What is a Labrador?

This week Charlie discusses what is a Labrador, their characteristics, their history and their breeding.
Let Charlie know what other topics you would like for him to cover.
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[@georgebutler7183]

Could you do a video of what you feed your dogs? So much information out there now on kibble, raw, grain free etc it’s just a nightmare knowing what’s best

[@MordorGundogs]

Yes we are doing this in June

[@owensinger5443]

Thanks, really informative video. I’ve always been aware of working lines and showing lines in labs and particularly in golden retrievers where size and colour make the difference easy to spot. We have a 3 year old with excellent pedigree who we looked for as a family pet and to train to pick up. He is a good strong dog and weighs in at about 34 kg , full of muscle around the shoulder and when out and about incredibly athletic, great nose and good swimmer. He was incredibly easy to train and is an intelligent fog that sits back a bit and likes to work things out for himself. However he was gun shy and it took til the end of last season for him to figure it out. Then he was into it. The other labs on the shoot we pick up on were generally all a lot shorter, not an ounce of fat on them (appreciate end of season) but a lot smaller than Dubhghall. I hadn’t seen this size discrepancy in working breed lines before. Anyway they both did the job admirably and enjoyed doing it. We’ve just picked up Hamish ( now 9 weeks old). He is Dubhghall’s nephew from his litter sister. Hoping he will be very similar and a lot of fun to train.

[@tonypower9315]

It has been on my mind for years now the exact things you say about labs, in general. I had labs 20 yrs ago for rough shooting in Ireland and while they weren’t as leggy as your sample puppy . The older hunting labs seemed more sleek and balanced as opposed the the box headed barrels we seem to see now. Yours included if you don’t mind me saying. If they can clear a five bar gate…..well.😂. I do have a guestion for you as you seem to train a lot of good gun dogs…do you or anyone train the sleek flat coated retrievers?…..they seem to have the perfect form to be a great all day gun dog. Yet I never see any….

[@batmantiss]

Your labs are excellent specimens. Anyone would be lucky to have them

[@annegallacher4992]

Really interesting. We have 2 beautiful black gun dogs. Same mum but different dad and there’s quite a difference in size. Fantastic dogs from an excellent Perthshire gun dog breeder.

[@colinjohnston5465]

Just the difference in size of puppies in the same litter is quite striking. The temperaments of each dog are unique, too. There are no guarantees breeding and choosing puppies but knowing what you want to start with is a positive step forward! Great video.

[@peterashmore3695]

I'd be really happy to own anyone of those lab's in your video and they all looked perfect for the work they're bred for 🤗

[@Charlesgraydogtraining]

I found this very informative thank you. Could possibly do one on spaniel and resulting differences from their breeding. (?)

[@MordorGundogs]

Certainly

[@steveplows9996]

Some profound and imo accurate advice, and I'm on black Lab 5, my new one is 2 and is from the Charity I work for 'Dogs for Good' so his lines are bred for training temprament he failed as an assistance dog for what they described as over reactivity to kids, rubbish, he's super sensetive and has adapted to the gundog role in what I as a novice regard as a good way, mainly following your advice & videos which are excellent. Keep the videos coming they help this novice handler so much and steer me in the right direction, many thanks

[@EdsCanineAcademy]

Labs are a fab breed, my little staffie loves his Labrador friends. Fantastic bonds they have 😊

[@craighembree3101]

In the US, speed is really important to winning field trials, so our working Labs tend to look a lot more like the second dog in this video. A lighter, more athletic dog is also much nicer if you hunt out of a canoe or other small watercraft.

[@Kate_Short-For-Bob]

Excellent video. And interesting with my that my KC -Reg'd fox red Lab, very much from a working line, was often mistaken for a Visler when younger - he's partially dark red at the extremities and had big floppy ears that took several months for him to 'grow into' as a pup !

[@nickbro58]

Brilliant video. Spend a lot of time getting ideas on how to train a dog from various trainers but I always seem to come back to you for some no nonsense practical and informative advice. Keep it up Mr Thorburn

[@rosjierandevelynhall9421]

please keep these videos coming !!! your dogs are beautiful

[@Jacky-zj6ol]

All beautiful dogs :). Black labs are my favourite.

