Hello, New member here from Sacramento looking for some info on Labradors and Lab Pointers. A few months ago our field beagle, Bodie, past away at 10-years of age. He was a great dog and we miss him dearly. Even though he was a beloved part of our family he did have some short comings that we’d like to avoid with our next dog. As an example, he was bred to track rabbits so whenever we went for a walk his nose was always to the ground tracking. He would track any animal scents he came across and bay the entire time. When looking for another dog we are looking at what breed would best fit our lifestyle. My wife and I bought a rural piece of property last year that we visit frequently. Having a dog that can get in and out of the truck on their own and be off-leash are important considerations. In doing some research on Labs I read a little about Pointers too. I read some things that said their coats are shorter, which we’d prefer. Is that true? Secondly, being a Pointer are they going to have more tracking instincts then a traditional Lab? With Bodie, when he locked onto a scent he was oblivious to us and the world around him. This was a little bit of an issue for us because he could never be off-leash. So we’d like to avoid that trait when looking at our next dog. Any insight, advise or suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!
Welcome to the forum from Maxx and I in Sydney, Australia. I can't help with your questions being a new puppy owner myself, but there are lots of experts here that will no doubt send you heaps of great advice.
Hi, and welcome from me and Xena in Wellington, NZ. I'm very sorry to hear about Bodie, 10 is too young We have two members who currently own Lab/Pointers @Lara and @charlie, and @Stacia used to own German Shorthaired Pointers. I daresay if you want to avoid the hunting instinct then you'll play it safe and avoid the Pointer/Pointer mix, but I'll let the forum experts offer their thoughts and advice.
Hi and welcome! I'm sorry for your loss of Bodie. Beagles are such funny lovely little guys. As I come from a non-Lab background, I did lots of research on different breeds, which is why I originally came to this Forum. It's a really great place to learn about Labs, so you're in the right place. I included German Shorthair Pointers in my original breed research list because I find them incredibly handsome and the ones I've met in person had such big personalities. However when I talked to owners and spent more time with the dogs, I decided that I was better admiring them as OTHER people's dogs. Very, very high energy and nose to the ground and off like a shot. This proved to be the case for the Spinone breed, another hunting dog,as well. For me, it was very important that my dog would want to stay with me and that we could walk off leash without me having to worry that he'd be off on a scent and bounding across a field. Labradors met this criteria much better than the GSP or Spinone. Just to note, these are generalisations. I've also seen Labs go off like a shot into the forrest and galgos (a super fast greyhound-type hunting breed here in Spain) walk nicely off leash right by your side. For that Labs I've met, whether they stay with you seems to depend on (1) training from an early age and (2) temperament in breeding lines. If you'd consider expanding your list of possible breeds beyond Labs and pointers, you might want to look into the working group, specifically flock guardians. Some other breeds that come to mind are Bernese Mountain dogs, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Bouvier, and Great Pyrenees. Although the long-haired breeds wouldn't be the best for Sacramento weather. Any dog mixed with a mastiff-type is going to be more of a homebody. My own experience is with Rottweilers, and they didn't need to be trained to stay with you - they just do it as part of what they were bred to do (flock guardian/drove dog). If you want a smaller breed, pit bulls are short hair, don't hunt, are athletic, long-lived and super affectionate. Also lots and lots to choose from in rescue in your area, so you would have your pick of best of the best in terms of temperament and health. Just some food for thought!
Hi and welcome @Hitch! I have a Lab x English Pointer. She is gorgeous, clever and funny, but our one major problem is her hunting drive. I train her around two hours a day, and have for the last two years, and we are still not at the stage where she can be reliably off lead in certain places (the woods, anywhere with deer or pheasant). When she smells these animals, the red mist descends and she turns into a screaming shaking monster that will hunt until she drops from exhaustion. If I had had her from a puppy, raised her very very carefully, had experience training pointers and regularly trained in places where I had controlled access to deer and other game, it might be a different story. But honestly, I wish I had a dog that could just run with me in the woods and have a good time with me, and I am pretty tired of being the stressed owner dragged into the bushes desperately trying to get the long leash untangled before the dog’s harness snaps because there is a deer half a mile away. Much as I love my dog, unless you want training to be your full time job with this dog, I wouldn’t get a Pointer or Pointer x! There are plenty of dogs that have shorter fur that won’t give you a nervous breakdown twice a day
A Lab is the easier dog to own as it does tend to stay nearer the owner, loves retrieving. I would stay away from a Pointer unless you chose a show one, but not even sure about their hunting instincts. German Shorthaired Pointers are wonderful, the do hunt away from you but you can train that to be under control, just have to get used to the distance, they are very exciting when they come on point. I have had five over the years and never lost one on a walk, they always seemed to come back and were under control. Beagles I believe put their noses down and go! A German Pointer air scents, so their hunting is different.
I recommend a Lab (what else!?) I also recommend the book ‘Total Recall’ which you start from day 1 of getting the pup. It’s excellent.
Welcome @Hitch from me, Hattie 10 years and my rescue Labrador x German Pointer Charlie 7 years. So very sorry you lost Brodie I totally agree with @Lara We adopted Charlie at 9 months old, a very handsome, full of character, and oh so loving with everyone he meets. He arrived not trained, no recall whatsoever, in a word a complete hooligan He was on a long training line for 3 whole years whilst we recall trained him, he now gets off lead most days but only in areas we know and can manage him in. He has been a 7 days a week training project and always will be but he is a pretty good boy now. I think unless you know what you are doing with this breed, we didn't, I would stear clear as they hunt/track at a distance and need a lot of exercise and stimulation. I do a lot of scent training, clicker training, retrieving, whistle, hand touch, games etc. with Charlie ontop of his daily walk/run just to tire him out and he is is 7 years old Pointers are indeed one of the most beautiful looking breeds but in the inexperienced hands a difficult breed. They really are not for the faint hearted at all. Having said that Labradors and all breeds can be difficult too. I know of a daily absconding Lab because his owner didn't train him. Lots of members on the forum have had difficulties with a wandering Labrador! I second Lara, as much as me and my family absolutely adore Charlie I would not get a Pointer cross or a pure breed Pointer ever, ever, ever again or I might just need drugs, a lot of drugs!! x
Thank you so much for the warm welcome and great information on the Pointer breeds. It does sound like they may not be the best fit for our needs. So we will focus more on a traditional Lab. Our preference would be to get an 8-week pup that we can start working with immediately. Based on our experience getting a pup that you work with early on will be a better behaved dog. I've looked at some breeder sites and see the price range is around $1,500-$2,000. These are of course for AKC dogs. I'm kinda curious why they cost so much. Is is based on the popularity of the breed? When we got Bodie 10-years ago he cost $400 and came for a long line of champion trackers. Just trying to understand a little more on what's a fair price to pay. Also any suggestions on questions to ask a breeder or things to look at with the pups? Here's a pic of Bodie taken about 6-months ago.
