Why labs make the best hunting dogs.

moellermd

moellermd

Super Moderator
Because if the bird numbers in SESD and NWIA get any crappier I can take up duck and goose hunting.
 
There are quite a few versatile breed owners who might disagree with you, but I feel your pain here in NWIA !
 
Labs are filthy beasts with stomachs where their brains should be. They are brutes without the sense to avoid what they are crashing through and on top of that they are gassy.

Wouldn't have another breed. (I'm not smart or fast enough enough to own any.)

:D
 
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Springers are like a hundred pound lab in a 40lb body, except stronger, faster, and smarter.:D:cheers:
 
Labs are the one-ton truck of bird dogs. Not always the smoothest ride, but it always gets the job done.
 
Dog Choices

Well I say why choose a breed....why not have both.....a Lab and a French Brit...great combo, my brit hunts out and the lab in close......with the lab I always feel better against cripples and the cold....both retrieve to hand....what a great sight to see!!
 
moellermd said:
Because if the bird numbers in SESD and NWIA get any crappier I can take up duck and goose hunting.
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I agree. i have stated before, I think that day in day out, a Labwould produce more pheasants to the gun, than any other breed or style of hunting.This from a pointing dog guy. I have heard it stated that Springers and pheasants were designed for each other, in the uplands I'm sure it's true. In late season, hunting wetlands, Ithink the bigger stronger lab has the edge. Of course there are going to be individuals which are exceptions to the rule. In areas with bobwhite quail are partof the equation, only a pointing dog will do, sure you can hunt bobwhite quail with a flushing dog, but style counts for something,and there's no thrill in the world quite like a savy pointing dog nailing a shrewd old rooster with no place to go!
 
ill take the best of both worlds like both of my dogs, lab/shorthair mix :)
 
Can't decide

Well I couldn't decide 20 years ago when I first started running dogs so I got both a lab & britt . This combo seems to be working still. This is Ryan and Ellie my second set of dogs. We now have Rufus a britt the size of a Lab.
 
'Cuz when they're not hunting & retrieving (which Labs do well) & they're in the house, they can dust the furniture with their otter tails? That being said & having had many fine Labs for partners for many years, I'll stand by my Bourbonnaise pup . . . I just love watching him him work & I absolutely love watching great (soon to be greater) points!
 
Stronger/smarter/faster than a lab??? I'm not really buying that assertion.....
I prefer labs (too) for a variety of reasons, but get bombs thrown every time I dare mention it on this forum.

For pen-raised or early season birds that hold for a point, I'm sure that the pointers on this forum are all world-beaters. HOWEVER, the smart (and wild) late-season birds I hunt simply won't stand still and hold for the pointers I've hunted with. They are too busy RUNNING and FLUSHING.

Perhaps the best reason for a lab under bad conditions is that they can take the COLD temps AND be able to navigate through thick cover that the smaller/softer dogs can't hack.

The OP requested some opinions on why we like labs over other breeds, and these factors are just that. And, they are free and worth every penny.......
 
I will say that early season in wheat stubble or grass, sometimes i long for my english pointers that I used to own. Pointers are great in large open fields of grass and stubble. I won't even begin to say I prefer a lab in that situation. After the first few weeks, when things get nasty and the birds head for the gnarliest of cover, I would put a good lab up against anything out there. Busting through large areas of cattails or heavy cover they are hard to beat. CRP, the reason most pointer guys don't get it is that they have never hunted with a good lab. Most of the labs out hunting are poorly bred house pets. They sit around eating ice cream all year, then some " one trip a year " hunter wants to take them hunting. They are usually fat, untrained and don't give a very good showing. I used to be like that untill I hunted with a guy that had a field champion lab in SD. He killed it in the heavy cover. I am on my third one now, and I am hooked.
 
CRP said:
Stronger/smarter/faster than a lab??? I'm not really buying that assertion.....
I prefer labs (too) for a variety of reasons, but get bombs thrown every time I dare mention it on this forum.

For pen-raised or early season birds that hold for a point, I'm sure that the pointers on this forum are all world-beaters. HOWEVER, the smart (and wild) late-season birds I hunt simply won't stand still and hold for the pointers I've hunted with. They are too busy RUNNING and FLUSHING.

Perhaps the best reason for a lab under bad conditions is that they can take the COLD temps AND be able to navigate through thick cover that the smaller/softer dogs can't hack.

The OP requested some opinions on why we like labs over other breeds, and these factors are just that. And, they are free and worth every penny.......
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I just like seeing dogs hunt no matter the breed, so kudos to Lab lovers, however you quote :late season birds I hunt simply won't stand still and hold for pointers I've hunted with" and "they are too busy RUNNING and FLUSHING" then how does the Lab ever get close enough for the gun?
 
I find that I've had better odds of getting a shot at late-season runners when hunting over a versatile/pointing breed than a Lab. My partner's Griffon has gotten-ahead-of, blocked, stopped, & provided shots on many a track star Rooster; I'm hoping that my pup will learn this over time. As good as my prior Labs were, typically late-season runners were a long shot at best. I don't own a Lab at present, but I still love the breed . . . no question re: their cold-tolerance & brush-bucking ability, but now that I seldom hunt waterfowl, I opted for something other than a Lab. This post sums it up:
I just like seeing dogs hunt no matter the breed
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Bingo, we have a winner . . .
 
Crp, I was just giving you guys a hard time but I have a male springer that goes about 42lbs and a female around 34lbs running weight that I'll put against any lab in heavy cover. They will hunt it hard all day until their muzzles and eyes are raw and bleeding and beg for more.
 
You know my dad used to say " if you don't think your breed is the best, you should probably change breeds". I'll make a deal with you guys, if any of you have a honey-hole hunting spot we could have a contest:D
 
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