[@randomhuman731]

Well presented and informative. Do you have any thoughts on training mixes? Labradoodles etc.

[@janetwarren-dunford5449]

Thank you so much this is very interesting and informative especially I am thinking about getting a black lab next year. All beautiful dogs.

[@scottvardy4344]

Great video Charlie ,somewhere along the lines the KC reg as gone wrong because the clients Ladbrador is nothing like .I'm no Ladbrador expert but this video alone gives you a good start in what to look for .

[@wendywilliams9893]

Really interesting and informative. Thanks

[@gordonspringate7500]

Interesting video. I fully agree with your logic.

[@northlawgundogs5254]

Well explained Charlie.

[@vivdawson5953]

Gorgeous Goose… perfect lab❤️

[@driftlesshunter9200]

"All dogs want to be Labs, & all Labs want to be black!" - quoting Stonnie Dennis - dog trainer

[@MordorGundogs]

Sounds like a sensible guy!!

[@alastairwhite1607]

Your labs look fantastic

[@michaelcroft813]

Looks like some type of setter influence in the pup. It would be interesting to get the breeders perspective on why he/she requires a lighter framed high energy dog.

[@macrolly23]

Yes the lighter Lab looks like it has setter blood in it. His behavior is setter like, all go and lively/ My dad used to breed Working English Setters, They too had other breeds bred into them, especially one with American lines

[@macrolly23]

A Labrador with setter blood in it would not be easy to train, a lot of setters do not have strong retrieving instincts and setters hold their heads high while hunting they mostly would not take ground sent to hunt birds, setters hunt large swathes running fast.

[@michaelcroft813]

@@macrolly23 Agreed. It may only be a grandparent or further back but it looks deliberate for whatever reason the breeder may have had. Working traits would be difficult to maintain because the working style differs as you mentioned but if you found an outcross individual with enough desirable qualities it would be possible. No one should not put too much faith in studbook records being 100% correct and we can only trust pedigrees so far, DNA testing has revealed falsified records in many animals including thoroughbred racehorses.

[@dannyfielding4253]

Great video, my 5 month old was the spitting image of the second pup you showed except he's fox red . How do I go about finding out what he is I viewed his mom and dad but he's not turning out the same we will not be letting him go now like you said we love him to bits but we would love to know what makes him tick because he is a handful

[@francesdupuy5546]

Thanks, Charlie. Really interesting. Goose and Paco both really lovely dogs. Are all your male dogs 'intact'? Would be interested to hear your thoughts on castration.

[@MordorGundogs]

Sounds like a good idea for a video

[@christinagreaves7932]

So imformative , im on goldie no 3 .... but those big black labs are pulling at my heart strings

[@burydudexxx]

Have mine lol sooooo much energy

[@murphyebass7837]

What’s your view of the crossing with poodles that seems to be the “in thing”. Labradoodles, golden doodles, springerdoodles, cockapoo’s, etc

[@MorganSundqvist]

Can it be Flat-coated retriever in the thinner dog? We have one. And the ears and tail is quite like it.

[@keithhaynes8079]

Charlie I need help please I am 78 had Labradors all my life and trained them myself and sometimes with a trainer, the one one I have got now which I have always got from a breeder with a good name in Kent, he is 14 months old he barks at people who walks by my gate. He now seems to be getting out of this phase but still barks at other dogs with people can you point me in the right direction on how to solve this problem please many thanks,

[@eclarke0]

the majority of labradors in the uk go to family homes, imo an in-between of the two extremes would suit families more

[@pim1234]

He is a good boy

[@stephenchriston5514]

We've got 3 black boys 🦍🦍🦍 7athletic and muscular 34kg, 4 1/2 stockier, juggernaut 36kgand 8 months slimmer but developing 25kg. They all look different but older 2 are same parents 🤷‍♂️

[@tagandbruce]

Goose is a proper lab.

[@leeprice8684]

Surely it's all about ability. The smaller dog could have 0 elbows and hips when tested.would be more athletic than the thick set one.talk a lot about nowt .show us some working or trialing or even in a test.lets see what you got .