good reason. It’s hard to beat watching a well-trained Lab casting on a line to hand signals or busting through ice to fetch a bird. But plenty of other breeds can get it done in the field, too, and some of them excel in areas that Labs don’t. Here are five of my favorite non-Lab gun dogs.
1) The Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel is a pocket gun dog that was initially developed for hunting the coastal marshes of South Carolina. The breed is widely considered the duck dog of the South. They’re friendly and biddable—and have a ton of heart when flushing and retrieving birds in the field. The only downside? Boykins don’t do well in the bitter cold, which is why they haven’t become popular among hunters in the North.
2) The Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeake Bay retrievers, or chessies, are popular waterfowl dogs for one reason: their hardiness. These stout gun dogs, which look very similar to Labs, were initially bred to hunt the harsh winter conditions of the Chesapeake Bay. Their distinctive oily coats keep them warm in the coldest weather, and their webbed toes allow them to swim well. They’re can be more independent and hardheaded than Labs and can be reactive—making them good guard dogs if needed, though they’re not for everyone.
3) The Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
There are several versatile breeds that are well-suited to retrieving waterfowl, even in cold conditions. I could have easily picked the pudelpointer or German wirehair for this spot, but I chose the griff because, well, I’m biased: I hunt with a six-year-old griff in Montana. Griffs have a sturdy double coat and webbed feet, and many of them love to retrieve. Griff’s aren’t quite as weather resistant as Labs, but mine hunts down in the teens and twenties without issue, and is happy to break ice to retrieve birds, too. Compared to some other versatile breeds, griffs tend to be more cooperative, which makes them a good fit for training to hunt waterfowl.
4) The Golden Retriever
When I think about golden retrievers, I think of the time when I was hanging out at a California beach and a young golden found and retrieved a soggy, dead sea duck for her owner, a city-dwelling woman, who was appalled by what her pup had found. But the dog was just doing what the breed was initially bred for. While goldens are popular as house dogs, the breed was originally developed as a working breed. They are just as biddable as Labs but less cold-hardy. If you opt for a golden, it’s important to make sure to pick a puppy from a good field-bred line, as the breed has been diluted by non-hunting breeders over the years.
5) Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever
I’ve never hunted over a Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever—but I’ve always wanted to. The breed not only retrieves but can actually draw in birds from the unique motion they create jumping and splashing—or tolling—along a shoreline. It would be pretty darn cool to shoot a duck over a dog that actually helped you decoy a bird.
What did I miss? Let us know in the comments. And if you’re planning to train a duck dog this summer, check out our 5 Tips for Summer Dog Training with insights from Andrew Barbouche, Next Generation Gundog Training.