OK lab or springer

[KillStone]

for a general rough shooting dog that must also be good for pigeon decoying and roosting and duck and goose flighting/decoying. i say ESS dad says Lab? wat do u think??

[magman]

Both will do the job if your to train it yourself and a first dog then lab

[MC]

You are split right between the two.

 

As a rough shooting dog then springer all the way. If you want the dog to sit still in a hide all day then you really want a lab. However both will do either job and really you should get the dog you want, not what everyone else likes.

[-oXo-]

The same choice has been going through my head for a couple weeks. Just can't make my mind up, I want both

 

Need a dog good for the hide and in the rough

Edited March 13, 2010 by -oXo-

[lewis]

Get a real dog and get a black lab

Edited March 13, 2010 by lewis

[Lloyd90]

If its a 1st dog and your alone in the training then definately a Lab

[Delbert]

Get a real dog and get a black lab

Thats two dogs then I thought he only wanted one

 

If you do get a Lab then if you can train it alongside a friends

ESS you will find it easier to get that rough shooters edge.

Springers (well the good uns) have that nose down crossing hunting

hardwired into their furry heads It's not so pronounced in Labs though

obviously you can train it in. I've found the Lab rather better at marking

game down at range which after all was what they were selectively bred for.

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[teal27]

Do wot i did and get a lab/ springer cross,

[AirArmsRob]

Hi my mates got an ess and you can't fault it for flushing and retreiving English all the way cheers Rob.

[MC]

I would also recomend a springer, I had one as my first dog and although Merlin will never win a field trial he is an excellent shooting dog and hunts hard in cover so absolutely ideal as a rough shooters dog.

 

I have never had a lab so I can't comment only that you don't very often see them in thick cover.

[Pepe]

Old saying: " A labrador is born half trained and a springer dies half trained"

 

I have a lab which is superb at retrieving but you half to hold her back all the time for rough shooting and beating. I also have a cocker which is great at beating as she stays very close and works every bit of cover, like an ESS. Depends what you do? Get one of each

Edited March 14, 2010 by Pepe

[cracker]

> OK Lab or springer

 

Ah, the choice faced by thousands of Britons for a hundred years, and they chose...both!

 

Whereas wot if one lived elsewhere

 

Do wot i did and get a lab/ springer cross,

 

he might get both *in* one.

 

The Boykin spaniel--born fully trainable and trained up from that day forward.

 

 

MG

[KillStone]

thanks for the replies lads. seems to be a split in oppinions which i can now fully understand. the oldies will only just tolerate the one dog and even i wont stand a chance at getting both breeds!!! i still favour the springer but only very slightly!! wat a headache and there i was with a stupid idea that choosing the breed would be easy!! Does anyone or even know of anyone that will take a springer say decoying or roosting or flighting?? if the right responses do come up then it will really help with the decision!!

Thanks

d

[christy]

If its a 1st dog and your alone in the training then definately a Lab

 

I've had both over the years and I agree with the above. In my experience a springer can be a bit of a handfull for first timer. Others may dissagree but that is how I found it.

[Spaniel]

I have a couple of Springers and both have been out last season beating/rough shooting. which they are excellent for.

To watch them working is great but to shoot over them is excellent.

I have also taken them both pigeon shooting, but i think they would prefer to be hunting then sitting in a hide

 

Im also into my Wildfowling and although i have seen guys out with Springers, I am thinking about getting a Lab myself just for this side of the sport and maybe i will even get todo some picking up etc in a few seasons time.

[Lloyd90]

Bloke I know has got a 5month springer. I dont see him ever being able to train it as hes a first time gundog owner and the thing wont sit still for a minute. At 5 months my Lab was sitting and staying and more :o

 

I fancy a springer in the future though But labs are pretty easy to train lol

[KillStone]

do you shoot over your lab? if so how does it get on in cover and hedges ect.? Fom what i am told the springer would be more challenging to train however i feel that as a young, fit and energetic individual that me and a ESS could get on well. I was standing in a wood shooting pigeon today looked down to my right and asked myselfy could i see a ESS ther-yes, could i see a lab there-not really! trouble is i would really hate to make a mistake on this choice as it would be for hopefully a fair time!

[magman]

Have a lab that will hunt cover as well as any ess , but also have an ess that is happy sitting in a hide

All i will say if you go ess get a bitch as there not as head strong IMHO :o

[Lloyd90]

Yes my Lab will hunt up birds. She has put up plenty of wild Pheasant, Snipe Woodcock and Ducks out of Reeds and Marshes. I know quite a few people who shoot over there labs. Both Dogs will do each other's jobs at the end of the day. A Spaniel will be better at fitting in tighter cover though and a Lab will be steadier and better off if your fowling or something like that! In open ground on rough shooting I dont see the lab as a disadvantage. If your going beating however some of the cover is very thick n better suited for a spaniel.

 

I have recently started proper training and plan to be picking up next season hopefully

 

Also again If you go ESS, get a bitch! There not as nuts as I have seen

Edited March 14, 2010 by Bigthug87

[KillStone]

Wow i really cannot choose!!!getting ****** of with not being clear cut tho now lol. mayb over the next couple of weeks i will be able to make wat is becoming a very serious and annoying not to mention hard decision!!Thabk you all for your help, im sure either will make me happy so long as i put the effort into its training from day 1 as i truly believe u reap wat u sow! im still slightly on the ESS side but am swaying really precariously-hopefully i will firmly come down on one or t'other soooon!?!

[Lloyd90]

If you really want an ESS then go for it as you'll always be thinking, "What If Id got a spaniel ?" I wanted one for beating but there "too nuts" said my mum lol so we got a Lab.

Thats why I plan to get one in the future. My labs is lovely aswell mind so its all good

[sitsinhedges]

The few springers I have seen always come across as manic in the same way that collies are and when I get my next dog I don't want one that's going to get bored and destroy the house when we're at work.

 

For that reason I will probably get a Lab.

[tweedledee]

lab every time unless you do a lot of walked up shooting on rough ground. i find the lab easier to train and not as spirited as a springer.no doubt under the right trainer can be fantastic but too hyper for me.

[spanielboy]

i grew up with labs but really wanted a springer. ended up getting one but not as a pup///hes hard work but a great hunter. my lab pup is now 9 months old and hes a handfull...really spirited but wouldnt have him any other way. chose the breed you like the most because you will do far better with it rather than settling for a breed you're not overly fussed about.

[hutchie the white hunter]

HMMMM GWP WON IT FOR ME