Smallest natural retriever?

[Carl]

I am not sure what kind of spanial Gary March has, but if you search for his posts and see the conditions River works in, you won't doubt his ability or drive.
I reccommend you PM Gary.

 

[Hank Fish]

My little lab female (10 months old) is right at 45 pounds, I would be very suprised if she makes it to 55. To me that is the perfect sized lab, she is still able to pick up big honkers in the field and takes up little space in the boat (and couch/bed etc)

 

[tod osier]

My in-laws are looking into a new dog. My question is what is the smallest natural retriever? The boys played with a golden and lab while we were at a u-cut Christmas tree place. The boys had more fun throwing sticks for the dogs for over an hour.

Moma wants a smaller dog, but they sure had fun playing fetch. So my thoughts: retriever=fetch=fun.

Also, my family is not quite ready for a new dog, but getting closer. So this info will be useful for me as I need a real hunting dog.

My brother used to have a cat that would fetch a crumpled up cigarette pack.

 

[wis boz]

Eddie
Boy, I agree with your training methods 100%. It's rare to read that on this forum.
wis boz

 

[Eddie Kershaw]

Wis boz
Thanks mate.

Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Amber
Its all about Building that Bond.

 

[Andy Grant]

Thanks for all the replys. Also I am a rather poor dog trainer compared to most. Natural talent in the dog would be best. No dog trials for me either. I would be happy just to have a dog sit still in the blind. Then bring back the occasional duck I shoot.

 

[john townsend]

Just go big. Chessie all the way. John

 

[Joe Spoo]

I will always be a Chesapeake guy at heart, and now that more breeders are getting a handle on degenerative myelopathy I will once again own one. That being said, outside of late-season stuff my little field-bred cocker is truly a do-all dog. The only color I didn't want was white for duck hunting purposes; however, the breeding was just too good to pass up and she's been great. As to their coat, while not a true "water dog" they do just fine with a neoprene vest under reasonable conditions. She is 25 pounds of pure hunting dog.

Retrieving a prairie grouse:

Late-season pheasants:

Another prairie bird:

I have a small video of her water entry but don't see an option for embedding it, I'll try to get it up on a site with a link.

 

[Jim Boyer]

Sorry, I just couldn't let this slide.

I dont like using a coller on a dog and like what Todd would like to do with all the winged decoys is how I feel with the E-collers when it comes down to training, My philoserfy is, if you carn,nt train a dog with love and understanding, dont bother trying to train a dog at all, thats why Building that Bond is very important.

The inuendo that e-collar retriever training replaces "love and understanding" is not appreciated. How does the fact that "Building that Bond is very important" have anything to do with the use of an e-collar? Frankly, I find that all very condescending and self-serving.

Getting back to the topic. I agree with Brian, your odds of having a talented retriever are better if you search for a smaller Lab. The difference between a 45 to 55 pound Lab is insignificant. Labs are easier to train, have excellent dispositions plus the genetics to "get the job done" is more deeply ingrained. You will have many more litters and breeders to select from with excellent health clearances possible. These all make a Lab the better choice in the long run.... in your case.

When your Lab is mature, size will not be that much of an issue......when she/he is bringing the geese.

This is Daisy (all 53 pounds of her). No goose has every come close to testing her.

"The Ice Goose"

Edit: Wow! Joe S. those are just outstanding photos.
---------

 

[Eddie Kershaw]

Jim

In all my years of dog training and Im 65 years of age now I have never used a coller on a dog, and I have never had to use the force fetch to get my dogs to retrieve.

1) I always buy my dogs from a good working kennells with a good pedigree of a working dog, IE no show stuff in the strain, pure workers.

2) my training starts straight away as soon as I get the pup home, teaching it sit at it meal times for a few seacons then increasing the time facter has the pup gets older and using plenty of praise.

3) I also beleive in letting the pup have it puppyhood and have plenty of play while it is a baby.

4) I never take my pup out hunting until that pup is trained to a standard that I consider is realy acceptable and to me that is about 18 months old before it go,s onto the marsh

5) I never exspect a baby to do a adults job and in my view taking a pup out at a early age hunting IE 4-6 months old is not on.

6) Diserplin is the key facter in gundog training, if you can,nt control the dog at the side of you, you have got no chance 100 yards away.

Has you can see I never use a coller on a dog, if you have ever seen a dog drown because it had a coller on and got hooked up on a branch, let me tell you it is not a pritty sight

I say to hell will the collers, if you carn,t train a dog with love and understanding dont bother training the dog at all.

Take care and God Bless
Eddie and Amber
Its all about Building that Bond.

