Thread: Versatile dog

I'm sadly going to need replacement for the family lab soon. Any suggestions/feedback on which breeds would be suited to bush hunting, flushing peacocks and long runs with the missus on hot days?

We have a Vizsla and its pretty good at all those things youve listed. Only thing Id say is that its not to keen on jumping into a duck pond on opening weekend.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

Just get another Lab, end of story

My Vizsla ticks all those boxes.And she's a bloody good mate to camp with.High energy tho but great with the family too.

I've had labs all my time
I was like you and wanted to try something different.
I was 50 at the time.
I chose a Wirehair from a good breeder.

Let me tell you about my Wirehair

He's sitting beside me right now, well he was, now he's gone.

He will , run like the wind, especially if your used to Labs.
He is smart, easily picks things up, easy to train, if you keep at it, he likes to be busy.
He's head strong, but only if you give him his head, if you keep him under control he's good and, he likes to be controlled.
Let him out of your controll at your reget[ if you can find him]

He is affectionate , when it suits him, if he's on a mission , forgetabout it.
Mine is really, really good with the kids.
I have a new Granddaughter, first time he saw the babe and we let him, and he sniffed than lay down.
Now she's older he's just fine, we have to be carefull though as he has no idea how stong he is.

First 15mths of his life he was lucky to survive , he destoryed every native my wife had planted in the yard and to this day she refuses to replant.

He hunts wonderfully well, he will fetch a duck from a frozen pond without a second look at me.
Then he will go back and get the other.
He isn't keen on fur, rabbits don't interest him if they are not running and i have to fetch them my self

Wallaby are the same, if they're dead he ignore's them, wounded he just grabs and sits on them,perfect.

When the time comes again, I'll get a Black Lab Bitch.

Originally Posted by jakewire

I've had labs all my time
I was like you and wanted to try something different.
I was 50 at the time.
I chose a Wirehair from a good breeder.

Let me tell you about my Wirehair

He's sitting beside me right now, well he was, now he's gone.

He will , run like the wind, especially if your used to Labs.
He is smart, easily picks things up, easy to train, if you keep at it, he likes to be busy.
He's head strong, but only if you give him his head, if you keep him under control he's good and, he likes to be controlled.
Let him out of your controll at your reget[ if you can find him]

He is affectionate , when it suits him, if he's on a mission , forgetabout it.
Mine is really, really good with the kids.
I have a new Granddaughter, first time he saw the babe and we let him, and he sniffed than lay down.
Now she's older he's just fine, we have to be carefull though as he has no idea how stong he is.

First 15mths of his life he was lucky to survive , he destoryed every native my wife had planted in the yard and to this day she refuses to replant.

He hunts wonderfully well, he will fetch a duck from a frozen pond without a second look at me.
Then he will go back and get the other.
He isn't keen on fur, rabbits don't interest him if they are not running and i have to fetch them my self

Wallaby are the same, if they're dead he ignore's them, wounded he just grabs and sits on them,perfect.

Enough said get another Lab I've got a new one coming in two weeks

Cattle dogs are great. very fast learners/easy to train. nimble in the bush. are not fussed by food. have a high hunting drive.

Though they are not known to be bird dogs, I don't think it would be very hard to teach it to fetch fallen birds. It took me from home to the park and back (15min) to teach my dog to slow his pace from a slight jog to walk.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Is the advantage of a lab what it does do or what it doesn't do?

\
Good point
I think it is what she does do.

What she doesn't do, Damn, you can near do yourself.

I'm on my 3rd Wirehaired bitch now. Protective, good hunting drive, brilliant on ducks, deer, Bunnies Hmmm, great family loyalty and the Brides favourite, low hair shedding. Can't see me getting any other breed as my working dog. Get a bitch thou.

Originally Posted by Skinny White Boy

We have a Vizsla and its pretty good at all those things youve listed. Only thing Id say is that its not to keen on jumping into a duck pond on opening weekend.

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

My Vizsla is fine in water, maybe I got lucky; maybe it was the training... We'll never know. ;-)

One thing I'd say is never give in and give them heaps of encouragement, my mates used to mock me!. Our Golden Retriever took five years.

http://youtu.be/2LdIYiM-p7s

http://youtu.be/KfYVH7Vn6R4

Thanks for the feedback. Just got us a Lab Beardie cross, 3 months old so lots of training for young Doug to come. He's got a good nose on him all ready so will be interesting seeing how he turns out.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Absolutely superb no doubt. It will upset the purists but I suspect you will find him hard to fault.

On the subject of labs, I'm sure if you just took a Visla and over fed it till it looked like a sausage it would behave just like a lab

A friend fosters for a rescue outfit and the wee fella was the last of his litter and they we're going to dump him. She says she can get me in contact with some good trainers too.
Scent, Kiwi aversion etc. He's going to have his work