My Weimaraner, Smoky Joe, has turned into a terrific fishing companion! He is a decent hunting dog, but he used to refuse to swim for anything but shot game…then it was only grudgingly. Now he will follow me across any water I can wade. If you fish really cold water mostly, then you might choose a breed better suited for colder water like a Lab, Golden, Chessie, American Water Spaniel, Pudelpointer, German Wirehair, or Griffon. The dog should have a calm disposition and be given to sitting/laying on the bank watching you fish for prolonged periods of time…gently milling about from time to time. But I do a lot of trout fishing in a relatively mild climate here in the Ozarks and in the Rockies during late summer/early fall. And the Weimaraner has no problem with that. The other advantage to short-haired breeds like the Weim, Vizla, and GSP is that they dry quickly and don’t get matted up with thorns, burrs, and such. And ticks are easy to find and remove. Running water rinses off the mud, so the stream normally takes care of the bathing as well as it does on your waders and boots.
Now to training…
I used to train gundogs professionally. ANY dog needs solid obedience training beginning right out of the whelping box. I’m not going into details here. But at a MINIMUM, all decent dogs must come on command, sit/lay down, stay, and be properly socialized to other dogs and people. A Chessie is naturally very territorial and mistrusting of strangers. Not a positive thing when fishing, unless you fish the Angeles National Forest outside of LA…where gang murders and drug dealing are chasing anglers off the water and campers, hikers, and anglers are turning up shot dead in their tents/vehicles. All dogs have a well-tuned sense of danger and will alert their owners to threatening behavior from strangers. But Chessies get aggressive around most strangers who get “too close.” This is a desirable trait in that breed that comes from the old days of market gunning for waterfowl. Part of their job was to guard the hunter’s gear and birds while he negotiated a selling price, etc. Different times and different place. You need to be able to keep your dog out of the water and he needs to not be given to wandering off at every little sound or glimpse of other people, animals, etc. He needs to also not need to stay glued to your side at all times if you are a fly angler. He needs to develop a sense of casting distance and the space you need to fish. Most dogs will pick this up pretty quickly…in a few outings. One or two snagged ears and they get the idea of a back cast. BUT…YOU need to be mindful of the dog’s presence, too! Check your back casts more frequently, maintain constant awareness of the dog’s location, and FISH BARBLESS ONLY. You are likely to only get one chance to yank a barbed hook out of a dog’s flesh. You can destroy a bond that took a long time to build in a split-second. Not to mention the health risks to the dog and the potential for biting…which is a health risk to YOU.
Finally, if you are not going to treat the dog as a fishing buddy, don’t bother. Dogs can be great companions for fishing trips. But they can also ruin one. Talk to the dog. Take some time to pet and play with him as you fish. Take some dog treats in your vest/gear bag and give him one now and then. Share some meat camp food with the dog. These are the things that make the trip special to HIM…and you if you have the right attitude. Do not overlook feeding and watering. It’s hard work for a dog to wade a stream all day and he needs hydration and energy. He will drink out of the stream. But in camp he will need lots of fresh water. Ice from a cooler can be a treat he really enjoys on a hot day. Take appropriate bedding for the dog if you are camping out. Treat it for insects. My Weim sleeps on a small bed I bought for $10 at Walgreens when we are camping…in my tent with me. Dogs staked out in a campground will NOT tend to win you friends from your neighbors! They tend to bark. Not cool! Make sure you stop fishing in time for the dog to dry off before turning in if sharing quarters with him. Wet dog smell is funky and unpleasant. Teach the dog not to relieve himself in inappropriate places…especially if you’ll be camping! A dog walking up and peeing on my tent or gear is NOT going to get him or you on my good side! He must be taught to respect gear, waders, boots, camping equipment, etc. My Weim actually wanders away from others and campsites to a secluded spot out of the traffic pattern to take care of business. I’ve had several resort, cabin, and campground owners comment on this over the course of his lifetime. They really appreciate it. Most people insist I bring him along when I go places for overnight visits. That’s a good sign that things are in order.
Yes, all of this takes a major investment of time, trouble, patience, education, and money. It takes 1-2 years to have a great dog for the next decade. The first 6 months of training is VERY demanding of your time and attention…WAY moreso than most people expect or think it should. But having a great dog is about like having a great kid with less maintenance and upkeep. Let’s face it. You can’t get by with tossing your kids out in the backyard for hours or even days on end. And you can bathe a dog monthly or even less. And vet bills are a LOT cheaper than doctors, dentists, optometrists, and orthodontists. Other than that, it’s not much different. They’re also cheaper and easier to feed. But if you aren’t going to make the proper investment, don’t bother getting a dog. The dog deserves better, YOU deserve better, your family deserves better, and your neighbors and the people you encounter in public deserve better.
