Help to choose a new dog

[PAB 0]

Hello all.

 

I have been shooting for about 5 years now and have decided to try my hand at getting a dog for a pet and to retrieve and the occational beat. A friend of mine has bred his cocker spaniel (seen it work and is very hyper but a good dog) with a lab (who I have also seen work and does well).

 

My questions are;

 

is this a good mix?

 

What sort of size will they end up?

 

Any idea if this cross will be hard to train as i'm a gun dog training virgin?

 

Am I better going for a dog or bitch?

 

Will the dog duel as a family pet with young kids or will I be letting myself in for a wirlwind dog in the house?

 

Thanks for any advie.

 

Sorry for all the question but friends don't always give the best advice when selling.

[Aaron 3]

Stick to a lab!

 

Regards

 

Aaron

[PAB 0]

Stick to a lab!

 

Regards

 

Aaron

 

Cheers.

 

Just one question, are the working labs easier to train than the others. I had a pet lab (quite a tall fella) that did the usual pet tricks but never really took to anything more. Likes the idea of the cross. Why do you recomend the labs??

 

Thanks again

 

Paul

[Aaron 3]

As for the training differance i wouldnt really know, never had a pet/show type before, good working strains have the correct breeding and so you would be halfway there already. for the type of work and that the dog would be as a pet the temprament of a lab is best suited, much more layed back and easy going. i have a springer cross lab also and she is an absolute handful, when shes good shes really good, but when shes not shes bloody hard work! every breed throws dogs with differant temprements so its a bit of luck with the right dog really but a lab is the better option over the cross or a spanial. in my opinion.

 

Regards

 

Aaron

[Guest ocs1867]

Dont get a Goldon Ret pal worse dogs ever imo.

[Tis TM 8]

I have a four month black lab for our future gun dog, who's a diamond. He sit's, walks to heel, will stay when told, come to heel, and is a family pet too. We were out walking with him yesterday and he appeared carrying a little finch of some sort that we think got attacked by a group of magpies. He bought it right to us..... need I say more They have a very natural instinct, and are very bright. Teaching Stanley is a joy, and I'm just finding it hard not to show him too much, as he's learning things at a rate of knots!

I got this little chap from a farm in Penzance, the father had some working gun dog past, but the mother didn't. He didn't cost the earth either. He hasn't got papers, but the father did, and had been hip scored. They were mature dogs, and very fit and sound behind.

 

I'd go with a lab every time for a first timer!

[Tis TM 8]

I'm trying to upload a pic of him for you, but it keeps saying I didn't select a file to upload........when I have

[Aaron 3]

says the same to me Tis TM

 

Regards

 

Aaron

[Guest davieboy]

I have a black cocker/lab X she is about the size of a springer really good looking dog, agile, fast really intelligetn and great natured.

 

She has a labs head with spaniel ears. Not every ones cup of tea but she serves me just fine.

 

Retreives to hand no probs, soft jaws. Not so good working cover but then thats my fault. I made a lot of mistakes with her early and am trying to correct them now, she seems to be picking everything up quickly

 

Hope this is of use

[Guest davieboy]

further to my last post, she lives outside now but when she was in the house she was no problem, i have two young kids and they used to torment the dog as only kids can, but never once did molly ever even look like showing teeth

 

More thn happy laying about doing nothing.

 

As for dog or bitch i dont think i am qualified to answer i know i prefer bitches for the simple fact that was the deal with my wife, it had to be a bitch as their lipstick does not come out and they dont seem to be intent on humping everything they come accross. Women eh!! anything for a quiet life.

[Andrea 2]

i wouldn't recommend a springer or cocker as first time working dog's. They are great dog's but need a experienced hand, springer's because they are mad, cocker's because if you make mistakes with them, it's tough to rectify them later.

i wouldn't go for a cross, but other's do and it works out well, but it's dependant on the parent's, not the mix.

Lab's can be an handfull too, at least in the early day's. Problem with working Lab's, they have a lot of energy but you can't exercise them too much in the early day’s, up until 12 month’s at least, because this could cause problem’s with their hip’s later on.

Working labs are very different to show line bred Labs. Physically, working Labs are smaller, thinner and finer boned. Temperament wise, they are faster, more energetic and need a lot of mental stimulation or they will eat your home and possibly your wife but not in an aggressive way . lack of mental stimulation in any working breed, (whether full pedigree or cross) will cause destruction to your home, and sanity

[PAB 0]

Thanks for all the replys.

 

Seems as if there is no real straight answer. Labs seem to be favoured though.

 

Most of the dogs on my shoot are labs so I think that may be the way forward.

[Tis TM 8]

Thanks for all the replys.

 

Seems as if there is no real straight answer. Labs seem to be favoured though.

 

Most of the dogs on my shoot are labs so I think that may be the way forward.

 

Hopefully this will work PAB, here's the link to my little fella via photobucket - I couldn't upload the picture on here for some reason :

 

Oh Yay! (Thankyou Kay for helping me with that!)

[Bango 0]

Go for the lab don't go for this cross breds.

 

The reason I say Lab over Springer is Labs come part trained Springer don't.

 

BUT if you have plenty of time and want a project that will take 12 months plus go Springer.

 

This is my personal view others may think the opposite.

[macberran 2]

Tis TM, your Stanley looks and sound s a fine looking wee dog. I have friends who farm near Ledbury and breed black labs though they don,t get it right. The bitches are quite aggressive and unsteady too boot for shooting with. However on another shoot I get on near Monmouth theres two dogs ther who are lovely and real steady too. apleasure too shoot with.