Old English Labrador

[countrryboy]

There’s probably a reason your not seeing this type of lab anymore
Health reason they were prone to arthritis hip problems all due to line breeding ….
Which a think has now been band
The type a remember seeing way back resembled undocked rotis very heavy

Id disagree with that.
Id say the reason is far more the fad of fast skinny whippet looking dogs in FTs and as everyone craves FTCHs in pedigrees

Even modern FT skinny lines are still susceptable to hip elbow and eye problems.
All caused by poor breeding or over use off too few stud dogs.

U tend to stilk find proper old fashioned labs ( square heads, thick double coat and otfers tail) more in beating lines or especially in wildfowling clubs.

Must admit personally not a fan of CBRs not seen many good 1s and most ive seen had aggression issues.

The older drakeshead lines were quality okd fashioned dogs ( had a few of Draksehead Indianana) often had a bit of a wave in their coat, seen water freezing on their back and still go in for nore duck.

U coild have a look at fiona at Afinmore gundogs.
They are bonny looking dogs.
I quite like the look of her dogs
But ive never seen them working in the field, i do know they pick uo on some local shoots thou.
I think she wins stuff with the local gundog club, not a Kc club but a decent enough standard for a working dog

 

[Iamtheferryman]

My old man has a big lab. He is just a pet but at Christmas I took him for a wonder and did some basic "work" stuff with him.

The dog is huge (and a bit fat) but crazy strong but attacked thick brambles like a spaniel. I wish my old man was more local to me so I could borrow the dog! Massive potential.

Any way the breeder is between Coles hill and Warwick. I will try and find some information out to see if there are any notable lines.

I am considering one for my next dog that's for sure.

 

[Scotty99]

View attachment 453117Heard some good reports of these tho never seen one working as I don’t go wildfowling…. Might be worth exploring

A good suggestion and great wildfowling dogs, but difficult to train compared to a Lab.

 

[rms364]

A good suggestion and great wildfowling dogs, but difficult to train compared to a Lab.

That’s interesting to know…. Always liked the look of them just haven’t that type of work so probably won’t ever own one…… wonder how many are actually worked here in the UK??

 

[Rake Aboot]

Home

Discover the services of Brindlebay Gundogs, East Linton

www.brindlebaygundogs.co.uk

Weird how it says they are in East Linton, ( minutes from me )

It seems they are actually in Suffolk

 

[Iamtheferryman]

Did you find what you was looking for?

 

[jacre1993]

Not yet …..

 

[countrryboy]

Not yet …..

Is their many Wildfowling clubs near u?
I dunno if they have Sumner fun days for members? Have heard of them running friendly gundog tests/comps.

Probably ur best bet to see a lot off thick set labs nowadays.

If u have a local gundog club. That does summer tests u might get lucky.
But far more likely most dogs to be more FT lines

Still a few on the local beating lines round me but getting rarer to see now.

 

[NorthernTikka]

The type that these guys breed are possibly what you're looking for?

Home - Mordor Gundogs

mordorgundogs.com

No affiliation and not seen them myself in person but they do lots of videos on Youtube.

 

[Buchan]

With so many specific requirements, just watch the inbreeding with the traits you've listed - "large, thick set , thick head, otter tail , thick coat" they all appearances and so very susceptible to trends in the breeding. However, I understand what you are after with resilience. That said, my perfectly conditioned* Lab isn't fazed by cold - air or water.

*Some say she is too thin, but they are all wrong!

 

[tgb]

Good luck with your search, might be looking for a needle in a hay stack!

 

[Bonzo dog]

Have a look at Liz Barnes of Deerbridges labs. They are more in line with what you are after. She's based in Elstead just outside Godalming, Surrey.

DEERBRIDGE Gallery

 

[Scotty99]

That’s interesting to know…. Always liked the look of them just haven’t that type of work so probably won’t ever own one…… wonder how many are actually worked here in the UK??

I know a chap at Gloucester Wildfowlers who has a Chesapeake as his Wildfowling dog. Now it’s fully trained it’s an awesome foreshore dog. Also met a breaded at the Sandringham Show last year who breads and works them. I can’t remember the name of the breeder but they might be on the internet.

 

[howy308]

Too many breeders think there dogs are the bees knees, as with greyhounds just because you have a winner does not mean that they will produce champions. All the Labs I have had have been bred by keepers and not thousands of pounds. A good Lab takes no training it is in there genes, all we are doing is to ask them to work the way we would like them.
All the field trials champions work different to how we want them to work in the field and we should always trust the nose of your dog not having to tell or whistle left or right. Lots of people are just using dogs now to make money the old ways are dying off and it is a shame. The bigger the advert the more the pups cost. A good dog that bonds with you will want to please you. All my dogs have been part of the family and not just left in kennels.

 

[Hambone]

Can I just add to this that the old stamp Labs were of the same build as a Chesapeke is now!! talk about trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Basil H]

Most Chessies are bigger than the average lab, but not all - my best bitch was a compact little thing. There is an club, which is easy to find online. However, this is a very different breed and can be challenging but rewarding to train. I have had several over the last 40 years although currently I just have an old lab who is a pensioner like me.

 

[Bowland blades]

you will be looking for a DRAKES HEAD LAB.

Not for an old traditional Lab though ! I Get my Dogs from John and Nina at Drakeshead and have had a an old fashioned one off them over a Decade plus ago , by using the Stud Dog Pet Name " TOBY" a multi FTCH Ch . ( cant just remember the Kennel Name ) Stocky yellow dog . I got a Pup from that and he died of old age maybe a decade ago . Absolutely Spit of his sire . Wish i could have another like him again ! That dog did almost everything and half of it was not even asked!
I now have have A black go faster Version Black Lab Sired from Lady Chatsworth's record muti Winner Handled by John . I must say I do like the Faster, more athletic dog and i really just use him for Deer , so don't get hung up on the Old type - what we really need is a real good nose and good well formed bones. I am sure they will find you something , though they are not Cheap - I cannot recommend them enough !

 

[Bowland blades]

Can I just add to this that the old stamp Labs were of the same build as a Chesapeke is now!! talk about trying to reinvent the wheel.

I think the Chessie came before the Lab ! They are simply not Lab in Body or mind and honestly speaking a large amount of them have less than on par temperment

 

[Hambone]

I think the Chessie came before the Lab ! They are simply not Lab in Body or mind and honestly speaking a large amount of them have less than on par temperment

This is the trouble with getting a Chessie purely for its build.

 

[Hambone]

Most Chessies are bigger than the average lab, but not all - my best bitch was a compact little thing. There is an club, which is easy to find online. However, this is a very different breed and can be challenging but rewarding to train. I have had several over the last 40 years although currently I just have an old lab who is a pensioner like me.

That's my point, the Labs of 40 year ago that I am remembering were far heavier than you see now.