Thread: Are Labradors good at finding Large Game?

I've been doing research into selecting a good breed of dog as an tracking / indicating dog for large game ( deer, pigs and goats ) but I also want a breed that is good to keep around my children.

I've looked into Labradors and all I can find is endless information on their use as waterfowling dogs ( which I understand is their main use ) but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience in using Labradors as indicating dogs for large game and what the success rate looked like?

I know there are other breeds such as the Hungarian Vizsla that are great pointing dogs but I'd like a breed with a more moderate energy level around the house, hence the interest in Labradors.

So if anyone has any information regarding the use of Labradors as indicating dogs for large game animals ( not in their traditional use as duck dogs ) I'd be really interested in hearing from you and what you think about the breed in this role.

Cheers

I knew a guy that hunted a black lab dog on everything( deer, ducks, pigs, the lot). And he was good at it too, as well as being a good household dog.
Had a good nose, drive, and reasonable brains.
I will say tho, that said guy did look around for some time to get the right pup, not just any old part breed yard mutt lab

Yup they go great if you buy a good pup and train it properly like all breeds. I hunt with a black lab and she loves retrieving ducks and tracking deer. I have shot deer over her in the bush, tracked game after the shot and she is awesome around home like all labs are known to be. You can see her in my youtube videos if interested..

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZz...8lLO7ZqtseZCww

My cousin in Scotland uses only labs for his deer stalking and for retrieving small game.

The great all rounders

YES and that is ment to be in capitals.... was it me personally the training would involve food....they ared called sloberadores/vacumesniffers etc for nothing. when dog learns Dad shoots deer.I get venison tit bits...well oncw penny drops..look out bambi.
Clubbie has great looking lab see his videos...subsonic .308 etc Ive owned 3 lab crosses and all have been awesome alrounders....did I mention FOOD ....a lab will...

I was going to say Setter but I guess the energy levels may be a bit higher than a Lab. Good with family, Love to hunt etc.

More in line with the lab have a look at the curly coated retriever. My sister and Dad both have them from a hunting kennel out from christchurch.
To be fair neither of them hunt. Dad's is a very hard dog and not that sociable, dose not get on well with every other dog he meets. Very strong and determined on fetching, also impervious to cold wet and is quiet happy to take all his fur off going through the toughest scrub. Just follow his progress by the scrub tops shaking as be bashes through. Sisters dog is good with young kids and people.
Zq

I'm onto my 3rd lab one bitch and now two dogs. All very different in temperament and hunting vigour. The latest one is very bidable and has great recall. On the negative he at 3yrs is still immature and can be timid around home no guard dog at all

Don't leave backsteaks unattended while cooling the meat down. I believe they disappear pretty quick

Watching this thread with interest as it is of current relevance to us.

Have read heaps of hunting dogs threads on this forum so far and picked up some really really good tips re breeds. I am also leaning towards the Black Labrador as a good all-rounder. As an owner of fully documented pedigree dogs over the years (Staffords, Rottweilers) we have been very careful and very lucky to avoid any of the inherent genetic weaknesses that some of the breeds are prone to.

My question to the experienced owners here is are there any merits to this view put to me recently by a hunting mate? He will only go with crossbreeds, careful crosses of dogs with specific characteristics. He wants hybrid vigour and minimum risk of dysplasia or other hereditary problems. I know nothing of Labrador genetics here but my mate is convinced it's risky going with pedigree dogs from well-known kennels. I remember someone on here recently had to take a juvenile Lab back after it was diagnosed with something hereditary?

There have been some Lab crosses on the Dogs page, has anyone deliberately crossed a Lab to improve genetics, both in terms of health and hunting skills?

Three of the best four dogs I’ve ever known were first cross black labs, pigs and deer.
Exceptional temperament, brains and ability.


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Originally Posted by Flyblown

Watching this thread with interest as it is of current relevance to us.

Have read heaps of hunting dogs threads on this forum so far and picked up some really really good tips re breeds. I am also leaning towards the Black Labrador as a good all-rounder. As an owner of fully documented pedigree dogs over the years (Staffords, Rottweilers) we have been very careful and very lucky to avoid any of the inherent genetic weaknesses that some of the breeds are prone to.

My question to the experienced owners here is are there any merits to this view put to me recently by a hunting mate? He will only go with crossbreeds, careful crosses of dogs with specific characteristics. He wants hybrid vigour and minimum risk of dysplasia or other hereditary problems. I know nothing of Labrador genetics here but my mate is convinced it's risky going with pedigree dogs from well-known kennels. I remember someone on here recently had to take a juvenile Lab back after it was diagnosed with something hereditary?

There have been some Lab crosses on the Dogs page, has anyone deliberately crossed a Lab to improve genetics, both in terms of health and hunting skills?

@Flyblown The idea that cross breeds are the magic cure to health problems is a myth. If you cross a labrador with genetic hip dysplasia with a pointer that has a genetic eye condition then the crossbred pups will inherit those genetic issues.. It’s about doing your homework before you purchase a pup or dog and obtaining medical proof that the parents are healthy and issue free. Dogs with health issues are a case of breeding poor genetics as opposed to a purebred vs crossbred argument.

My view, but not shared with everyone, is that it is hard enough to breed good dogs from good dogs of the same breed with known stable line bred genetics, without breeding good dogs to good dogs of different breeds with a liquorice sorts pack of genetics.

I also believe that life is too short to be bothered with dogs without ability. I have my own remedy for that. And its not giving them to "greyhound rescue".

Misty was a gsp/lab....absolutely awesome wallaby and possum dog..she caught 4 wallabies that I know of and literally hundreds of possums...she didnt have much to do with waterfowl but did find the odd bird we shot...hard as nails...didnt like cold

Buttons was a gsp/huntaway...awesome alrounder,retrieved all my ducks and geese,spooked out wallabies all day long,great with kids,awesome companion..she sleeps on island where we open the duck season and since she went there Ive shot a duck directly over her spot each year....one for her

Nugget cost us $$$$ cocker spaniel without papers but from a "breeder" mum looked great....he has cost us $$$$$ and at 9 years old is legally blind..he has about 20% in one eye and none in the other he has the best nose of any dog Ive seen and will go all day everyday and doesnt know when to quit....absolutely lovable dog and very good with kids...hates people wearing hats...always has.


Meg is a real bitza...mum beardie/lab dad gsp/lab she taken off mum too young so has "issues" we manage them and hope like hell it doesnt mean she has to be put down (if she dont like you and dont know you DONT come into our section..she doesnt warn before nipping)

she retrieves all my ducks n geese,loves water and what is cold???dries out faster than any dog Ive ever seen,literally 60 seconds after swimming she is dry again,Ive worked hard on her training which has been challenging with such a timid dog (raise your voice she squats n pees) but she has found me a few deer now and the 2 pigs asleep is a real magic moment for us.


labs have 3 things against them for me...they leak hair like mad,they vacumn food like its going out of fashion,heavy and hot in tussock type setting. that said I love them to bits.

Friends of mine ( an old couple) decided to buy a lap pup.
After a few months they discovered that he had issues with some of his leg joints.
They spent way more than the cost of the dog to get that issue fixed.with a few operations. And when over excited he used to have epilepsy. ( it was later found that it was probably due to some drugs he was given during his cure).
The dog is doing pretty well now . He has been part of cancer research program at university of Waikato , and he is now one of their top dog with more than 95% of success of detecting certain cancers on sample tests presented to him.