A Perspective on the Pointing Labrador

There is great discussion, debate, and even occasional uproar over the pointing Labrador retriever. As with all things, everyone has an opinion and usually a strong one. Opinions, however, do not require extensive data or even any data whatsoever. Nor do they require informed decisions or conclusions. It's with this in mind that we decided to lay out what we have observed and experienced firsthand over the years of working with the Labrador retriever. Some dogs will point and some will not. We have never been of the mind to convince anyone the pointing Labrador is anything but what it is -- a retriever that naturally points.

Usually, the debate is not whether a retriever is pointing, but that the point is not as staunch or intense in the retriever as it is in the good pointing dogs.

A retriever that naturally points live birds in the field is not new. There are many field champions that point, then hunt upland birds later in their careers. Talk to enough retriever owners and you will find that many of them were surprised with their retriever's upland bird pointing skills. Stories abound of retrievers pointing from the 1940s to the present. It's not just the Labrador, but all the retrieving breeds, at least that is what we have been told by hunters themselves. Just as there are pointing breeds with dogs that love to retrieve, so are there retrieving breeds with dogs that love to point.

There is some ongoing investigation regarding genetic markers in assessing whether a dog possesses an identifiable gene for pointing, or at least something that is related to it. To date, nothing definitive has been published regarding genes or genetic markers. Nor have we seen definitive genetic information regarding any behaviors in sporting dogs.


	For those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing some great, natural pointing Labradors, there is no debate. They are great dogs.

Usually, the debate is not whether a retriever is pointing, but that the point is not as staunch or intense in the retriever as it is in the normal pointing dogs. This is a fair debate issue. Too, many times, someone boasts of their pointing Labrador, to find in the field that the dog does not really point, or may hesitate for a second or so before busting in on the bird. It is no wonder the people that own or run the well-trained pointing breeds chuckle at that. That is not pointing, no matter what breed of dog you have. A dog that genuinely points a bird does not engage in a position for a second or two, but in fact locks up pointing at the bird, and holds position as long as the bird does -- at least within reason. Now comes the real issue of the differences most people see.

Good pointing breeds show a point early when exposed to live birds. However, these dogs are not born staunch and steady. Neither are retrievers that point. Veteran pointing breed trainers know how and when to work on boldness, high desire, staunchness and stylish pointing. Retrievers that are natural pointers usually show it early. We have seen the good ones show it well on wild birds at an early age. These youngsters are not staunch and steady either. That would be like a young child limiting him or herself to one ice cream bar -- not a usual behavior for an enthusiastic, hungry kid. It is often the subsequent training, or lack thereof, that affects the intensity and staunchness of the pointing retriever. Retriever training involves a lot of control. It must for the retriever to behave properly in the field, the way most of us want them to. Heeling and sitting are not like running after bird scent and then holding a good four-or three-legged standing position for an extended period of time. The differences are very contradictory in the dog's mind when not taught correctly with respect to one another. This is usually what generates the pointing performances that make the pointing-breed owners scoff at the pointing retrievers, or in their minds, the eged pointing retrievers.

A well-trained and talented pointing Labrador can point with style, remain intense and remain staunch.

A good pointer will find the birds. They do not have to be on top of the bird to point it if their nose is good enough. They will maintain their point as long as they perceive the bird to be present. They will wait for the handler or gunner to find the bird, flush and shoot it. If they retrieve, they will do that when directed, and bring it back to the handler. A pointing Labrador recently won the National Hunting Dog Association Finals, in the division open to all pointing dogs, including retrievers. Does that imply that they are better than the good pointing breeds? Not necessarily. It did on the day of the finals however. It does indicate they can compete with them. Does it imply that they have the same athletic abilities and expectations? Not necessarily because many of the pointing breeds are bred for extreme agility and extended duration of running. Few retrievers are. It is unrealistic to compare the various breeds across the board -- that is exactly why there are different breeds. Watching a gifted and well-trained pointing dog do its thing is an absolute work of artistry. Can a good pointing Lab look like that? We will say pretty darn close. Do they all look like that? Not anymore than we can say all retrievers look like field champions.

A well-trained and talented pointing Labrador can point with style, remain intense and remain staunch. They can hold a point as long as necessary, with minutes ticking by. They can back and honor the work of another pointing dog. They can be very steady to wing and shot, and they can retrieve darn near anything, anywhere it lands. Do they come out of the womb this way or in the first year or two of their lives? No. It takes good genes, talent and a trainer who knows how to balance two somewhat different ideas about training and dogs. There are currently pointing Labradors that are certified through the American Pointing Labrador Association, having acquired their highest title of Grand Master Pointing Retriever, that hunt each year and do in fact point wild birds, and also successfully run the highest level of field trials. They are AKC Master Hunters, Hunter Retriever Champions, Qualified All-Age field-trial dogs with points toward their field champion titles. They also point with all the style the geometry can offer. They look the same as flushing Labradors, they come in all three colors and they hunt and retrieve with the famous Labrador passion and teamwork ethic.

For those of us who have had the pleasure of knowing some great, natural pointing Labradors, there is no debate. They are great dogs. They possess a combination of characteristics many hunters find ideal for their hunting terms. They are not the only game in town, and the other breeds have their own combination of talents that suit another population to a "T."