BigBendFishing.Net

Received an update on the dogs I trained and sent to my buddy's pheasant lodge for this Fall's hunts. Looks like "Little Woody" had a good day in the field. The other two are doing well and getting lots of birds. Hope I get a chance to get back before the season is out.

That's a nice mess of longtail chickens

Wow.

I hear you, partner. Good eaten; tastes like chicken.

There are few sights better to see, than a good dog working.

birddog wrote:Wow.

What he said.

Dang it man, you're killing me. I want to pheasant hunt sooooooo bad.
Are these labs flushing or retrieving or both?

Ron,

Great picture and beautiful dog.
As follow-up to Rocket. Do you breed labs or solely train them? Do you only train flushers, or do you have pointing labs as well? I have been looking for a lab pup for a couple months, but I haven't found exactly what I am seeking. Looking for a male, chocolate or yellow, large (but not one of the short, subby ones with a small snout), and a pointing lab would be a bonus. Any ideas as to where I could find meeting this description would be appreciated. Thanks

SHOWBOAT wrote:Ron,

Great picture and beautiful dog.
As follow-up to Rocket. Do you breed labs or solely train them? Do you only train flushers, or do you have pointing labs as well? I have been looking for a lab pup for a couple months, but I haven't found exactly what I am seeking. Looking for a male, chocolate or yellow, large (but not one of the short, subby ones with a small snout), and a pointing lab would be a bonus. Any ideas as to where I could find meeting this description would be appreciated. Thanks

Don't ask for much ,do you?

Rocket:

Dang it man, you're killing me. I want to pheasant hunt sooooooo bad. Are these labs flushing or retrieving or both?

.

I train my labs for retrieving, which I believe is a basic function/trait of all labs (as far as hunting goes). Lots of varying opinions, but here's mine........ most labs are flushing dogs......get them on a trail or near a bird and they will flush. The key is keeping them in close (shooting range) as they quarter a field and keeping under control during the flush. There are some pointing lab lines, but I have no experience with their "pointing" traits or training......but they still retrieve as a basic function. The key to success in a good retriever (after sound breeding) is grounded in the socialization and basic obedience program. Without that, you can't move to more advanced concepts. Bottom line for me is that I want....no, wait....require my labs to sit when told, stay until released (verbally), find the game, then get back to my side, deliver to hand and get ready for the next shot. This all transitions into a well socialized and mannered family dog as well. Probably way more info than you asked for.

Showboat:
I train, but occassionally breed (but plan at least 6-12 months out). I'll PM you to address your questions about finding a nice lab. [/quote]

If you want a Hunting, Pointing, Retrieving dog, look no further than the HPR breeds, Weimaraner, Vizla, German Short haired Pointer, Munsterland and quite a few others (mainly old European breeds).

Its my experience that a dog asked to do too many tasks, doesn't perform all of them well.
I have seen a few good dogs spoilt by their masters ambition.

Cranfield wrote:There are few sights better to see, than a good dog working.

Watching a good dog is a beautiful thing!!
Nice pup, Ron!

Cran-
We see a lot of german shorthairs and brittany's around here for Quail.
Never hunted behind a Weimaraner but the few i have met seem like great combo dogs for waterfowl and upland birds.
I talked to someone who said the Munsterlander had the best nose of the bunch.


BWB

Barry,

If you want to see an impressive nose, then we'll have to get you out behind my father's llewellin, Chester, some day. Remarkable nose, but a little too "wired" for my current lifestyle. Also, along with Ron and Crans' comments, although most are trained to retrieve it is not their forte.

Hunting and retrieving comes naturally to most of the better known breeds, but pointing tends to be the specialised skill.

I think some people look for a pointing ability in a dog, when their shooting does not necessitate it.
In my opinion you only need pointing skills when the area you are shooting is wide and your dog(s) are hunting out up to 50+ yards away.
The dog pointing (holding) the bird, gives you time to get into range to take the shot at the flush.

I have shot snipe in the bog marshes in Connemara, Southern Ireland, one of four guns shooting over four teams of "pointers".
Six were Weimaraners and two were German Shorthaired Pointers, all dogs worked like clockwork and were like statues on the point.
Both members of the "team" pointed the bird.
Even though the shooting was quite active, the snipe sat very tight and the dog had to flush them hard, to put them up.

Interestingly, they used labradors for the retrieving.

I have seen the shooting shows on US TV, where they use pointers for quail.
This does give the dogs a chance to show their paces, but I have owned springer spaniels that would have put every quail in that field up, just right for a gun.......and retrieved them.