Lab Replacement

Yes whistle, one toot if you wish or need to to hup(sit) the dog. And no you can not move up to the dog. They stay where the flush took place, until released by name. And no e collar allowed. It does not matter where the dog is, 30 yard, 50, 10 feet away, they stay right there till sent. Fly aways etc. they must not chase (break) and recall or carry on hunting on command.
 
You guys are amazing.:thumbsup:
 
can't we all just get along??

r_man said:
I've been hunting over labs for my entire life and am coming up on replacing my 10 year old soon. He's been the greatest upland lab I've ever seen, even decided he was a pointer, bthat being said, he'd get outhunted by any decent shorthair. I do about 90% upland hunting and am considering a wirehair. From a lab-owner's perspective I'd appreciate some input on the plusses and minuses. How well do they retrieve, how close do they tend to work, etc. I haven't been around many wirehairs to learn the faults and bonuses. I've considered shorthairs, but hunting around barbed wire has had them looking like a trauma ward, while my lab didn't have a scratch, and longhairs work and look great, but cockleburrs are an enemy that I don't want to contend with.
I'm sure that this will begin another war of dog-purists, but any objective input would be appreciated.
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R man ....as a fellow lab lover I always wandered if the grass was greener to? Then along came Zeus (rescued gsp)! I hunt him close like my labs in the field and he is great in the house with my kids and the cat. As for waterfowl i'll always have a lab. good luck!:cheers: ps...just buy a vest for the dog;)
 
mstand said:
You guys are amazing.:thumbsup:
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Even more amazing are those v dogs that retrieve in their sleep. I know labs have a reputation for being lazy but a dog that takes a nap during a hunt, well that just takes the cake.:D
 
Robo dog! They have robo ducks, why not a robo dog? Does everything you control it to do, all you do is make sure you charge him or her. Comes in all breed looks. : No vet, no tore hides, lives till the end of warrantee, no feeding, watering. God I'm smart. NO ONE better try to steal my new invention either. She's my baby.:laugh: If you want to invest I think their is potential to make millions! No dog gas either, no brown spots, it just goes on and on.:eek:
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Sorry Ken, tried it. Damnned thing kept humping the toaster.


back to the drawing board. :)
 
I don't see myself putting a vest on a dog. Does the GSP "hide toughness" vary by genetics or are they all pretty "thin skinned?"

I'm learning that each and every breed of dog is the best, but then according to other threads they're not worth letting out of the truck.
 
r_man said:
I'm learning that each and every breed of dog is the best, but then according to other threads they're not worth letting out of the truck.
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I think that pretty much sums it up. Any gun dog regardless of breed or style (pointer, flusher, retriever or v dog) has the potential to be either the finest dog anyone has ever had the fortune to hunt behind or not worth letting out of the truck. It alls has to do with the dogs breeding (his potential) and the amount of time and effort invested by the owner in training.:cheers:
 
quail hound said:
I think that pretty much sums it up. Any gun dog regardless of breed or style (pointer, flusher, retriever or v dog) has the potential to be either the finest dog anyone has ever had the fortune to hunt behind or not worth letting out of the truck. It alls has to do with the dogs breeding (his potential) and the amount of time and effort invested by the owner in training.:cheers:
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Ok Robert, It's starting to get a little sappy in here. Would you like to lead us in a rousing rendition of Kumbaya?:D Or maybe you have another song you prefer?

Ps. back at work today after a week in sd I have done nothing productive. Our lead accountant got shit canned today. Maybe I am next. Hunting stuff is by the door, I could be back in Sd by morning:)
 
r_man said:
I'm learning that each and every breed of dog is the best, but then according to other threads they're not worth letting out of the truck.
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You hit it on the head. Everybody "Thinks" their dogs are the best. You just have to find breeders that are honest about their dogs. Or better yet, find people that have hunted behind the breed lines you are looking at. As a breeder I am quick to mention the short comings of my breed as I am am their strengths.



