Originally Posted by
mustad
Again Pike, you are talking out of your arse and change your message to suit your argument.
Which hunt tests have you been to and what dogs have you seen? Have you trained any hunting dogs? What have you trained them to do? Have you judged any? Have you hunted over any? Which ones? Names. I don't believe you know as much as you claim you know.
I never said clay pigeon shoots were hunting. You claimed specifically that they had nothing to do with hunting. This is what I disagree with. To some extent, I agree that they are similar to some of the hunt tests, but to say they have nothing to do with hunting is erroneous. To say they can't provide a tremendous amount of information to aid us in hunting is also erroneous. Stop talking out of your arse.
If you really believe that the labs temperament is as stable as other hunting breeds, you have blinders on. It just isn't the case. I challenge you to show me a single case where either a Pudelpointer, Wirehaired Griffon, Spinone, Deutsche Drahthaar, Deutsche Kurzhaar, GWP or GSP has killed a child. Show me ONE example. So, in your world; you come upon a dog that kills a kid, and the best way to deal with this is destroy the dog and move on? No analysis into what the littermates are doing? No look into the dog's genetic history to find out where this issue is coming from? Ah right, there's no reason to try to find solutions to potential problems caused by genetics. It costs too much and lowers the profit margin. Let's just stick them in rescue homes and pretend the problem doesn't exist. Frankly, this is a joke.
A lab is a versatile dog for sure. If I liked hunting over flushing dogs, it would be at the top of my list. I have already said this. It's just that I like pointing dogs, which a lab isn't. I've never said that a lab isn't versatile.
I think this horse has been beaten. I really don't think you have any idea what you're talking about and this dialog has gone far beyond the definition of waste of time. If you need to see yourself say you know something, continue on. I've got more important things to do. Cheers.
mustad your the one talking out yout arse!! First labs dont point, then some do, then they dont point again.
What have I trained hunting dogs to do?? I have trained beagles to hunt rabbits whe I was young, I have trained my lab/pitbull mix to track wounded game/blood. I have trained labs to hunt waterfowl, I have trained Labs and GSP's to hunt upland bird and pheasant hunt. I have also coon hunted over dogs aswell as pigs in FL., And you already know about training my lab to hunt antlers.
Also do not spin my words!! I never said that hunt tests were not a training tool, they are similar to other training tools like 3D shoots and clay pigeon shoots. I just said they are not hunting and many of the dogs that compete in them unfortunately will never participate in an actual hunt because their owners are non hunters.
And yes, if a client demands that their dog is destroyed we do it, depending on the situation we will offer to take the dog to work with it to see if we can find it a home that doesnt have kids or other pets.
And yes the lab has been over breed for decades but I see it everyday with every type of breed. Breeders come in and want x-ray after x-ray of their dogs hips and elbows in order to pick the best one's to send in. In my opinion every breed of dog is going down hill due to puppy mills and back yard breeders because there is far more of them than there is legit breeders and the average person that wants to buy a puppy doesnt know any better, after all what could be better than to load the family into the mini van take a drive and spend the day in amish country and pick out a new puppy?? Sounds like the perfect family day right?
You see the problem? You asked why I dont try to get amish puppy mills shut down?? Heck they dont even pay taxes, never participated in a draft etc. and you think the Dept of Ag. is going to stop them from breeding puppies. The amish and back yard breeders are not just breeding labs, they are breeding every type of popular breed. Now you said your definition of hunting is probably different than mine, I would agree with that 100%!! Here in PA. hunting is a way of life not just a hobby like in your region of New England where very few of you hunt. Pike