If you have the money, the time, the commitment and the space, a hunting dog should be in your future. Those lacking the time and money can still acquire a dog.

One dog owner I met bought a golden retriever with his income tax return. Another hunter opened a Christmas club account, which yielded enough money at the end of the year to buy his German shorthaired pointer.

FAMILY MATTERS
The family will play a major role in the hunting dog decision. First and foremost, if your partner does not like the dog idea, it is best to delay the purchase for better times.

Also, spouses and children command most of your attention and finances, thereby reducing your ability to train and fund a dog. It can be an uphill battle if you're the only one who wants the dog.

One way to fulfill both family and dog obligations is to integrate the hunting dog into the family as a pet. Hunters planning to work this angle need to make some informed decisions on the best choice for a family hunting dog.

Some high-stung, highly bred field dogs make poor house pets. These dogs are hyperactive and over-enthusiastic. Counter tops, tables and furniture exist merely to give the dog something to jump on.

Conversely, lumbering "show-dogs" usually make mild-mannered house pets but lack the birdiness or fortitude needed for hunting.

When you finally select the desired hunting breed and pick out a breeder, visit with the puppy's parents and grandparents. Behaviors (good and bad) are passed down through the generations.

BASIC TRAINING -- FOR YOU!
Keep in mind that all hunting dogs are bred for athleticism, stamina and strength as well as for their birding instincts. Therefore, dog owners must allow time for the animals to exercise. Training your dog can displace some of that athletic energy.

But hunting-breed dogs need to run. On days when you are not training, allow time for the dog to just run off that pent-up energy.

Each year, thousands of dogs end up at shelters or are put out for adoption. One of the more common reasons is that the dog is too hyper and destructive. Daily exercise helps dissipate some of these problem behaviors and enables your hunting dog to develop into a valuable house pet.

Veteran bird hunters will often tell you that in order to have a good hunting dog the animal must be kept outdoors all the time. The belief is that a good hunting dog is more apt to maintain its natural hunting instincts and toughness by living in the "wilds" of an outdoor kennel.

That belief is a hunting myth. Dogs are social creatures. They enjoy being close to their human masters. And closeness helps form a bond between dog and hunter that turns the individuals into a great hunting team.

When a dog is "stored" outside to enhance its hunting instinct, the bond between hunter and dog is weakened.

Part of the above outdoor myth is based on practical dog care ideas, however. Dogs need to acclimate to the cold weather. Hunters living in the northern regions will want to see that their dogs can be kenneled or tied outdoors for several hours a day from late summer through the end of the hunting season.

For example, how fair is it to send a retriever into the icy water after spending the year sleeping in front of the fireplace? Part-time outdoor dogs develop a natural immunity to cold weather because their fur thickens in response to the changing seasons.

Indoor dogs don't get a true sense of the incoming cold weather and therefore have trouble coping with freezing temperatures.