My non-pointing lab puppies locks up on point like a GSH Pointer

Discussion in 'Labrador Behavior' started by Patrick Hogle, Apr 14, 2019.

  1. Patrick Hogle

    Patrick Hogle Registered Users

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    hi everyone, I’m new here and need some advise. When I was a kid we raised hunting labs. I have trained a lot of labs as a kid but have had a 29 year absence from owning a dog I got my kids a akc lab puppy from guy with really unknown bloodlines 4 months ago. She is now 5 months.

    So far she has been exceptionally easy to train, calm, and intelligent. The last week, every morning we have watched her in the back yard going into a classic point every time robin lands in the yard. She held a point yesterday for over two minutes until the bird flushed. I have not trained her to point in any way.

    My question is, having never owning a pointing lab or a pointer of any kind should I reinforce this behavior ( I think I want her to point) and if so, how do I do it? Should I train her like she is a pointing breed?

    Thanks for any advise.
     
  2. 5labs

    5labs Registered Users

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    Are you looking to work her or do competitions with her? If so, you may want to break the habit as she may do this to a wounded bird instead of retrieving it promptly. If she's not going to work/compete then this is great and could be built on for various impuse control.
     
  3. Michael A Brooks

    Michael A Brooks Registered Users

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    Hi @Patrick Hogle

    In comparison to real pointers, Labs don't point They retrieve. They watch where the game falls. I'd be inclined to think her behaviour is a manifestation of puppyhood.

    I wouldn't try to prevent her pointing, but I would not positively reinforce it.
     
  4. Jo Laurens

    Jo Laurens Registered Users

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    If you want to raise and train her as a pointing lab, yes, this is definitely behaviour you can encourage - just as any other pointing breed would be encouraged to point. Ideally, the dog points on scent and not on sight though - but many puppies start by sight-pointing.

    It's not a behaviour you need to 'reinforce' with food, since it is a naturally occurring behaviour in response to prey - but you can gently stroke her and praise her whilst she points.

    How to train a dog to point is a bit beyond what it's possible to post in one of these replies, so it might be a good idea to find a trainer in your area who can help more. Be warned that a lot of the training and trainers out there are force-based when it comes to gundogs.

    If you want her to be a retriever (rather than a pointing lab), then you should not encourage pointing like this...

    And lastly, if you want a dog that does it all, your best bet (rather than a lab) is a versatile breed (HPR in the UK) and looking into NAVHDA training and testing... again, watch out for the force-based training...
     
  5. Ski-Patroller

    Ski-Patroller Cooper, Terminally Cute

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    There apparently are Lab Strains that do point, and some Labs in the US are sold as having a pointing gene. The breeders do not guarantee that the Labs will point, some/many? of this strain do. I believe they also retrieve, but I don't have personal knowledge.
     
  6. Michael A Brooks

    Michael A Brooks Registered Users

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    I think I remember a suggestion that English Labs were crossed with Coon dogs to get the taller US Labs. Do coon dogs point?
     
  7. Ski-Patroller

    Ski-Patroller Cooper, Terminally Cute

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    Coon Hounds don't point. I think the taller US Labs are just from selective breeding of taller labs.
     
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