Hi jamross
sorry for not really replying sooner to your question as I was a little busy over the weekend
but reading it I had wondered if you had been on the whicky or something
This is some generalisation to make. Are you suggesting that a particular blood line may point blank not be suited to a beating line? As opposed to perhaps suggesting that in any litter of any breed whether pure lines or cross, that some pups may be better pickers up, some may be better hunters, some may be good in the water, some may be better markers or any mix thereof? .
I SAID lines not a paticular line
Might also help if you look more at hereditry problems and also at how past generations hav performed in the field when choosing any pup from any line of dogs
will save you a lot of money from giving it to vetinary and also dissappointment if the pup is not upto the job you want it to do
nothing to do with my dog is better than his bitch syndrome
As an example, I have 2 litter sisters in my kennels that I bred myself, both well built and strong dogs unlike some that are trialled nowadays. The yellow one was always a reasonable dog and very biddable. The black one, the bigger and more powerfully built of the 2 would go through any cover at ridiculous speed, had an action more akin to a spaniel and yet would sit with another 3 or 4 dogs when loading at double gun days and pick up only on the command of her name. Just like her mother was but the yellow one did not turn out quite the same. The yellow one, crap in water. The black one fantastic. The black one good at marking and would work well at any distance from me onto a shot bird. The yellow one clingy. The black one in the right hands may have made a very good trialling dog, the yellow one a good peg dog. 2 dogs, one litter, both trained by me and unique in their own right. I owned a springer once that could also be handled out to any similar distance I have done with a lab and mark as well. Not every one has been like this, but there are always exceptions.
I had no idea these 2 would turn out like this until the training progressed. I have owned a springer, currently a cocker, countless labs and a German Wirehaired pointer which has been used solely for deer. I accept that certain traits like pointing, some breeds will not be EXPECTED to do. But I have seen labs point and very good at it as well. .
I Myself hav been involved in training over 30 springers and cockers, a good few labs, spinone's, 1 culumber ( I know but I like a challenge) , HPR's, welsh springers,
was going to name all the breeds I had been involved with ,
but gave up as I see no relevance really
I also hav 3 labs and a springer at home and 13 working dogs in total between Myself and the OH at this present time
not that makes a blind bit of difference to Russ or his new pup
But hav to agree on labs that point, infact I'm sure there are some very good US lines bred specifically as pointing labs and which if I'm not mistaken are originally bred from UK lines
maybe there is a link there
you also commented
Best dog I ever owned for ducks at a flight pond was a springer bitch and yet are labs not thought to be the better retrievers as their name suggests? And perhaps better in water as well?.
Again I hav to agree just like you, the best water dog I hav ever owned and trained was an ESS, hardly a dog out there that could touch him in his day, except the OH's Lab bitch , she was awesome
but I did not own that the OH did
She was the best water dog I hav ever seen especialy when it came to geese runners
now what was your point again
thats it
The point I am making is that any breed of dog imho can hunt in a beating line provided it is introduced to it correctly to avoid it running wild and beyond reprimand when faced with a load of birds at a flushing fence. As a jack-of-all-trades which singularly owned dogs are generally expected to be, I have often recommended labs to first time owners as they appear (but not always because that would be an incorrect sweeping statement) less of a daunting prospect than a fiery wee spaniel. .
You are right ANY dog can but for how many years of such constant abuse to their body will a poorly bred dog last compared to healthy one,
how many times hav you heard your mate say their lab or springer has been retired early due to health problems or does only limited days or only half days whislt your dog is still going strong ,doing a full day at the age of 10
If I had a £ every time I heard this and how lucky I was to hav such a good dog that was so healthy
I know I say , I was ever so lucky that I chose such a dog with such a good pedigree and blood line
But I hav to admit
This last statement really has confused me
Lets not get working in a beating line confused with the very different approach required for a quartering dog like a spaniel, being worked alone over cover. .
so I just had to ask
what criteria in a spaniel do you need for working it in the field wether it is in a beating line or field trial championship
surely you want your dog to walk to heel, sit , stay , hunt steady in all cover and possibly water by use of voice, whistle and hand commands, retrieve on command and also pick up dead game as they come across them , recall on command ,
be steady to shot and game and work with you, like you both are one as a team
or are beating line dogs a little something extra special
One thing our dogs will do is draw you into interesting debates of which there are no winners just opinions based on fact or fiction
that seems to be a common trait in all
By the way Russ
How is the new arrival are you getting any sleep or has it settled in already
look forward to seeing a few pics
ATB