Recommend me a labrador stud dog?

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SusieT

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Of the square headed type.. Just looking and contemplating. Not for the near future but for an idea of type, google is bringing up some ugly specimens..Area unimportant.
 
Millcottage Pathfinder is a lovely looking dog, I am not sure if he is still alive or not mind you. My ex OH was well into his gundogs and labs especially, and liked this dog.

He too liked a more square shape of dog and was also keen on Mediterian Blue who sired the 2010 winner of the Retriever Championships. A gorgeous yellow fella so he is :) Have a look on google images
 
MM, Mediteran blue is a little long in the nose for my liking, those sort of labs don't do it for me at all, Millcottage looks nice but cant find any decent photos.
A dog like Clever Lyra is my sort of head, with a nice body and not that big thick neck a lot of the dogs have.
 
Our bitch is by a Drakeshead dog, will look up her papers later. She has a proper boof on her! Her brother can carry a goose so they are a proper size.
 
By "square headed" I imagine you mean show type,a much heavier and powerful headed version than working type.you could google lab retriever breed standard ..or one of the breed clubs where pics of winners/stud dogs etc will be found. Working gundogs in the breed are entirely different..go to Drakeshead and compare the two.
 
Yes, more show type but I am perhaps being hopeful by wanting my ideal, A show type without the heavy neck that a lot of them have, I do not like the skinny almost hound like head a lot of working dogs have
 
Whilst they are lovely dogs and pictures, it's an example of what I'm not looking for-the noses are too narrow and the eyes and the nose to my eye look out of proportion (not your dogs just, that type of lab_
Thanks tho.
 
Just remember that big headed parents won't guarantee the same type of pups! They can throw back to the grandparents. Hope you find something nice, what about emailing some of the big showing people with your requirements and see if they can put you in touch with some suitable studs?
 
Not a labby person but was going to say something similar to MJ.
You might be better looking for a sire known to throw good heads with a less than perfect head himself, rather than picking a sire on the strength of his own head, a dog with a good head might not throw that head, if that makes any sense at all?!

Are you breeding for any other quality in particular or is a strong head something you are not willing to compromise on/are you trying to correct something in the female? Ah the joys of selecting a mate!
 
SusieT said:
Of the square headed type.. Just looking and contemplating. Not for the near future but for an idea of type, google is bringing up some ugly specimens..Area unimportant.
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Put the show bench behind you. As another, Drakeshead, look at Viper. MY WORD, but that is a handsome animal!!

If I can help, then PM me a copy of your bitch's pedigree.

Alec.
 
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This is my stud dog. His head is rather large :D
 
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fatty boom boom, that is pretty much exactly the type I am looking for-what's his name? My ideal head as far as I can tell !
Alec-I'm afraid Drakeshead Viper doesn't do it for me at all, the head is all wrong.

Would it be wrong to say yellow dogs head is slightly too square..? Anyone frustrated yet :D
The head is something I am not willing to compromise on(along with exemplary health records), not to worry though, my starting point is the stud, then I'm examining the litters! I want a line known for throwing type consistantly. I'm not at the stage of breeding (yet) but getting an idea for where to look and whats out there.
Thank you-some interesting ones, any further suggestions welcome.
 
I just typed out a long reply then lost the whole thing, damn it! Anyway thank you for the nice comments, I think he is an extremely handsome dog but then I am biased!

His KC registered name is 'TheFens Squadron Leader'. I have just been looking through his 5 generation pedigree and he is nicely bred on the sires side with his grandsire, great grandsire, GG grandsire and GGG grandsire all being FTC. Infact going back 5 generations both sire and dam were FTC on both sides of the sires pedigree. On the Dams side, hmm not as well bred. 2 FTC but that's going back 5 generations. Of course that's not to say that their entire pedigree should just be based on how many FTC they have but obviously if you are looking for a good quality working dog it always nice to see a lot of names in red!

Zack has sired 1 litter so far and I have attached a picture of one of his sons. He has definitely retained the large head! Zack also has a hip score of 0/0 and clear eyes. I must admit I haven't had his elbows scored but taking into account his exceptional hips and knowing how athletic and sound he is I really don't think there would be any problems in this area and my vet was in agreement.


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Oh, I don't know what happened to the pic? Sorry let me attach it again. Ok so the first two pics are of Zack and the third one is of his son. I've got tons more pics but don't want to bombard the thread! Let me know if you want to see anymore Susie :)

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Interesting you say regarding the elbows-there is some evidence to suggest that dogs with good hips can be more prone to elbow problems as we have selected for good hips and unknowingly in the process selected come gene for poor elbows so that would be a concern of mine. How old is Zack and do you estimate you will continue him at stud for the forseeable future? (I'm a few years off breeding yet..need to acquire an entire bitch first of the right type first!) He is an absoloute stunner of a dog. How did you come across him as his type is certainly what I am after.
 
My friends have a bitch with 3 on each elbow and you would not know to look at her.
What I would say is the best moving/performing show GSD in the UK right now has NZ elbows (one score up from being a complete write-off under the German scheme). I mean, watching her gait at speed could take your breath away.
I would say in a weight bearing breed, if you think about impacts and jumping etc, the elbows are every bit as important as the hips and as Susie says, obsessing on one end of the dog means we have dropped the ball with the other.

Not having a go, I am sure they are fine and he looks lovely FBB but personally I would rather know :)
 
SusieT said:
Interesting you say regarding the elbows-there is some evidence to suggest that dogs with good hips can be more prone to elbow problems as we have selected for good hips and unknowingly in the process selected come gene for poor elbows so that would be a concern of mine. How old is Zack and do you estimate you will continue him at stud for the forseeable future? (I'm a few years off breeding yet..need to acquire an entire bitch first of the right type first!) He is an absoloute stunner of a dog. How did you come across him as his type is certainly what I am after.
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CaveCanem said:
I would say in a weight bearing breed, if you think about impacts and jumping etc, the elbows are every bit as important as the hips and as Susie says, obsessing on one end of the dog means we have dropped the ball with the other.

Not having a go, I am sure they are fine and he looks lovely FBB but personally I would rather know :)
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To be honest I think I will get his elbows scored too, I would like to rule out any abnormalities for my own piece of mind and of course it really is the responsible thing to do. He is only 3 so yes hopefully he has a good while yet. My sister in law has his Mum and bred him, she is a beautiful bitch. The sire was known to her locally, a very good working dog and the end product was a really lovely litter. I also have Zacks half sister (same sire) although she is a finer type, I definitely think he got his tank like build from his mum! and they look very similar in the face. We also have another half sister of his in our family (same mum) -- all very good looking dogs. If you would like to see anymore pics of the family to get an idea then pm me your email address and I can send them through to you. Bets of luck in your search for a lovely bitch :)
 
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