Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Saturday, December 30. 2006

Hunting Poodles

We never covered all of the sporting breeds we wanted to during the Chinese Year of the Dog, but we hit quite a few of our favorites. Not all of 'em, cuz we never met a dog we didn't like.

We have the same weakness for baby humans. (The adults are another matter.)

At the end of the year, I want to remind our readers that the Poodle is a huntin' dawg. We said it once before, and this is the last time we'll say it.

Just don't give them deep, ocean water to retrieve from, as you would with a rough and tough Chessie. Marsh, streams, and ponds are just fine. Many Poodles have a strong pointing instinct too - mine have had one.

Am I tired of people telling me "He might break a nail"? Indeed I am. The only problem with Poodles is that they have higher IQs than humans, and that they love to laugh - at your expense. Yes, they are bird dogs and they will find your bird. And they will drop it at your feet - if they feel like it. 

And if they have a field full of bird, they just might tell you to go to hell, and roust them all at once and leave you looking like an idiot. Unlike some breeds, they can run all day, working. They do not tire. But when they want to sleep, they want their head on your pillow.

Posted by Bird Dog in Hunting, Fishing, Dogs, Guns, etc. at 16:07 | Comments (26) | Trackbacks (0)

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For a few years now, I’ve been wanting a choco brown standard who can hunt and also look amazing around the house and gardens. Should I look into poodles?
#1 enquiring female on 2006-12-30 16:39 (Reply)
Sure. They love to be trained. They have powerful brains. Find a breeder online who breeds the hunt into them. Don't worry about the color (hey - that's racist!). As I noted, mine have all pointed (2 out of two).

Used to have Labs, but an allergy thing with the kids. And never had a pointing Lab.
#2 bird dog on 2006-12-30 16:59 (Reply)
Don't worry about the color?

Bird Dog, how is it you buy auto-mobiles? Is a deep blue XJS like a shallow blue Chevy?

But your poodles are way cool and functional, so pay me no mind, especially since I also drive a beat-up old blue pick'em up for yard and construction.
#3 e.f. on 2006-12-30 17:21 (Reply)
was it Mark Twain or Will Rodgers who said "no man who likes dogs can be all bad"?
#4 Buddy Larsen on 2006-12-30 17:48 (Reply)
what is an auto-mobile?
one of them new-fangled machines? we don't keep with that newfangled stuff. that's for the young folks.
My chestnut mare is plenty of horsepower for me.
#5 bird dog on 2006-12-30 18:06 (Reply)
Hoo-I bet that poodle don't like that mare--my sis keeps poodles, and they are very anti animal-kingdom. Not being (sniff) part of it, y'know.
#6 Buddy Larsen on 2006-12-30 18:18 (Reply)
I want a black Lab for ducks in deep water, she wants a Standard Poodle. No compromises. Therefore. I have to keep her away from the computer at least until this thread is off the page...
#7 Skookumchuk (Link) on 2006-12-30 18:24 (Reply)
better watch it--deviousness will get you poodled--
#8 Buddy Larsen on 2006-12-30 18:42 (Reply)
And if anybody here knows if "Pointing Labradors" actually do as their name implies, lemme know.
#9 Skookumchuk (Link) on 2006-12-30 19:06 (Reply)
Actually Buddy, they have little iron filings in a sac within their skulls that keeps them pointing to Labrador, wherever they may be...
#10 Skookumchuk (Link) on 2006-12-30 19:09 (Reply)
I love dogs. In France I had "chien et pomme de terre".
I'm not sure of the breed but the sauce was out of this world.
Now live dogs, well English Pointers are my favorite. My grandaddy had "Molly" a beautiful brown and white. We always thought (hoped) we say a wee bit of black in her so we could claim peerage with the great "Rip Rap".
Mom had a poodle, NiNi. It was more of an Eva Gabor type than a hunter, and like Charles Hamilton in "Gone With the Wind" succumbed to pneumonia one winter. She was a cutie though.
Anyway...What's brown and black and looks good on a lawyer? .... A Doberman..
#11 habu1 on 2006-12-30 19:16 (Reply)
Weimaraners are loveliest, people. Short hair and tails, big brains and hearts. They can hunt AND protect you from the mailman and any person in uniform, in a truck or on a bicycle...