Plus what was mentioned about the time you spend or put into the dog and the lines you chose. You are doing the right thing by researching. The hardest part is making the 3 or 6 hour drive just to LOOK at the breed you may want or the line you may want. But I promise it will be worth the time.
 
carptom1 said:
Ok Robert, It's starting to get a little sappy in here. Would you like to lead us in a rousing rendition of Kumbaya?:D Or maybe you have another song you prefer?

Ps. back at work today after a week in sd I have done nothing productive. Our lead accountant got shit canned today. Maybe I am next. Hunting stuff is by the door, I could be back in Sd by morning:)
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You're right Tom. What was I thinking? Springers rule, the rest drool and a springers hide will cut through barbed wire, not the other way around.:D Good luck at work.:cheers:
 
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I've only hunted over a short hair for 2 seasons. So far his only weak spot is the tip of his tail. I guess i've never personally saw a dog as cut up as you described. But I have known several people that use some type of vest or a cheast guard.:cheers:
 
r_man said:
I guess with the replies that I've seen I'm looking for
1. a dog that will be good with my two small boys (ie:not biting them or their friends or neighbors)
2. A dog that can point, then release on command to flush, then retrieve the bird back to me about 20 days per year
3. A hide that will hold up to barbed wire
4. Fur that won't hold cocklburs
I will be talking to breeders, I'm just trying to get some background on the right questions to ask and directions to lean.
Thanks for the input to this point and any more down the line
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Pudelpointer with a flat coat or very coarse wiry coat would work. They only shed in the spring.
 
small munsterlander owner said:
hate to even remotely agree with jonah but i have been around pits bulldogge & big bully breeds mastiffs ETC. & never was bite n or thought i mite be... i on the other hand have got the hell bit out of my arm by a family lab that i helped pick out the litter he was 100 lbs he crushed my nerves in my arm & left me scarred i could not close my fist for almost a month & a half after that bite... also have been cornered & had to jump many fences due to old male labs with gray beards that for some reason did not like any people outside of there direct family??? same with german shepherds got to watch it around them & there family if your a stranger in my experience collies also???

i love dogs but dont trust them all just by breed any longer lol

i am curious on someday maybe get n a small bodied say under 50-60 pound hunting black lab & or a pointing lab small framed like that to work with my SM id keep the lab if not a pointer close to me or on heel then if my SM points & or i shot a bird i will send in the lab to help on the recovery... i understand people dont pump pointing labs due to there being pointing breeds that get the job done better in theory but even if the lab slows way down & damn near stop id take that over a pure flusher that i cant control or has no pointing in his genes...

is there any particular bloodlines or strains of small bodied hunting labs that i should be looking into buying or researching??? im from MN so any breeders up this way to say MN/WI/IA/SD/ND that i should be looking at??? its a few years down the line im talking so any info will be much appreciated but not like i need a lab at the moment...
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maybe ? a boykin?
 
FCSpringer said:
I don't think you can go wrong with any breed. It is just a matter of taste, functionality, and what the family wants to live with. I have owned GSP's, Labs, and ESS. I have hunted with friends and wire hairs. Each has their own style. Each their own ups and downs. A forum should be good for advice, but often is the opposite in matters such as this. I would just go seek out a few good knowledgeable breeders of the dogs your tire kicking over, and watch what the dogs do. See what trips your trigger, and go with one trying to be a purist to the breed. And one that will back up the pup with health concerns of the breed. They all have them. Good luck
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I have noticed in my years on this forum that FCSpringer usually gives you the best answer on page 1, but then that is usually followed by several pages of misinformation, bickering, and butthurt. :cheers:

GWPs are the best. Get one of those. :laugh:
 
Well thankyou. lots of times just trying to lighten things up too. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Not sure what all the fuss is here. I have not read all the posts. Maybe after work I will to see where the pot was stirred up. Otherwise "Please" folks can we just give the OP good wholesome info. Hard I know. Most of these "what dog" threads end up the same way. Why, well everyone loves their dog I spose LOL.:cheers:
 
