Are Labrador Retrievers Hunting Dogs?

Table Of Contents

What are hunting dogs?
- Where does the Labrador fit into all this?
What makes Labrador Retrievers such great bird-hunting dogs?
How can Labradors showcase their skills in the modern era?
How to train Labradors to be hunting dogs.
Are Labrador Retrievers hunting dogs?

The Labrador Retriever is one of the most common and popular dog breeds in America. They start being adorable puppies that grow up to be loyal companions that love being with their families. But, is there more to this animal than its role as a family pet? After all, this muscular, obedient dog must have more tricks up its sleeve than your typical house dog. We are used to seeing these dogs as service animals, but are Labrador Retrievers hunting dogs? Or, is this something from the past when hunting was more common?

The simple answer here is yes. Any Labrador can be trained to be a house dog, provided training begins at an early age. To understand how a Labrador can be a hunting dog we need to consider the physical and personality traits of the dog and the training needed. Before that, let’s analyze the sub-group of hunting dogs a little more broadly to see what they do.

What are hunting dogs?

The category of hunting dogs consists of a range of different breeds and is typically split into the categories of hounds and gun dogs. At their heart, these are the dog breeds created to help hunters and gamekeepers catch or fetch their fallen prey. There was a time when hunting dogs were necessary and came in all different shapes and sizes depending on the terrain and the prey. In the case of the hounds, we have lean greyhounds and lurchers built for speed to chase rabbits – hence the fluffy robotic rabbit at the dog races. There are short-legged dachshunds or “badger dogs” and bloodhounds sniffing out trails.

Then there are the obedient gun dogs that can help shooters locate prey and retrieve them with ease. Retrievers or different kinds are perfect for fetching small prey. Portuguese water dogs have excellent repellent coats for getting into lakes and rivers. Then there are the setters and pointers too. The setters are perfect for flushing out game birds while pointers will stop and point as a signal when they locate prey.

Those that like to shoot, either recreationally or professionally, will often shoot waterfowl over lakes and ponds. Rather than wade into the water to retrieve the animal, it is much easier to send the dog in to collect it. Dogs can pick up the scent and carefully carry the bird back to their master The same is true for other small prey items in woodlands or forests. Dogs can head into the undergrowth to pick up the game that fell in hard-to-reach areas.

Where does the Labrador fit into all this?

Today, the Labrador is best known as a family pet. They are one of the most common dog breeds in the world and are highly popular with pet owners because of their gentle nature. They are wonderful companions that give a lot of love and aren’t high maintenance. But, some families may not be aware that this popular pet is a hunting dog.

Those of us who have Labradors in our homes are used to saying that we have a yellow, chocolate, or black Labrador. But we hardly ever say the full name of this breed, which is Labrador Retriever. It is this Retriever part of the name that is crucial when determining why they are such great hunting dogs. This puts the Labrador in the same category as the other Retrievers, such as the specialized Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever. It can wait patiently with its master and fetch the ducks and other waterfowl when asked to do so during a hunt.

What makes Labrador Retrievers such great bird-hunting dogs?

There is a lot about this dog that makes them perfect for the job. You might not see it at first, depending on how spoiled your Lab is, but the blueprint of a reliable retriever is in there. That is because Labradors have the following traits:

1) Lean and muscular body with a lot of stamina.
2) Highly obedient and eager to please their owners.
3) Tough enough to handle cold water for effective retrieval.

Their stamina and physical ability.

Some modern-day Labradors are a little softer due to their lifestyle. But it is enough that you are close to a pool or a lake so that your Labrador begins to show his skills as a retriever, throw a ball into the water and you will see how your Labrador will enter the water without hesitation to bring the ball back to you. Most Labradors are natural swimmers and are very comfortable picking balls out of the water. This is because their ancestors collected birds from the water after their masters hunted them with their shotguns. Related post: Why Do Labrador Retrievers Love Water?

Another thing that you will know about Labradors from your own experience with them is that they can have a lot of stamina and will play for as long as you want to. This stamina is important for hunting dogs. They could spend long days walking through the countryside and waiting for the commands when they need to run out and retrieve fallen prey. They have to be as keen and reliable for the last shot as they are for the first.

The obedience and eagerness to please.

Then there is the ability to follow commands. Dog owners that train their labs with regular and consistent efforts from an early age tend to see great results. Labrador Retrievers do become man’s best friend with that willingness to wait for commands and respond appropriately to do a good job. Labradors were born to obey their masters and to please them.

Today, this translates well into life as a companion because they are obedient dogs that love to play and spend time pleasing their owners. A lot of this playtime may involve games of fetch, where you throw them toys and balls and they gladly bring them back time after time. This drive to play fetch stems from their abilities to retrieve prey items with their hunter masters.

The toughness for harsher conditions.

You might look at today’s Labrador Retriever and wonder how it would handle tougher conditions for hunts. But, the breed originates from Newfoundland in Canada, in the cold Canadian North. Therefore, your pet’s ancestors were more than capable of handling cold water and snow to help their masters retrieve all kinds of creatures from the ice water. Labradors are built to swim with dense coats that keep them warm, even in icy waters. Labrador’s fur is very effective in keeping them warm in the winter, but it can be a headache for Labrador owners who live with their dogs indoors. Click here to learn more about the Labrador coat.

How can Labradors showcase their skills in the modern era?

If you want to get the best out of your Labrador and have them hone their skills as hunting dogs, there are two options that you can take. Either you bring them along with you while hunting to put their skills to good use in real-life situations, or you take part in a mock competition.

There are competitions for obedience and skill where Labrador owners can showcase their dog’s ability to locate “prey” and retrieve it with ease. These field trials are much harder with camouflaged dummies that resemble the weight and size of the duck. Dogs have to work for their reward and show that they would be able to find any fallen creature that is out of sight of their master.

How to train Labradors to be hunting dogs.

While Labs are born hunting dogs and the best breed for the job, you can’t expect every single Lab to be able to perform perfectly. Therefore, if you are into shooting yourself and fancy having a Labrador at your side to collect the birds, you need to be able to put in the hard work to train them properly. This means teaching all the fundamentals of obedience commands, but also getting them comfortable around other hunters, the environment, the water, and the sound of gunfire. The sooner you start, the better your chances.

Start from an early age with basic commands about returning, sitting, and handling objects. Built that strong bond with a clear sense that you are the one to obey at all times. With time, you can work on more specific retrieval training, socialization, and getting them used to loud noises. Start with noisemakers, sharp whistles, and other sounds you can control before they move on to being around the guns.

Then you can take the training out to the water. Find brightly colored toys that float. Hurl them out into the water and watch your buddy jump in after them. It is great exercise, a brilliant bonding experience, and a great way to see just how these dogs are built for this sort of activity. Just be careful to do so in safe areas, with no underlying water hazards, and to stay away from protected areas with vulnerable birds. You don’t want your pet disturbing the wildlife. They should only go after the fallen prey you tell them to fetch. Related post: Are Labrador Retrievers good hiking dogs?