comparing field and show puppies

Discussion in 'Labrador Puppies' started by pippa@labforumHQ, Jun 28, 2012.

  1. pippa@labforumHQ

    pippa@labforumHQ Administrator

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    I managed to dig out a picture of my field bred lab Tess (the red girl on the right) at about the same age as my mainly show bred lab Rachael is now. Thought some of you might be interested to see the differences.

    [​IMG]

    What struck me most was actually the size of the eyes!

    Pippa
     
  2. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Thanks for posting those Pippa. It's really interesting to note the similarities / differences. The difference in the size and shape of the head is quite marked! I've only had show type labs before, and Poppy is my first working strain lab - sometimes it seems to me she's not really a lab at all! Except for the love of water and mud, of course. Oh yes, and the greediness. And of course the affectionate nature... and the chewing. Oh ok, she is a lab really... ;)

    If Rachael were black, she'd be a dead ringer for my Bones at that age, and Poppy is just like Tess, just a little lighter in colour.

    But looking at your two pups, they could almost be two different breeds. I'll be really interested to hear whether you think there is a difference in their characters, that you could put down to the different strains, as well. I have a sneaking suspicion, for instance, that Poppy is a lot cleverer than Bones (shhhhhh...). But that could of course be individual, and have nothing to do with the different strains. Interesting, anyway, and I look forward to hearing how Rachael progresses.
     
  3. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    I never thought of this until now , but how interesting , same breed, different strains . My old girl Tess who died last year looked like Rachael , she was show line . Sam on the other hand looked like Tess ( bit confusing , I mean your Tess !) slimmer build, slimmer face entirely , from field lines.
    Character wise , my Tess was naughtier , harder to train , lovely indeed but a challenge . Sam is so laid back as to be almost horizontal at times , has been a joy to train but , dare I say , hasnt got the personality that Tess had, but we love him all the same :)
     
  4. Projectm

    Projectm Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Really interesting. my two same- a fox red and a choc and you are right about the eyes. Our choc boy has much smaller eyes that get really small and piggy when he's sleepy !!. When we are out a lot of people are surprised that the fox red is a lab - they do look like two different breeds. Temperamentally they are different too with the choc much more boisterous and free spirited ( and vocal - not barking but sighing, noisy yawns , chattering to himself) - but still both have recognisable 'labradorishness' when you know them. A lovely contrasting and complimentary pair - love them both !
     
  5. David

    David Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Most interesting comparison. My Lady is a working dog and like Tess, had a much pointier nose from day one that seems to have become even pointier as she's grown up, and big eyes. One or two people have asked what she's crossed with, but she's 100% lab. She seems to have loads of get up and go as well.
     
  6. Jules

    Jules Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Very interesting comparison.

    Is it really the size of the eyes though, or is it that Rachael has a much larger, blockier head, so making her eyes look so much smaller?

    Weight wise, how do they compare?

    Jules.
     
  7. pippa@labforumHQ

    pippa@labforumHQ Administrator

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    I think there is a bit of that, also, I think the chocolate pup maybe has looser skin so the eyes are less prominent. But the eyes of the red pup do seem proportionately much bigger too.

    The weight at first vaccination was:
    Chocolate - 6.9 kilos
    Red - 5.1 kilos

    So nearly two kilos difference. That is quite a lot at this age. :eek:
     
  8. Jules

    Jules Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    [quote author=editor link=topic=573.msg2617#msg2617 date=1341088082]
    So nearly two kilos difference. That is quite a lot at this age. :eek:
    [/quote]

    Yes, that is a considerable difference, although not as big a difference as I've seen between some show bred and working bred pups.

    As you say, the extra skin Rachael has probably makes her eyes look smaller, also there is a sort of Optical Illusion going on with Tess' eyes, as she has those beautiful black eye rims. These always make the eyes seem much larger than they are (which is why us human girlies use make up in the same way ;)), although even taking all these things into consideration, her eyes do seem to be proportionately larger.

    Both are beautiful girls though, but you can see why some people would think they were different breeds entirely :eek:.

