Looking into possibly getting a pup. An acquaintance of mine used to have 2 Chessies he hunted pheasants with and they did quite well. I'm aware that there are better choices for upland but I really like retrievers. Very limited waterfowl hunting here locally so would be mostly preserve chuckars and state stocked pheasants. Anybody hunting them for upland? He would of course be spending time on the couch with the wife and carousing with the other dog(s).

Fine if you get into the Birds quickly, but don't expect to be successful if you have to spend a long day finding them. They are not made for a long haul hunt or covering ground at any speed that resembles quick.

We spend more than a few days hunting 6 hours for 2 or 3 us of to limit out on Pa GC Pheasants, and I've watched hunters doing it with a Chessy. After a while the Chessy is walking along about 5 feet in front of the hunter. Walking being the key word.

Now I saw one small Lab and it was a Dog I would have loved to have owned. He was little, he was quick and could go all day along with having a stellar nose. Most of his big relatives couldn't hang with him.

Get a Lab built for speed.

In addition: It is not all that hard to find a bull headed Chessy. And they most often are a little greasy with regards their coat. Which is one of the reasons they do so well in water.

She’s fission powered.

Per my pedometer app, we covered 3 miles in the brush this morning. She’d have gone all day.

I get what mean, however these days with grouse hunting so poor our pheasant and preserve hunts usually don't go more than an 2-3 hours anyway.

The grouse will bounce back.

If you want a Chessie, get a Chessie, but like Battue said above, they’re not built for your intended task.

My last Lab was big, powerful, athletic, and brilliant. He’d hunt it all, puddle ducks, divers, sea ducks, pheasants, and grouse. The Lab pictured above, would run circles around him.

I've hunted over numerous Chesapeakes. They’re big powerful, head strong retrievers. Many don’t hunt well with other dogs. Some can’t hunt with other dogs. I’d find a line with a track record of getting along with others.

It’s hard to beat a well bred Lab from American hunting/field trial stock.

Been around a few chessies, never could like em, moody, mean, hard headed, pass the shorthair, wirehair, griffon, lab, musterlander, or drahthaar...

Thanks for the responses. I'm not set on that breed. Always had goldens and one setter. Never had a lab but I'm concerned about breeding, many health issues if you get the wrong breeder and of course many talk a good game.

Nothing against Chessies but from what I've seen and experienced Labs from good hunting blood lines aren't hard to turn into good upland dogs. I had one that didn't have the great blood lines that also turned out well. I agree re the smaller Labs for upland. The last two I've owned were a 55 pound female and a 65 pound male. They would and will both hunt as long as you wanted to hunt. The three bigger Labs I've had were better water dogs than upland. The desire was there but they tired quicker and warm weather really slowed them down. A guy I hunt with has a female Lab that might go 50 pounds that for endurance is the best upland Lab I've seen.

I've hunted with a few Chessies and much of what has been said can be true. It can also be untrue depending on the dog. Like labs, some lines of Chessies have more mental and/or physical stamina than others. These can make for good upland dogs especially if conditioned properly.

Like any dog breed, one needs to do their homework and check out the lines of whatever breeder is being looked at. Every breed has lines that are not the best for a particular area of hunting but may be unsuited for hunting in general. It is no different than winnowing out potential health problems in that you need to know what questions to ask, what information to look at, what it means, and read the responses for further clues. It requires detective work along with an occasional gut response to ferret out the truth. And you may still be wrong either way.

I've been around and had enough dogs that when it comes to picking one you do your homework,then make your best guess and hope for the best. I came across a Chessie breeder that claims their dogs are mild tempermant, good as pets and with other dogs, and versatile hunters. Seems to have the testimonials and pictures to prove it. Like I said they all talk a good game and this seems to go against what was said about them here and what I have heard in the past.
My friend in the OP had several over the years and they didn't seem to be like their reputation. He's since moved away and I have no idea where he got them. Just sayin'

Chessies have a somewhat undeserved reputation of being hard headed. That seems to be most often made by those using the same training techniques on them as labs. As an aside, many of the same people claim Golden Retrievers are soft as those people treat Goldens as if labs.

