Let me start out with saying my wife runs a dog grooming business, one of her hobbies is showing dogs and competing in grooming competitions. Anyhow about 18 months ago she wanted a dog that she could take to competitions (she shows Collies) and wanted something complex and fun for her. So we got a poodle, (for a pretty penny I might add because it had to be show quality). At first I was taken back by a poodle, we already had collies I wanted a german shorthair or weimeriner really. But I decided to see how the poodle worked out as they are hunt dogs by nature as well and would give her a dog to do her grooming competitions with the rest of the year.

Well I am very excited, I have been training "Lestat" for the past 18 months since he was a puppy when we got him at 12 weeks in California (when we lived there).

Started out with goose toys to dead birds, taking him to the skeet range so he would get accustomed to guns. Swimming at the lake etc.

I am just so excited the season is almost here for me to take him into the field for his first duck hunting season!

Here is a picture of him after my wife groomed him about 2 months ago.

Needless to say he wont be quite so pretty in comming months!

Is that one of those french hunting dogs?

LOL

Your wife is cruel

Trust me I wasn't to keen on the idea at first. But after some research I was amazed how many successful duck hunters breed poodles. They really are good water retrievers.

If you're gonna hunt that dog I think I'd ask her for a different hair cut. All that fro' is gonna attract burrs and thorns and the shaved area looks prone to cuts and scrapes and even hypothermia.

I've heard of people around here hunting with poodle-lab mix breeds but never pure blood poodles.

thats not the cut its in currently, that was for a competition she did.  Right now its shaved about 2" of fur all over 1 length.  Yeah I had read on some hunting forums about the burrs and everything.  So he will be in a proper haircut before he goes out.

You're going to be real popular with your hunting buddies.

                 T

While shopping for our last dog we were inbetween a poodle,labradoodle and german shepard. We ended up with an adopted german mix. She's about a year now, and would like to get her trained for duck hunting.. Any suggestions on where to start, koopa?

That's a Redneck Lion. ;D

While shopping for our last dog we were inbetween a poodle,labradoodle and german shepard. We ended up with an adopted german mix. She's about a year now, and would like to get her trained for duck hunting.. Any suggestions on where to start, koopa?

I'll send you some links when I get home!  

Hey KOOPA;; I liked your posts right from the start, I couldn't put my finger on it but now I =understand: YOU ARE NOT RIGHT, you fit in here just fine,welcome again Mook, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship ;D

I'm having a hard time refraining from any jokes that might hurt feelings.

I must say,it is a fancy hunting dog though......Least you'll be able to put the money spent on the dog to good use.

Don't worry Grimlin I have thick skin, I wont cry... Nothing I probably haven't heard already from my hunting buddies, like trying to take my wallet to revoke my man card. :-/

All in good fun ;D

Here are some pics from the lake Kegonsa last weekend, brought him with when I went fishing for a few hours (he has a haircut already after she did that competition with him)

I like your bird gun too.

Do ya like that? I had it special made to shoot a mixture of lead buckshot and cigarette butts

I can't decide whether you have a lot of guts or no brains. :-/

I'm leaning towards a lot of guts. ;D

I raise labs, and sell to some area duck hunters, but I have never heard of using poodles as duck dogs.  Interesting. ;D

That's a Redneck Lion. ;D

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!  I just spit coffee three feet!!!!!!  

like the hair

In all seriousness, any dog that hunts has a place by my campfire....

Trust me I wasn't to keen on the idea at first. But after some research I was amazed how many successful duck hunters breed poodles. They really are good water retrievers.

So are GOLDEN RETRIEVERS.  I'm sorry hunting with a poodle is kind of funny.

             -gk