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!