I grew up with Wilma the Weimaraner, but only have cats right now. (Still, one provided a dead vole today and that's something for the pot on the stove. Yum!)
#12 e.f. on 2006-12-30 19:30 (Reply)
labrador is right next ta da terlet of course
#13 Buddy Larsen on 2006-12-30 19:51 (Reply)
labrador usually attended by OBGYN folk..

but I've been wundr'in. did we'uns git off on the wrong foot here
the dog gone title of this here piece is "Hunting Poodles"
Heck I was all head up to recommend the right caliber but then, heck, the folks all git ta talk'in 'bout how good they be as pet/hunt dog...well I wernt wanna be on a 'coon hunt with one, less'in it be a standard poodle.
an how 'bout this ..da Georgia Bulldogs done be on TV writ pow..wow!!
#14 habu1 on 2006-12-30 20:17 (Reply)
Sheesh, voles, dogs, is there anything you people won't eat?
#15 Buddy Larsen on 2006-12-30 20:23 (Reply)
e.f.:

A Weimeraneraneraner would be an alternative to a black lab. They are beautiful and quite intelligent in my experience. I know a family that has one and it is a delight. Choices...
#16 Skookumchuk (Link) on 2006-12-30 21:45 (Reply)
Ha! The W. dogs are fabulous, Skookumchuk. But Vizlas are nice, too, similar to Weimaraners but a little smaller for the house and car. And redder.
#17 e.f. on 2006-12-30 22:06 (Reply)
I just clicked on the first link and saw that not only were Vixenzslas already mentioned, I mangled the spelling. :(
#18 e.f. on 2006-12-30 22:10 (Reply)
My beloved as always been a field dog man(Springer Spaniesl). Daughter(the interior designer) bought a little White Maltese with "some poodle" in her. Grandpa and puppy have been attached at the chest for several years now. However, he is not the "only white male" I have noticed with a dedicated Maltese.
1. I saw a middleaged man (about 55) getting off of his boat in CA. He was attached to a Maltese. I asked why he chose this dog. His response: "it is my daughter's dog".
2. I saw a middled aged ((55) rancher drivin through town in his ranch truck. Little white Maltese hangin out of the window. I asked why. His reponse: It is my duaghter's dog.
3. In Paris under the Eiffel Tower, I saw another middled aged man complete with cap, tweed jacket and little white Maltese. In my very best French I asked "why". His reponse: it is my daughter's dog".

Just thought you folks would be interested in the power of those little white dogs. My daughter takes her to the groomer for a bath and bows;brings her home; grandpa takes her to the swampt to hunt snakes and mice and get rid of those damn bows! It is an ongoing cycle around here.

She is the smartest dog we have ever had. Smarter than Spaniel, Shepherd, Great Dane, and Cocker.
#19 apple pie on 2006-12-30 22:11 (Reply)
Guy and his mutt walk into talent agent's office, guy sez he has a talking dog. Agent sez, go ahead, let's hear him talk.

Guy asks dog, "what's on top a house?" dog barks "roof". Guy hollers "See, he said "Roof!"

Then the guy asks dog, what's on bottom a tree, dog barks 'roof', guy hollers see, he said 'root'. Then guy asks, who's the greatest baseball player, dog barks 'roof', guy hollers, see, he said 'Ruth'.

Agent gets up, kicks the two of 'em out the door.

They're outside brushing off, dog says "Shit, I knew I shoulda said Dimaggio."
#20 Buddy Larsen on 2006-12-30 22:27 (Reply)
What caliber? Haha. What caliber for roaming cats, is my question.
#21 bird dog on 2006-12-31 08:06 (Reply)
Just try it. Only an insecure person hates cats. I love dogs better, but cats are better for one's character as they do not worship one blindly, have to be wooed, won over, and always ready to leave if you are a jerk. And having had several barns emptied of rats, lawns cleared of moles by one faithful childhood "pet", I think they are useful too. Let the birds work harder at avoiding them...with the exception of flightless ones, anything with wings ought to be able to get away. And don't even get started with non-native species. There are those who would say that our beloved retrievers and poodles, etc. are non-native and a threat to wildlife as well...

Poodles are fantastic, tho, and will be our family's next dog (elderly retriever adored right now).
#22 retriever on 2006-12-31 09:06 (Reply)
Standard poodles are also hellacious guard dogs.
#23 rightwingprof (Link) on 2006-12-31 10:56 (Reply)
yes, they are hell on squirrels and mice
#24 bird dog on 2006-12-31 11:23 (Reply)
If it comes to breeds, I'm a Dobie man myself, there's no better, more loyal, more affectionate dog. But I don't buy breeds, only rescue from the shelter. It's a sin how many people throw dogs out on the street, dogs who end up being killed, and for no good reason.
#25 rightwingprof (Link) on 2007-01-01 14:02 (Reply)
I agree. Helluva a way to treat an animal with so much capacity for loyalty and affection.
#26 Buddy Larsen on 2007-01-01 14:40 (Reply)

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