re: I'm about to purchase my first hunting lab

80 lbs

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labs aren't supposed to be 80-100 lbs... just saying....


Why is this?

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it's only in the last 30 years people have bred labs to be bigger than that. before anyone over 70-75 was very rare and non existent in field trial circles. even the akc breed standard which is based on larger show bred dogs the high is 80lbs

This is what our marsh has looked like for the past few years. Good amount of underwater grass in addition to the lilies shown in the pictures the dog will have to work through. From what I gather that means I'd probably want a smaller lab?

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it's only in the last 30 years people have bred labs to be bigger than that. before anyone over 70-75 was very rare and non existent in field trial circles. even the akc breed standard which is based on larger show bred dogs the high is 80lbs

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Just wondering. My last two male labs have both been bigger than that. One was 95-105 (lost weight during hunting season) and was a beast hunting. Current one is an English at 90 lbs and still does well. They aren't as quick in the marsh as some of the lighter ones but never had any endurance or issues with the larger males. If it gets too shallow, I usually throw them out to walk anyway.

Unless you are hunting geese, I'd prefer a smaller retrieve all day long. A big dog really does nothing for you duck hunting. Smaller dogs are much easier to deal with, as said better in boats, easier to lift into and out of blinds, less food to eat, etc.

I used to be a big dog guy, but now I wish my golden was 50 lbs instead of a healthy 70.

Lots of information here...some good, some not so good.

Here are a few suggestions:

1. Look up the members of Cajun Hunting Retriever Club. You may find some hands-on help. At the least, you can probably get into a training group.

2. Try to identify your goals for this dog. Do you want a hunting dog? A hunting and hunt test dog? A field trial dog?

3. Discuss your goals with Chad and Ken and ask their opinion. As has been said, they probably have good insight on any potential breeding you might buy. Also, you can establish exactly what you expect from their training program. Be upfront and remember you also have to learn how to handle a dog.

4. Look at several litters for comparison sake. It doesn't hurt to shop around, even if you decide on the original litter. Use not only local resources, but also look at the classifieds on websites like Retriever Training Forum and Entry Express. There is also a FB page called "Everything Retrievers - Buy, Sell, Trade" which has litters....for example there is a guy in Slidell that has a FC/AFC x well bred bitch (untitled) for $1,000. Id look hard at that litter.

5. Familiarize yourself with all of the routine Lab health clearances. Hips, elbows, eyes, EIC and CNM are standard. Testing for dilute is also becoming popular.

6. Look at some of the training programs out there. My personal choice is Mike Lardy's program. At the very least, you should order his Volume 1 set of articles ($26). Available at www.totalretriever.com

7. Make plans to attend Cajun HRC's spring hunt test. Pay attention to the pros who are there running dogs and how they set up their dogs for success.

8. Don't pay any attention to the e-collar naysayers. A properly utilized e-collar is one of the most useful tools for enforcing KNOWN commands given to a dog IF it is employed in a systematic and fair manner. It can also be detrimental in the wrong hands. If you decide to use an e-collar in your training, learn how to use it!!! Mike Lardy has an excellent video on the subject.
Most people who are anti-e collar don't have a clue how to use one, much less how to train a dog.

Good luck!

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7. Make plans to attend Cajun HRC's spring hunt test. Pay attention to the pros who are there running dogs and how they set up their dogs for success.

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Well since the OP wants to have a trainer train his hound, I would do this. Go and watch the trainers work in Finished. See how they handle the dogs since this is where most owners want their dog ultimately getting to.

OP might as well join HRC while he is at it to get a gauge on liters. There are usually at any one time about a dozen liters of proven HRC titled dogs out there. Just be ready to spend anywhere from $800-$1000 and get all the health clearances you can.