Lab X Gwp - Capable Of Fulfilling These Roles?

[krawnden 1,036]

I've spent the last few months going round in circles considering all sorts of different crosses and have been hearing more about lab x gwp, so am hoping people with experience of them can comment.

 

I want a dog to fulfill two main roles -

 

1) Wildfowling on the river Severn. This is a powerful tidal river with fast flowing water at high tide and expansive mudflats at low tide. Although there are a few lads who use spaniels I wouldn't be happy putting a spaniel in there when conditions are rough so am looking for something that's more of a water specialist.

 

2) Bushing alongside my lurcher. We often find rabbits in thick bramble patches and I want something that will fearlessly push them out for the lurcher to run.

 

I also do a bit of pigeon shooting and rough shooting and would want to use the dog for that. And the icing on the cake would be if I could use it as a hole-watcher when ferreting thick hedges. A lot of the places I ferret have thick thorn hedges, often with sheep netting either side. The thorns make the holes a nightmare to net so I like to not bother with nets but just use the lurcher. But as he hates cover he won't get into the hedge but will run down the outside of it. I'd really like a dog that would get right into the hedge to snaffle up the occasional bolter at the mouth of the hole and put enough pressure on others that they might push out from the hedge to give the lurcher a chance.

 

Possibly this is a tall order to expect one dog to be able to fulfill all these roles. But I'm hoping it might be possible.

 

Anybody experienced enough with lab x gwp to comment on whether or not you think that cross would do it? Or maybe you can suggest a different cross?

[forest of dean redneck 11,694]

What about a lab lurcher or gwp lurcher? They do crop up, seen couple lab x lurcher litters advertised last week.

[krawnden 1,036]

Not convinced a lab lurcher would be the cover smasher I want, nor am I convinced it would be strong enough in the water

[Blackdog92 2,047]

Portugese water dog maybe?

[krawnden 1,036]

Portugese water dog maybe?

I don't know anything about them. I guess the 'water' bit is self explanatory, but what about the rest? Are they good hunters with drive? Keen to get into cover?

[Blackdog92 2,047]

I don't really know to much about them myself mate it just popped up in my head when I read your post I think they were originally bred as hunting dogs I don't know how diluted they are now though.

[stroller 341]

one of the spaniels?

[krawnden 1,036]

Thickset springer would probably fulfill the 2 main roles (years ago I saw one that certainly would have, though it's a long time since I came across one). But I don't see it as ideal for watching holes in the middle of a hedge whilst ferreting - too 'busy' for that game I would have thought?