People who know about working Labrador lines

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Morwenna

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I’m trying to find out a bit more about my girl and her lines. Partly out of interest, and partly to see if there’s anything there that explains some of her quirks. And yes, I know I should have done a lot more research before getting her but I didn’t know just how much I didn’t know back then!
I have her 5 generation pedigree if anyone would be willing to have a look and let me know if they know anything about her lines I’d be very grateful.
 
I know more of the Irish lines than anything else but a lot of trialling lines are bred to be quite soft and that can lead to quirks
 
Interesting as Scout is out of an Irish bitch and failed his FT handler as he was too soft.
Agreed that super driven yet can’t cope with stuff is not much fun to deal with.
 
Jenko109 said:
Can the results be discussed openly? It would be interesting to read.
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I don’t want to post her full pedigree on here but more than happy to have any discussion on here. One of the frustrating things, and the reasons I posted, is that it’s hard to find anything online about this!
 
druid said:
I know more of the Irish lines than anything else but a lot of trialling lines are bred to be quite soft and that can lead to quirks
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Clodagh said:
Agreed that super driven yet can’t cope with stuff is not much fun to deal with.
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So why do they breed them soft (especially if, iirc, a lot of working spaniels are bred to be the opposite and put up with domineering handlers)?

The only other working dogs I can think of that get bred soft are certain mastiffs, but that's just only because people don't tend to want a serious lump of dog that they can't correct easily.
 
Well if you really don’t mind the discussion on here… she shares a Grandsire with Scout! Who was bred by a friend of mine and related to Tawny. Tawny was difficult to train but very confident and self assured.
Scout is very complex indeed. He’s the sweetest dog, a lovely pet, but you have probably seen my odd post on here saying he panics easily.
I don’t know the parent’s names.
Edited as I thought the sire was the Grandsire at first glance.
 
stangs said:
So why do they breed them soft (especially if, iirc, a lot of working spaniels are bred to be the opposite and put up with domineering handlers)?

The only other working dogs I can think of that get bred soft are certain mastiffs, but that's just only because people don't tend to want a serious lump of dog that they can't correct easily.
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No spaniels are mostly bred soft. The easiest explanation is that we require more handling/polish now than previously and also ask the dog to keep their head around larger volumes of game than historically which is more easily achieved with a softer dog who wants to please than a hard headed one who is a bit self employed. I'd say we breed hard going but soft natured dogs if that makes sense
 
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druid said:
No spaniels are mostly bred soft. The easiest explanation is that we require more handling/polish now than previously and also ask the dog to keep their head around larger volumes of game than historically which is more easily achieved with a softer dog and wants to please than a hard headed one who is a bit self employed. I'd say we breed hard going but soft natured dogs if that makes sense
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That makes sense, thank you.

(Hard going meaning more drivey in general, or literally meaning able to go through tougher terrain?)
 
stangs said:
That makes sense, thank you.

(Hard going meaning more drivey in general, or literally meaning able to go through tougher terrain?)
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Drive, style, willingness to face cover. I have 2 from the same litter currently. One is going to be eternally in her sister's shadow as she isn't as drivey/stylish/fast but in reality she's the better game finder and retriever.
 
druid said:
Drive, style, willingness to face cover. I have 2 from the same litter currently. One is going to be eternally in her sister's shadow as she isn't as drivey/stylish/fast but in reality she's the better game finder and retriever.
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What does style mean in this context - I'm guessing fast, moves over the ground well? (Sorry! As you can tell, I know nothing about gundogs.)
 
BallyRoanBaubles said:
My lab can also be quirky, but some of this will be my failings as he was my first dog, I love him to bits but id avoid similar lines in future I think
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Same here - I’m absolutely certain that most of our issues are down to my failings, she’s also my first dog. After a few conversations with trainers I was curious about what might be lurking in her genetics.
 
I have found this very interesting.
Without acknowledging my shortcomings as a trainer, which yes they are legion, it seems that a hard hunting extremely driven dog crossed with a very soft bitch could give you a dog that has all the go but not enough woah to cope with what is being asked.
 
Clodagh said:
I have found this very interesting.
Without acknowledging my shortcomings as a trainer, which yes they are legion, it seems that a hard hunting extremely driven dog crossed with a very soft bitch could give you a dog that has all the go but not enough woah to cope with what is being asked.
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This could make sense for Zazu
 
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