The two Chessies I worked with (obedience, not field work) were not very receptive to high handed, high pressure techniques. I found the two to be very resistant to being pushed into doing things. I found short, very concise and focused sessions repeated several times a day to be much more effective than one or two longer and more involved sessions. Going beyond the dog's attention span (for lack of a better word) would turn them off from learning and set training back. Once the desired result was attained, the dogs seemed to retain it better than most other dogs. I can't claim to have learned this on my own but I read this in a couple of 100+ year old tomes on dog training and hunting stories and it was further enforced by an acquaintance who trains retrievers.

Chessies do seem to have some issues regarding other dogs though I wonder how much of that is due to training techniques. Of the two I worked with, the one got along great with all my dogs while the other did not like two of my dogs. Both of those dogs were alphas which that Chessies was too. They didn't fight but they did more posturing than I liked.

If you're hunting upland, get an upland dog. A well bred GSP might serve you well, they will retrieve just as well as any lab/chessie/golden if trained right. Plus, good ones are excellent around the house. A GWP or griff should be considered as well.

This makes perfect sense of course, just that I have a soft spot for retrievers.

From what I’ve been told a Chessy doesn’t forget. You mistreat them and they will get even sometime down the line.

Everyone I’ve seen-other than one Buds and 40 years ago down on the bay, when the old school ones still could be found-didn’t get enough exercise. They require it, and more than a daily walk, or most will turn into overstuffed charactures of what they should be.

Most of those old school CBR’s didn’t tolerate others messing with their owners belongings. You best hope it is all breed out of the one you get. Times have changed.

Get what you want, but a specialized breed like a CBR deserves an owner that gives him what he also wants. Weekends on the shooting preserve fall far short. Bud had one. A big oily bull in the house, but he hunted him more than a little in Ohio on Ducks and Geese.

My friend's Garmin tracked his GWP on a 3 1/2 mearns hunt the other day. While we did 5.2 miles the dog did 17 1/2 miles! Don't think a Chessie would be a good choice for any species of quail.

A Chessy wouldn’t be all that fond of Southern Arizona temps.

Then again, Maryland in the summer does get more than warm.

Nice looking Lab.

I've had only Chesapeake's around for the last ten years or so at my house and one Springer. What has been said is pretty well spot on. Even at ten years old compared to the now two year old Chesapeake the little Springer jest seems to have a zest for running around in the woods/ brush that the Chesapeake doesn't. I couldn't say it's a stamina thing he just doesn't dig it as much. Training wise, yeah what others have said. Kind of stubborn, but picks things up so quickly, and retains it forever....just can be kind of an ass about it. Never had a mean/aggressive Chesapeake. First was completely dismissive of other dogs, but not aggressive. Last two we're no different than any lab when it comes to being around others. Personally I love them, few health problems, durable, very loyal, and I just like their personalities. That being said a 95# whooly ass dog wouldn't be my first choice for upland type stuff, or couch type stuff.

Side note: If I did go the Chesapeake route I wouldn't do it with out being in/on the water quite often. After all it's what they were made for. Just like a short hair or a Springer seems "at home" chasing grouse through brush, and down old logging roads, a Chesapeake's bread and butter is working in the water.

Well, sounds like you answered your own question, hey? Do your research and you'll find a healthy, good performing lab, they're out there. Nothing better than bringing a pup full of promise and adventure home!

Thanks! She’s something else!

Research "pointing" labs.

Mine just turned 14 on December 20th and in her prime, she was an upland hunting machine. Smartest dog I personally have ever been around and many who have hunted behind her have said the same.

Ok for what its worth and from someone that has owned a Chessie. Also French Brittany's and English Pointers.

First and foremost, MAKE SURE YOU FIND A REPUTABLE BREEDER! I can not state that enough. This is important in every breed but in my opinion even more so with Chessie's.

Make sure you have it tested for ALS!!!!!!!!! I had to put down an amazing Chessie that hunted hard all day on land and water. She was only 8-1/2 years old.

Chessie's have a lot of reputations some deserved and some not, Most Not!

Of course a Chessie is not going to run with Pointers and Spaniels. But it will out run you all day long. The problem really is people don't keep their dog's fit and fed right.

If you socialize your puppy properly you will be ten steps ahead with a Chessie. If you don't you better want a protective dog.

Chessie's DO NOT respond well to a heavy hand.

Females are smaller framed and better suited for the Upland Fields. From my experience with mine and a few others I have really spent time with, they also seem to socialize better then Male's.

Unlike everyone else I am not here to talk you into or out of a Chessie. But rather give you first hand facts, not hearsay, myths, and legends.

