Saw another 105# dog.

100 pounds is big for a bird hunting dog, regardless of breed. I've never seen one even remotely close to that size. Obviously dogs vary in size based on breed and gender too.

The one thing my regular vet instilled into me since I had my current dog is to keep them from getting over weight. Gradual damage over time from being overweight can lead to an increase in joint and hip problems, which are very common at an older age.

I've also started a glucosamine supplement every day for the past 6 months based on health advice from the vet.
 
My lab was 105# 2 years ago when I got him neutered. Right now he’s probably around 90# since it’s hunting season. He’s bigger than I really wanted and pheasant hunting takes a toll on him compared to my springer, but he’s a good bird dog and loves to go. I’ve learned to give him a couple of days between hunts so he’s fully refreshed and ready to go. I would have preferred a smaller lab since I do more pheasant hunting these days, but I don’t regret getting him at all.
 
I pheasant hunted with a 180 pound newfoundland. Ben was a flash pointer. No professional training. I didn't hunt as much with him as with other dogs I've owned, but he holds the distinction of the only one of my dogs who never lost a downed bird. He also liked to go squirrel hunting and would lie down and be quiet when I would stop to wait for the critters to come out. Great with children. Couldn't ask for a better guard dog either.
 
Do the big dogs hunt well, by that I mean go in/under cover and hunt?

Evey 100lb "hunting" dog ive seen has been a fat lab that trotted and got tired in 15 minutes and took every easy path there was. A barrel with legs as I call them. My male is a big breed American lab, was supposed to be 90lbs but i didnt let him get fat and work him so he is an in shape 74lbs. Vet always says its refreshing to see a lab in such good shape and being used for what they were bred for, she said maybe 1:100 she sees are in decent shape and maybe 1:500 are in actual good shape. Most people that pet him thinks my dog is starved and too skinny, they just havent ever seen a lab that wasnt fed treats and scraps all day.
 
KEOutdoors said:
Do the big dogs hunt well, by that I mean go in/under cover and hunt?

Evey 100lb "hunting" dog ive seen has been a fat lab that trotted and got tired in 15 minutes and took every easy path there was. A barrel with legs as I call them. My male is a big breed American lab, was supposed to be 90lbs but i didnt let him get fat and work him so he is an in shape 74lbs. Vet always says its refreshing to see a lab in such good shape and being used for what they were bred for, she said maybe 1:100 she sees are in decent shape and maybe 1:500 are in actual good shape. Most people that pet him thinks my dog is starved and too skinny, they just havent ever seen a lab that wasnt fed treats and scraps all day.
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My vet said the same thing about how it is nice to see dogs used for hunting that are in shape, since most of the hunting breeds that are only kept for pets are overweight.

As for endurance, they are at a bigger disadvantage in heat, but I would hazard a guess that, in general, a lighter dog is going to have more endurance than a heavy dog, even in cooler weather, all things being equal. Lots of variables though.

Labs are tough to keep at a healthy weight, because they are such lovers of food and will eat like there is no tomorrow (generally speaking). I could leave food out all day for my younger (non lab) dog if it weren't for the 14 year old lab in the house, who would eat every last piece of food. She (the lab) isn't able to get a lot of exercise, and has a very restricted diet to keep her at a reasonable weight, so she doesn't develop joint issues, etc. She was 65 pounds of muscle when she was younger and had pretty good endurance. She could hunt all day for multiple days just fine when in shape. She was a pointing lab, so not covering the ground a longer ranging pointing breed does, however. Honey is 50 pounds and can cover a dozens of miles each day, for days straight, without perceptible loss of drive. I just have to watch her in the cold, and give her bees honey to keep her carbs up, due to her burning so many calories in the cold (thin coat).

I am sure Honey covers more ground than my short legged springer spaniel Ace did, but he was fun to watch, because he was ultra efficient with his stride. Loping smoothly while quartering. No wasted movements. He could hunt all day for multiple days. But some of that is just hunting them that way. If you get a dog in shape, and you hunt them all day, it has been my experience they will pace themselves accordingly so they don't burn out. If you put them in the kennel part way into the day, they won't learn to pace themselves as well. Or rather, they will pace themselves for a partial day's activities than a full day.
 
