Old English Labrador

[Ratel]

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

I'll go with that and another poster. I haven't been too close to many but all I've seen were aggressive. A few years back I had to shoot one for an old boy. It was five years old and attacked his elderly wife biting off some of her fingers. He managed to pen it and called me to soften it's cough.

 

[Bowland blades]

I'll go with that and another poster. I haven't been too close to many but all I've seen were aggressive. A few years back I had to shoot one for an old boy. It was five years old and attacked his elderly wife biting off some of her fingers. He managed to pen it and called me to soften it's cough.

Number 1, 2,3 is Temperment !

 

[Lloyd90]

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.

I’ve seen it and spoken to him about the dog, told me his Labs were a lot easier and quicker to train, out working whilst the Chessie was still on basics.

I believe he’s recently got a new pup… another Lab.

 

[countrryboy]

I'll go with that and another poster. I haven't been too close to many but all I've seen were aggressive. A few years back I had to shoot one for an old boy. It was five years old and attacked his elderly wife biting off some of her fingers. He managed to pen it and called me to soften it's cough.

My experience is similar.
Seen a few, yet to see a decent 1 for game shooting or even as a pet.

Was a local breeder who had some very good lines, importing straws from the US.
But some of the stories u heard about them.
Was not unusual for them to attack any dog that got within 20m of his hide on the foreshore.
Even if just walking on/off the shore.

Personally not a breed I'd have but each to their own.

 

[countrryboy]

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!

U may have a point now sadly as less and less proper working labs around..

But double coats, otter tails, thick heads etc, have been bog standard lab characteristics since the breed was 1st invented.

I've seen plenty of 'modern' labs sitting shivering on a peg in cold wet wether.
Even seen some refusing cold water
Or picking their way through a field with thistles in it, never mind hitting cover.


As u can tell not a fan of modern skinny FT bred dogs.
Have spoiled the breed for an extra seconds pace which is not that important anyway in grand scheme of things outside of FTs.

And while may not be inbred as such the top studs are well well over used.
Gene pool far too small considering the population.
Esp when u get into Yellow or esp red Labs.

 

[Buchan]

I've seen plenty of 'modern' labs sitting shivering on a peg in cold wet wether.
Even seen some refusing cold water

Esp when u get into Yellow or esp red Labs.

Mine will break ice to swim!

 

[Rhodesianjess]

Mine will break ice to swim!

One of mine terrifies people who don't know her on shoots. She'll walk out on ice, you can see her waiting for it to break beneath her and then starts swimming in the resulting hole. Hauls herself out, never once had to rescue her. Most disconcerting for visiting guests who assume the worst.

 

[Bowland blades]

Cheshies where meant to guard the product of old pro wildfowlers as well as retrieve from dangerous seas . The Guarding things remain , i have only seen one that was not a grumpy bully and i have spend a long time out on the saltings . That dog was owned by a Lady fowler , was that example the result of good management that the female sex often often has ? I don't know 100% , just my thoughts and observation .
The breed is still not common even though its an older breed than the lab . The selection process of labs was very different recovering lost gear and shot fowl from the cold sea. Don't for one minute think the lab is not able to get stuck in but its not something that that is desirable on a shoot day at all ! Labs do bite Ceaser Millan get two real bad bites from a few. A capacity to attack is in every breed , they ain't softies dealing with deer when required all my Labs past and present have a robust rebuke to genuine threats when it was in appropriate ! But Only when

A Chesie is a good water dog but they only perform like a Lab , Diving deep underwater in for wounded geese that dive to escape The dog tips its head in and disapears under to catch active cripples.
A brilliant deer dog that will wait for hours under a high seat

Not putting the Chesie down mind but the UK is full to brim of the finest working labs on the planet . The fact that most are retrievers makes no matter if you want something just facilitate the dog and guide the dog down the path