How to Train Your Lab to Hunt
How to Train Your Lab to Hunt
The Puppy Considerations entry is more of a ‘What to,’ than a ‘How to.’ In many ways, when you bring your puppy home you have made a lifestyle decision not just a decision that will impact your duck hunting. The time to think about ‘what to consider’ is long before you actually pick out your puppy. Hopefully your new puppy will become an old dog while with you and your family and that means you will have him for a long time. Make all your decisions for the right reasons.
I have heard some people say that chocolate labs don’t hunt as well as yellows or blacks. In my exposure I don’t see very many in the field. But my experience tells me that how you train the lab and his genetics are much more important to his hunting ability that his color. If I really wanted a chocolate, I would get a chocolate. The first color choice for my next lab will not be yellow for one very ‘scientific’ reason that has absolutely nothing to do with performance. My wife and I have both had enough yellow dog hair!! Get a yellow and stock up on lint brushes. Yellows are however, the most photogenic as you can really see their body tone and facial features. But, if a yellow was the best available according to my criteria at the time I am searching for my next dog, I’m stocking up on lint brushes.
I have owned both, and prefer females. My one male, Tucker, was a big bull who liked to roam and was somewhat aggressive around other dogs yet wouldn’t pick up a goose! Go figure. The goose issue had nothing to do with him being a male, I just threw that in there. When I picked Tucker out as a pup I wanted a big, rough and tumble kinda guy because, “Hey, I can handle any dog, right??” I don’t necessarily regret it, but would not go that route again. In general, I find females more docile and the older I get, docile better fits my lifestyle. Besides, I’ve had females as tenacious in the field as anyone would want. So which is better for you? Personal preferences aside, it may not matter that much.
Statistics on the parents and seeing them in person can help determine what size their pups may grow into. I always preferred 80-ish pound labs until Ember. She is smaller than I have ever owned (has held steady at 63 pounds for the past 3 years) and I would look for that every time now. They take up less room in the truck, in the blind, and very importantly in the canoe. If you are so inclined, he will also take up less room on the sofa and in your bed. Small dogs are easier for kids to play with and less intimidating to small kids. I am sure their smaller size causes less wear and tear on joints as well. Ember has her way with any goose and as I learned with Tucker, bigger is not necessarily better in the field. So do your research. You don’t want to think you are bringing home a pup that will be in the 55 to 65 pound range and before you know you have a 90 pounder ambling around the house.
Seeing photos of both parents or ideally seeing them both in person will give you some insight into what you can expect your pup to look like. Tall? Short? Long? Compact? Blocky head? Pointy snout?
Don’t establish ‘cuteness’ as a criteria for your decision. They’re all cute and when it comes to field work and hunting, beauty is, as beauty does!
Trying fun tests to determine which one in the litter will be the most dominant or the most submissive – the most aggressive or the most docile – which one will have the best nose or be great with kids – can be fun and go for it if you please. The breeder may offer suggestions which you should listen to, but also listen to your gut. If you did your homework and the color and sex you want is available, and you’ve found the ‘best’ breeding, it’s hard to argue with just reaching in and picking one up. Quite often you may not have a choice on some of your considerations. Breeders want to move their dogs and if you want a black male, for example, they may only have only left in the litter. If you did your research that should not be a deal breaker.
When I got Ember, the breeder told me she gives every new puppy the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test because that helps differentiate certain characteristics in pups. If she reads this, she will finally know that my first reaction was, “Ya sure!” But she showed me the results of Ember compared to one other pup in the same litter and I have to admit that it rang true.
In addition to starting with good genes I believe that temperament, personality and performance largely depend on how the dog is socialized, raised and conditioned. And that my friend is something you have control over.
