Why I love labs

[Borny1]

I couldn't resist showing them off some more:

 

[utah400elk]

I had a chocolate lab named Doc. I got him when I was going through a rough patch (divorce) and he was just what the Doctor ordered. He was my partner in crime and an absolutely awesome pointing lab/pheasant machine. He passed at 10 and really tore my family up. He was not my first lab, and I loved them all, but he was the best dog.

I have had five chocolate labs and swore off dogs after losing Doc. Well my wife and son weren’t having it. We now have two more Chocolate labs and “Maple” is our “tiny” dog. She is a hunting machine and considers it her duty to keep squirrels out of our yard. For unknown reasons (maybe the extra snacks I provide or the adventures we have) I am her clear favorite. This is her in low power mode. She was insulted that I didn’t take her on my gulf vacation with my wife this week…so she is sulking and missing me.

 

[MTGunner]

Happy labs aged 1.5 and 8 years, enjoying Montana springtime.
View attachment 319620View attachment 319621

Is that the Missions in the background? MTG

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Is that the Missions in the background? MTG

Yes. Mission Mountains. The Ronan area is a national hotspot for retriever field trials.

 

[nastynate]

I was on the floor doing some sit-ups, so he decided to come look at me from point blank to see if I needed help.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

This lab routinely does 300 yard blind retrieves in competition.
My most memorable blind hunting was less than 5 yards.
Shot a pair of huns on a cut bank. The first fell in the stream and
drifted lodged 30 yards below my feet by the current on a cliff cutbank.
Lab marked and easily retrieved the second of the pair.
For the first bird, had to send the lab downstream to cross, then handle
the lab upstream then a come-in whistle to cross the stream and
get the hun lodged against the cutbank.

 

[Buffs35]

Away for the long weekend.

 

[okie archer]

 

[OntarioHunter]

What other dog but a Lab would let a two year-old kid give it a makeover ... with Butt Paste!

Ellie is also an avid gamer.

Labs can be a handful ... in all the right ways.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

A couple retrieves from yesterday's solo upland hunt (huns and roosters).

 

[choc dogs]

Was looking for a family lab that’ll pick up a bird or 2 in the fall. He’s got the first part down.

 

[dgc1963]

Love all the post and pics but gets me choked up a bit I had to say good by to charlie 2 yrs ago he was a rescue 10 yrs old when I got him red from malnutrition and sun baked from being out side and ignored for 10 yrs he was a chocolate grumpy old man
It took a few weeks for him to get used to being inside and being part of the family but ended up being 80 lbs of lap dog and followed me everywhere if I sat on the floor he was in my lap
And after 4 yrs we had to say good by still miss him and get a tear in my eye when I weed the flower bed over him
Thanks for the pics and stirring up the memories

 

[Borny1]

Love all the post and pics but gets me choked up a bit I had to say good by to charlie 2 yrs ago he was a rescue 10 yrs old when I got him red from malnutrition and sun baked from being out side and ignored for 10 yrs he was a chocolate grumpy old man
It took a few weeks for him to get used to being inside and being part of the family but ended up being 80 lbs of lap dog and followed me everywhere if I sat on the floor he was in my lap
And after 4 yrs we had to say good by still miss him and get a tear in my eye when I weed the flower bed over him
Thanks for the pics and stirring up the memories

They leave us too soon. I'm coming to the end of another lab myself. This will be the sixth time for me. Every one of them still brings a tear to my eye when I think of the times we had. Casey, Sally, Gabriel, Honky, and Diesel. God gave them to us, and we are so blessed to have them.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Crashing into a freezing spring creek to retrieve an upland bird. Not a problem.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Recovering runners always amazes me.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Another thing I like about labs is their oily coat makes cleanup from houndstongue easy.
A quick swim and most are gone.
For me, I just shed a cheap pair of Frog Toggs pants.
Then we are ready to head home.
Before:

After:

 

[okie archer]

Hanging out in deer camp with my lab.