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Started By
Message
Labrador Breeders Update- Litter in Question
Posted on 8/10/17 at 1:00 pm
Posted on 8/10/17 at 1:00 pm
I am looking to buy a new hunting dog and need Recs. on breeders. I am looking for a lab with an excellent bloodline and a breeder that I can trust.
-Thanks
-Thanks
This post was edited on 8/11/17 at 11:12 am
9
Posted on 8/10/17 at 1:16 pm to PolarPop5
Posted on 8/10/17 at 1:17 pm to PolarPop5
Have you thought about buying a dog that is already fully trained?
Posted on 8/10/17 at 1:48 pm to Nolauga
quote:
Have you thought about buying a dog that is already fully trained?
You better have some really deep pockets if you go this route although technically you are taking the puppy bust factor out of the equation, which is always a gamble when buying a puppy. Just depends on how finished you want the dog, how much you have in the checkbook, and how bad you can miss getting that puppy bonding experience. A good finished dog that handles could go $5K plus and maybe much higher for a really polished dog. A started dog that has been trained to hunt just shy of handling generally starts at $2K and up depending on how good the pedigree is and the experience level the dog has.
Most trainers that also breed dogs will generally keep a puppy or 2 out of a liter to train to a started level for this purpose.
Posted on 8/10/17 at 1:57 pm to MWP
quote:
You better have some really deep pockets if you go this route although technically you are taking the puppy bust factor out of the equation, which is always a gamble when buying a puppy. Just depends on how finished you want the dog, how much you have in the checkbook, and how bad you can miss getting that puppy bonding experience. A good finished dog that handles could go $5K plus and maybe much higher for a really polished dog. A started dog that has been trained to hunt just shy of handling generally starts at $2K and up depending on how good the pedigree is and the experience level the dog has. Most trainers that also breed dogs will generally keep a puppy or 2 out of a liter to train to a started level for this purpose
You get hit hard upfront but in the long run you are saving money unless you do all the training yourself. Also like you mentioned, the pup you pic could be a bozo and not worth a frick.
My pup was 800 and both of his parents are HRCH and MH and then you factor in training, vet bills, food, etc and you are easily at the 5k mark. You can't find a good trainer under 500 a month and its a minimum of 6 months to get to a dog to run decent blinds.
I know I spent over 5k to get my dog to get his HRCH title and next time I will just buy a dog that is fully trained.
Posted on 8/10/17 at 2:05 pm to Nolauga
quote:
You get hit hard upfront but in the long run you are saving money unless you do all the training yourself
I did the math before I got my current Lab. You are exactly right. I was going to just buy a finished Lab but not because of trainer costs but I didn't want to train a new puppy on my own again. It's not that I need a trainer since I got my last Lab into Finished and the one before that her HRCH. I just didn't feel like spending the time to do it with my job, getting back into the hunt test game, and kid activities. However, it was my daughter that pushed me into going the puppy route. Now that my YLF is 3, I am over the hurdle and already into Finished in Hunt Tests.
Posted on 8/10/17 at 2:17 pm to PolarPop5
I'm partial to American field lines over the short/stocky english labs.
LINK
Check the classifieds on HLP and do some research on the dogs and lines. These aren't your Louisiana Sportsman's classifieds. Most of these litters are guys who match their bitch with a nice male and take a pup for themselves. Talk to the owners and get a feel for their intentions, why they bred (and to that male), dogs accomplishments, and temperament. Find the right owner who has just as much at stake as the buyers and will raise them right. After lots and lots of searching, I found mine advertised on there, and she's incredible.
Make sure all health clearances on hips/elbows/eyes/EIC are completed.
edit: misspoke and called english labs british
LINK
Check the classifieds on HLP and do some research on the dogs and lines. These aren't your Louisiana Sportsman's classifieds. Most of these litters are guys who match their bitch with a nice male and take a pup for themselves. Talk to the owners and get a feel for their intentions, why they bred (and to that male), dogs accomplishments, and temperament. Find the right owner who has just as much at stake as the buyers and will raise them right. After lots and lots of searching, I found mine advertised on there, and she's incredible.
Make sure all health clearances on hips/elbows/eyes/EIC are completed.
edit: misspoke and called english labs british
This post was edited on 8/11/17 at 12:43 pm
Posted on 8/10/17 at 2:23 pm to CheesyF
quote:This X 1,000,000.
Make sure all health clearances on hips/elbows/eyes/EIC are completed.
Posted on 8/10/17 at 2:28 pm to PolarPop5
Where you located baw?
Posted on 8/10/17 at 2:59 pm to PolarPop5
Posted on 8/10/17 at 9:26 pm to Manchac Man
I used to breed and train high dollar labs and offer these tips.
1. Ask the breeder if they give a health guarantee in writing. Only reputable breeders give these out when buying a puppy.
