Black lab bitch pup

Clodagh

Clodagh

Playing chess with pigeons
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Just putting the word out that we are looking for a working bitch. Not a million miles from Essex, preferably.
The breeder I have my name down with is not now having a litter until 2018 due to family commitments and we will need one to start work 2018/19 season, so need one this year.
I would prefer a recommendation from someone who has seen the dam work, sires are generally easy enough to research.
Thank you.
 
You could google John Halsted of Drakeshead kennels. Many who will use his dogs will have bitches which are known to him and he can be relied upon to give honest recommendations, a reliance for both the breeder and the buyer. Were I looking for a Labrador, that would be my first line of enquiry.

I agree that the bitch line and specifically the chosen dam's attributes are of vital importance and more-so than the dog's. "Fred's bitch down the road's ok" isn't and shouldn't be enough.

Alec.
 
Thank you both. Drakeshead list litters sired by their dogs on their website. I am not madly keen on some of their dogs heads though, I know looks don't matter but...
I haven't spoken to the breeder, Twiggy, and that may be an idea. Trouble is though I know a friend of hers is having a litter but I don't want one from her, so don't want to spread any ripples. I am still getting another one next year... must be mad! We do need three on the go.
 
No, they are FT dogs, I just don't like labs with eyes in their forehards. It is hard to explain, you have to look on their stud dog page.
I like the type of look the Featherfly stud dogs have (for example).
I can't copy images, a yoghurt pot and a piece of string would be faster than my internet at the moment.
 
Clodagh said:
…….. , I just don't like labs with eyes in their forehards. It is hard to explain, you have to look on their stud dog page.
…….. .
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I suspect that we all so often become accustomed to looking at one 'stamp' of dog and turn our nose up at everything else. When I had 5 working Cockers, no two were the same, but then looks never really have bothered me, providing they're reasonably correct an built so they're at least able to work. I think that the same may apply to horses. I think the the correct Thoroughbred, for instance, is the near perfect horse, but Arabs, I never have and never would own one, awful bloody stick insects! :D

Looking carefully at the Drakeshead dogs, I find them appealing, and would seem to me to be the near ideal shape for a working dog.

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
I suspect that we all so often become accustomed to looking at one 'stamp' of dog and turn our nose up at everything else. When I had 5 working Cockers, no two were the same, but then looks never really have bothered me, providing they're reasonably correct an built so they're at least able to work. I think that the same may apply to horses. I think the the correct Thoroughbred, for instance, is the near perfect horse, but Arabs, I never have and never would own one, awful bloody stick insects! :D

Looking carefully at the Drakeshead dogs, I find them appealing, and would seem to me to be the near ideal shape for a working dog.

Alec.
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Same thing with working collies - far more about the ability than the look, although I am sure everyone has their favourite "type"

I am not a Lab person at all, but had a quick look at the Drakeshead website and they do look very beautiful dogs.
 
I know looks are irrelalevant, but although our dogs work hard for 3 months of the year, for the other 9 they are pets and I like them to look how I like. :-)
TBH you choose parents that fulfil the criteria but if you end up with an 'odd' looking adult you then love it anyway, so at that point looks don't matter. You don't tend to see them so much now but those short legged working labs, 'Sandringham' types left me cold.
The two we have now are so different, the older one is a proper big old fashioned worker and the young one a full on field trial rocketdog. Love them both and I think both are gorgeous.

Anyway, I think we are sorted, the breeder I was originally in contact with, who's bitch a friend has seen work and really admired went to a sire that I think is stunning. It is the pup I mentioned in the health test post, but he has had someone messing him around, who originally had his name down, and I gave up. He has just rung to say she is ours. We just have to go and meet the bitch ourselves, and he wants to vet us as potential owners, so all good.
 
