The bitework can be done...

I would say that many labs can be taught to be turned on when necessary. This way they can at least be used as a deterrent.

While there are certainly exceptions in every breed, I seriously doubt too many labs would make good protection dogs. I have no doubt a lab could be made to engage a sleeve and put on a show, however my guess is, more often than not, it's just pure play.

DFrost

It is not impossible at all to teach a dog, that likes to play tug, to bite the sleeve. I have seen pictures of an irish setter and boston terriers biting on the sleeve. I guess with time and dedication they could even be taught to get thorough the whole IPO protection scheme (whould defenately look different than with a GSD though) but actually protecting is another story. A labrador is not supposed to be protective. If a lab is generally distrustful and protective, it is a lab with a temperament problem. If one needs a protection dog, a lab shouldn´t really be concidered just as a dobermann shouldn´t be concidered if someone is looking for a impressive looking sofa cushion to walk around the block two times a day.

You suggest many Lab's can be taught bite work, you may be correct I just don't know, but if you are it is a sad day for working Lab's. Now it seems many Lab's are selected and then bred, just because they can jump off of a dock farther than the other breeds, and can do so because of there original function, retrieving. By selecting breed stock for just this one sliver of what a working Lab must be able to do will in time pervert there function, thereby creating a subspecies of the breed, like we need another one. Just as selecting and then breeding working Border Collies only because of there ability in agility that only exist because of there original function, herding. This begs the question. Why? Breeds were created for a purpose and we as dog lovers should honor that purpose. If you want one of the preeminent retrieving breeds that has remained so because of handlers actually using them for there intended function, get a working Lab. If you want one of the best herder's in the world get a working Border Collie and if you want a dog for protection please get a breed, that created and vetted for that purpose. JMO

How true! My lab is so gentle that he simply doesn't have the capacity to harm anyone or anything. He's also a horrible watchdog and would literally go off with anyone because he's so friendly. Every lab I've owned has been like that. I suppose a few could be found that could be trained, but it would be so very difficult to find one that if you are looking for a PPD it would be much easier to find breeds that have been bred to be PPDs. Labs aren't chosen for PPDs for a reason.

If I was going to try and train one. I would have to research the bloodlines of the lab I was going to get. Your best chance in my local area would be a lab me and my friends would refer to as a old sambone lab. Its just the ones we remember as kids. These are large without the block heads of todays breed. Absolutely no chocolate or any other color other than yellow or black, and from past experence with agressive lab most likely yellow. It should look more like a Cheaspeke. I know a guy that has exactly what I am discribeing but the that dog is socialy disturbed one of the only ones I have everseen that bad.
So I would say no Ducks Unlimited dogs, most likely no working bloodlines because they are the ones that have shrunk. One with high levels of aggrations from its parents.

I WOULD STILL ADVICE GETING A GSD.

Mainly because I tryed to find the very dog we are talking about and its hard to find.
On a side note the most aggressive dog I have ever owned was a Springer Spaniel Mix untrained dog I had as a kid and bit about five people with a frontal assult.

I definitely wasn't suggesting that labs would make great protection or bite-work dogs. There are a variety of breeds that can be taught to do 'sleeve' work if they have enough drive. I was simply stating that it is not impossible to at least teach a lab to be turned on when commanded. (There are ALWAYS exceptions)

Labs, like most breeds, are being bred very poorly and in massive numbers. Most labs I see on a daily basis would be in no way fit or suitable for what they may have been bred to do unless it is stand in the show ring or lay on the couch.

The particular lab I own (the one in the pics) is from working lines out of the midwest; these dogs are bred for bird trials as well as all-terrain hunting. The lines she comes from are now breeding for labs that point so that hunters can use them in the field (instead of pointers) and as their boat/water dogs...they can go all day! The only reason we started bitework with her is because I would bring her to SchH practice to do ob and we decided to give her a shot one day just for grins. And she liked it.

Nicole, I have a question. You trained your lab to bite the sleeve - biting hard, I would guess? Does that cause a problem when you then use your lab for retrieving a bird? Just curious.

 Quote: Norman Epstein

Why? Breeds were created for a purpose and we as dog lovers should honor that purpose. If you want one of the preeminent retrieving breeds that has remained so because of handlers actually using them for there intended function, get a working Lab. If you want one of the best herder's in the world get a working Border Collie and if you want a dog for protection please get a breed, that created and vetted for that purpose. JMO

Norman, I absolutely agree with this and made such an argument on another thread about Rhodesian Ridgebacks doing protection work. Well guess what, I got mt a**s rimmed for it. I'm glad we still have some people that will honor what breeds were meant to do. My 2 cents...

 Quote: Norman Epstein

You suggest many Lab's can be taught bite work, you may be correct I just don't know, but if you are it is a sad day for working Lab's.

AMEN!!!!

To be honest, I wish people would stick with what the breed was intended for, which is HUNTING/RETRIEVING, dock diving, SAR, Explosives and Narcotics work and other non-aggressive venues.
The Lab is a GREAT breed and I personally think it is detrimental to the breed to be displaying it as able to do bite work, but then again I am a hunter so I am staunch at preserving the breed for what it is. UGH...