retrieving dog breeds

[Wacenturion]

    "You own what you condone." 



So true.....says it all.  Also could not agree more with your statement of seeing what's winning at field trials.  Want to get a sense of what a retriever or pointing dog can do.....attend a high end trial, then draw a comparison.

[shoot4Boone]

great opinions guys, yes, when looking for a good breed, prob is a good idea to check out the dogs at the top of the trials,   wow, so much to take in good thing I have another 18mos left in nursing school to decide. 
thanks for all the great tips, i like the one about when picking from the litter let them get used to you then bring out a dead bird or meat and see which nose pops up first.  i will have plenty of research material here, thanks guys and gals.

[C-Money]

I have had Chessy's all my life. On my third one now. They are fine dogs. Very protective of the family and will usually listen to only its owner. Great with kids of all sizes. Be prepared to be stared at for long periods of time. Once a Chessy bonds with you, it is YOUR dog, no one Else's. My wife gets mad cause she can call that dog in for dinner till she is blue in the face and it wont come, so I give the dog a holler and it is in in seconds. In short, Great dogs are those Chessy's. Spend a little extra at a reputable breeder.

[ThePascoKid]

Chessy's are extremely tough hunting dogs I have found they can handle the cold weather even better than labs, but they can be stubborn.  Actually I know this goes against all you purebred or bust guys but some of the finest waterfowl and pheasant dogs I have ever hunted over were Lab/Chessy crosses.  I think it all depends on the amount of time you spend with the dog.  I know people that won't own anything but a cross and others that wouldn't think of owning a "mut".  By the way here is a pic of our newest edition a purbred chocolate lab.

[ellsworth]

I had a lab/Chesapeake cross when I was younger, two bird dogs got together behind a blind    worked out for me though   that dog was a fighter smart as hell (ches), really attentive (lab), inquisitive (ches) and instinct (ches).

But I tell you what she was the most stuburn thing on the face of the earth.  80 was her close.

My next dog is either going to be a lab or chessie, and i'm starting toward the Chesapeake lately.

[DeerHarvester]

Hands down, Labs are the best all purpose dog around.  Also check out pointing labs for a great mix of upland bird hunting and waterfowling.  You will not find a better dog for all around use.   

[C-Money]

I feel that if you get a Chessy, get a pup as soon as it can be without its mother. Over time as the dog grows, it MUST see YOU as the pack leader! It will not respect you or listen to you if this connection is not made. Maybe I have been lucky, but my chessy's have been great what ever they do. Waterfowl, upland, or just a good fishing buddy, they are great! I don't worry about people calling the dog over to pet it or it running of with a stranger, mine ignore most people. I have hunted with many great Labs, but they will listen to most anyone in my experience. My Chessy's will only do what I tell them, and I think that is cool!

[Intruder]

Have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.  There is no.....I repeat no substitute for a lab or any other hunting breed for that matter from a solid line of well bred parents and grandparents.  That's not to say someone with no common sense or dog savy with the best breeding offers ends up with a dud, or conversely a person who understands dogs and has a mix breed can do some amazing things.  Utimately though, your odds of ending up with a top notch animal begins with genetics....no doubt about it.  Good genetics and proven parents, etc. comes with a price. 

+1 100% AGREE....

me too. 
lab, goldens, chessies are all good.  lab and goldens are generally gonna be better for upland.  chessies are generally gonna be a little tougher to train.  in the end much will come down to your personal tastes regarding temprament, looks, etc.  chicks dig goldens though       

[DeerHarvester]

i have a lab mix that i found(free), and my buddy has had 3 free lab mixes. In my experience they aren't any different than the expensive dogs that were sent away to expensive trainers. Its all how you train them.

Have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.  There is no.....I repeat no substitute for a lab or any other hunting breed for that matter from a solid line of well bred parents and grandparents.  That's not to say someone with no common sense or dog savy with the best breeding offers ends up with a dud, or conversely a person who understands dogs and has a mix breed can do some amazing things.  Utimately though, your odds of ending up with a top notch animal begins with genetics....no doubt about it.  Good genetics and proven parents, etc. comes with a price.  If one realizes the cost is minimal over the dog's lifetime it makes the purchase easier to accept.
This is more important if you train a dog to do what it was bred for.  What I mean is the total package.....steady until sent, marking birds as they fall.  Training on blind retrieves and everything else.  With bird dogs...i.e. pointers....steady to wing and shot...honoring etc.  If you don't expect to put that effort into it, then bloodlines may not be all that important to you.  The majority of dogs are never trained to do all they were bred for.
If you want a comparison just go to a licensed AKC retriever trial and compare the open (group) dogs and what they do to those you see out hunting with the average guy.  Lots of effort goes into a finished dog, but everyone should experience that joy once in their life....just my two cents.
Oh....I would rate a BLACK lab right at the top of the retrieving world....if you want the toughest and can adapt your style of training to not always being the boss....get a Chessy. 

Very well put. I agree training is very important, but you will never get the drive out of a mix that you get out of a papered lab with strong hunting lines.