Photo by Joe Richard.

"That's beautiful," my friend and avid retriever trainer, Dawn Shewchuk said last fall as Boomer, her 7-year-old golden retriever, came bounding back after picking up a pheasant she had shot.

Her simple phrase sums up how most avid bird hunters feel when their dogs find, point, flush and-or retrieve pheasants, grouse, ducks, geese, quail and other game birds.

Next to a well-fitted shotgun, a trained hunting dog is one of the most important tools for bird hunting.

Most hunters looking to buy a hunting dog spend hours studying the various dog breeds. Waterfowlers look at the finer points of Chesapeake Bay, Labrador, golden and other retriever breeds. Pheasant seekers debate whether to get a pointer, setter or spaniel.

But during the breed search, it's easy to overlook some of the key points that all hunters need to investigate thoroughly.

DO YOU NEED A DOG?
Perhaps the hardest question to answer is: Do you really need a dog?

In many states, pheasant season is a mere four weeks. Duck hunting seasons are often split into short two- to four-week seasons.

With short hunting seasons in most states, can a hunter justify the cost and commitment of owning an expensive specialty hunting dog?

In order to make an affirmative reply, consider, too, that your dog will probably end up being more than just a hunting dog. Buying a dog now means you're making a 10- to 15-year commitment to your new best friend.

The costs of owning a dog are also significant. Purebred hunting dogs from quality field lineage cost between $700 and $1,500 depending on breeding.

In addition, the hunter can expect to spend another $800 to $2,000 per year to feed, house, train and care for the dog.

Along with the above, hunters can realistically expect to get about eight to nine years of effective hunting from their dogs. Most bird dogs miss their first year of hunting (or don't perform well) because of youthfulness and lack of training.

Some exceptional dogs will hunt like pros at 6 months or one year, but senior citizenship hits dogs quickly and most dogs are retired from hunting when they reach the age of nine or 10. At this juncture, hunters begin to think about adding a second, replacement dog to the mix.

Assuming you decided that the costs of owning a hunting dog fits your salary, your next step is to evaluate your lifestyle during the off-hunting seasons.

If you plan to train the dog yourself, you will need to schedule the time to accomplish that goal.

Typically, the hunter begins his dog's training program by going to a local dog training facility to take a class that teaches basic obedience. Then, we pore over training books and spend several more hours each week working on field training.

Hunters working nine-to-five jobs may find field training difficult because nightfall comes early in spring, winter and fall. Thus, training regimens are concentrated on summer weekends where family pressures can interfere with planned lessons.

Hunters with cramped lifestyles may want to consider sending the dog to boarding school for training. While this option certainly saves time, it can be costly, often exceeding $400 per month. And you'll lose that close, personal touch that comes with owning and training your own hunting dog.