Picking out a Lab for Waterfowl

[Michelle_Nelson]

I have been debating with myself for the last year or so on getting a Lab puppy to train for water fowl.  I have only ever had 1 other dow and she was a mixed mut foundling.  So I have no experaince training dogs and don't have a clue. 

The only person that I have the opertunity to talk to was a friend with a higher end dog with really good breeding.

So how do I go about picking out a puppy when I visit a breeder? I would like a puppy with a mellow temperment.  I have heard a few thing such as bring in duck wings with you to check their interest.  Let the breeder make the selection just tell them what you are looking for.  Which doesn't sound bad since I have never done it. 

How old befor you start woking with them?  What should you start with?  Are there any good books out there I can pic up and read? 

How old will the puppy be befor I can expect him/her to retrieve in water? 

Are there and breeders on this site that breed labs for waterfowl?  I would appreciate a PM.  Or any recomendations from members.  Money is tight right now so I am not sure when I will be able to get a dog.  I'd like to get one as soon as I can so they may be ready to hunt by next season.

[gasman]

I am no expert but had similar questions last year, and here is what i learned.

A good Breeder and Trainer can and Will help match a pup to you and your personality. Some require that they pick the pup for you but others will assist in the what they feel is the best pup for you.
If you are looking at a pup from a breeder but does not train, look at the pups for a while, observe there personality's. Bring a wing and see how they react, but remember, they may react good to a wing but its not a guarantee that the dog will be the best/or worst hunting dog.

I have one pup that is doing well in her training and the other is an airhead.

As fr books, look at as many books and videos as you can. Many peple use "Water Dogs" as there training tool, but i have a few different books i have read and videos i have watched to get all different points of view.

My suggestion is to see if you can find a trainer that is willing to train you to train your dog. Some will do it sme won't. If you can get a trainer to work with you it is much cheaper for you are only poping out the money a little at a time.

Hope this helps and feel free to ask me any ther questions you have, I went through the same thing recently.....

Pete

[Wa hunter]

p.m. sent

[ducksdoom12]

buy the book "water dog" by Richard A. Wolters. great book that will tell you everything you ever need to know about training a duck dog along with around what ages you should start different parts of the training. i used it to train my first lab and she turned out great!   as far as temerment i would go for a female they typically will be calmer and they are out there to hunt for you where as a male, often times is only out there to hunt for himself and as a result can be harder to train.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yes ducksdoom12, my plan was to try and get a female. 

[PINTAIL]

get in contact with CORY TDF he has a great dog that he started training as a pup, he might have some good advice

[Joe_Hunter]

Michelle:
 Congrats on getting a lab puppy You'll find that they can be a challenge but well worth the investment in the end. Remember labs are a high energy breed and need allot of attention.
I will offer this advise
Go to a professional breeder to seek good assistance. There are allot of self proclaimed experts out there and You are the one that will have to live with this decision. I myself have my method of picking out a puppy and that's what works for me. I have a specific look that I want and specific markings and body type that suit my style of hunting.
I recently bought a pup and most breeders that are offering litters are pre-sold so act soon to get on a waiting list.

As far as training. Again seek advise from professional trainers not self proclaimed experts or the guy that says hey I know a guy that trained his own pup he knows everything 

Water Dog by Wolters is
This book will answer all your questions
Self proclaimed experts 

Good luck

[Michelle_Nelson]

I havn't gotten a puppy yet.  Still looking for a breeder.

[Joe_Hunter]

Michelle:

Give these folks a try
www.einet.net/review/20348-124626/Merganser_Labrador_Retrievers.htm · Cached page

I' have personally owned two labs from mergansers and a friend of mine will only breed with them. Champion bloodlines and bread for waterfowl.
I've trained all of my labs and have been into waterfowl for 25 years. You won't go wrong with this breeder. a little expensive but well worth it.

Joe

[CoryTDF]

Michelle,

I have worked with professional trainers and read both Water dog and Game Dog from Richard A. Wolters along with several other books. Self proclaimed as i may be. I do have a pretty solid water dog. Any advice i could give you would come from the pages of those books. I have learned a few tricks here and there but it's best to start with the books. If the pup is not responding to the methods in the books it's time to try something else. I had no desire or intentions of paying somebody else to raise my dog. I wanted to do it myself and i was fortunate enough to have a friend who trained hunting dogs for a living. He helped me along the way and i put in the hours and got a great dog in the end. I'm not going to win any trials but i grantee my dog is better trained than most of the dogs you see in the field. Although Joe Hunter and i do not get along. I will agree with some of what he said. Pay the money to get a dog from a reputable breeder. The money you pay up front will be saved in possible vet bills. Also, it's nice to have a dog that is breed to hunt not just walk around on Astro turf. The books he recommended are the same ones i used and i feel they are the most user friendly. You have seen the pictures from TDF on this forum most of the birds you have seen where at one time in the mouth of my dog. Professional I am not! Experienced duck hunter and dog owner I am. I feel that it is important to connect with your dog from day one. I could have paid the money and taken the easy way out and got a dog that  could do all kinds of neat tricks. For me my dog is my friend and i wanted to be the one teaching him to hunt, after all, it is me he will be hunting with. To answer your question i would get the books and read them. There is a section in the book that will give you some pointers on picking out a pup. It is not an exact science but i think the logic is sound. if you have any questions PM me i would be more than happy to help you out. Time and lots of love will be the best teaching tools. %80 of it is going to be teaching yourself how to teach your dog. That is the hardest part.

[lokidog]

ALL of Richard Wolters' books are great. 

A few weeks of training with a pro are well worth the money.  I had my golden ret. with a guy down by Longview and he did in a couple of weeks what would have taken me much longer.  Wish I could have done more with him.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Does anyone know or can recomend any breeders?  I know there are a few on here but can't remember there screen names.

[Joe_Hunter]

Sounds like we all agree, Reputable breeder, Professional Trainer and Richard Wolters if your going to attempt training on your own..........  Now all we need is a pup

Good Luck Michelle

Let's see some pics of your new pup when you get it.

[gasman]

Does anyone know or can recomend any breeders?  I know there are a few on here but can't remember there screen names.

I recomend Bryant and Cindy Meyer at Rocking M Retreivers http://www.rockingmlabs.com/

They are good poeple, and the ones i have been using to help me with my training.  
Good breeders as well as trainers.


Oh yeah, and this is on the site http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,37186.0/topicseen.html I talked with them also when looking for a chocolate, but ended up with a yellow for my daughter.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Do they have any clocolates?  Looks like all they had were yellow and black?

I am not against getting a yellow or black but I really like the looks of the chocolates.  Chocolate would be my first choice,Black, and than Yellow.