Time for a new pup !

Some very interesting information with regards to the pointing lab. Two thumbs up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sharon

something I saved:

"I believe most any dog can be made to point. Notice what they've done with labs- the pointing lab. Pointing is a trait I believe comes from wild dogs a long time ago. It wasn't really pointing ,but rather stopping to avoid scaring off the prey they were after. Is it intensified with breeding? I believe it is. You'll notice that at some point in the training process , most if not all dog's will creep toward the bird. That, I believe is natural. Those that take their dog's hunting and learning on the job, Don't have dogs that just go out and point things for them from the start. What they do is only shoot birds the dog handles properly. Imagine turning a dog loose on poor flying game farm birds. The dog would learn in a short time it can catch most if not all of them. Consider what happens with flushing dog's. All probably hesitate at first. They've come across something they don't recognize. The idea is to get the dog pushing up the bird, easy smeezy, let the dog catch birds on the ground, who cares, they won't catch many wild birds ,but if those same dog's aren't allowed to catch birds, they learn to hesitate before going in. It's called blinking, a negative in flushing dogs. (Most blinker's are taught to blink. )

I think the trait's we see in dogs have always been there and are buried in there on all dogs. But through breeding, the traits we look for are brought out. Labs weren't pointing eog's until someone figured out they could be made to point depending on how they are trained. All the breeder's of them are doing is bringing out instincts that were already there and they attempt to intensify them."
quote DF

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My golden many years ago use to do the same thing and point if she came upon a deer laying down.

Yes, I too found the OPs question very vague. He's looking for a female Lab pup. That could mean anything!
Never lose your sense of humour people. Spring is just around the corner so lets all get along just a wee while longer. :)
Actually, young dogs more-often-than-not point because they are intimidated. They have no idea if the critter emanating that smell is going to grab them by the throat. That is why folk come along with young pups saying, "Look he's only 10 weeks old and is already pointing!" When that same dog first learns birds won't hurt him, he chases like a demon! It's all perfectly normal.
I personally see no reason to have a pointing flusher. Seems a bit ambiguous. I like my pointer to point and my flusher (Lab) to flush - as do most folk. That said, flushers typically work with their noses low working ground scent. Pointers ideally work head high looking for the very edge of that scent cone so that they can hit the brakes a safe distance from causing a flush. So, if you have a "pointing" Lab that works head low, he will not be very successful at "pointing" wild birds for the handler to flush. I am NOT saying the pointer will find more birds than a flusher or vice versa. I'm saying what the outcome of the find brings to the table is significantly diverse - point vs flush. Hence why I prefer flushers (Lab, spaniel, etc.) on pheasants.
Hmmm.....female Lab pup. ?????

Yes I like that observation and never really looked at it that way.

I have heard both theories. I believe the point from fear may occur in initial exposure to a new scent and I have seen pointer pups stop dead on strange/unfamiliar scent other than birds. After bird scent is known, the pointer pups I have dealt with start to point/hunt/stalk the scent with intent to capture so I lean more towards "the point is the start of a stalk" theory, but who really knows. Once they see the bird or it is in the air the chase is on.

I agree with Ugo's assessment of the pointing lab, I don't see the "point".;)

I will clear this up for Ugo lol..

Im looking for a female black lab that is ready to pick up now, right this second as in call me and i will be right over. I have been handed some time off and would like to use it to start the bonding process on a new pup. I had assumed any dog offered on here would be a CKC dog and would assume hips eyes and elbows would be good but i suppose i should have said that. Im not picky on breeding, as long as she comes from hunting stock I will take care of the rest. She will be used to retrieve ducks and geese on land and in water. Like all my dogs she will hunt upland but i prefer hunting over flushers rather then pointers.

Wow man i forgot how much spare time you people have :silly:

Im still looking for a black female lab btw..Im at the point where Ive started looking at :whacked: chocolates :whacked: /duck

Enjoy your night crazy people lol, Gord

Thanks for clarifying that Gord. For a second there, I thought you were looking for a female Lab pup!
Hey, all the best and there are some super Lab folk right here in this forum. I hope you find a real cracker and the two of you make unforgettable memories afield together!

Most any young pup (Shih-Tzu, Chihuahua, Lab, Great Dane, GSP, pointer) will "point" or stall because they don't know what that new/alien scent brings with it. I'm not talking about a bird dog that has been introduced to birds. These dogs don't normally stall or if they do, it's only to hone in on the quarry. Their prey drive comes to the forefront and they flush/chase like 90, even when they aren't supposed too! :)

Thanks for clarifying that Ugo.