hunting dog

[Hardcore Honker Hunter]

Hey guys, I am looking at getting a lab for duck, and goose hunting, and wondered what youall's views were as far as color, and most of all would you recommend female, or male? Thanks in advance!!!

[BlackMouth]

personally, Ive had alot of males in both labs and springers. This spring I got a red female. She has been by far the easiest and most pleasurable training experience out of the whole lot. Out of my males, I can say they definately have a great drive and passion for hunting, but sometimes they get hard headed and attitudes. With my female, if your happy shes happy.

Color is all personal preference, Ive had black and chocolate (and htem black and white little spaniel devils!) and I could tell you nightmare stories about them all. I really like my red I have now.

[Hardcore Honker Hunter]

Ok, i know i want a lab, and i am leaning toward either chocolate, or white.

[OHmikeb]

HAHAHA this is one of those which is better benelli or beretta?
Its the same question I wondered last year when I got my lab!
I went with a chocolate for the soul purpose of when the dog gets dirty. The yellows can get pretty dirty.

As for male or female... Well do you plan on breeding, and do you want 8 pups running around your house haha? Males tend to be more stubborn but yet stronger and hear that females are smarter, but I think its all on how they're trained also. I went with an english lab because I like how blocky they look.

The number one thing to worry about is::::: Make sure you got a good breeder lined up. I can't stress how important that is.

From there decide if you want puppies or just one puppy cause you used your male as a stud service. decide if you want your male howling at the moon at 2am because there's a female in heat somewhere in the neighbor hood. hahahah, it's true though! And if you want him to look cleaner than what he usually does, then go with a darker color. Hope this helps.

[BlackMouth]

well Id stay away fro mthe whites unless it has a decent pedigree. If it does its not a problem.

I picked my red by basically looking at where I mainly hunt and what color would be the easiest to hunt. I mainly hunt dry fields, corn and barley. So I decided a darker yellow would be the best bet. Just so happened they had a couple "reds" in the litter and thats what the wife ended up picking.

[Hardcore Honker Hunter]

ohmikeb, Thank you very much, i am leaning toward the chocolate in a female, and just getting her fixed so i don't have to worry about more puppies than i can handle.

[BlackMouth]

puppies are great, alot of work, but alot of fun especially if you have kids.

Ill think youll be very happy with the female, even if shes is chocolate;)
you could always look for a dark yellow or red, they match mud perfectly!

[OHmikeb]

good deal man. I love my chocolate. I'm pretty sold on them, try not to get her fixed right away though. The vets want you to do it at six months I believe, but I'm actually waiting til about this april when my dog turns 2. I'm doing this because he's still filling out his head. Just stories I heard so I'm just making sure he gets as blocky as possible. I'm not sure how it is for females. It cost more to get it done as they get bigger because of the anesthesia, so thats where it hurts the wallet. Its worth it to me though. just another aspect for you to look at. When do you plan on getting her? Be sure to post some pics when you do. Also the cheapest part about getting a pup is when you buy one, trust me they tend to hurt the wallet real quick (not sure if this is your first or not). I found out the hard way hahah.

[Hardcore Honker Hunter]

no, this is not my first, i had a yellow lab, thats registered, but at 5 months, she got some disease that made her loose all her vision, and the vet says its not hurting her, so we still have her, just have to keep her real close when you let her out, but she is really smart, she still remembers what she learned two years ago before she went blind, and still a sweet, lovable dog, just can't see.

[BlackMouth]

yeah I agree, the vet wil ltell you differnt, like mike said at 6 months, but Iwould wait till she atleast goes into her first cycle, preferable second, untill you get her fixed. that way two you dont have any down time, even thou its only a day or so, on her first year of training. from 6 weeks to 6 months are the most influential times, and what you tech her and the rules you set in that time frame will pay off big time later on.

[Just Hunt]

Your going to get as many oppinions on this subject as there are people that want to respond. First and formost color is purely a matter of personal prefrance, nothing more, get what YOU like. I have had good and not so good males and females but I prefer females. There are a lot of good breeders out there. The pedigree is the best place to start. See how many titles are in the line on both sides. If you can find other people who have dogs from a perticuler breeder and talk to them that may help also. If you don't have experiance training FIND a good trainer. Good luck and have fun with the one you choose.

[Drake]

The polar bear colored labs are cool looking,but I went with chocolate with my last 2 dogs and have been very satisfied with my choice.

[hoyt]

the white's stick out like a sore thumb in the marsh. i got a chocolate she blends in pretty good with her kw1 vest on sits right in front of thr blind sometimes and the birds land right infront of her