Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs American vs. British Labs

Hey Gang,

Any of you Lab guys care to give some insight into the difference between the two? I am posng this question relative to upland and waterfowl hunting. I have had a Golden and a Boykin, both of which were great dogs. Doves and ducks would be the main quarry. Of course it would need to fit in well within a family setting as well.

I have never personally owned the breed. However I have hunted over more than a few. I like the Brit's better. Smaller and tougher from what I have seen in general. Both are capable retrievers provided from good breeding.

I had "American" labs back when I had them, a buddy currently has "British" labs.

The most marked difference I see is in their behavior. My buddy's dogs appear to be much more laid back and quiet while American dogs were much noisier and rambunctious. Much of this may be due to American dogs often being kenneled outside compared to the Brit dogs I've seen. When the dog is next to you, it is much easier to correct it for excessive barking or jumping.

On the same line, the Brits seem to respond better to a gentler touch when training. If one is used to training Goldens, then I think they have the correct mindset for Brits. American lines have developed to handle a lot of pressure when training. That can be handy when one makes a mistake but the dogs seem to test the handler more often. One type is not better than the other, it just means one needs to pick a line that best meets the handler's personality and style.

Body wise, the Brit lines seem shorter and stockier. That makes sense as the breed is used more as a retriever than flusher like here in the States. American lines run more of a gamut of body types of which I preferred the taller and ranger body.

Needless to say, these are some very general observations between the two versions. One still needs to research the breeder to determine if their pup will likely be a good match for you.

Very well said....

+2 on woodmaster81's summary. Make sure you confirm strong hunting bloodlines. There's a lot of Labs out there.

Our Lab is of the American taller and thinner type. So far we are very happy with her both in the field and at home, plenty of bottom to hunt all day and a very good off switch in the house. She has been pretty easy to train, very biddable and eager to please. A natural retriever ( always to hand with little or no training) and is absolute hell on a running or low flying cripple. The only aggravation in the field so far is that she's pretty hard headed when on a ground track, hard to stop her with a snoot full of bird scent and she occasionally re visits the scene of a flush or where a bird fell and needs to be recalled. We're going to work on this during the off season, all in all I'm extremely happy with her for a first year dog.

I like the build of the American labs. I am on my third one. Two of them were from very successful field trial blood lines. The reason I went this route is because I wanted one with speed for upland hunting. Light and lean works best when covering ground in the fall. They have a lot of drive, one has a better off switch than the other. My youngest is turning 1 year old this weekend and his DNA is really waking up... he was a bit slow to reach most of the landmarks a guy would train for. Not slow or lazy, just comes around a little later than others I have had or been around. They really have drive and can retrieve all day. They do great in the water as well.

I would agree with some of the posters above as well... I think these field trial blood lines are a bit harder to train. it is their hard headedness and determination. Its a benefit for the dog when hunting to have that stubbornness to not quit and the persistence to fight through challenges, but be prepared for it when it comes to training. It requires a lot of repetition in a lot of scenerios. Not necessarily harder, but different. The dogs really want to please.

British lines will have FAR less genetic issues.

HIPS!!!

I’d wager the opposite true.

American hunting stock are breed for health and athleticism. I’ve seen more half crippled Labs from “British (Show dog)” lines than any other dog breed. This is not to say there aren’t well bred dogs in the British tradition. There just seem to be lots more hacks breeding Labs in the British (show) style. Likewise, this isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of bubba-ed up Labs bred from hunting and field trial lines.

Get a quality dog from a real real breeder. It can take some effort to find the good ones. Red flags would be prioritizing superficial traits like novel coloring, etc.

The Lab I have now was so well breed, it’s as if she was almost born trained. She was super easy to train. She’s from American hunting and Field trial stock.

This dog has insane energy, but what’s most profound is she can turn it off. Her self control is otherworldly.

This idea about the hard temperament of American Hunting stock is dated. The force fetch has fallen out of fashion. You’ll find in the newest generations of American Labs, a dog bred to hunt hard with athleticism, instinct, drive and discipline, and a dog bred to be a companion and live inside with it’s people.

Both of these apply to our Remi. All I really had to do was introduce her to birds and teach her to stay close. She's literally done the rest herself. Currently she is sleeping between my two youngest boys, spends most of her time lounging in our camper but in an instant is ready to go hunt hard all day or train for a few hours.

I have bred and trained AMERICAN LABS since the 80's. These are Field Trial level dogs that have a lot of drive and look good. British dogs seem to have shorter legs and a more barrel shaped chest - because of this body trait, it is hard to keep weight off them in older years and that leads to hip and joint issues. Different strokes...

+3 on this. We had a yellow lab and we saw the parents before we bought her. The mother was quite a bit smaller than the father. The breeder said the mother was an English lab and the father was an American lab. I thought she was pulling my leg. Turns out she was right. That was the best dog we ever had. Lived to be 16 years old.

I don't care what hunting breed you have, feed them right and exercise them daily and you will not have a fat dog. Walking a dog is not exercise, except for maybe the person walking them.

Good buddy has had two British labs. Best labs I’ve seen by far.

Ol Tank was stove up from getting run over. He’d still get it done in the field. Great flushing dog and of course an outstanding retriever. Hunted with him just the second part of his life. New pup is about 2 years old now and looks to be everything Tank was.

I’ve never been a big lab fan. These two have changed my mind.

A bit smaller, less leg, more muscle, bit more head. Not as spastic as a lot of labs I’ve been around. Like the coat on his two better as well. Tighter and a bit more slick.

Which one would Kelly own? I am thinking British.

