Big Mat Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Hi all, My current lab is 9 and abit now and is slowing down and i think its time to get a pup to bring on. However i've never bought a gundog before so am after some advice. I've looked at some websites online with some for sale but how do people usually go about finding the right dog? I'm after a fox red bitch, it will spend most of its time on the foreshore so want a good solid built lab, not some skinny trial dog! What do you look for in a pup when choosing, is it just a case of picking which ever one looks right at the time and hoping for the best? thanks mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 When I choose a dog Mat I will sit with the litter and see which if any show an interest in me , I will pat my thighs and see if any come toward me and note those that shy away . If I did not see any particular behaviors in the pups then I would choose the biggest of the bunch , this is what I did last time and considering you want a fowling dog big is normally better. It is of course not a exact science as to how they will turn out later in life and it is always "pot luck" to a degree , for fowling I would not get too hung up on a pedigree full of FTCH etc but see if you can find one from good working stock , ask on the forums etc . I would recommend that you try and see both parents , also as its a Lab make sure the parents have been hip scored and eyes checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayDT10 Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 (edited) I'm picking up a pup the weekend from "skinny field trialling lines" Lol and both dog and bitch are good looking nice sized labs with very good lines, I've got pick of the litter which is nice to have but I know as the pups are only 8weeks old it's a lottery. I'll most probably just pick the biggest most laid back and hope for the best, there's no hard and fast rule when picking pups just get the lines you want or if no trialing lines the dogs you like the look of. Hips and eyes are a must for me. Edited December 16, 2013 by jayDT10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Hi all, My current lab is 9 and abit now and is slowing down and i think its time to get a pup to bring on. However i've never bought a gundog before so am after some advice. I've looked at some websites online with some for sale but how do people usually go about finding the right dog? I'm after a fox red bitch, it will spend most of its time on the foreshore so want a good solid built lab, not some skinny trial dog! What do you look for in a pup when choosing, is it just a case of picking which ever one looks right at the time and hoping for the best? thanks mat Fox red at your peril, nothing wrong with the colour other than its too popular. Everyone with a fox red bitch will think its worth breeding from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted December 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Fox red at your peril, nothing wrong with the colour other than its too popular. Everyone with a fox red bitch will think its worth breeding from I'm not getting a red one because i want to breed from it, i'm getting a red one because i've got a red one now and want another! They blend in nicely on the marsh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontastic Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I'm not getting a red one because i want to breed from it, i'm getting a red one because i've got a red one now and want another! They blend in nicely on the marsh! I don't think he's referring to you breeding from a fox red lab, I think hes saying beware which puppy you choose as due to the popularity of the colour theres a lot of poor quality litters about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I think wot kent means is the people u are buying it from. I would try and buy 1 throu word off mouth, ask around at ur local gushop, put the word out with folk u shoot with even join the local wildfowling club etc. Probably the wildfowling club would be the ideal place for u too find 1 as generally proper old fashioned labs and fox red has been a popular colour fo them for years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I'm not getting a red one because i want to breed from it, i'm getting a red one because i've got a red one now and want another! They blend in nicely on the marsh! Sorry, I totally didn't mean that. Pick up from a litter advertised as dark yellow and you will have a better chance at a worthwhile dog. I have a "dark yellow" one myself and 100% agree the dog disappears in the winter marsh growth in daylight and after dusk is darn near invisible. The one thing I should bare in mind with a 9yr old current dog you might already have left things just a tad too long. My opinion for what its worth is no quicker than 3yrs no longer than 6 yrs gives the best continuation if your buying newly weaned pups to train. Maybe worth thinking over a slightly older puppy if one comes up that has been well raised thus far? Just a thought a 6mnth old pup now might be able to gain a start from next season with the older guy alongside to do the real work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted December 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Sorry, I totally didn't mean that. Pick up from a litter advertised as dark yellow and you will have a better chance at a worthwhile dog. I have a "dark yellow" one myself and 100% agree the dog disappears in the winter marsh growth in daylight and after dusk is darn near invisible. The one thing I should bare in mind with a 9yr old current dog you might already have left things just a tad too long. My opinion for what its worth is no quicker than 3yrs no longer than 6 yrs gives the best continuation if your buying newly weaned pups to train. Maybe worth thinking over a slightly older puppy if one comes up that has been well raised thus far? Just a thought a 6mnth old pup now might be able to gain a start from next season with the older guy alongside to do the real work? Kent, i understand what you mean now, sorry for being so blunt. Yes i also think i've left things to late, but it not untill now that i've really been in a position to get another dog. I think i might consider an older pup if one came up that was suitable, I'm not really sure hence why asking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted December 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) I think wot kent means is the people u are buying it from. I would try and buy 1 throu word off mouth, ask around at ur local gushop, put the word out with folk u shoot with even join the local wildfowling club etc. Probably the wildfowling club would be the ideal place for u too find 1 as generally proper old fashioned labs and fox red has been a popular colour fo them for years I am a member of a wildfowling club but have not heard of any pups, the only red ones i've seen in the club have been the proper old fashioned build but none are having litters that i know of! Edited December 17, 2013 by Big Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I am a member of a wildfowling club but have not heard of any pups, the only red ones i've seen in the club have been the proper old fashioned build Aye most of the fowlers i know srill use 'proper' labs, a lab with a thin coat or skinny rat tail will not fair so well on the shore.. Have u been asking around or advertising the fact ur after a pup, amazing the folk u speak to who never realised u were after a pup/dog and have only just sold 1 after having it for ages and end up saying next time u meet 'wish i knew earlier' Some won't agree with me here, but if buying off someone i know well i would not be bothered if had hip scores or eyes done, many decent working dogs are breed without either, but only if i know both the breeder and dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I am a member of a wildfowling club but have not heard of any pups, the only red ones i've seen in the club have been the proper old fashioned build Your not after one of those false labs are you? Built like lurchers without a proper full double coat. The old style are very "fit for purpose" on the marsh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted December 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 (edited) Your not after one of those false labs are you? Built like lurchers without a proper full double coat. The old style are very "fit for purpose" on the marsh I think i worded my last post wrong ( i've edited now to make more sense ), i'm looking for the old style with the proper build and double coat. Edited December 17, 2013 by Big Mat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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