Thanks for the replies, leaning more toward another setter at the moment, not in a rush so we'll see.

I have hunted pheasants and prairie grouse with some very capable labs. If those birds were my intended quarry and I wanted a retriever, I would go with a lab.

I have tried a a couple of pointing labs over the years, but was disappointed in their performance. Back in those days, though, they were a novelty and there were not many breeders.

These days, I need an old man's dog and my current pupil is a French Brittany. Unfortunately, she has a lot more energy than any setter or retriever that I have ever owned. She is also a lot smarter than me.

I use a Cheapskate for upland....

What kennel is your French Brittany from?

Keller's French Brittanys, Mayer, Arizona. Matt Keller is the owner/breeder. Mayer is north of Phoenix on the highway that goes over to Prescott.

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What kennel is your Chessie out of? Fine looking dog.

Mudhen I see they have some Plum Creek Blood in there Kennel. I had a dog with a lot of Plum Creek Blood in him. I don't think you can go wrong with Plum Creek Blood. They really know their French Brittany's. I have been thinking about getting another or two. But first I need to retire from working overseas.

Dustin Retrievers Twin Bridges Mt.

She is 12 wks old in that first pic. Here’s one of her sire.

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Awesome. They are great dogs. I miss mine very much.

That is a fine looking Dog. Impressive!!!!

Sage is my third, 2nd female. For me, they are pets first and bird dogs second.

Yep, mine spend way more time as pets than hunters also.

Nothing unusual about that and the way it works for almost all Bird Dog owners. Hunting season for the most part is a 4 month time frame. And most probably only hunt a couple days a week. Many less.

Chessies require more commitment from the owner than most breeds. I find they are tough dogs who expect you to be smarter than they are. One of you has to lead and if you don't they will. Mine would retrieve doves if told to but would look at you like you were a pervert! They will also shut down on you but they make it hard to own anything else.
Pavementends

Another vote against. I'm on my 3rd. Male from probably the most decorated living breeder alive. What a pain in the asss. If you were a single guy, early/middle aged, who never intends to have a 2nd dog or get involved with anyone else with a dog. And a good bit of experience.....MAYBE.

Dog can easily handle to task. Mine is bred to standards and is a VERY fit 84 pounds. Quite lean. Great gas tank on him. Incredibly Intelligent, yet opts to play Stupid on a whole different level. Quite a challenge in many areas. I'd pass and opt for an easy, biddable dog.

Which breeder would that be? Westwinds, Chestnut Hills, Wildwoods? Please don't say Lakeshore!

Fireweed/Harger

I am wondering how you came to the conclusion that Fireweed/Harger is the most decorated living breeder??????

You said you are on your third, yet you say you vote against. How the hell does that work? Or are you just learning challenged?

I have trained one and helped train four others. I have been around many more. I have not experienced any problems with them and other dogs. Though I will say mine was more interested in kids and other people over other dogs. However she was fine with other dogs.

Possibly you didn't properly socialize your pup? Possibly bad breeding? Possibly both?

Add me to the club that thinks a chessie would be limited by their size and strength in the upland game. They are great hunters and strong swimmers etc, but in the warmer temps of upland bird hunting, I think they would tire quickly

My old hunting dog, Pitch, is a 67 pound black lab, and he is built to run. He has long legs and can cruise. We do not have good upland hunting in my area, but I really wanted him for the state stocked pheasants. He has not had to opportunity to hunt hard all season and really get worked into great shape, but he has always been very fit and healthy. He could hunt all weekend when he was younger and was great. But when you put him next to a true upland bird dog like a Visla or a Short hair, it was obvious that he did not handle the warmer temps (60 degrees) as well as they did, and he tired to a greater extent each day. He just had to work harder, and was darker. I think it would be worse with a big chessie, who was never meant to hunt upland. No doubt they have the skills, just the wrong body type. Like road racing with a 3/4 ton pick up.

My young dog (11 months) is another black lab, right at 65 pounds now. He is not quite as fast as Pitch used to be, but powerful and built with muscle. He can really go!

Captain Obvious!

I didn't see a single post that anyone said a Lab or Chessie could out run or handle the heat better then a Pointer or Spaniel. That goes without saying. Not everyone runs dogs in hot weather. Not everyone hunts birds hard day in and day out. Not everyone wants a Pointer or Spaniel for a dog. If a person wants a Retriever most likely they already know what they are getting into and looking for. Some people just like a certain breed. If it fits their bill for hunting so be it, it's a perfect match at that time.

