Hunting dog. Commited! Thinking bout silver lab.

[wooducksooie]

My bestfriend passed away a few weeks ago. Very tough for us as a family!!! She was a red doberman pinscher that I adored. I have just now been able to think about another dog. i've always said that if anything ever happened to her I would get a duck dog for myself and my newborn son. So, let the "researching" begin huh guys? My dobe was trained extremely well and I have the same drive and commitment that I did before I trained her. Obviously with duck dogs you have to right? I have been looking and researching a bit about silver labs. I have heard some good, bad, and indifferent. But to be honest, i have not found a ton of info. I just wanted to know your thoughts on these dogs. I made sure to read a little before i posted too. I am sure I will have plenty of questions in the future, before and during the time I have her. Its just nice coming to a site like this to get some good quality info from some guys (and girls) that know from experience. I have also thought about a yellow lab. My wife has been pushing a labradoodle too. Anyway, this is kindof the beginning stage of my "research" process. ha! thanks for your help..

[Indaswamp]

no such thing as a silver lab.... it's a mix of some kind.

[buckmeister]

I think he is talking about weimereiners. Question is, do you want a duck dog or a silver dog? If you want a duck dog, color should be a secondary choice, other factors are more important than color, such as retreiving desire, health certifications (offa hip and elbow clearances) hunting pedigree. Plenty of good labs out there from good hunting stock, they are just not silver.

[ohio mike]

Don't go looking at the designer dogs!You don't stand much of a chance of getting a dedicated retriever.I've heard of silver labs just a inbred color phase,Labradoodles are just a high priced mutt.A Lab black yellow or chocolate is the best first timer choice.Followed by Chessies .A Golden can be ok too.If you wanna go exotic stick with a Curley or flat coat.Also look at Tollers and American Water Spaniels. Inda,google silverlabs once you'll be amazed.

[copterdoc]

...So, let the "researching" begin huh guys? My dobe was trained extremely well and I have the same drive and commitment that I did before I trained her. Obviously with duck dogs you have to right? I have been looking and researching a bit about silver labs....

I advise you to research Breeders that select their breeding stock based on performance traits, not paint jobs!

[Iowawaterfowlnut]

[quote] Inda,google silverlabs once you'll be amazed.[quote]I just did this, the breeders of the controversial silver labs all price on color from what I could find. Not the kind of people I want to get a hunting dog from. Just my opinion.

[Redbeard]

I couldn't wait to see the comments after I read the title to this thread

[buckmeister]

Wooduck:

Sorry about your Doberman passing away, glad to hear you are looking for a retreiver to train. Nothing wrong with wanting to pick the color of your lab, its just that your odds of getting a good hunting dog are astronomiclly better by looking for a Black, yellor or chocolate or even redish colored labs are from good hunting stock.

[wooducksooie]

I pretty much expected to receive responses like this regarding silver labs. I am really leaning towards a yellow female. I would like to get her around Christmas or march for my sons bday. What kind of books and/or DVDs would u recommend to get started? Thanks for all the replies.

[Indaswamp]

I pretty much expected to receive responses like this regarding silver labs. I am really leaning towards a yellow female. I would like to get her around Christmas or march for my sons bday. What kind of books and/or DVDs would u recommend to get started? Thanks for all the replies.

http://www.duckhuntingchat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=117639

[hunt-chessies]

there is a sticky at the top that will tell you all you ever wanted to know about training materials.... I like smart work and fowl dogs and i mix in a bit of stuff from a book called retrievers from the inside out.

Good luck finding a new pup

[agengo02]

Hey woodduck you are from NE Arkansas? All my family lives near Cave City. Anywhere near you?

You won't find any love for the Silver Labs over here or any other working dog forum. Most people on these sites are purebred only and everything else is just a mutt with no chance of becoming a good hunting dog. I think the main thing is finding the right program for the dog you choose. You don't have to spend $1,000 to have a good duck dog; heck you don't even have to spend $500, lots of good dogs came from the pound or other rescue groups. Might be an option also.

Oh and try to get with a pro in your area. Nothing like hands on training for yourself.

[HNTFSH]

Hey woodduck you are from NE Arkansas? All my family lives near Cave City. Anywhere near you?

You won't find any love for the Silver Labs over here or any other working dog forum. Most people on these sites are purebred only and everything else is just a mutt with no chance of becoming a good hunting dog. I think the main thing is finding the right program for the dog you choose. You don't have to spend $1,000 to have a good duck dog; heck you don't even have to spend $500, lots of good dogs came from the pound or other rescue groups. Might be an option also.

Oh and try to get with a pro in your area. Nothing like hands on training for yourself.

Oh man...you knew I wouldn't let it slide...

Definitely agree working with a pro or club has tremendous value.

As to the other - the reason regulars on Hunting dog and Working dog forums present pedigree, background, and health certs (which all generally DO put you at 500.00 or above - unless you get lucky through associates) is because they generally know a lot about the subject.

[agengo02]

Hey woodduck you are from NE Arkansas? All my family lives near Cave City. Anywhere near you?

You won't find any love for the Silver Labs over here or any other working dog forum. Most people on these sites are purebred only and everything else is just a mutt with no chance of becoming a good hunting dog. I think the main thing is finding the right program for the dog you choose. You don't have to spend $1,000 to have a good duck dog; heck you don't even have to spend $500, lots of good dogs came from the pound or other rescue groups. Might be an option also.

