Help with choosing first gun dog

[RedPalmNation]

I am in the market for my first dog out of college and am stuck between a chessie and lab. I have had dogs my whole life I have never trained a hunting dog though. I want my dog to be active year round whether it is hunting upland birds, waterfowling, or shed hunting in early spring with me. I don't do much waterfowl hunting currently because I don't have a dog and same goes with upland birds. I would like to get into that more once I graduate college. I really want my dog to shed hunt too and be successful. Overall I like the Chessie's look better, I know labs shed an extreme amount from having them growing up, and have seen aggressive labs and Chessie's. I am torn between them and need help picking my first one.

[ScottE]

I had a chessie growing up and he was a great dog. Very loyal and very protective of the family. He loved the water so if you don't duck hunt definitely look into it.

[duckn66]

A lab would most likely be your best bet in my opinion. I love Chessies, more so than labs. But, it is of my opinion that a some Chessies take a little different training approach than the majority of labs.

[Rod W]

A Chessie is a much better cold weather water dog--- BUT---when bringing the pup home, stop and puchase one dozen baseball bats (for the finishing touches)

A lab would most likely be your best bet in my opinion. I love Chessies, more so than labs. But, it is of my opinion that a some Chessies take a little different training approach than the majority of labs.

[Mountaineer]

If it is your first gun dog and you wish to flush upland birds along with waterfowl then I would choose a Lab.
I would investigate and find a line of upland hunting labs as a first call.
You will even find some labs that claim a point of sorts...if that interests you.
Some labs will be as stubborn and tough as any chessie and those would not be as likely to serve you well....sift well the info and play the odds.
Both shed.
Rather than buy a dog because of looks...buy one that will work with your own abilities at present and perceived needs in the future.
I would also beware of wanting a dog too quickly.

[Double Shot Banks]

Personally i love labs, although chessies are tough dogs too, If you want a hardcore waterfowl hunting only dog maybe look at a chessie but a lab will do you just the same. My only drawback on a chessie is how they look, they have really wide set eyes and look kind of ugly. But im prejudice to labs
Isaac and Banks

[Rod W]

Hey Double Bank Shot, Find a farm-silo with pigeons roosting there and talk to the owner, see if you can go in at night, scare the pigeons and they will fly into the sides of the silo, falling to the floor. It is only a job of picking them up and bagging them after that. I have done this many times. As far as people jumping down your THROAT, "MOST" OF US, are sincere and willing to help, others can't wait until you are down to offer a hand::: and bust your chops/knock you down AGAIN!!! Some of these same people came out of the PUPPY MILLS they find so repulsive!! ROD

[AlbertaChessie]

A Chessie is a much better cold weather water dog--- BUT---when bringing the pup home, stop and puchase one dozen baseball bats (for the finishing touches)

not even remotely true. From my experience training chessies is a heck uv alot quicker and simpler than my labs of the past. Its like any other dog....if your training ability only enables you to train a pup like its a lab then of course you will have problems. Train it like a chessie (and no this doesnt mean having a hard hand) and you will be fine. Simple simple.

[AlbertaChessie]

PS - and i meant that with the utmost respect rod! bascially just saying my experience has been furthest from the standard info i was able to dig up on chessies before i had one!

[Rod W]

No offense taken AC, I have just seen to many chessies that were --for the lack of a better word--Bone Headed--One of the chessies in mind, had my dog right by the throat, trying to kill it, 30 seconds after I arrived at my buddies place in N Dakota. The next day, he had my buddies older Chessie by the throat.This was his young dog, maybe a year and a half old, trying to take over dominance from the old dog. My cousin had many chessies for duck and bird hunting and he too, said they were very hard to handle. My brother and my nephew have or had chessies and the same story,-----Now, how true it is--NONE, of these dogs had adequate training!! As long as they would retrieve a duck, it was trained! I do know, if you need a strong, cold water dog, Chessie all the way!!! ROD
PS.---- This isn't saying, that a Lab can't do the job.

[boonebrit]

check out a deutsch drahthaar or GWP's... might be what you looking for.

[mountaindogs]

IMHO
When I started looking for a lab I knew I wanted a lab, BUT STILL had lots of research to find one that had the temperment that I like. I think my pick was perfect! but boy with all the options I was going nuts looking for a while.
My suggestion is this: Base your descision on how you interact and train a dog. Decide wether you plan to use a standard Rex Carr based training program, or a gentler, more shaping style like the British lab trainers use. I have met only a few chessie's and I thought they were rather a blend of soft, slightly protective, and slightly impulsive. Hard to explain but that was my impression. I think they are perhaps quite diverse in temperment today, despite their reputation, but my opinion is based on very few interactions so not a very informed one. I have met LOTS of labs, from VERY aggressive, to VERY meek, to VERY hyper, to lazy and all in between. Getting a lab no longer has the breed consistancy that purebred enthusiasts desire, but that said it does show that the breed is quite adaptable to whatever whim we humans want to breed for.

[roaniecowpony]

I chose an American field bred Lab for my first dog. I think they can hunt pheasant very well if trained well. I may get another Lab when this one is gone, but I'm primarily a quail hunter, so pointers are gaining my enthusiasm. I have many great memories of my Lab hunting the heavy cover in South Dakota for roosters. Get your dog or pup from a reputable (not Wilma the farmer's wife) if not famous breeder of HUNTING DOGS. That usually means a breeder that has a kennel full time and has numerous real references that you can call and talk to. Breeders that claim their dogs are show and hunting dogs probably are selling snake oil. Some of the top hunting/trialing dog breeders won't charge much if any more than a pet store for a pup. Give some thought to buying a professionally trained dog as well. Think about all the food, training gear, and time to get a pup to a grown hunting dog, then the cost of a trained dog looks pretty discount. My 2 cents.