However I will tell you that a well conditioned, trained, and fed Chessie will out run any person all day in the field. Heat can and will effect any dog. Some more so than others. They (chessis's) are not covering the ground a Pointer is expected to. They should be close working to flush for you. I will say that a Chessie is a bull in a china shop when it comes to hunting Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock. For sure a smaller more agile breed is better served.

One thing generally speaking to remember: Small dog, small bills and Large dog, large bills.

Best of luck in your search for a pup

MCH- GFY

Ok, I'm a guy that's had lots of dogs, and hunted over many others, over the last 45 years, hunted lots of waterfowl and chukars with all of them. Here's my experiences: First, I've only had one Lab, and won't ever have another. Not saying there are some great dogs, but mine was the worst hunter we've ever owned and the biggest pain in the rear of all the dogs we ever had. Yet, one dog is not typical of anything. I've hunted over some decent labs, but none that were exceptional. Just my experience, though.

Chessies are a different breed and trained diligently, as such. They demand to be worked. They are oily of coat and don't do hot weather well. I've had 5, though, and every one was different. They "can be" big and heavy, my largest about 95# at peak hunting condition. However, I've also had a few females that were in the 70# range, as well as one 80# male. My big male was the BEST dog I've ever hunted over, bar none - trained to voice, whistle and hand signals, great temperament with people (though not so much other dogs, as has been mentioned). However, in the 6000-7000 foot lava rock where our chukars live, his weight would eat up his pads if I tried to hunt more than one day without giving a day to rest. Pheasants we hunted only on the reserves and his pads were never a problem, and often, getting them out of the brush, his size was a help. With my smallest dogs, I would use a little "tough pad" every morning and evening, and even hunting a week strait every day in the lava rocks, was no problem. However, they were exhausted every night. Yet, if you are only hunting on reserves, I can't see that being a problem. Their noses were as good or better than most the dogs I've been over, and like you, I like a retriever.

However, day in and day out, our Brittanies (1), English Setters (1) and Vizlas (2) would cover every day with energy to spare, even when it was indian summer weather. Never a problem with pads because of light weight. The Brit was more ornery than all but one of my Chessies. The lab, setter and vizlas were all just too friendly and wanted to visit all the neighbors (even though we live in the country) and would have let anyone into our house. We live where multitudes of coyotes and the occasional lion might be around; I also want might wife to feel safe when I'm not home because the sheriff is a good 30 minutes away. Our last two females Chessies both filled the bill perfectly for me.

Likely another setter (one retired now) for me, but I'm concerned this might be the one that outlives me. However, that could be true on any given day of the 2 that own me now.

This is kinda like agonizing over Chevy vs Ford...

If you want a retriever, Labs or Chesapeakes will do fine if you get a good one and it’s trained right. Any dog, no matter the breeding, can turn out bad (not a good hunter, etc), but odds are much better from a proven line/kennel.

For a pet, I’d rather have a lab personally (I’ve had both). More “friendly” in general, coats don’t stink like Chessies do, and easier to train in my experience. My dogs all came out of successful field trial lines. I would say they were harder to train on average, but much higher energy and drive than “hunting” dogs - still very capable of hunting but needed to be trained properly. You can train a high energy dog to be obedient, but you can’t train energy or drive into a dog that doesn’t have it! My last lab was an awesome dog, would love to have another like him someday!

Also, I’ve hunted Kansas CRP lands with buddies for pheasant many years, and we always used labs. My dad has some excellent English pointers, but, while really fun to watch work, I prefer to hunt over retrievers myself. Some folks don’t have a preference, but some are just retriever people and some are pointer people - to each their own. The hunting part is, for most, a very small part of having a dog!

I saw one that was owned by some folks that just moved into the neighborhood give an, up until then terror of the area, Pit Bull a bad surprise. I don't think they ever tried him for upland but If his upland ability was up to his take no s h i t ability he would have been a great upland dog.

I think a general misconception is that a Lab is a Lab. The English variants are stocky block-headed and pretty calm. The American version, however, tends to be longer in the leg and often hyper, which will hunt the fields all day long.

Don't know, first hand, about Chessies, but I have seen some Labs do some AMAZING waterfowl and upland work. If anyone has ever heard of Rocky River Gun Dogs in NC, that guy has a bloodline of "Pointing Labs" that regularly dominates over GSPs and Spaniels in competitions.