Oh and try to get with a pro in your area. Nothing like hands on training for yourself.

Oh man...you knew I wouldn't let it slide...

Definitely agree working with a pro or club has tremendous value.

As to the other - the reason regulars on Hunting dog and Working dog forums present pedigree, background, and health certs (which all generally DO put you at 500.00 or above - unless you get lucky through associates) is because they generally know a lot about the subject.

Haha don't worry we wont rehash this out again!

[Takem_Brewer]

Don't have a lot of experience, but my girlfriend and her fiance have a silver lab, and it is one of the most non driven dogs I have ever seen. "He's going to be a great hunting dog, I hide treats around the house when he isn't looking and he finds them." Yeah part of it may be becuase of the owners, but a lot of it to do with genetics. IMO, I have not seen one good looking silver lab either. Most of them don't have the traditional lab look, which also leads to the "they are mixed" theory. I have yet to see a silver lab be a great hunter, don't see too many of them with a MH behind their name.

I would say stick with the tradition colored lab, or even go with the "fox red" if you want something a little different in a lab but stay clear of those "dilluted gene labs". Also take a look into chesapeakes and goldens. They both have colors similar to the yellow lab if that is really what you are looking for.

[Indaswamp]

Don't have a lot of experience, but my girlfriend and her fiance have a silver lab

that's a confusing statement... if she's your girlfriend and you are not the fiance, then what kind of a relationship do you have???

[goodkarmarising]

Don't have a lot of experience, but my girlfriend and her fiance have a silver lab

that's a confusing statement... if she's your girlfriend and you are not the fiance, then what kind of a relationship do you have???

it would help to know that taken_brewer is a lady...had to reread it then realized she had posted up about chessies earlier

[goodkarmarising]

Don't have a lot of experience, but my girlfriend and her fiance have a silver lab, and it is one of the most non driven dogs I have ever seen. "He's going to be a great hunting dog, I hide treats around the house when he isn't looking and he finds them." Yeah part of it may be becuase of the owners, but a lot of it to do with genetics. IMO, I have not seen one good looking silver lab either. Most of them don't have the traditional lab look, which also leads to the "they are mixed" theory. I have yet to see a silver lab be a great hunter, don't see too many of them with a MH behind their name.

I would say stick with the tradition colored lab, or even go with the "fox red" if you want something a little different in a lab but stay clear of those "dilluted gene labs". Also take a look into chesapeakes and goldens. They both have colors similar to the yellow lab if that is really what you are looking for.

Hey now..don't be hating on my fox red lab. Otherwise know as junkyard dog right now. But he did come out of hunting stock and yes, I would agree go with a dog that comes out of hunting stock, whichever retriever breed you choose. And a good puppy from hunting stock can go from $100 to the sky is the limit, depending on how much shopping around you do.

[copterdoc]

Oh man...you knew I wouldn't let it slide...

Definitely agree working with a pro or club has tremendous value.

As to the other - the reason regulars on Hunting dog and Working dog forums present pedigree, background, and health certs (which all generally DO put you at 500.00 or above - unless you get lucky through associates) is because they generally know a lot about the subject.

agengo02, is hanging out in all the right places and learning new things. It's only a matter of time, until he puts his theories about the genetic equality of dogs from unproven/untested ancestry to the test against some real talent. He's just a PAL/ILP or LPL away.

I know that I used to feel the same way about my past mutts, as he does about his today.

[Drinkin' With Deacon]

Find a good litter, let color be a secondary selection. As others have said contact your local retriever club and go get involved. I would use your local club to find a good litter.

With regards to the silver and fox reds....the fox phase is just a darker color of the yellow. I've always referred to the very white yellow labs as silver until this "new" silver color has been introduced.

Go join a club, tell them just what you said on this forum, that you wish to have a trained waterfowl dog. Having a club to rely on will give you the best shot of having that special pup become that special dog.

Deke

[Indaswamp]

Don't have a lot of experience, but my girlfriend and her fiance have a silver lab

that's a confusing statement... if she's your girlfriend and you are not the fiance, then what kind of a relationship do you have???

it would help to know that taken_brewer is a lady...had to reread it then realized she had posted up about chessies earlier

well now that makes sense...

[mikemac]

The other option: Must be from California

[Rick Hall]

If you're really committed to having a hunting dog, be advised that most dogs said to be "great hunters" are not, and that terms like "hunting stock" are so wide open to individual interpretation as to be worthless. So, for that matter, is "hunt test stock," but I'd suggest beginning your search at area hunt tests watching dogs work and interacting with they and their owners. You'll soon see that there is great diversity of talent and temperament to be found even within so-said test proven dogs, and have a chance to speak with the owners of those that catch your fancy and learn if there will be pups with similar blood to be had.

[solway gunner]

check em out www.silverlabs.com ,theyre big dogs at 100lb ...thats $10 per pound of couch potato ...

[MacMan]

Damn, if folks keep playing with the Lab gene pool they'll someday end up with a chessie. . . Well, not quite - But, keep trying! Silver labs? Ash Chessies?

. . .sorry for your loss Bro - it's never easy to replace a dog with another one.