Doc E - Why must a lab have the ability to point in order to be versatile? Wouldn't a nice working flushing lab that will bust its butt to retrieve on both land and water, steady to wing and shot, etc... also get the job done?

Don't forget they also use them for seeing eye dogs, bomb and drug dogs, and we also have some in our HRC Region 13 that fema used in 911 tragedy and are still top hunting dogs.

"Versatile dog" is a definition from the European (particularly German) "versatile" dogs -- it's not my idea, it's just how it is.

I LOVE Flushing dogs as well as Pointing dogs -- the "dog world definition" of versatile includes pointing as well as hunting both fur and feathers.

I'm just giving you a little grief Doc. I own a MPR/FC-AFC bred pointing lab. I've been very pleased.

Doc .. I beg to differ!

Nobody threw out the Springer Spaniel???? Better on upland game than Lab's, no offense guys .. but that's what they have been bred for. Long coats and hardy swimmers make them good retrievers as well. Here in the NorthEast that rules the short coated GSP's out after mid November. As good in the home as a lab and won't wear out after the first field on upland. For true multi tasking, I'd take the Springer. I have owned only Springer's, GSP's and Labs ... and I LOVE them all. In my experience they all beat each other at certain things .. but the Springer wins the versatility award for overall performance in different hunting situations.

MA Jay,

I fully understand your sentiments -- Springers are great dogs for sure. One of my dog training buddies has one and the dog is great (because he thinks he is a lab)

If you live where I do yuou won't have a long haired hunting dog for long with all the sand burrs and cockle burrs though I have heard of people spraying Pam or WD40 to help with the after the hunt grooming. My friends father inlaw runs springers and they are good dogs he uses them for waterfowl and upland.

My Springer often acts like a Lab while sitting in a blind! Right down to the disgusted look when someone misses a flaring duck.

Luckily that ends when she hits the cover looking for birds!!!!

Just kidding of course guys, I do believe some labs are awesome all around hunting dogs.

How do you know if you have a pointing lab? I just got an 8 month old american white lab, if i see her point, will that mean she is a pointing lab??
Just curious to know, and would you train a pointing lab as you would an english pointer?

what about an upland, duck, and coon dog? any such thing?