Hi people and pets; I've been reading about the lovely lab, that he is a hunter and goes after wildlife if not trained properly so I'm wondering whether his hunting skills would extend to actually catching food for himself and if that would mean that should something happen to me when we were out in the wilds together (don't ask me where, this is kinda hypothetical ) would he survive? I know a dog like a Jack Russell could because they can rat and go down rabbit holes etc. can't they but what about the lovesome Labrador? :-\ thoughts appreciated...
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? My two working line labs would starve without a shadow of doubt!
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Why do you say that Lochan? Is it because they chase game but don't have the instinctive skills to catch anything?
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Slightly strange thread! lol I think Lola would give it a good go as long as she didn't have to put too much effort in to hunting i.e. spiders and leaves!
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? [quote author=JohnL link=topic=5892.msg76070#msg76070 date=1399822750] Why do you say that Lochan? Is it because they chase game but don't have the instinctive skills to catch anything? [/quote] They are a couple of softies! But seriously, both go shooting with me so are trained to retrieve birds etc without harming them. One of them has illicitly caught several pheasants and notably once a hen ( :-[) when out for a walk and has always just delivered them unharmed to hand.
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? [quote author=JohnL link=topic=5892.msg76086#msg76086 date=1399824331] hey, they sound great. You're a lucky man. [/quote] Lady
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Hah - Charlie would absolutely starve. Not least because in the wilds of Wimbledon Common there might not be much to catch! ;D ;D ;D. Not very many wild sea biscuits running round! Seriously, I don't know what he would do if he were starving, but as the well fed pet he is (he disputes he is well fed) I doubt he would kill anything that put up even a very minor fight. He'd have trouble with anything larger than a frog I reckon. Edited to add: for the avoidance of doubt, my dog has never killed a frog. ;D
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? [quote author=JulieT link=topic=5892.msg76103#msg76103 date=1399825877] Edited to add: for the avoidance of doubt, my dog has never killed a frog. ;D [/quote] Dexter loves the chase although all he can get after here is cats and one rabbit we've met.....have no idea what would have happen if he caught up with anything...... He's picked up a gecko in his mouth .....the timing of my 'drop ' ( which is not consistent :-[) coincided with the wriggling he must have felt In his mouth so I think he dropped in surprise rather than obedience We found a baby sparrow that had fallen out its nest or got tired on a training flight and he just nosed it into the bushes..convenient for the mummy bird that was waiting there for her chick! He can't even catch flies despite all the practice he puts in !He stands nose to nose with them when they land,then makes his move just as they fly off! He'll let any dog in the park push him off his water too ( makes me a bit mad that as I'm one of the few owners that takes enough water out ) In conclusion,I don't think our yellow fellow would do very well any further afield than our garden gate ! ;D
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Riley walked past a dead rabbit without so much as a sniff today I'm not sure he's even a dog! He's also picked (very) dead game and met a live rabbit in shock on a path....the game were delivered and given up without even an ounce of discussion and the rabbit just got a big, black schnoz in its face which doubtless scared it even further! Odd dog, he'd starve, love him though ;D
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Sam definately wouldnt survive , far too non confrontational , scaredy cat at times too but we love him this way Millie , well as she was picked up as a stray , she must have fed herself for however knows how long , she was slim but not skinny so must have been eating something
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? I can't remember who it was on here but one of the members dogs was mistaken underfed while they were on holiday and she started digging up roots and vegetables! She would definitely survive! Penny... I honestly don't know... She's got a pretty big prey drive so she might give it a good shot if she was desperate... She likes to lick ants off the patio but I doubt they would sustain her for long...
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Meg wouldn't survive either. We've met rabbits in the park and meg has run the other way. Quite funny really. She comes to dead stop and I swear her face is saying oh oh and then she's gone. She once had a spider crawling over her and she really flipped when she noticed it. Left it to me to get rid of. But wouldn't be without her. She's lovely.
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Domesticated animals rely on man to feed them and when returned unexpectedly to the wild will naturally try to survive when hunger sets in. War zones are the best examples where this happens and domesticated dogs are unlikely to return to hunting other animals for their food but remain in a familiar neighbourhood, join packs of dogs in similar circumstances and scavenge from dustbins. Sadly, these dogs become a major nuisance and are invariably shot by troops responsible for the area. Roger
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Yes, I think Merla could be a very competent scavenger, but her skills wouldn't go as far as catching and eating real fresh meat. How long exactly could a dog survive by eating various kinds of poo and shrubbery do you think ? ???
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? [quote author=kateincornwall link=topic=5892.msg76093#msg76093 date=1399825201] [quote author=JohnL link=topic=5892.msg76086#msg76086 date=1399824331] hey, they sound great. You're a lucky man. [/quote] Lady [/quote] Apologies to Lochan Thx Kate
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? Harley wouldn't last, unless grass has enough nutrients to keep her going
Re: Could a Labrador survive in the wild? I am sure both mine would survive on pheasants and mice The don't kill yet, but I guess if hungry they would. They certainly find lots of pheasants and mice.