Labs are supposed to do AMAZING waterfowl work. They never made a Lab yet that has qualified for a Cover Dog Championship or the Field Trial Championship. They may place amongst the GSP's and Pointing Spaniels, but they don't run for long against the good Setters and English Pointers. A good one of either of those two would have the field cleaned before a pointing Lab finished their first kennel point. Reverse the rolls and a three legged Lab will leave the pointing breeds looking for a pat on the head when it comes to playing the swimming/retrieving game.

Addition: That being said I saw a runt midget Lab work that had as good a nose as any hunting Dog that ever lived. He may have hit 40 pounds on a good day. He covered ground fast and knew how to pace himself. He would have made an excellent flusher on Grouse or Pheasants. To ask that Dog to shut down his drive to put Birds into the air would have plainly been wrong. Then again, I had a great Springer that in the end would point. But only if he thought you were out of shooting range. He had the game figured out, but it was almost near the end of his days. Both were extreme exceptions to the norm.

Dogs are pretty dam smart animals. You can teach them to do about anything within reason. But they are not going to outshine dogs bred for the task at hand. I don't want to offend anyone but a GSP is a jack of all trades master of none. GSP's are great hunting dogs for a guy that wants a hearty dog that can do a lot of things good. No GSP, Lab, Chessie, Spaniel, or Brittany is going to out point and run a EP or ES. They are a machine bred for one task and they are the masters of that task. End of Story. Chessie's and Lab's are on the other end of the spectrum, no other hunting breed is going to out retrieve them. Specially Chessie's when it comes to cold and violent water. Spaniels are flushing kings, if you ever have the privilege to hunt over an amazing Spaniel you will see that no other breed works in the manner they do. Every other sporting breed to me is a multitasker and not great at anything but does a lot of stuff well. I believe that the average bird hunter is probably best suited with the breeds in the middle that can do a lot of things good. Where as your dedicated Upland hunter is much better off with a EP, ES, Brittany, or spaniel. Depending on their style of hunting. A dedicated Duck hunter is much better suited to a Chessie or Lab. In every breed there are dogs that just outshine their peers. I am not talking about one off amazing dogs. I am talking about the breed as a whole. When you get your puppy you never know what you are getting. There are so many variables. Imagine if I had bought Elhew Snakefoot from Bob as a puppy. We would have never seen or known his greatness.

LOL. Shame on me for using the competition analogy. I apologize if I've offended anyone's experience or accolades in competition.

My point was (and remains) that since the OP was specifically interested in RETRIEVERS for upland, labs can bring enough upland ability for real hunting. I'll submit that it may be a certain bloodline or "one off" dog in the breed, but he seems to have several of them than can do it and seems like a capability of a retrieving breed the OP may want to research.

I don't think you offended anyone. Competitions are geared to specific things. Things that make those breeds that compete in the competitions shine. Hence why in the pointing world there are Field Trials and Cover dog Trials. As with NAVHDA it is geared for dogs that can multi task rather than focus on one prominent skill. In the retriever world it is Hunt test and retriever Trials. A Lab or Chessie is only going to be a stud in Hunt test of retriever trials. They just are not built to hang with big running dogs. They are also not going to hang with the Dogs in NAVHDA. But they can proved adequate upland hunting skills for the average foot hunter. How many of his dogs have been to NAVHDA Invitational Test?

I see a lot of Pointing breed hunters say that watching a Lab work is boring or slow paced, I'm on my first Lab and I constantly have to work at keeping her in range and slowing her down. The only thing limiting the ground covered is me keeping her in shooting range. Hunted from 8 am until 5pm yesterday with two 15 minute relocation breaks and about a half hour lunch break. Honestly, I can't see too many people wanting to hunt a whole lot more. Again I'm no expert and my dog may not be a perfect representative of her breed, she is definitely not the hulking block headed Lab you see often with duck hunters.

No offense here either. However, I run my Cockers and Springers often with some good Pointers and Setters. Now when I do that they are sucking hind because those others Dogs are eating up the ground 50yards plus out and they are good at the game. Mine on those occasions are covering ground they have already worked pretty good and being good they don't always leave any pickings. They do miss some and the Cocker may get to have his fun with them. They also get to do most of the retrieving because the Cockers are better at it.

