Thread: heading dogs for deer

Do you think a lab-heading cross would make for a dog that doesnt pant so loudly as a lab, but isnt so high-strung or prone to cast out as a heading dog? My first dog will only be for deer and so I think id sTay awau from one of the pointer breeds (at least pedigree ones). Do lab-gsp crosses come out well?

Originally Posted by phillipgr

Do you think a lab-heading cross would make for a dog that doesnt pant so loudly as a lab, but isnt so high-strung or prone to cast out as a heading dog? My first dog will only be for deer and so I think id sTay awau from one of the pointer breeds (at least pedigree ones). Do lab-gsp crosses come out well?

You never know till you look at them.
people seem to ask real money for pointer/lab crosses so some reason.
You get a number of the heading/lab crosses on farms and are typically cheap, when one of the workers visits the bosses hunting lab. If the parents are good at their job I'd expect the offspring to get at least some the good qualities but it's all a gamble.

Don't be put off by a pedigree dog, a kinder type of wirehair or a lab would do well for deer. Pointer/lab is a good first cross if your hooked on a mongrel and keen for a gamble

Originally Posted by Pointer

Don't be put off by a pedigree dog, a kinder type of wirehair or a lab would do well for deer. Pointer/lab is a good first cross if your hooked on a mongrel and keen for a gamble

Would I be right in thinking that a pedigree is less risky because you don't run the risk of getting the bad traits from both parents in a cross, instead of the good traits. On the flipside, the cross can pick up good traits from both sides (therein lies the gamble) and has the added quality of hybrid vigour.

I would rather (as a complete beginner trainer on a first dog) have a dog that was easier to train and not as demanding on my skill as a trainer, but didn't have the potential to be the worlds greatest deer indicator, than a dog that did have that potential, but is very high maintenance and requires a highly skilled trainer it can turn to shit. This is why I'm attracted to a lab or something other than a pointer. Please correct me if I'm misguided in my view, I am only a novice.