What color lab is preferred for hunting?

steelhead22 · 06-25-2003, 08:52 AM

About two weeks ago I posted that my black lab had just had a litter of pups. It turned out to be 4 chocolates and 4 blacks (3 males and 1 female of each color) :grin: . I've decided to keep one, but which one? I've always had black labs and they have been outstanding hunters, but I've been considering taking a chocolate, mainly because the rest of the family wants a chocolate and we already have a black. I guess my question is: Is there any problems with chocolate labs while hunting? Are they harder to train? Are they better than the other colors?

Any info. would help.

lost_sailor · 06-25-2003, 09:37 AM

YELLOW is preferred for all purposes.
[img]graemlins/icon_argue.gif[/img]

Actually, I'm pretty sure the only difference is the color. I'd just choose your favorite pup. Personally I like chocolate. If you can't have YELLOW.

Get Bit · 06-25-2003, 10:00 AM

I've heard that the preferred order by the guys who train dogs for a living is :

1.Black
2.Yellow
3.Chocolate

I think this only a general rule of thumb. Any hunt test or field trails guys want to enlighten us ?

Get Bit

Mojo · 06-25-2003, 10:11 AM

Since they all came from the same parents, they all should be genetically very similar. I'd think it becomes a matter of aesthetics from this point. I've heard that chocolates are a genetic outcross (whatever that means) and are inferior. I know Yellows are recessive (hence weaker?) I had a black lab for 13 years. When I picked her I really wanted a yellow from the same litter. The only yellow was stillborn, so that wasn't gonna happen. I think a dog's intellect is based on the genetic traits passed by the parents. Good chocolate parents are gonna give you good choclate pups. Poor black parents are gonna give you poor pups. You know the parents, so pick the cutest pup!

Crayfin · 06-25-2003, 10:32 AM

I have a chocolate female. She is a great dog for hunting and family. I think they all have certain personality traits whether they are black/yellow/chocolate. Chocolates were considered inferior for so many years that they just now are starting to get some good breeding in them from reputable breeders. That said there are still very few chocolates competing @ national levels for field trials.

All my buddies run blacks or yellows with the nod going to black. I wanted something different so hence, I got Molly the Chocolate Lab :-)

I say, go with what you want if they are from the same litter or talk to a trainer and see what they say. Lynn Hanigan from Klamath is a great guy (loves yellows) and his training techniques are awesome. This guy whispers commands to his dogs(amazing) and I am sure would answer any of your ?'s.
fetchhold@aol.com or www.duckworthretrievers.com

Crayfin

chummer · 06-25-2003, 10:53 AM

"Gentlemen prefer blondes" :grin:

Spotted Owl · 06-25-2003, 12:32 PM

As far as I have seen color means nothing. If the parents were or are good hunters then the pups will have the genetics. It just takes time and patients to bring out the hunting traits. Then more time to hone them into the perfect hunting machine and more important family friend. For color phasing I have not noticed any behavior problems leaning to one color or the other. Have fun and take time with your new addition to the family.

Flatfish · 06-25-2003, 01:18 PM

Unless you are very picky, any color will do. The personality charecteristics of a lab are what we are after. Color does not make them act different. Breeding and training does.

Jake is black. The next one( which I will get before Jake dies) will be yellow. That way I can tell the difference between the two when I need to correct one of them.

i hunt with a buddy who has a black that is about the same size and build as Jake. When they hunt together, they get away with murder cause we don't know which one is screwing around. the dogs know this now, and use it for their own entertainment.

Mark and the dog.

06-25-2003, 02:05 PM

Whichever one more closely resembles a Chesapeake should be the best!

danger · 06-25-2003, 02:08 PM

I asked that question to a lady that I know that works/trains at the Guide dog for the blind training facility in Boring, OR and she said that they have the most trouble with the choclates. She couldn't explain why but it was obvious in her experience that they were the inferior color.

I repeat this is not my opinion but that of a professional, personally I have never noticed a difference. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

Hands down the time spent with the dog and the quality of that trainging will grossly out weigh the affects that color may have!!!

Dan(ger)

SlimPickens · 06-25-2003, 02:21 PM

22- you ain't gonna notice any difference in your litter between colors.

When I was in the market a year ago, chocs were going for a higher price than blacks. Seemed to be more demand for them recently from good breeders.

I've got a black. Love those glossy, absolutely shiny black coats. Darn pritty. :smile:

hickwithaflyrod · 06-25-2003, 02:28 PM

Ok, I own a Black lab and am pleased with how she is. She is moderatly soft but I think that makes her a little easier to train although she's also stuborn, if you mess up then she won't change unless you put a ton of work into her. It all depends on the relationship beetween the dog and trainer, the genetic background I think has only a little to do with it. My dog from the moment she saw a bird she was hott and heavy on training, and I don't even know if she's pure or not (thinking not) and I got her at the human society in salem.....

John

P.S. I like the yellows that have a really white color to them aka white labs but I don't think that there all that good for hunting waterfowl because they'd stand out more easly..........

Tilla · 06-25-2003, 05:42 PM

80% of the top performance retrievers that place or win in AKC field trials and hunt tests are Black labs.
(Now you can continue with the discussion about what color you like).