2. Check if both parents have any titles. Don't worry about checking any further down the line. "Championship blood line" is a great catch phrase breeders use to get people to buy their pups.
3. Find out if there is a HRC "hunting Retriever Club " near you. You can check on line and copy the contact info for the offices. Ask if they know of anyone with puppies. Most of the time their recommendations will satisfy 1 and 2 above.
1. Ask the breeder if they give a health guarantee in writing. Only reputable breeders give these out when buying a puppy.
2. Check if both parents have any titles. Don't worry about checking any further down the line. "Championship blood line" is a great catch phrase breeders use to get people to buy their pups.
3. Find out if there is a HRC "hunting Retriever Club " near you. You can check on line and copy the contact info for the offices. Ask if they know of anyone with puppies. Most of the time their recommendations will satisfy 1 and 2 above.
This post was edited on 8/10/17 at 9:29 pm
Posted on 8/10/17 at 10:53 pm to PolarPop5
Wildrose
ETA: I have a year old wildrose dog that I'm gonna use for blood trailing deer. Just don't duck hunt enough to go through the expense and time to finish him for that. That being said, I have never had an animal that is more well mannered and trainable the this dog is. He has every gear that an American dog has but also has the "shut up and listen" down pat. It's just a different animal. There is no substitute for solid breeding and wildrose has that.
ETA: I have a year old wildrose dog that I'm gonna use for blood trailing deer. Just don't duck hunt enough to go through the expense and time to finish him for that. That being said, I have never had an animal that is more well mannered and trainable the this dog is. He has every gear that an American dog has but also has the "shut up and listen" down pat. It's just a different animal. There is no substitute for solid breeding and wildrose has that.
This post was edited on 8/10/17 at 10:58 pm
Posted on 8/11/17 at 6:39 am to PolarPop5
Spend the money and buy a started or finished dog. Less uncertainty and less costs in the long run.
You will miss out on bonding with the dog as a puppy - but less opportunities for wife to undermine your training or introduce bad habits.
You will miss out on bonding with the dog as a puppy - but less opportunities for wife to undermine your training or introduce bad habits.
Posted on 8/11/17 at 7:19 am to PolarPop5
I have a litter at the house right now that makes 5 weeks tomorrow and have two males left.. Sire and Dam are both off of GRHRCH MH UH's with numerous other NFC champions on their pedigree and were both professionally trained and have ran/passed hunt tests themselves. Could've easily pursued the hunt test/title game but it's nothing but a piece of paper.. I wanted an obedient dog that was steady in the blind, worked on hand signal/whistle commands, could mark well and run blinds and that was it.. Like my trainer said, the dog could have the best pedigree in the world.. Still doesn't mean it will be worth a shite..
Posted on 8/11/17 at 8:10 am to Dmaxxx37
[/URL] Little shite's been keeping me up all night with all their yapping and running around..
Posted on 8/11/17 at 8:16 am to Larry Gooseman
quote:
Larry Gooseman
You hunting down in Pierce again this year? Sherrill is out and the actual owners of the ranch are running the operation now. We did one hunt with them last year and it's a night and day difference. No more mile hikes into spots with no blinds. We are gonna make a few hunts down there in Dec and Jan if you want to hook up.
Also gonna hit the Winnie/Anahuac area hard again.
Posted on 8/11/17 at 11:02 am to PolarPop5
So I found a litter I am interested in, Sire is an International Field Trial Champion as well as a GB Field Trial Champion and the Dam has numerous awards and titles as well. My question, what is a reasonable price for a started pup from such a pedigree?
Posted on 8/11/17 at 12:23 pm to PolarPop5
I'm less informed on international field champion titles, but the bigger question is how old and how far along in training is the dog?
Posted on 8/11/17 at 12:29 pm to CheesyF
For the most part the titles that mean anything are as follows:
Field Trial : NFC, FC, AFC, QAA
Hunt Test: MNH, GRHRCH, MH, HRCH, SH, JH
Most of the other stuff for the most part is just fluff. Buying a dog is THE CHEAPEST part of owning a dog, spend the money on the front end and tilt the odds in your favor as to what you get. There is never a guarantee for results. I just got a new pup 5 months ago been a great pup but was born with a congenital heart defect and has mabye a year to live. This was from as good a breeding as you can get. Life is full of shite, try and reduce the amount you step in during it.
Field Trial : NFC, FC, AFC, QAA
Hunt Test: MNH, GRHRCH, MH, HRCH, SH, JH
Most of the other stuff for the most part is just fluff. Buying a dog is THE CHEAPEST part of owning a dog, spend the money on the front end and tilt the odds in your favor as to what you get. There is never a guarantee for results. I just got a new pup 5 months ago been a great pup but was born with a congenital heart defect and has mabye a year to live. This was from as good a breeding as you can get. Life is full of shite, try and reduce the amount you step in during it.
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