 

[Charles Biddle]

I have a 2 year old full grown female lab that is 44 lbs. She has papers and is a great hunting dog already. I had her trained at West mountain Kennels in Pawling NY and the trainer is so happy with her that he is looking for a stud to breed her with. She was not the runt, that is what the breeder was going for when he breed the parents. The only issue that I have with her is that late season she gets a little cold. I live in NY and take her sea duck hunting so tide and current and waves do not bother her. Neither do big geese.
To be honest I thought I got a half o dog when I picked her up a little over a year ago but now she is my new hunting partner. And she is a hunting machine!!!
If you want pictures PM me and I can send them to you

 

[Kris Schaumburg]

i've got the smallest (come on doesn't everyone think it would usually be Tod saying that?)

Still working on "natural retreiving"

View attachment urban tech pond 2.jpg

 

[Josh Ward]

Thanks Hank.....

Yeah I'm very partial to the Boykins, (although I'll always be a chessie guy 1st). They are dandy little dogs!!! Just a ton of fun to train and work with....

Andy, feel free to give me a call or PM to discuss in detail if you would like....

www.operetrievers.com

317-491-8854

Check out this video of 11 week old pup......if you do your homework and buy from the RIGHT breeder, this is the natural drive and desire you'll get...

http://www.youtube.com/user/jwkimber45?feature=mhee#p/a/u/0/bhkYzuTK4jY






*

 

[Eric Turner]

I am not sure what kind of spanial Gary March has, but if you search for his posts and see the conditions River works in, you won't doubt his ability or drive.
I reccommend you PM Gary.

If I remember his pictures correctly ... I believe Gary has an American Water Spaniel. Have a friend in WI who has an AWS and has nothing but great things to say about the breed. A lot of drive packed into 40-45 lbs. Cold weather, open water, big geese ... none of it seems to be a problem.

 

[ChrisM]

The inuendo that e-collar retriever training replaces "love and understanding" is not appreciated. How does the fact that "Building that Bond is very important" have anything to do with the use of an e-collar? Frankly, I find that all very condescending and self-serving.

X2

I have a 46 lb American Water Spaniel that will do everything you can expect from an upland dog and a cold water
retriever.He's also a joy to be around.He was force fetched,and collar conditioned.He'll be 9 yrs. old in January.I defy anyone to show me that they have a better bond with their dog than I have with mine.To say that if someone chooses to use an e-collar they shouldn't train dogs is pure self-righteous bull butter.

 

[Pete McMiller]

Chris and others who have an AWS. My very limited experience with other people's AWSs is that they can be, for wont of a better word - "snippy". That is, I've been warned not to get too close or they might take a hunk out of my finger if the mood strikes them. Now, I've been around a few territorial dogs (chessies) and don't mind that kind of thing but the snapping at someone is not tolerated by me. Is this a common trait or have I just been around a couple weird AWSs? My Grandpa had one back in the 50's and I always thought that someday I'd have one too but I'm a bit concerned with their personality and would appreciate comments.

 

[John Kirk]

Chris and others who have an AWS. My very limited experience with other people's AWSs is that they can be, for wont of a better word - "snippy". That is, I've been warned not to get too close or they might take a hunk out of my finger if the mood strikes them. Now, I've been around a few territorial dogs (chessies) and don't mind that kind of thing but the snapping at someone is not tolerated by me. Is this a common trait or have I just been around a couple weird AWSs? My Grandpa had one back in the 50's and I always thought that someday I'd have one too but I'm a bit concerned with their personality and would appreciate comments.

No- you've been around a couple of weird AWS. Very friendly, eager to pleae. They require plenty of activity. My guy was not collar trained or forced trained. I started him on wings at 8 weeks, taught him to sit, come, stay- he already knew how to retrieve. I took him upland hunting where he would occasionally joy ride, but he never lost a bird. He required minimal training, but lots of attention. I have never met another dog any where with as much personality as Gus. he was a tough retriever and a great family member. He came from Swan Lake Kennels in Wisconsin- I believe Gary's dog has some Swan Lake in her and there is another member (John from Indiana?) who also has a Swan Lake/Barth dog. My $0.02, YMMV. When i get another dog, it will be an AWS, no question.

 

[ChrisM]

Pete,I wouldn't own a dog that was "snippy".My AWS loves everybody to a fault.I have grandchildren and
have 0 tolerance for any animal around them that I 'd consider suspect.I suppose all breeds have a few
,perhaps because of situation or circumstance,that you need to be careful around,however,I've yet to
meet an AWS that I won't let my grandkids around....Chris

 

[Pete McMiller]

Thanks John,

I suspected that was the case but wanted to ask anyway. It's rare to find any hunting breed that isn't people friendly. I've tried to look up Swan Lake Kennels but don't find much, do you know if they have a web site?

 

[Pete McMiller]

Thanks Chris,

Grandkids is my concern also. My chessie is wonderful with all of them and, like you, wouldn't have a dog that wasn't.