My new lab is a purebred, AKC lab but not from any special hunting bloodline. Have any of yall had bad experiences with labs in the field that aren't from award-winning bloodlines? She isn't going to be involved in competitions or field trials. I just want her to hunt well. I would like to get her into school eventually in order to maximize her potential. To me it seems like spending the majority of the money on school rather than the bloodline makes sense, however, I reserve the right to be dead wrong. Yall give me some words of wisdom and lessons from your experience.

I always thought if the dog retrieves birds not gun shy and is good in blind. He is award winning for me.

Thats what I was thinking. I doubt most of the hunting dogs out there were bought for $1000 or more and come from champion lines. But hell, I don't really know most of the hunting dogs out there..

My boy is almost 4 and I got him because he was given to me for free. He wasn't from any special bloodline but was full bred and came with akc and ukc papers. I invested time and money into him and he is 40 point away from a championship and if it weren't for a few stomach issues he would have already ran in his first grand...... just remember... its all about how you raise them and how you treat them

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind for sure

my lab is from tourny lines but only because we go from waterfowl hunting to tourny hunting but have hunted many dogs will "non-bloodline labs"

Getting a lab or any hunting dog from titled bloodline vs. non titled bloodline backyard responsible breeders is a crap shoot either way.

Titled dogs only will tell you that the dogs are highly trainable; or even somewhat trainable. They also give you a little window on their potential health issue.

But either way you still don't know what kind of quirks the pup will have on less know the sire/dam and who trained them

I have both a heavily pedigree'd Lab as well as a back yard breeder Golden Retriever.

I bought a choco lab that wasn't from a hunting background. He cost $150. Year and some $$$ later I now have a seasoned trial dog that is 2 runs from finishing his finished title. Will also retrieve any dove, duck, goose, etc all day long

[quote="Durty" To me it seems like spending the majority of the money on school rather than the bloodline makes sense, .[/quote]

Paying more for a pedigreed dog that is more easily trained can be a good investment if someone is planning on sending him to a trainer for a long time. At 450+ a month trainers aren't cheap, 10 months with an expensive dog may turn out better than 12 months with your "average" dog.

Never had a bloodline lab in my life and I'm ok with that. Both my labs are great hunters and even better companions. If I wanted a machine in the field and a dog with no affection I woulda bought a machine. I like a dog that apprciates a head pat and a good boy. I have hunted with dogs that have been trained half their likfe and all they do is go out get the bird and sit down. They dont want to be touched or played with its all buissness to them. Its suppose to be fun out their. Get a dog that does it cause it want to not cause it was forced too.

The main point of getting a dog with a good pedigree is that odds are your going to get a pup that wants to retrieve. There's no rule that says they cant be good companions (I can assure you there are many titled dogs that sleep on the couch)

No offense to anyone but bloodlines don't gurantee anything its still a chance. Just like hip dispalshia and bad eyes. Just cause the mom and dad did'nt have it doesn't mean one of the puppies can'. It still a chance no matter what the bloodlines say. Their is never a gurantee. IMO just cause u spend a 1000 on a 6 week old puppy doesn't mean its going to be any better then the free one your buddy got from a guy down the street. My oldest lab had papers and vet records way back to her grandparents.. no sign of having bad knees but my lab has had to ACL surgerys in 5 years

I got a 3/4 lab 1/4 catahoula at the trainer right now. She seems to be doing very well.

I picked my lab up for 50 bucks with no papers, she looks pure but I'm not 100% sure....I sent her to a trainer for 4 months to get her going and im finishing her now, she will be ready this coming season and I can tell you this: at a little over 1 year old she will be a dayum good hunting dog, not a champ by any means bbut will get a bird, bring it to me, listen, and enjoy it all while doing so. She is a great companion with a good attitude, so to me a piece of paper and a $1000 pup with a historied bloodline don't mean shit, it's all about the time/effort u give em....just my $.02

A few of my germador

you cant make a dog hunt, a dog is only as smart as its owner.

That bloodline tree is great for profet margins, and that is ALL!

You will be hard pressed to get a breeder to tell you this but I will, I had free dogs that made the best dogs, and I have had $2,000 puppies make s**t... literally.

The reason you don't see regular old AKC paper dogs with no "champion" bloodlines getting there Master Hunter awards or FTCH awards is because not many breeders are willing to spend thousands to feild trial a dog they can't market puppies out of. You are making a huge gamble with any dog, My tip if you are in the market for a puppy is to find the craziest pup of the litter that you can hold on it back without to much struggle. That has always worked for me, with any price of dog. The only benifet to paying big money for puppies is that you are going to get health warranties for there eyes, hips and elbows. If there are no warranties i would walk away.

Kind of like the saying HP sells cars, and torque wins race's.

My 1st dog had papers & was a great dog but her mom had gene for red mange & couldnt breed her. She was super. Got a male lab pup from friend n stuttgart who had 5 labs @ same time when We started hunting w/ him. VerY good blood but he never papered anything. Sire was amazing & dam was just good hunting dog. My male pup is 8 now. Has picked up alot of ducks, doves & geese but would rather f**k or fight. His daughter has more natural desire & gas than any ive hunted w/. She is 4 this year & she dont have a paper anywhere. My old friend n stuttgart alwauys said he never saw a pedigree run 150 yrds across a rice field of gumbo n water & bring back a duck. Some just have it & some dont!

if you arent running the trials or breeding , papers are good for nothing. some of the dumbest dogs i ever had were the best pedigree. the parents are the key, get a dog from hunting parents and you wont go wrong. I own my own kennel and have a great bloodline.BUT , like I said. papers sometimes come with dumb dogs.

I got a Part PitBull Part Lab..........He'll rip your freaking arm off and bring it back to you!