I have had both types. Generally the American Labs I had were taller, heavier and harder headed. The one British I had was large for his breed but still smaller that the Americans. He was a very sensitive dog, almost too sensitive unless treated very gentle. Check your breeder and get to know their bloodlines and see both in field before you decide. The Brit I had was more affectionate and a better family dog than the American Labs I had but the Brit came from a much better bloodline than the Americans I had so it probably is just more of a bloodline thing than a breed thing. Generally less health issues from top quality breeders whichever breed but as of right now, probably fewer problems with the British lines since they are newer in the states and the bloodlines have not become as corrupted as some of the American lines, IMO.

Yours reads as anecdotal.

European lines across the breeds are held to a higher / purer to standard than here (AKC).

They have been doing it far longer...

I've had them both and appreciate the temperament and compactness of a British. Lost Katie about 3 years ago at the age of 13 and my wife still won't let another one into her heart.

Woodmaster and Kingston nailed it.

In addition, for upland if there any serious topography involved (think chukar) you'll want a slimmer, more athletic, longer legged Lab.

I have an American field line.
Best dog I've ever had.
Tall, long legged, and big. Right now, about 110 pounds.
I have friends who have smaller dogs, and watch as they try hard to grab a goose by the chest. Most drag it back by the neck, wing, or foot.
My big guy can litterally snatch one up on the run.
Have taken him to senior/seasoned levels in AKC, and UKC hunt tests.
I do worry about hips in later years because of his size, but x rays have shown no dysplasia.
Next lab will be another yellow American.

I disagree "Force Fetch" has fallen out of fashion, force fetch is a training process in which the foundation of future training is built upon. Over the years I have had new pup owners totally repulsed by the thought of force fetching their dog or having a professional force fetch their pup. I have always asked them if they have "Kids".....if they say yes I ask them if they potty trained their kids. The reply was always YES.. Then I ask them...WHY. Of course by me asking WHY always stumps them in silence in answering such a stupid question. I quickly reply to their silence, "Potty training their kids has the same foundation as force fetching their new pup". Having a fully trained response in your dog foundation future training begins following the force fetch process.

Force fetch training may or may not be required. It is mainly necessary for those who field trial where a refusal may cost a placement or championship. Some Dogs may never refuse, but the trial trainer doesn’t want to take the chance. Also there is the element of style in how the Dog gives the Bird to the handler.

With a Dog hunted for field use exclusively, and the Dog is an enthusiastic retriever an occasional refusal is not the end of the world. If the Dog only retrieves half heartedly, then force fetch training may be considered.

With an enthusiastic retriever used as a hunting Dog only, where the return game started early and consistently, force fetch training is rarely required. And then more so for the owners pride than the Dogs ability.

Some breeds are also natural retrievers and are less inclined to refuse. Others such as Setters and Pointers often do not have a strong retrieval instinct or are all that enthusiastic about the game. I know, someone out there had a Setter that would bring back 10 Turkeys that we’re still alive and flapping. They were the exception.

All do not need to be force trained and in addition it isn't fun for the Dog or the trainer. Unless the trainer is good at the game, it is best left to someone who is.

And how is that big dog of yours, senor? You got a special one, there is no doubt about that! You still retired?

i mis having a trained lab to hunt with and for home protection too,i grew up with pure-bred labs ,and as most dog lovers know they had a couple of special labs over the years .now at my age of 65 years and living in Minnesota with not as good a hunting bird state anymore ,not sure i need another lab anymore ? but i always preferred my bigger American labs better,these bigger labs just seemed tougher.

I'll second doctor Encore regarding "force fetch." The term has fallen from favor but not the practice. I have heard the name change from force break to force fetch to force retrieve to trained retrieve to whatever it is called today (I gave up trying to keep up on the ever changing phrases) but the concept remained the same.

Like breaking horses (where the concept and phrase originated) force breaking is imposing your will on the dog. Whether one talks about come here, heel, sit, stay, or fetch, the trainer imposes his will upon the dog to do as the trainer says when the trainer wants. Like any other command, varying degrees of force are used to reach the desired result.

Like horses, force fetch runs the gamut in the degree of coercion used. One can "gentle break" if one has the time and the dog has the correct demeanor or one can "rough break" which is more rapid and uses a much greater degree of coercion to get the end results if the dog is more resistant to gentle persuasion. Or, one can use various levels in between as needed. Force fetch is not all toe pinches and the like, there are many types of coercion. Gun Dog magazine had an article on this sometime in the last three issues I believe.

I use force fetch on all my dogs as it not only for obedience and to lessen the odds of a disqualification in a test or trial but also to conserve game. I would much rather have a dog refuse a retrieve at a test or trial than in the field. In my opinion, the dog's most important job is to limit loss of game by retrieving. Finding game is secondary to that. If a bird is knocked down and the dog is sent to retrieve, I want that dog to get and bring back the bird and not decide, "Maybe tomorrow, I don't feel like it today."

I do this with all my dogs whether they be pointers, retrievers, or flushers. Our Aussie/Pitbull mix has been force broke to retrieve as he is currently my flushing dog even though he lives to retrieve. Even though he had not refused a retrieve to that point, I force broke him to lessen the the possibility of it happening. As competitive as he and my other dogs are, the odds are not large for a refusal but I want as much stacked on my side as I can.

lol,

I have had and seen multiple retrievers @ 45-50 lbs easily chase and retrieve w/o effort 15 lb geese.

Genetics and drive determine.

110lb Lab. I feel sorry for him. Not good

Shameless brag......