Dog advice wanted please

[wabbit slayer 16]

I'm wanting a dog that I can take shooting/ferreting and be a pet for the family. Finally talked the wife into letting me get one after she said I could not due to us having cats. Anyway after she decided what breads she did not like I talked her into a Labrador.

I wanted a chocolate bitch, this may sound stupid but is the way a dog works or it's nature affected in anyway buy it's sex or colour? Or is it just a personal choice? What's the pros and cons with the dog and bitch and even the colour?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm not someone who jumps in at the deep end withought knowing any of the facts.

[donnyc 1,203]

Colour is what it is Just a colour

[Dan_Smiff 2]

The general consensus is that bitches work better and are generally more focused and obedient. This is not always the case of course - I'm sure others will be along soon to tell of their own experience

[amentalcat 3]

Hate to put a spanner in the works, but in my experience there IS a difference between colours, especially when it comes to working Labradors.

 

I have found that most of the chocolate Labs take a bit longer to 'grow up' than the Blacks and Yellows, probably due to the fact that a lot of people were breeding for the chocolate colour, rather than the working ability. This also meant that up until recently, Chocs tended to be physically larger, especially the dogs.

 

This is slowly changing and you can now find some good working chocolates, but you'll need to do your homework.

 

Best of luck with finding a good dog!

 

Alison

[Dave C 63]

Hate to put a spanner in the works, but in my experience there IS a difference between colours, especially when it comes to working Labradors.

 

I have found that most of the chocolate Labs take a bit longer to 'grow up' than the Blacks and Yellows, probably due to the fact that a lot of people were breeding for the chocolate colour, rather than the working ability. This also meant that up until recently, Chocs tended to be physically larger, especially the dogs.

 

This is slowly changing and you can now find some good working chocolates, but you'll need to do your homework.

 

Best of luck with finding a good dog!

 

Alison

 

I agree with the above.

Chocs tend to have mainly show blood in them and so traditionally not been used for work.

This is starting to change as more working strains have been introduced, but if you look back a few generations show lines will probably still be found, but the Chocs are moving in the right direction.

Like Alison has said, Do your homework.

 

Good Luck

Dave.

[stroller 341]

all of the choclate labs ive seen have been wired to the moon, i havent seen any on the shoots i work on but that doesnt mean they dont work as others have said do your homework.

 

also ask the breeder about hip scores of the parents and i think they are testing for elbows and eyes these days as well. it could save you a lot of heart ache in the future

[DABCHICK 58]

KNOW ONE OR TWO LAB MEN BEEN IN THE GAME LONG LONG TIME NOT SURE OF ALL REASONS BUT WOULDNT HAVE A CHOC LAB REGARDS DABCHICK

[mikey2341 0]

If this is going to be your only dog to be used ferreting, I'd see if you can see a lab out doing the job. Labs are great peg dogs, but not as renounned for hunting or marking. Could be worth looking at HPR breeds? Not heard of a Lab being used ferreting, not saying it couldn't do it though!

[lee-kinsman 34]

The problem with choc labs is that they have been bred for the colour along with the not so common fox-red coloured lab and I've only ever seen yellow or black labs working. For the last ten years I've worked with pointers because they point before that it was labs if I wanted a general gun dog a lab bitch would be my choice, great tempered, great retrievers, brilliant water dogs, brilliant with ferrets and rabbiting. The last bitch we had had a great relationship with the ferrets, she'd carry them in her mouth and the ferts were non to bothered.

 

In my opinion the thing to remember with dogs is you can't train them their ability but you can train them to use it, so if your dog is well bred with the right training it should do well.

[ste68blue 8]

I work a male yellow/ fox red lab and i have never seen any chocolate labs on shoots, as already mentioned they tend to be "wired" differently.

 

I am told by others that bitches are easier to train as males tend to be strong headed, mine certainly are, but they have bags and bags of enthusiasm so make up for it in loads.

 

I do think you need to do your research and find a reputable breeder where you can see the parents, particularly from a working point of view.

 

Cheers

stephen

[Mooch. 177]

I know a dog handler who picks up with 5 labs, all at the same time! One of them is a chocolate and she works exactly the same as the 4 blacks. It's all down to individual temperament and training.