MountainLion84 · 06-25-2003, 07:05 PM

Yellow!!!!!!!!!
MISTY RIP 1988-2003.

steelhead22 · 06-25-2003, 07:40 PM

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like most of you are leaning toward the Black's as being the best for hunting. I must say, for hunting I am in favor of the blacks also. On the other hand, these dogs are from champion lines on both sides, so I'm sure no matter which one I choose they'll be great. Thanks again for all the responses.

foxer · 06-25-2003, 11:07 PM

We bought a yellow (white actually)because her hair would match the carpet

Labsforme · 06-26-2003, 04:50 AM

Is there another color other than black? :grin: In your case it's probably personal preference because they are from the same litter.The reason you see most black labs winning is the gene pool they draw from.Black is the dominant gene.There are more competing yellows(Buddy,Jamey,Nitro,etc)
There was even a chocolate male as a finalist at the National Amateur this year.However(here it comes) the most consistant performing dogs are black(IMHO).

Firedog · 06-26-2003, 08:07 AM

I think blacks are easiest to train for some reason. I have a Chocolate female and she is a great dog but very independent and stubborn. Still wouldn't trade her for the world though, been a great dog, she will be 12 this year and has slowed down after a lot of years of hard hunting and playing. But still always eager to go.

Boedy · 06-26-2003, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tilla:
80% of the top performance retrievers that place or win in AKC field trials and hunt tests are Black labs.
(Now you can continue with the discussion about what color you like).

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">When you start out with 95 percent of the dogs being trained being black then I see how you get to 80 percent.

Are blue eyed or brown haired people smarter?

Color is only one gene out of many.

And if it was so important then every Choc or Yellow dog would be inferior and you wouldn�t have any champion choc or yellow and we know that is not the case. I think it comes done to the right bloodlines and the proper training.

I have a chocolate if you couldn�t guess. :grin:

Lured In · 06-26-2003, 09:16 PM

Brown dogs RULE...Blacks and yellows drool! :tongue:

Would you rather have a red or black Porsche? If you are talkig litter mates, the only variance you should see is in personality, which cannot be predicted.

I love my brown dog. Even Tilla knows that if he doesn't get his black dog some training, he can spout all the stats he want, but the well bred and well trained dog will out perform all others consistantly.

(regardless of color)

It just so happens that my pup's grand daddy was the first chocolate NFC. FC N.F.C Storm's Riptide Star. :grin:

Tilla here is a statistic for you....100% of black labs that don't train, don't pass. :tongue: :grin:

Tilla · 06-26-2003, 11:51 PM

Boedy- I am not making any statements here about what I think, facts is facts.
I didn't say yellow and Choc were inferior.
If anything I've inferred here is that Lab color is the stupidest thing we discuss on this board every few months.
It is not what should be the primary factor chosen when you pick a dog, unless you want it to match the curtains. And that's OK too.

I've have had 5 labs ,they were not the same colors.
I chose by breeding.

Lured-In, I have had 5 labs..Jr hunters,Sr Hunters and Master hunters. Different colors too! :shocked: I've got three that will do all the competent retrieving I require right now. Do you think I've got time to participate based on what you've seen me do on the licensed weekends? Got nothing to prove. 16 years, I'm frankly burnt out!! I would rather chase steelhead right now.

Baskett-o-fish · 06-27-2003, 07:17 AM

I have a chocolate and Yellow. I am training the yellow as he is a little more outgoing and has picked up the training well.

but in all fairness the chocolate is 90% blind and runs into anything and everything. She is now 2 and very lovable. When were in a wide open field I can throw a ball and after an exhasuted search she will find it. I typically apply Duck scent and she has a blast searching. Once she gets the ball I have to call her back and keep talking so she can find her way home. If she was able to see I have no doubt she would be the better hunter.

Lured In · 06-27-2003, 07:41 AM

Tilla...you sound a little 'grumpy'.

I hope you know I was only kidding ya'. :grin:

Vandal · 06-27-2003, 10:00 AM

yellow then black then choc.

thats the order i would go in.

remember the ol' punnet square formula.

recessive genes cause a lot of problems in labs...but selective breeding helps weed most of these issues out.

But every dog has their strenghts and weaknesses.

Pick one and be proud of your choice.

Cohodependent · 06-27-2003, 01:17 PM

The birds don't care what color your dog is. Just pick the one that you like and start the training...

Nookie Monster · 06-27-2003, 08:30 PM

The color of Lab I would prefer for hunting would be Realtree X-tra Brown camoflauge. Reeeelll hard to find, though.

willametteriveroutlaw · 06-29-2003, 02:10 PM

Curly brown backed chesepeke, or dead grass.=)

Capin' Dan · 06-30-2003, 11:42 PM

The break down has to do with the gene pool. htere are more blacks out there so that is the deeper gene pool and therefore it is where the majority of the champions both field and bench come from. Second would be yellow and third the chocolate. It all has to do with the numbers that are out there. With that said I own mostly blacks with one yellow.
In my opinion Blacks Rule..........

BonkBonkBonk · 07-06-2003, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by firedog:
I think blacks are easiest to train for some reason. I have a Chocolate female and she is a great dog but very independent and stubborn.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helv">sounds like our choclate lab ginger
shes the sweetest dog ever, but if she gets out of the yard she runs away and wont listen to anyone, and wont come back till shes ready

Flatfish · 07-06-2003, 11:59 PM

Pink pearl with a black lip and chartruse tigerstripes.....Oh, wrong board :tongue:

Mark and the dog.