We’ve always had working line labs. They are not necessarily hard work. They are bred for athleticism, calmness and patience. A working lab is trained to sit quietly observing and marking birds as they fall to the ground. A dog that is vocal and busy is a liability on a shoot and the owner will not be invited back. There are long periods of just sitting but they need to be able to find birds and carry them back without messing about. Recall is incredible in a working dog and just sitting in a field for an hour is common.
Our first dog was an ex working dog and you could leave her in a field, under the command stay for 20mins and she’d still be there when you returned. My BiL is a gamekeeper and she was one of his retired dogs. She was incredibly intelligent and very focussed. Having spent her first five years of life living in a kennel and working 2-3 days in the week during the season she adjusted to domestic life really well. Although the first couple of days she spooked when the television was switched on and shot up the stairs but then couldn’t work how to come down them. She rapidly learned that the world was different and became the perfect companion.
Unfortunately we didn’t know she was in season when she arrived so was intent on getting out. She destroyed the cat flap and squeezed through the hole but then had no idea where to go so just hid in the hedge by our house until we returned home. Her safe place was always in the boot of the car so she went everywhere with us. She loved children, even though she’d never met one until we got her.
Our current lab is mainly from working lines, so is athletic ( well was until recently after a spinal injury) intelligent but is happy to spend most of her time lounging with DH. She is my shadow and everywhere I go she quietly follows. She would have been a fantastic working lab because she is a natural retriever with a super soft mouth. She’s also very quiet, doesn’t bark but does talk in the Labrador fashion. Shes learnt that moaning while carrying a shoe or trainer amplifies the noise.
As a pup she was mouthy and still gently takes my hand or sleeve if she wants something. If she wants to go out she brings me a shoe. We had to stop leaving a food bowl out because she would constantly bring it to us.
She did go through the adolescent phase but it just meant we had to go back to lead only walks and gradually reinforce recall. The big mistake I made was assuming she was food motivated. Her motivation is a tennis ball, we didn’t encourage ball retrieval but that’s just her thing. If I have a tennis ball in my pocket her behaviour is so much better than if I have a pocket full of treats.
Once trained a labrador just needs regular refreshers, daily during the adolescent period but you will see the quiet lovely boy Asian, you just have to be patient.