Do pound puppies make good gun dogs? Well, some folks would beg to differ with me, but I think any dog makes a good gun dog – it really just takes dedication. If you get a purebred puppy from a long line of hunting dogs, then you obviously have a jumpstart on someone who gets a dog from the pound. But, generally speaking, most dogs with a little retriever in them have a natural instinct to retrieve. Some dogs with no retriever in them have a natural instinct to retrieve.

If you’re looking for a gun dog and have a lot of money to spend, then surely go to a reputable breeder and get to know them and their dogs. If you want a gun dog that will appreciate you every day and try its best to please you, then you can still find one of those at the pound or animal shelter. Most shelters will allow you to play with the dogs, so remember you’re there on a mission, you don’t need to take home every puppy, even though you may want to. Look for a puppy that wants to chase a ball or bumper, and the younger they are the less likely they have been abused or conditioned to dislike loud noises – you don’t need that. I can speak from experience that my brother’s pound puppy “labbish” dog, Mojo, has more heart than many AKC registered couch potatoes. Why buy an expensive dog to let it ruin on the couch? It’s like buying a Porsche and leaving it in the garage. Gun dogs don’t happen over night, they take years of training and dedication. If you may want a gun dog but don’t want to shell out some serious cash, check out your local shelter. You may not want to mention hunting, because some of those tree huggers would rather the dog be euthanized than retrieve a duck. Check out http://www.greatpointers.org/, www.petfinder.com or www.bainbridgehumanesociety.com for a good place to start looking.

"I ain't afraid of no water."