Conceding defeat...

This isn't another "which dog" thread. I made up my mind what I wanted but time after time things just fell through whether it was a brit, GSP or GWP. So I'm wondering if it's a sign and whether I should just concede defeat, so I am going to ask a question I never thought I would.
Can someone who uses labs for indicating deer hunting please tell me what they're like? It'll be for a bit of quail and duck hunting as well but mostly just deer. Appreciate the help in advance. At the moment there are 80 registered litters for sale so I'm bound to get one of them without issues!

BH

Here's a good video of a lab working in NZ bush

labrador pointing deer. - YouTube

I don't have much experience but noticed Pip has a good nose for sniffing food or whatever I get her onto so when I go for a goat shoot with the bow I'm going to bring her and see if I can get her onto the blood trail. If she follows it like she does the scent of food she'll be great!

what happened to the gwp pup you found

Dogs are like girls. Nothing wrong with a bit of eye candy waiting for Miss Right to come along. Sooner or later the right one will come along and you will fall into sync with each other. Might have to lose a few trying to find the right one though

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Originally Posted by sako75

Might have to lose a few trying to find the right one though

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Seriously hope you are not talking about dumping a dog the moment you find something better :wtfsmilie: That would be pretty fucked up... :sick:

BH, if you really want a brit, GSP or GWP, be patient, the right dog will turn up. A dog is a 10-15 year commitment, long time to be stuck with one you don't really want...

Labs are very popular here, seems to be the go-to general purpose deer/duck/family dog :thumbsup:

Meaning you may have to see a few that don't come your way as in BH original post before the right one comes along. Some people call it destiny

Kawiha - I'd paid for everything, organised the flights to have it sent here and at 1am the morning before it was to happen they sent through a text and pulled out.

I know what you're saying EBF but with those other breeds there was always an issue that either the missus or I had with that breed, this is the first one we can both genuinely agree on. At the end of the day I don't care what I have as long as it's loyal and hunts, the missus wants something cute and cuddly. My whippet has given me hell with his escaping but when it came to the crunch I knew I loved him too much to get rid of him and at the end of the day his companionship is worth the trouble. I'm sure it'll be the same with any other breed of dog.

Cheers Sako - That's how I'm looking at it, when the one comes along I'm meant to have it'll fall into place.

I'm a bit of a softy when it comes to dogs. Wait for the dog/ breed you really want otherwise you will always wonder what if.......................

Follow the ten comandments below

TEN COMMANDMENTS for Dog owner from the dog

1. My life is likely to last 10 - 15 yrs, any separation from you is likely to be painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me, it is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your family, your entertainments. But I only have you!!

5. Talk to me, even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when you speak to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember I could hurt you, and yet I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me.

9. Please take care of me when I grow old, you to will grow old.

10. ON THE ULTIMATE DIFFICULT JOURNEY, GO WITH ME PLEASE! NEVER SAY YOU CAN'T BEAR TO WATCH. DON'T MAKE ME FACE THIS ALONE. EVERYTHING IS EASIER FOR ME IT YOU ARE THERE, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU SO!!!

Sound to me like you'd be happy with a lab (super loyal, cute pups, good learners, versatile, great family pet etc) If you can get one with hunting parents you should be sweet.

There is a lot to be said for breeds that are a bit more chillaxed than the hyper drive ones :D

And if the Mrs likes labs that just makes your life a lot easier.

Mikee that is bloody brilliant.

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Originally Posted by Dougie

Mikee that is bloody brilliant.

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It sure brought the feels on to me

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Originally Posted by Toby

It sure brought the feels on to me

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You sentimental SOAB

Send him a pup kawhia

What I do appreciate about your thoughts, BH, is that you are being honest. As ebf said a dog is a huge commitment. Go with your feelings on this one. I am sure a dog will present itself to you one way or another and it will be right.
The ten commandments left one of the most important bits out for a GUNDOG...give me land lots of land, a maimai in the early morning, a rooster to flush, a quail or two to bring to hand...

EBs you should send him one!

If you only use it for deer there is heaps of options.

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Originally Posted by Wirehunt

If you only use it for deer there is heaps of options.

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what do you mean by that?

I've got foxy crosses that find deer, first cross springer foxys that find them, whippets have one hell of a nose.

If you can wait a bit I've got a bitch here due for rooting at xmas, my top bitch in fact. A god damn machine of a dog. I don't know what breed she's got in her but the vet said there is definitely visla in there, maybe a bit of lab and who knows what else. Putting a whippet over her, unforchantly not my one as the dicks I got him off got him chopped :pissed off::pissed off::pissed off:

wirehunt what does your bitch look like? could you post a pic up

BH one of the best deer and alround hunting dogs I have ever see was a lab. His owner hasn't replaced him as he thinks no other dog will ever be as good. If you make sure the parents are hunters there should be no problems Cheers Ackley

Her on the left.

Attachment 15998

Attachment 15999

Good looking mutt you got there WH, big fan of crosses (ridgeback/boerboel, vizsla/lab, foxy/jack, gsd/Doberman)

Foxy looks like a machine too :thumbsup:

Cheers WH but it gets pretty pricey having one shipped here.

Yeh thanks Ackley - I figure, if they can be guide dogs, bomb and drug detectors and police dogs how hard could teaching them to find deer be? The trouble is finding a good hunting line. I had a look at dogzonline and there is only a couple who breed hunters.

Wirehunt, would be great to hear / learn more about your use of Ferrits on rabbits!! Has always fascinated me!

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Originally Posted by Bavarian_Hunter

Cheers WH but it gets pretty pricey having one shipped here.

Yeh thanks Ackley - I figure, if they can be guide dogs, bomb and drug detectors and police dogs how hard could teaching them to find deer be? The trouble is finding a good hunting line. I had a look at dogzonline and there is only a couple who breed hunters.

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Thoughts on going with the same kennel as your brother? No better way to know the calibre of a dog than to hunt with it. If you like your bro's dog, and they have a litter coming up, could cut out a bit of the gamble with going with a kennel that you haven't had as much experience with.

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Originally Posted by phillipgr

Thoughts on going with the same kennel as your brother? No better way to know the calibre of a dog than to hunt with it. If you like your bro's dog, and they have a litter coming up, could cut out a bit of the gamble with going with a kennel that you haven't had as much experience with.

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that has been a consideration and was the original plan, but I'm all about principle and think it's crap if I try to repeatedly contact someone to get no response back. At the end of the day I would love to have a dog tomorrow but I'll wait another 12 months if I have to to get the right one.