    Jules.
     
  9. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Argh, I just realized I should have entered my rant about hating it when people dont recognize that Poppy is in fact a labrador, here!! Lots of people ask me what breed she is... and look sceptical when I say she is 100% labrador.
     
  10. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    I`ve had the same question Karen , Sam looks so totally different to my old girl Tess who was show stock . His face is so much more slim, which make his ears look longer, he is more streamlined with longer legs , I was recently asked if he was a flat coated retriever but he is true Lab, stamped all the way through :)
     
  11. Jules

    Jules Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=573.msg2665#msg2665 date=1341399121]
    I was recently asked if he was a flat coated retriever but he is true Lab, stamped all the way through :)
    [/quote]

    My black girl has a head much more like a FCR than a Lab too, but then that's not so surprising when you think it really wasn't that far back that FCRs were added to the breed. I guess those genes will always show their faces occasionally. ;)

    Jules.
     
  12. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    You`re right Jules , I was looking at pics of FCR`s the other day and I can now see why the person asked if Sam was one because apart from the feathering , he does have the look . He is out of Billy Steels Leadburn gundogs , Leadburn Viceroy is his Grandad and he has the look of a FCR about him too . He is the first out of field stock that I`ve owned , had several show stock Labs plus Springers and have to say that Sam has been the easiest pup I`ve ever had the pleasure of owning , far more steady and bidable than my show girls :)
     
  13. pippa@labforumHQ

    pippa@labforumHQ Administrator

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Uh oh, what have I gone and done! :eek: :eek: ;D
     
  14. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Sorry Pippa :) I knew I shouldnt have written that , talk about an omen , the little devil decided to strip the apple tree of its lower branch fruit yesterday evening ::)
     
  15. David

    David Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    They seem to stop doing that when they get to about 2 years old.
     
  16. kateincornwall

    kateincornwall Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    I think my old Lab Tess was about 4 before she grew up , but even then she continued to have the odd silly puppy moment for most of her life :)
     
  17. Kitty

    Kitty Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    We were at the Galloway Country Fair yesterday, where David Lisett who is Kennel Manager at Chapel, for Buccleuch Gundogs (ww.buccleuchgundogs.com) had brought along a few of his 6/8 wk old lab/spaniel puppies for folk to see. The difference between Breagh at that age and the Chapel lab pups was really obvious and quite a suprise to me. What struck me most was the difference in the shape of the heads. Breagh's head is kind of like a square block whereas the pups had heads shaped almost like a slender bell, seen face on, if you know what I mean? Hmmm, now I'm wondering if her brain is just as blockish ;D
    I have also now managed to find a photo of Breagh's sire (Yarrowmarkers Mlinzi) and can see that she takes after him (pretty chunky!). So, maybe I should have taken more note of those massive paws after all??
     
  18. pippa@labforumHQ

    pippa@labforumHQ Administrator

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    The two types of lab are very different in appearance aren't they, but the longer I spend with my chunky pup, the more I think it is possibly the temperament of the show dog that interferes somewhat with ease of training, rather than the actual level of intelligence.

    Rachael seems to have quite a normal problem solving ability for her age compared with my field bred pups. But is very much more 'egocentric'.

    So I am having to work harder to keep her focused on me and interested in being with me. It is only my observations, for what they are worth, and of course Rachael is actually a mix of show and field, which complicates things further, but it is interesting. :D
     
  19. Kitty

    Kitty Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    ;D Egocentric!! That's one way of putting it! Breagh is definately that.... ;D
     
  20. Karen

    Karen Registered Users

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    Re: comparing field and show puppies

    Have you got any more photos to compare the two pups now, Pippa? What is Rachael now, four months old?

    My daughter is staying with me for several weeks - she lives in the USA, and hadnt seen Poppy before. She absolutely adores her, but keeps telling me that she really, really doesnt look like a 'proper' Labrador... On the other hand, we both agree she is far more intelligent (and agile) than her 'uncle' Bones ever was...
     

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