I personally don't care what others hunt, but I acknowledge when I put the Merlot down alongside a couple good Pointers or Setters I'm not doing him any favors. On the other hand, he will leave all but the most exceptional 75-90 pound Lab or Chesse sucking hind when it comes to tearing up a field. And the hotter it get the more he will do so. That thick skin on both doesn't do them any favors.

All should hunt what they like, but there are Dogs built for specific Birds. Labs and the Chesse shine on the rough water and none are better at it.

Battue Merlot will leave even a 50lb Lab or chessie in the dust. I don't know that I have ever seen an adult chessie weight 50lbs but you know what I mean.

Butch is a 2 year old 75 lb Chessie thats just learning the ropes of waterfowl and goes upland hunting when I do.
I take him sage grouse hunting because He is my hunting partner.
Butch flushes grouse, I shoot em, Butch gets em. Thats how we roll.
It works, but I have to say there are better dogs for upland. The biggest problem is keeping him in check of 25 yds or so.
He cant hold a candle to the Pudlepointer we hunt with on the prairies. That dog will range 300+ yds and hold on that bird forever. I never seen him sneek in and flush one without his Boss telling him to. What is amazing is if the bird is even wounded but alive he points, if it is dead he retrieves, I have no idea how he figures it out.

If you have your heart set on a Chessie I say go for it. If you need a good friend they wil fill that role, if you gotta kill a limit of birds everytime and a dog is just a tool, then get a tool bred for the job.

Wish I could get the hang of this picture posting I woulld share a few.

I worked with two Chessies one year doing bird control work at an airport.

They are very much one person dogs and protective to the edge of safety. My co-worker owned the dogs but they were his WIFE's DOGS and it would have been very bad news to anyone who got too close to her.

But they worked. I mean worked. Very tough dogs. They were upland born/bred but waterfowl dogs by geography. They were flawless and tireless. They worked for me... just a human who occasionally cared for and worked them.
We did just about lost one in open water. She had her goose ( just wounded) and got stuck on thin ice.
I got a 911 from my supervisor and ran the boat over to the dog... but this all took about 10-15 minutes.. this dog was in the water, under ice, in the water a few times... but refused to let go of the goose.
By the time I crashed a path in the ice and got a grab on the dog's collar she was very nearly dead of exposure,
The goose was alive and that animal was DOG TIRED but after she warmed up she seemed uninterested in calling it a day
My boss was shook up and in shock as well.

'Sent them both home.

Uncas They can be very protective and a one person dog. However if you socialize them properly they are fine. Most Chessie's I have seen that were very protective was from people wanting them that way. My Lulu was the friendliest dog you have met. She loved kids and would tolerate them riding her, pulling her ears, hitting her, you name it. I could leave her with you and she would listen to you as if you were me. The only thing about Lulu was she was possessive of her toys/ducks with other dogs.

I have hunted mine in sub freezing temps without any problems. She would get cuts from time to time from breaking the ice with her chest. She would hunt hard and could careless what the temperature was.

One time I was walking her around this place called Bennetts Pond in CT. As I came around the corner into view of the small open water of the pond by the exit stream there was a lady. She gave me the nastiest look. I thought she was pissed off that my dog was off leash. Then she said to me you are mean and evil. I asked her why? She said you force your dog in the water in these freezing temperatures. I said lady you saw me just walk up here. My dog was in the water before I even got near sight of it. How did I force her into the water. As she came out of the pond with a log about 6 feet long and 3-4 inches in diameter. Lulu dropped the log at the ladies feet staring into the water waiting for her to throw it.

They know no quit!

I am 76 and pheasant and quail over a pointing dog are my passion. Labs are great retrievers but can’t go all day and actively find birds. Try EP GSP. V enough said !

Montana

Agreed on most everything you said.

My best Chessie was a 63 pound bitch. She would hunt 90-120 days a year, often waterfowl in the mornings and upland ( Huns, sharp tails, pheasants) in the afternoon. Very athletic, her breeder bred for athletic dogs with good temperament and hunted upland and waterfowl with his.

Jill was very characteristic of his dogs

She was my ‘best’ because she was ‘my’ dog .

They are not brown curly haired Labs , they are different. Not better or worse. Mine would handle for my young granddaughters and their friends in my backyard- basic overs and backs and the kids loved it as did the dogs

Anyone, including the OP , should get the dog they want . Do their research on the breed, breeders and go see some dogs

My thoughts...