Gonna be looking for a new puppy soon. My dog is about to turn 10 and the kids would love a puppy. We dove hunt some, duck hunt a little and just like playing with a dog at home. Is a lab puppy the best route or do any of you recommend other breeds.

Labs are great for hunting and also great with kids. We have puppies born on Christmas Day for sale. Sire hunts geese and duck in AR and dam runs UKC hunt test, duck hunts and sleeps in the bed with us. Shots up to date and obedience training started. One yellow male and 3 black females available. Located north of Montgomery. Call 334.315.6141 if interested .

My wife and I were not inside animal people. I inherited a lap dog when my mom died and that opened the door for my son to get his lab. I fought a losing battle about his being inside BUT, I love the way that year old puppy protects my wife and son (he's a great duck dog to boot). I've not owned but labs and 2 kinds of setters and the lab is far and away the route to go. imo

Not to hijack the thread but how do yal

Not to hijack the thread but how does a golden retriever compare to a lab for what Ben2 is looking for? I am looking for all the same reasons except no duck hunting.

GOLDEN RETRIEVERS ARE GOOD DOGS AS WELL.

A good friend of mine has a Boykin Spaniel he wouldn't take anything for. Small, smart dogs, great retrievers..

check out a boykin/lab mix if you can find one

I have owned 7 labs and trained a few for others. Golden retrievers, Chesapeakes and Boykins are also good dogs but you will pay more (double to triple) for a good pedigree. With any dog take a look at the Dam and the Sire. If they are laid back or hyper then odds are the pups will be also. There are a lot of genetic predispositions in all the breeds so it pays in the long run to buy a puppy with health clearances. The money you save in the initial purchase will be long forgotten if your beloved family pet develops hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, EIC or eye problems.

Labs. Every one of mine has been a house dog and if trained a treated right, you'll have a great house dog. Its a lot of work, no doubt.

Spend some money and get a good pup out of a FC or MH breeding. You don't guarantee yourself a stellar hunting dog, but you are putting money on a good bet. The money you spend on a pup pales in comparison on what you'll spend to get that dog raised and in hunting condition.

You may get a good dog out of a trailer park breeding, but I've seen a lot of bad ones too.

Ive got 2 brittanys i wouldnt trade for the world. I dont have kids yet, (one in the oven) but they have been around kids and babies and been great. My youngest brittany will retrieve all day long

I have a lab(12yrs old) and a boykin (18months). Both of them are excellent dogs.

We have a 10 yr old choc lab. She's showing her age around the muzzle (gray hair), and moving around slower except when you pull out a frisbee or tennis ball, then she's wide open. I never taught her to track but she has tracked a few deer over the years and found them all. Great dogs indeed.

Check your PMs Ben

I have both labs and Boykins. I love both but like fishduck said expect to pay up to triple for a well bred Boykin. I know of a great litter of labs fixing to whelp for $500. All the health test have been completed.

We've got a golden and love her. she is great with the kids.