The Labrador that points when hunting upland birds has been around many years and includes some of the top field trial dogs that were lucky enough to ever enjoy an upland hunt. This is not a “may be” kind of thing: it is a fact. The Labrador retriever is far more than just a non-slip retriever.

Trieven Sungold Kennels is a breeder of quality field Labradors that strives for a consistent natural point. A number of our Field Champions Labradors pointed naturally. That characteristic certainly doesn’t detract from their field trial ability.

Pointing Labs: A Great Family and Hunting Dog

More and more hunters are turning to Labradors for their all around hunting and family companion. A pointing Lab meets the bill for a great many hunters. They are easy to train, have great personalities, and are great with families and children. Not a lot of Pointing Breeds can claim those characteristics. How many English or Shorthair Pointers, or any of the “versatile” gun dog breeds does one see as guide dogs for the blind, or as bomb dogs, or arson dogs, or search and rescue dogs? The Labrador is truly the all-around breed. To say that the Lab isn’t a pointing breed is one thing, to say that a great many don’t point naturally when given the chance to hunt upland birds is another and is simply not true; they can and will point birds!

Many kennels and breeders who are breeding for naturally pointing Labradors have and are using Trieven bloodlines. If you want a Labrador retriever for dual hunting purposes, upland and waterfowl, and want the dog to actually HUNT for birds, be sure you get a pup from a line known for their hunting instinct, quartering ability, and natural point and flushing characteristics, along with their natural, inborn retrieving ability, and love of water.

Remember that many Labradors and lines are bred strictly as non-slip retrievers. They are NOT bred, nor selected for their ability to get out in front of the hunter and find the birds. Some dogs bred for strictly non-slip retrieving do not want to get out in front and hunt. Like many British bred dogs, they are bred to sit by one’s side, watch birds fall and then retrieve them. Many of them want to stay at heel, hunt a bit and then quit.

Pointing Labs and Cold Weather

Water work is at a minimum nowadays, even in U.S. field trials. With the warmer climate zones for trials and National competition, we are seeing some dogs with fine coats, but with little undercoat. These gun dogs may love the water, but absolutely must be hunted on waterfowl wearing protective rubber “coats”, as they lack good coats and undercoats of their own.

Our dogs pick up ducks and geese in subzero weather, in frigid, ice filled waters, with no hesitation. That is what we breed for; a truly all around working gun dog that can pick up your ducks, sit in a duck blind, and then go pheasant or chukar hunting the next day, and do you proud. We are concentrating on what the breed was developed for in this country: tireless, eager upland hunters and cold water retrievers.