what is the best dog for duck hunting?

[buck hunter 17]

what is the best dog for duck hunting?

[WA Mtnhunter]

Hard to beat a Labrador retriever.

[shane]

Black Lab.

[Big O]

Majority will say labs.

[DakotaMan]

Black lab. Consider a male if you are expecting big Canadians (geese... not hunting partners) because I have seen them almost drown a smaller female and they wear them out. The larger males can handle the Canadians better. Females are great for ducks, upland game and occassional big geese.

[jay]

a buddy of mine only uses cheasepeake bay retievers; says they are the best. I've hunted over very good labs as well.

[ranger2]

The best duck dog I ever hunted with was a border collie/blue healer mix. I know it sounds stupid, but Sparky-rest his little soul- was one hell of a retriever. He missed one duck in the three years I hunted with him and it hit the rapids before he could get it! One time we shot three greenheads in a canyon bottom. They landed on the other side of the creek in really heavy brush- about 40 yards apart. Sparky brought them all back in under 10 minutes.
I think the best answer to this question is that the best duck dog is the dog that you can train to hunt...if I was going to pick a breed... probably a lab...

[FloridaHunter1226]

I would have to say labs... so many have proven to be one of the best dogs for retrieving. If you get one for that purpose, you won't go wrong.

[Golfing Sportsman]

Any dog that can be quiet, sit still, and obey commands, I don't think breed matters one bit. Goldens, labs, even poodles were originally bred to be retrievers. Training matters so much more than breed.

[shane]

If you are planning some insane way up north duck hunting, not just any breed will do. When it comes to ridiculously low temperatures on top of diving into ridiculously cold water, nothing beats a Black Lab. Other dogs will turn into ice cubes. I've seen arctic expeditions where the party members were wearing the warmest, most advanced extreme cold weather gear, but their trim black lab companions are just trotting around in nothing but fur all day like it's Louisiana.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

Labs are the best. Color doesn't matter. Best retriever I ever had was actually a lab-golden cross but she looked like a small black lab. Probably no more than 50 pounds dripping wet but she was wicked on big western honkers. She loved the challenge. Also a guided missile on blind retrieves. I have two black females now - 55 and 65 lbs. They are a great team. Great for pheasant hunting as well. Both work close and the smaller one will even point if the birds will hold. She flushed and retrieved her first bird (hungarian partridge) at age three months and three days. They generally have a wonderful attitude and want to please.

[Ontario Honker Hunter]

Labs are the best. Color doesn't matter. Best retriever I ever had was actually a lab-golden cross but she looked like a small black lab. Probably no more than 50 pounds dripping wet but she was wicked on big western honkers. She loved the challenge. Also a guided missile on blind retrieves. I have two black females now - 55 and 65 lbs. They are a great team. Great for pheasant hunting as well. Both work close and the smaller one will even point if the birds will hold. She flushed and retrieved her first bird (hungarian partridge) at age three months and three days. They generally have a wonderful attitude and want to please.

[TRand]

Labs are overrated. Go with a Chesapeake. Everyone votes lab because everyone has a lab. Chesapeakes are the best in cold water and would rather drown themselves then let a duck go un-retrieved.

[rudyglove27]

Agreed with WA Mtnhunter and + 1 for you sir!!!