Why does everyone push for a lab?

[barenn]

I can see that Gilroy, my comment was in regards to training only as we always had different people show up for training and never had an issue with the labs as they were all labs and myself with the Chessies. I suppose alot to do with the owners and how they are trained.

[yellow dog]

I have worked for a few municipalities over the years as a manager of Parks and Recreation and Maintenance Manager. Very few dog parks work based on my many years of experience. The myth is especially an off leash dog park that most of the animals are well behaved and trained. My experience is the opposite and have found many people that do not provide the training and go to a dog park and release there dog. These people may work all day and come home to a hyper dog that needs to be mentally stimulated and exercised. These people show up at the dog park thinking all is good but the outcome is disastrous because they have no training in obedience. These dogs go on a rampage and start tackling other dogs and a dog fights start. I have heard the same story over and over that he or she listens at home and cannot understand what came over there dog. My advice is stay clear of dog parks until you can guarantee your dog to be completely obedient off leash.

[BurlyGirl]

Ok, so labs are service dogs and no service dogs are rammy, hmm, but only a few dogs are actually used for service dogs. I am sure that the lab that is used for a seeing eye dog would not have the drive for duck hunting. My issue is with how the breed has changed. A 130lb lab is just insane, they have big problems with their hips when they get that size and I still cannot believe that they are any warmer since they are still a short coated dog.

As for the rest of the service dogs, PTSD animals can be anything, dogs are amazing at knowing when you are feeling down, hell even some cats are good at that. Sniffer dogs, look at beagles, I see them all over the airports. German shepherds are still a go to breed for many of these roles as well, so why do people not talk about other breeds for waterfowl hunting.

Standard poodles used to be a go to breed for waterfowl, along with the Portuguese water dog, they have fur that keeps them afloat and warm in late season hunts. The Toller was designed for hunting in Nova Scotia and I have been told has one of the best drives of any of these, they have webbed feet and are supposed to stay warm in even late season.

Don't get me wrong, I have always loved labs, I hunted with a friend just west of Ottawa with his Lab, but I asked him about smaller retrievers and he laughed, his dog was just over a year old and already 67 pounds, without adding any bulk to his bones. This man also knows his labs, his wife used to raise them and he would train them, he has had wonderful labs and amazing hunters although they are all a little insane and all very heavy.

So do your homework and research the pedigree before committing to a pup from a litter. My point was that labradors are versatile and I gave you many examples of all the different things they do. The breed itself is well rounded. From there, find a line that boasts the traits you want in your dog. From there, find out what litters are expected. From there, go meet the parents. You asked why people 'push' for labs. I told you why I think they're the automatic go-to breed.

As for anyone jumping in giving an example of a nasty lab they encountered, you're talking about the exception to the rule, not the breed itself. You're always going to hear of an exception to any rule. There are nasty goldens that exist out there. There are also lovely, cuddly ones out there that age well and love to work. There is a phenomenon known as "Springer Rage". There are also springers out there who are great family dogs. So I don't exactly see how pointing out how you met one nasty lab once paints a picture of the breed as a whole. I met a jacka** man once....does that mean all men are jacka**e$? LOL

[BurlyGirl]

As far a goldens aging early goes, not all do. The ones your cousins have may be the exception. I had a golden at age 10 ran the National Master and qualified and later that year she finished her grand master. As well we hunted that fall. She was like a puppy and didn't look her age, even the judges were surprised at how old she was. That said I have seen labs that look ancient by age 10, partly because they were black and the grey shows up in their muzzle. I also have a 9 year old still working and there are labs out there that have a hard time keeping up with her.
deb

I was shocked when you told me how old your girl was at the National. She's aging better than Burly. She looks great, Deb =)

[yellow dog]

So do your homework and research the pedigree before committing to a pup from a litter. My point was that labradors are versatile and I gave you many examples of all the different things they do. The breed itself is well rounded. From there, find a line that boasts the traits you want in your dog. From there, find out what litters are expected. From there, go meet the parents. You asked why people 'push' for labs. I told you why I think they're the automatic go-to breed.

As for anyone jumping in giving an example of a nasty lab they encountered, you're talking about the exception to the rule, not the breed itself. You're always going to hear of an exception to any rule. There are nasty goldens that exist out there. There are also lovely, cuddly ones out there that age well and love to work. There is a phenomenon known as "Springer Rage". There are also springers out there who are great family dogs. So I don't exactly see how pointing out how you met one nasty lab once paints a picture of the breed as a whole. I met a jacka** man once....does that mean all men are jacka**e$? LOL

Yes BurlyGirl you are correct and I had said on page four of this thread that every breed has some rotten apples because of poor breeding practices or lack of socialization.

[thunderbelly]

To answer the original question.... A lot of people recommend labs, because a lot of people own them. The traits that make them popular are NOT exclusive to labradors. They are the result of focused breeding. It just happens that being calm is a desired trait in a duck boat/blind and in a mall food court. Easilly trained is a positive no matter what you plan on doing with a dog. Friendly to people and other dogs is pretty important when hunting in a group, or guiding a person down a city street.
The reason they are the "go to breed" for so many is personal preference. It could be someone saw a lab fetch a paper, guide a blind person, type an essay, or whatever, but the more popular a breed becomes the more tasks they will be tried at. The more tasks they can do, the more exposure to new people and the more popular they become. Having the most common breed is a bonus for some, a minus for others.

[cdnvizsla]

The OP keeps referring to Tollers, look at their original purpose. They were bred to run up and down the beach to draw birds close to shore and put them in the range of the gun. They are not as good in cold water as a Lab. A chessie is a great option as well however most new trainers don't have what it takes to train a chessie. Not a knock against the breed, but they require a strong trainer as they can be a little headstrong.
Headstrong dogs that are broke are usually better dogs in the end, but it takes work to get there.

Which is why people recommend labs.

[Labber]

Cdn Vizla, I agree with you that Chessies are not what a first time trainer should have, unless they are simply going to let a dog learn to hunt by experience, and be satisfied with limited results.
I also agree that they need an experienced trainer. Not because they are strong headed or willed, however.
That is an old wives tale. They are strong willed, but a good chessie trainer knows how to get in their head. I am not one of them.
I would guess that Chessis have been subjected to the wrong approaches more than any other breed.
2x4's only set you back with them. (that is a figure of speech)
John Ackerman, in the USA is one of few Chessie trainers that competes successfully with Chessies in Field trials. He knows their head.
Chessies are not as mentally tough as people think.
/the old saying you catch more flies with sugar than....etc holds true.

[thunderbelly]

Labber-- that goes for every dog. I have had dogs that would lay their lives on the line ti save you. That sort of devotion can't be forced into a dog.
Understanding the breed and individual dog is essential to a good relationship.

[yellow dog]

Labber-- that goes for every dog. I have had dogs that would lay their lives on the line ti save you. That sort of devotion can't be forced into a dog.
Understanding the breed and individual dog is essential to a good relationship.

Good Point.