Early in my hunting, I saw many of my friends with "heavy" labs (English Labs??) that were great retrievers, but not great hunters by my new standards after the first 3-4 years of the dogs life. They quickly began trailing along all day at pace of the hunter or slightly behind with the sole desire to retrieve the down bird. This was all I knew before seeing my first American Lab working in a field. After seeing this, I knew that I only wanted an American Lab pedigree for myself to reduce any health issues that accompany heavier dogs. I eventually settled on a field trial breeder...maybe was a mistake because their drive is almost too high when they are young. She currently weighs 54# at 3 years old and covers A LOT of area. I think she runs too hard and often runs through scent cones, especially on downed/crippled birds. I imagine she will slow down eventually and will be better at finding cripples. I hope that her small frame/stature can give me an extra couple of years of hunting long days over a heavy dog that starts having hip and obesity issues as they age.
 
I've only seen a couple 100 pounders who were in shape. one was a great Dane, and the other was a great pyranose. both were intimidating. I remember thinking that if I had to give them a shake to discipline, they could easily shake me back.:oops:
 
birddude said:
I've only seen a couple 100 pounders who were in shape. one was a great Dane, and the other was a great pyranose. both were intimidating. I remember thinking that if I had to give them a shake to discipline, they could easily shake me back.:oops:
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Those pyranose are a thorn in my side dude!
 
LCR10A said:
Bigger dogs would have no problem with waterfowl hunting. Upland is a different story. It’s generally more like a marathon. I can’t recall ever seeing a large marathon runner.
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My old male labrador ran about 91 lbs. During season, with ribs showing, he would be in the 87 lb range. He could out hunt any dog alive in the uplands. He is the dog on my left. I could hunt from dusk to dawn 4 days straight then would have to rest him for a few days. I did duck hunt him some. We hunted the deep strip pits one morning at 5 below zero. He had ice frozen all over his body and never shivered. Hunted him for a couple of hours that morning. Toughest dog I ever seen.
 

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My 1st lab bounced around the low to mid 90 pound range....94 at his heaviest if I recall. He was a tank, mid thigh on me at his shoulders. He had zero issues upland hunting, he went thru cover that smaller dogs would go around. He had a drive and pedigree, came out of Candlewoods lines here in Wisconsin.
The only thing that slowed him down later in life was diabetes, tough to hunt him upland then and control blood sugars.
He had tight sides and a good tuck from the ribs to the back hips. Just built big. All but 1 pup from his litter of 6 was built that way. All males.
 
wingsnfins said:
My 1st lab bounced around the low to mid 90 pound range....94 at his heaviest if I recall. He was a tank, mid thigh on me at his shoulders. He had zero issues upland hunting, he went thru cover that smaller dogs would go around. He had a drive and pedigree, came out of Candlewoods lines here in Wisconsin.
The only thing that slowed him down later in life was diabetes, tough to hunt him upland then and control blood sugars.
He had tight sides and a good tuck from the ribs to the back hips. Just built big. All but 1 pup from his litter of 6 was built that way. All males.
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My dog had Candlewoods in his pedigree on the dams side as did most of my dogs. But his top side was Riks Risky Raider. I had a dog back in the 80's out of Candlewoods Nifty Nick. Another big dog and a good one. I just didn't have the knowledge of training back then as I have now, or at least think I have. Guys with small dogs always say big dogs break down, which is stupid to say. Over-weight dogs break down. Big dogs excel where small dogs can't.
 
westksbowhunter said:
My dog had Candlewoods in his pedigree on the dams side as did most of my dogs. But his top side was Riks Risky Raider. I had a dog back in the 80's out of Candlewoods Nifty Nick. Another big dog and a good one. I just didn't have the knowledge of training back then as I have now, or at least think I have. Guys with small dogs always say big dogs break down, which is stupid to say. Over-weight dogs break down. Big dogs excel where small dogs can't.
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I'd have to double check but I believe my 1st lab's sire was Candlewoods Cash or the dame was his daughter. I think there was a Gator Point line in there too somewhere on a side. Makes me want to look now!
 
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