Future hunting partner and family member

[Ron.C]

Hi all,

I am considering getting a dog at some point next year. I just had to put my dog Buckley down a few weeks back and to be frank I miss the companionship, but im not emotionally ready to have another dog for a bit.

So I am looking at getting on a wait list for a puppy that I'll be ready for sometime mid to late next year. I know I want a lab (had one as a boy) and I'd love to have a retriever for waterfowl hunting. But I need to educate myself on training techniques long before a puppy arrives.

I don't want a robotic hunting machine that really is not a great family dog. So if anyone has advice on training systems that cater to a well rounded Hunter and family dog, I'd like to hear from you.

I will be looking at a purebred pup from good lines. I don't mind spending the $$ and have just started looking at breeders.
( please PM me if you have good or bad experience from a specific breeder, I will keep all information to myself).

Also, what are your thoughts on male/female.


Cheers

[labguy]

Hi all,

I am considering getting a dog at some point next year. I just had to put my dog Buckley down a few weeks back and to be frank I miss the companionship, but im not emotionally ready to have another dog for a bit.

So I am looking at getting on a wait list for a puppy that I'll be ready for sometime mid to late next year. I know I want a lab (had one as a boy) and I'd love to have a retriever for waterfowl hunting. But I need to educate myself on training techniques long before a puppy arrives.

I don't want a robotic hunting machine that really is not a great family dog. So if anyone has advice on training systems that cater to a well rounded Hunter and family dog, I'd like to hear from you.

I will be looking at a purebred pup from good lines. I don't mind spending the $$ and have just started looking at breeders.
( please PM me if you have good or bad experience from a specific breeder, I will keep all information to myself).

Also, what are your thoughts on male/female.


Cheers

Any training system, properly applied in conjunction with proper socialization should produce a well rounded family oriented/hunting dog.........the key here is balance and being fair to the dog during training.

The dogs you see that are more robotic and not really enjoying themselves, are probably poorly trained by someone who doesn't know how........and this includes many so-called professional trainers.

The training methods most used by knowlegable Retriever people are: Mike Lardy, Bill Hillman, Evan Graham, and a few others. They are fairly similar and will produce a well trained, happy Retriever if properly followed.

As far as "breeders" are concerned, there are not very many I would purchase a dog from because of the emphasis on profit at the expense of ethics. In addition, some breeders charge premium prices for mediocre breeding.

When the time comes I can provide knowlegable feedback as I have no horse in race.

At the bare minimum, insure that any dog you purchase comes from lines where both parents have been tested for:

-OFA Certification of hips and elbows with a minimum of a good or better rating on both parents.
-CERF....this test rules out certain genetic eye diseases
-EIC (exercise induced collapse)......a horrible affliction brought about by poor breeding practices......look it up.
-CNM ( Centronucular Myopathy).....similar to mad cow disease........again....look it up.

In addition to the above, insure that there is no history of Cruciate ligament tears in either parent as this is thought to have a genetic component to it.

Ive had both Males and Females and talent wise, there isn't a lot of difference. Females (much as I hate to admit it)
tend to be smarter and easier to train but can be a bit "soft" when compared to males.....not always.

I prefer males because they don't come into heat at inconvenient times.....

The above barely scratches the surface of the things I would look for but will give you a starting point. Good luck and if you need specific advice PM me.

[steelslinger]

Any training system, properly applied in conjunction with proper socialization should produce a well rounded family oriented/hunting dog.........the key here is balance and being fair to the dog during training.

The dogs you see that are more robotic and not really enjoying themselves, are probably poorly trained by someone who doesn't know how........and this includes many so-called professional trainers.

The training methods most used by knowlegable Retriever people are: Mike Lardy, Bill Hillman, Evan Graham, and a few others. They are fairly similar and will produce a well trained, happy Retriever if properly followed.

As far as "breeders" are concerned, there are not very many I would purchase a dog from because of the emphasis on profit at the expense of ethics. In addition, some breeders charge premium prices for mediocre breeding.

When the time comes I can provide knowlegable feedback as I have no horse in race.

At the bare minimum, insure that any dog you purchase comes from lines where both parents have been tested for:

-OFA Certification of hips and elbows with a minimum of a good or better rating on both parents.
-CERF....this test rules out certain genetic eye diseases
-EIC (exercise induced collapse)......a horrible affliction brought about by poor breeding practices......look it up.
-CNM ( Centronucular Myopathy).....similar to mad cow disease........again....look it up.

In addition to the above, insure that there is no history of Cruciate ligament tears in either parent as this is thought to have a genetic component to it.

Ive had both Males and Females and talent wise, there isn't a lot of difference. Females (much as I hate to admit it)
tend to be smarter and easier to train but can be a bit "soft" when compared to males.....not always.

I prefer males because they don't come into heat at inconvenient times.....

The above barely scratches the surface of the things I would look for but will give you a starting point. Good luck and if you need specific advice PM me.

X2. Well said

[made in bc]

............

[Kasomor]

Any training system, properly applied in conjunction with proper socialization should produce a well rounded family oriented/hunting dog.........the key here is balance and being fair to the dog during training.

The dogs you see that are more robotic and not really enjoying themselves, are probably poorly trained by someone who doesn't know how........and this includes many so-called professional trainers.

The training methods most used by knowlegable Retriever people are: Mike Lardy, Bill Hillman, Evan Graham, and a few others. They are fairly similar and will produce a well trained, happy Retriever if properly followed.

As far as "breeders" are concerned, there are not very many I would purchase a dog from because of the emphasis on profit at the expense of ethics. In addition, some breeders charge premium prices for mediocre breeding.

When the time comes I can provide knowlegable feedback as I have no horse in race.

At the bare minimum, insure that any dog you purchase comes from lines where both parents have been tested for:

-OFA Certification of hips and elbows with a minimum of a good or better rating on both parents.
-CERF....this test rules out certain genetic eye diseases
-EIC (exercise induced collapse)......a horrible affliction brought about by poor breeding practices......look it up.
-CNM ( Centronucular Myopathy).....similar to mad cow disease........again....look it up.

In addition to the above, insure that there is no history of Cruciate ligament tears in either parent as this is thought to have a genetic component to it.

Ive had both Males and Females and talent wise, there isn't a lot of difference. Females (much as I hate to admit it)
tend to be smarter and easier to train but can be a bit "soft" when compared to males.....not always.

I prefer males because they don't come into heat at inconvenient times.....

The above barely scratches the surface of the things I would look for but will give you a starting point. Good luck and if you need specific advice PM me.

What Lab Guy said.... except you should really get a toller!!!

Hey Lab Guy, FWIW my just turned 3 year old toller completed her MH title last month!!

[labguy]

FWIW my just turned 3 year old toller completed her MH title last month!!

👍Its worth a lot......Not many reach that level...... especially so young.

Congratulations!!!

[Kasomor]

Its worth a lot......Not many reach that level...... especially so young.

Congratulations!!!

Thank you Brian.

There are only 16 CKC MH tollers. Kimber is one of those. She is only the 5th MH bitch.

Linda

[Foxton Gundogs]

What Lab Guy said.... except you should really get a GOLDEN!!!

Hey Lab Guy, FWIW my just turned 3 year old toller completed her MH title last month!!

There, fixed it for you Linda. Congrats on the MH title

[Kasomor]

There, fixed it for you Linda. Congrats on the MH title

VERY FUNNY!!!

Thanks

[tadpole]

There is a two types of Labradors, English and North American. As mentioned here before, English type is a craftsman and North American is a powerful and dynamic athlete. Research them and chose adequately.