The Differences Between American and British Labs
Rick McConico – Old Oak Retrievers
There is considerable debate regarding the superiority of American Labrador Retrievers or British Labrador Retrievers. Often the opinions are based on which type of dogs a particular breeder or trainer personally sells. While I have my own preferences, I have been fortunate enough to train many very good dogs of both origins. Both American and British are capable of providing you with a top notch hunting companion. Rather than giving you my preference, I’m going to explain the different characteristics of each type and let you decide which is right for your hunting or training style.
Appearance
While appearances may vary regardless of American or British, there are some general differences that you can expect to see with some consistency.
• Size – American Labs generally run larger (weight wise) than their British counterparts American Labs probably average 10-20 pounds heavier than British Labs. The British Labs will generally run 50-70 pounds depending on whether you have a male or female, while American Labs are typically 60-90 pounds.
• Color – While both come in Black and Yellow, Chocolate is a common third color for American Labs. British lines often include dogs with a dark (fox) red coat as their third color. Show lines will also have the very light yellows or “ivory” as a color.
Temperament
The major difference here is one of apparent energy. Both American and British lines produce very social dogs that are playful and intelligent and make excellent companions. My experience has been that the British Labrador generally tends to be somewhat more calm and relaxed. They typically need a softer training hand with less pressure required. American Labs, tend to be able to handle more pressure in a training environment. They are naturally more boisterous and tend to exhibit a higher energy level and, consequently, may require more firm correction.
Hunting Ability
Hunting ability may be the largest point of contention between proponents of American or British Labs. My opinion on this is pretty simple. Anyone that tells you one or the other won’t produce excellent bird dogs is just not being honest. Field lines of both American and British Labs possess all the natural characteristics to be tremendous hunting companions for both Upland and Waterfowl hunting. The American dog may be a better choice for someone needing a dog to do big water waterfowl hunting.
The difference between the two is as much about style as it is about ability. Both will exhibit the toughness, agility, and natural retrieving ability that make a great bird dog. The American dogs have been bred for higher energy to meet the demands of our style of trial or test which rely on eyesight, whereas the British dog has been refined for their type of trial which demands the dog have a keener nose to track fallen game along with a quiet calm demeanor. The question here is really more about whether you prefer an American Lab which is generally a more high energy hunting machine or a British Lab which is a more calm and thoughtful hunting machine. They’ll both hunt and retrieve, whether on land or water, and they’ll both do it very, very well. British dogs may appear to be laid back when you are just observing them around the house or yard, but once in the field they will perform with the best.
No Hard & Fast Rules
Overall, both American and British lines are capable of providing you with the household or hunting companion of your dreams. While American or British types may be more predisposed to one characteristic or another, both are very well rounded dogs. I would encourage you to do your research and then pick the type that is best suited for your personal needs.
To learn more about Rick's training methods, visit www.oldoakretrievers.com.
Your New Puppy
Rick McConico – Old Oak Retrievers
There is nothing more fun than a new puppy in your house. The first few minutes to the end of the first day is nothing but fun and games for your new pup. However, he will begin learning the moment you pick him up from the breeders.
Even though young and tiny, your new buddy will learn like a thirsty sponge, but what do we teach him? Other than getting out and learning about the big new world some of the most important things you can start teaching your puppy are:
• Where do I sleep?
• Where do I go to the bathroom?
• Where is my food and water?
• What is my name?
• Who is in charge here?
The more consistent you and your family are in these rules the easier it will be for your puppy to learn to live by them and also like them.
Every puppy needs their own space, whether it is for sleeping, house breaking or a “time out (either for you or your puppy). A crate works the best for this. Limit his space so he learns to settle down, be quiet and remain clean. Too much space in the crate will allow him the space to be able to make a mess in one area and move to a clean area. A mess allows your pup learn to be dirty in his house and ends up being a hard habit to break. Remember when puppies are awake they will need to go out often and as close to the same area each time as possible.
A puppy can begin learning it’s name as soon as you bring it home. Use small delicious treats and begin by calling the puppy’s new name. At first he will have no idea what you are talking about but when he looks up, turns his head or gives any response in your direction poke the treat in his mouth. It should only take a few times of hearing the new word (his name) and getting a yummy treat poked into his mouth before he will start responding to his name. Once this happens then you can start adding come or here to his name and getting him to come when called. After he is reliable with treats begin substituting the treats with praise every now and again, gradually giving more praise rewards and fewer treats. The beauty of this is that he will gladly come when called since he will never know when it will be a great treat.
Make sure your puppy learns and knows you and any other people in his life are the ones in charge. All games and good times are started and ended by the people.
People also get to “win” much of the time, they are in charge of the food, the treats, the toys or whatever is desirable in puppy’s life.
Yes there is a lot to accomplish with a young puppy. If you do your homework, both you and puppy will be happier for life because he will become a good citizen and there will be order in your lives.
Dog Foods
Rick McConico – Old Oak Retrievers
Some thoughts on dog foods. There are many good premium foods on the market today most of which will cost about $1-$1.50 per pound of food. We have some brands that we recommend that we either have experience with or know they have a good reputation.
Those brands are:
• Canine Caviar
• Eagle
• Innova
• Nutri-Source
• Red Paw
• Royal Canin
• Sensible Choice
• Fromm’s
The first 5 ingredients are the most important ones in the food. Look for a variety here with the first being some kind of meat meal (ie Chicken meal). For example if the food says rice, rice flour, rice bran etc that means there is a lot of rice in the food and they have just broken it down so that it looks better and other ingredients come out on top. So, not too much of any one ingredient.
Look for a food that is 22-25% protein and 12-16% fat for a maintenance diet. Puppy diets will be higher in both fat and protein. If you are doing a lot with your dog or it is hunting hard you will probably need to go to a performance diet with higher fat and protein. The 2 best high calorie foods we have found are Royal Canin 4800 and Canine Caviar. There are many higher protein and fat diets on the market today that are grain free and are a good option for many dogs. Calorie content has started to be included on many bags of food and this can help you decide what to buy depending on your dogs’ body condition and how it seems to be using its food.
A personal observation we have made is that diets which are more natural or holistic, with lots of fruits and vegetable ingredients, tend to produce a softer stool.
The food you choose should produce a dog that looks good, has a nice coat and a good stool. If you are not happy with any of those things then you should probably try a different food. One of the latest recommendations for foods is that they contain probiotics or good bacteria. This helps to maintain a healthy digestive system.
If you feel the need to supplement a diet, then go with probiotics and/or fish oils with flax oil. There are many of these on the market also so read the labels.