Gun Dog Forum

I've been looking at bird dogs, and I think I want a Lab.
But do labs hunt well? the breeder hunts upland birds and waterfowl with the sire and dam.
and I know they're "flushing" dogs so how would I train a flushing dog?

I have more pointers and setters than I do labs. But if I could have just one dog it would be a labrador. The labs don't have the range but they are still very effective.

I have never trained a flushing dog so I can't be of any help there. But for versatility, I would imagine a lab would be pretty hard to beat. For upland hunting, a lot may depend on the type of bird being hunted but if you could come up with a pointing lab [especially for covey birds] you may end up with an awesome all around hunting dog.

Charlie

Obedience training, then lots of experience in the field. Most hunting is bred in. Some FF, some don't and still have good dogs. A good recall is needed.

Properly introduced to the game a Lab can be a very effective hunting partner. If you are going to hunt the cattails for pheasant they are one of the best dogs to have along.

i had labs long time. only problem i had their heavy coat cant take heat.
doc e has pointing lab that he does well with.
i have both now, i have pointing small munsterlander and flushing lab.

you cant beat a lab around house, great dog.
its nice in summer they love water and will retrieve in your yard, lots of fun.
they are great on pheasants.

I am training my first flusher "now " though he is only 14 weeks right now. My husband wants the to sit before flush and then flush on command but I am not sure hrc allows in testing that so we are debating

mountaindogs wrote:I am training my first flusher "now " though he is only 14 weeks right now. My husband wants the to sit before flush and then flush on command but I am not sure hrc allows in testing that so we are debating

I don't now what you hunt, but if it pheasants that is the last thing you would want your flusher to do.

labs can be awesome bird dogs, especially for upland. i hunt blue grouse, pheasants as well as waterfowl with mine and they do very very well at both. its all about getting the right dog and then training but labs are super dogs for upland and waterfowl

nikegundog wrote:

mountaindogs wrote:I am training my first flusher "now " though he is only 14 weeks right now. My husband wants the to sit before flush and then flush on command but I am not sure hrc allows in testing that so we are debating

I don't now what you hunt, but if it pheasants that is the last thing you would want your flusher to do.

You are on my side
I have pointing dogs that do a nice job of stopping.....

TheLukai1100 wrote:I've been looking at bird dogs, and I think I want a Lab.
But do labs hunt well? the breeder hunts upland birds and waterfowl with the sire and dam.
and I know they're "flushing" dogs so how would I train a flushing dog?

Go to the Dakotas during Pheasant season ---- The big majority of dogs being hunted are Labs.
Go to the Refuge during waterfowl season ---- The vast majority of dogs being hunted are Labs.

Labs aren't all "flushing" dogs ---- Pointing Labs are incrediblly versatile.

As far as how to train ---- Get on a modern sequential training program and follow it to the letter.



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Go to the Dakotas during Pheasant season ---- The big majority of dogs being hunted are Labs.
Go to the Refuge during waterfowl season ---- The vast majority of dogs being hunted are Labs.

We' re headed to the Dakotas and 1/2 the dogs we will see in the fields will be Labs...and on the week ends when the waterfowlers fill all the rooms to be had (!!!), 90% of their dogs will be Labs. I prefer pointing dogs but even then when you have a dog on point in the thick nasties, its a PITA to walk in and try to flush and shoot a rooster. I have trained my pointing dogs to flush on command but this would seem to me to be what a Lab is made for. In the wide open spacs and grasslands, a pointing dog has an advantage. But sounds like a Lab is exactly what you need. Get a good one and don't look back.

JKP wrote:

Go to the Dakotas during Pheasant season ---- The big majority of dogs being hunted are Labs.
Go to the Refuge during waterfowl season ---- The vast majority of dogs being hunted are Labs.

its a PITA to walk in and try to flush and shoot a rooster. I have trained my pointing dogs to flush on command but this would seem to me to be what a Lab is made for.

We also train our Pointing Labs to flush on command.
I think the majority of folks with dogs that point are afraid to do this, but I've never seen it to be a problem (regardless of breed).



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of all years hunting pheasants 2 best dogs i seen are SPRINGER/SMALLER LONG LEGGED LABS.
when pheasants RUN which most do, pointing dog is not way to go,just my opinion.
on early grouse flushing lab is fine.
later when leaves come off etc, flushing dog on grouse is bad.

Jim K & Slistoe make good points.

Labs can be very effective depending on your style of hunting. However Labs (Black ones especially) just cant take the warmth.

Personally, I run Pointers (obviously) and utilize my Lab for dead bird recovery. He knows to stay away from the white dogs and hang close to me. When the shots ring out he knows its showtime!

prairiefirepointers wrote:Jim K & Slistoe make good points.

Labs can be very effective depending on your style of hunting. However Labs (Black ones especially) just cant take the warmth.

Personally, I run Pointers (obviously) and utilize my Lab for dead bird recovery. He knows to stay away from the white dogs and hang close to me. When the shots ring out he knows its showtime!

all my labs were aways BLACK ONES.
do to weather changing here in pa we dont get cold weather NOW until jan.
way past the small game season.
so you can only hunt in mornings until 10am.do to heat. you better have stream near by for lab to swim in.problem in mornings early is FOG. sometimes fog does not lift until 10 am.
i seen springers go all day when i am packing up to leave at 10 am. :roll:
but up until then,LAB is nice hunting dog to be with.
no e-collar needed,just bell.very nice.

Here's the kind of weather "SOONER" likes!

Even the labs I trialed were trained to hunt and they were good at it. I restricted their hunting beat to sort of "long range spaniel" ..... about 25 yards either side of me. I've never had a pointing lab but I'd imagine they would be effective. All my labs were black and the heat never troubled them at all but then I live in Scotland where anything over 60 f. is considered pretty warm and that is during the summer !
Basically , I just trained my labs to be spaniels for hunting purposes. The labrador is a very versatile breed if you will let them be versatile.

Bill T.

prairiefirepointers wrote:Here's the kind of weather "SOONER" likes!

that is when LAB really shines.your black lab looks like what i have had for 46 yrs with dad.SMALLER LONG LEGGED LABS IN BLACK.

Pick up the " Orange book " by The American Hunting Dog Club it goes into detail how to get your flushing dog all trained up.

How can anyone resist this...

I own a lab and an english setter. My lab is a good grouse hunter, but my setter is much better. My lab is a great pheasant hunter and is better than my setter. If you want a lab then get a lab, but be aware of its strengths and limitations. The can bust through the thickest cover, but warm weather is not their friend.

I agree completely about specialists. just having a lab would be like golfing with just one club. But something in the middle is what labs are. I know I can have my pointer retrieve ducks all day long but when it gets icy i would not but them through it.