ORIGINAL: Doc E
ORIGINAL: sproulman
i use SMALL lab for grouse/phesants here in pa.
1. but a ENGLISH SETTER can come behind me and get a phesant that my lab missed, i seen that a lot.
2. yet, i like lab.
3. seems other dogs have better nose than lab. maybe doc e and daleh can comment on the nose of lab vrs other dogs.
1. I've see that and I've also seen the reverse
2. Me too ---- especially of the pointing variety
3. I think the jury is still out. It's something that is probably very difficult to quantify. I think most "experts" believe that the Hounds (particularly Blood Hounds) have the best noses.
Then, of course, you have the "Sniffer Dogs" (drug, bomb etc) and Labs (and a few Goldens) make up the huge majority of those dogs. That is likely due to retrievers being a little more laid back and "people pleasers" than pointing breeds --- and that combined with the fact that Sniffer Dogs are working for their reward (a retrieve)of finding the bad stuff.
Some pointer folks have found that plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil)in the diet markedly enhance scenting ability.
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i was hunting a area alomg road.
my lab covered the area ,just me and him.
i friend had 2 brittanys, he left them out of jeep and dogs went 30 yds from me, and 2 pheasants they got.
he was done hunting that quick.
i came thru that area 5 minutes ago.
maybe 2 noses are better than 1, i believe that too and maybe thats reason they found those birds.
some dogs cover a lot of area fast and working in pairs helps.
a test was made here at 1 of the preserves.
lab flushed 7 birds.
lewellin setter came next and flushed 11 birds.
they called me and stated they felt that the setters JUST HAVE BETTER NOSE.
this person sells both dogs but rec the setter if you want more birds .
me, so far, i like my lab and i know he does miss birds,but we have fun together and that is what counts to me,not killing a lot of birds.