That's excellent news Clodagh.
I know nothing about Labrador breeding but I know their looks and even size vary. Looking at the two websites mentioned, I preferred the Featherfiy to the Drakeshead.
I suppose it's just like we all have different horse preferences.
My breed is the flatcoat which is not to everyone's taste but they don't vary in looks quite so much as labs or even Goldies
 
Good luck ,will be interested to know the pedigree .
I always have the smaller types there were more around 15-20yrs ago when Pocklea Remus was in most top dogs pedigrees,I had several( one he appeared 5 times) and never a bad one. The Sandringham lines were always a bit on the large side and never really convinced me that the two extremes of the breed could combine and make anything useful. They were more of a throwback to their roots chasing foxes if you know what I mean.
 
Chiffy said:
That's excellent news Clodagh.
I know nothing about Labrador breeding but I know their looks and even size vary. Looking at the two websites mentioned, I preferred the Featherfiy to the Drakeshead.
I suppose it's just like we all have different horse preferences.
My breed is the flatcoat which is not to everyone's taste but they don't vary in looks quite so much as labs or even Goldies
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You are right, I suppose flatcoats have not (yet?) split into working or show, they do all look very similar in stamp. I am glad you like Featherfly, the pup is by one of their dogs.
 
Thankyou Thistle, I am very excited!
I have never chosen a puppy before, we always had adult rescues/rehomes until we got into shooting and then eldest son chose eldest dog and youngest son chose younger dog. This one is mine to choose. So will I really know which one I like best? They all look the same at a week old! I am not choosing until 5 weeks so you can see their characters more but I am flummoxed. Do I really want to one that is the most confident? One of our dogs is quiet but as a pup she was first at the door.
Hints and tips anyone?
 
I usually chose pup number two in the pack. I also listen to what the breeder says. I thought I wanted the smaller red dog when I chose Toast. Breeder said that was the noisy one, the other larger one was much more laid back. Having a very active spaniel I decided a relaxed lab would be great. My old lab is very vocal (yippy) and was a chatty pup. Didn't want another like that!
 
My advice is don't pick a noisy one, a whiney one, the timid or quiet one or the bully in the litter.
If one comes over investigates me, climbs on my lap and goes to sleep that's the one I take home.
One that's confident and not bullish is perfect, apartfrom that it is the one that catches your eye.
 
I don't get first pick anyway, but I think I will see what the breeder recommends. He knows what we want it for, OH is better with quiet dogs than me, I like pushy!
 
twiggy2 said:
My advice is don't pick a noisy one, a whiney one, the timid or quiet one or the bully in the litter.
If one comes over investigates me, climbs on my lap and goes to sleep that's the one I take home.
One that's confident and not bullish is perfect, apartfrom that it is the one that catches your eye.
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Younger lab was the bully, she wouldn't let any of the other pups climb onto my son, and you can see she has carried that to adulthood. You are right, I worship her but I don't know that I could cope with two behaving like that.
 
twiggy2 said:
My advice is don't pick a noisy one, a whiney one, the timid or quiet one or the bully in the litter.
If one comes over investigates me, climbs on my lap and goes to sleep that's the one I take home.
One that's confident and not bullish is perfect, apartfrom that it is the one that catches your eye.
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Great advice. I would also be guided by the breeder.
 
WorkingGSD said:
…….. . I would also be guided by the breeder.
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Before considering the breeder's opinion, I'd need to know them, and very well too! Rarely would I trust anyone who's trying to sell me something, be it a horse or a car or a dog!

Selecting pups is a complete lottery. I've had pups which are shy and a bit backward come out of their shell with care and attention, and those which seem to be born bolshy, but with early correction have come to understand that I mean what I say. Generally, I'd take the bold pup but there are no firm rules! :)

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Before considering the breeder's opinion, I'd need to know them, and very well too! Rarely would I trust anyone who's trying to sell me something, be it a horse or a car or a dog!

Selecting pups is a complete lottery. I've had pups which are shy and a bit backward come out of their shell with care and attention, and those which seem to be born bolshy, but with early correction have come to understand that I mean what I say. Generally, I'd take the bold pup but there are no firm rules! :)

Alec.
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I do understand what you mean Alec, and if I didn't know the breeder very well then I would prefer to choose my own. However, I tend to try to get to know my breeder and their line of dogs very well before buying a pup.
 
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