FCSpringer said:
Well thankyou. lots of times just trying to lighten things up too. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Not sure what all the fuss is here. I have not read all the posts. Maybe after work I will to see where the pot was stirred up. Otherwise "Please" folks can we just give the OP good wholesome info. Hard I know. Most of these "what dog" threads end up the same way. Why, well everyone loves their dog I spose LOL.:cheers:
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This thread was infected by Jonah and Wilhelm. That is about all you need to know about it. It was their bashing that got it all started. It kinda went south from there
 
Reverse psycology

Still interested in this thread as Im thinking of going the other direction. From GSPs to Lab (maybe Springer as a longshot)
To respond to OP: I think you would be best served sticking with a lab.
I have hunted behind GSPs the past 20 years (but that only includes 3 dogs) and I have been very "backyard" in my training. I hunt pheasants 25- 30 days(some very short outings) a year and grouse 2 days a year. I love the style and drive of my GSP and she has great stamina in the field. If I hunted all full day hunts in S.D. she would be hard to beat.
As pets my GSPs have been kennel dogs, but ride with me in my truck most days except in the summer. The things I dont like is they will run off when out in the yard with me if I'm not constantly on guard. I think they take more focus, training and consistency than a lab.
I know these are generalizations and most of my dogs issues are due to my own shortcomings. I do know I spend much more time working with and hunting with my dog than the average joe. I am starting to think a lab may be a better fit for my skill set as a trainer.
I do plan to lobby the wife for a house dog when the next puppy comes. A bottle of wine and a cute puppy... anything is possible.
 
carptom1 said:
This thread was infected by Jonah and Wilhelm. That is about all you need to know about it. It was their bashing that got it all started. It kinda went south from there
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Yeah, I kinda left after my first post and I remember that. After that I came in some pages later and saw some bickering. So tried to lighten things up with my robo dog :). But I guess that was taken wrong by a member. Was truly innocent. Any way I did go back and read all here. I did see some comments about flushers, which I am 100% positive were received poorly by many. I did see a few posts "after" that,,, that were chatty about that. And why I posted clarification on how a flusher does his basic tasks. I did go back and clean up and rid the thread of some of my and other posts that were confusing. Other then that, no gloves were worn by me LOL. I would suggest in the future however anyone who wishes to post poorly about a breed, breed category, style, etc. And do so totally falsely, and in a total negative manner, you most certainly will be with rebuttal by someone.;) In which my self will try to act on the informative. normally if it looks like a joke, smells like a joke, tastes like a joke, It's most likely a joke.:D But a good rule of thumb is don't dish it out if you can't take it. Now I am sure all you pointer guys would be upset had I said all them pointy things do is smoke dope and lounge around pointing a toe in the wrong direction all the time.:laugh: But that would be a joke. Clear decisive lack of knowledge and it's explination there of is another story.;) And not worth typing. Better off trying to figure out a way to make money on dog farts.
PS I just try guys lol. I can't read every thing. And many of the guys of old are just gone, just a few of us trying here right now. Looking for some more help.
 
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Fnewguy said:
Still interested in this thread as Im thinking of going the other direction. From GSPs to Lab (maybe Springer as a longshot)
To respond to OP: I think you would be best served sticking with a lab.
I have hunted behind GSPs the past 20 years (but that only includes 3 dogs) and I have been very "backyard" in my training. I hunt pheasants 25- 30 days(some very short outings) a year and grouse 2 days a year. I love the style and drive of my GSP and she has great stamina in the field. If I hunted all full day hunts in S.D. she would be hard to beat.
As pets my GSPs have been kennel dogs, but ride with me in my truck most days except in the summer. The things I dont like is they will run off when out in the yard with me if I'm not constantly on guard. I think they take more focus, training and consistency than a lab.
I know these are generalizations and most of my dogs issues are due to my own shortcomings. I do know I spend much more time working with and hunting with my dog than the average joe. I am starting to think a lab may be a better fit for my skill set as a trainer.
I do plan to lobby the wife for a house dog when the next puppy comes. A bottle of wine and a cute puppy... anything is possible.
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Where are you located? If you are close I could demo my pup or the old veteran for you.

I am always looking for an excuse to show off��

Steve
 
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