Trieven Pointing Labs

Labs That Point

The subject of pointing Labradors has been covered in hunting magazines lately. People call us all the time, asking if this is a "new thing" in Labs, or some kind of cross with pointers. THE ANSWER IS NO !

We have had Labs that point since 1971. Our first one was our FC-AFC Trieven Classic. She was a great competitive FT dog, as well as a gun dog. She had over 100 All Age points and was a member of the exclusive "Double Headers" club. She pointed when hunted on pheasant and quail, and like all our Labs that point since, she never pointed when on a retrieve. So much for the theory that Labs that point aren’t good retrievers. We feel that the pointing instinct in the Field Trial bloodlines comes from the dogs who are the best marking dogs, and are very intent on line when watching birds going down. This is the type of dog which will "freeze" on one bird, and may be difficult to turn to see another bird down. This dog is in effect, pointing. Given the chance to hunt wild upland birds, (which most FT dogs are never given) this super "intent" dog will often point naturally.

In our experience, Labs that point are just like any other Lab. They come from the same strong field trial lines, are very strong water dogs, have lots of drive, love to work, are natural retrievers, and have the same looks and temperaments as Labs that don’t point. Our line of Labradors are excellent house dogs and companions, and are great around children and other pets. They are not "hyper" and bouncing off the walls like some FT Lab bloodlines.

We have bred for a dog that is easy to train and have around and also has a superior nose, which is another department some FT lines are lacking in. Our Labs hunt, retrieve, and have excellent SCENTING ability. Several of our dogs have gone on to become premier drug and bomb dogs. One Trieven bred Lab is currently the top Arson dog in the nation, and another is the head bomb detection dog at San Francisco International Airport !

We have not certified any of our personal dogs for several reasons. The main one is that a dog can be taught to point, made steady, and become certified. There is no way to tell whether a dog is natural or "taught" to point. Obviously the taught dogs will not be as strong in producing pointing offspring. One trainer told me he could "teach a Poodle to point a light bulb".

In the beginning, the certification program lacked in proper water work. We have been told that the problem has been rectified. However, we have also been told that a good number of dogs fail the water portion of the testing. If this is so, that is not a desirable characteristic in Labs.

The pointing instinct in our bloodlines is totally natural, and they are still good "Labradors". As soon as the dogs are on a few wild birds, they start pointing. This characteristic can be traced back to our FC-AFC Trieven Thunderhead and FC-AFC Trieven Classic, who are in a lot of "pointing Lab" pedigrees. We do have a number of dogs we have bred, as well as a many of Twist pups, who are certified pointing Labs.

We have NEVER taught one of our dogs to point, in fact we don’t have the slightest idea how to train a pointing dog...ours just do it!

What We Look for in a Labrador

Retrievers / Gundogs First

For over 35 years, Trieven Kennels has bred Labradors which excell in retrieving and as cold water specialists. This is of primary concern to us in our breeding program. It is our feeling that any Lab which lacks these important characteristics, whether they point or not, should not be used in ANY breeding program. If we lose the retrieving ability, marking ability, the power of an aggressive cold water retriever, and the trainability and family-friendly personality of the Lab, you might as well go out and buy a Setter or a Pointer.

Our first goal is that our Labradors maintain the important qualities they have been developed for in this country. They must be of correct size, as depicted by the AKC standard, females generally 55 to 70 lbs, and males 65 to 80 lbs. They must have good length of leg to carry them tirelessly, along with the correct build to give them good endurance. We don't breed for abnormally big dogs; one sees very few Sumo wrestlers running a marathon. Our dogs must have good disposition, be good in the home, and have a high degree of trainability for ease of training with the amateur trainer.

We like a nice Lab head, not too broad, nor too snipey. No short, stubby, Rottweiler heads here, nor any Greyhound heads. Our dogs are very similar in appearance to the original Labs imported and bred in this country back in the thirties. They must have the retrieving instinct, bird desire, marking ability, and willingness to brave cold, rough water conditions to be in the Trieven breeding program. They must have the physical ability and desire to hunt birds all day, with natural quartering instinct and great nose, then, we select for those who ALSO have the natural pointing characteristics. The POINT is the icing on the cake.




	The Breed Labs That Point The subject of pointing Labradors has been covered in hunting magazines lately. People call us all the time, asking if this is a "new thing" in Labs, or some kind of cross with pointers. THE ANSWER IS NO ! We have had Labs that point since 1971. Our first one was our FC-AFC Trieven Classic. She was a great competitive FT dog, as well as a gun dog. She had over 100 All Age points and was a member of the exclusive "Double Headers" club. She pointed when hunted on pheasant and quail, and like all our Labs that point since, she never pointed when on a retrieve. So much for the theory that Labs that point aren’t good retrievers. We feel that the pointing instinct in the Field Trial bloodlines comes from the dogs who are the best marking dogs, and are very intent on line when watching birds going down. This is the type of dog which will "freeze" on one bird, and may be difficult to turn to see another bird down. This dog is in effect, pointing. Given the chance to hunt wild upland birds, (which most FT dogs are never given) this super "intent" dog will often point naturally. In our experience, Labs that point are just like any other Lab. They come from the same strong field trial lines, are very strong water dogs, have lots of drive, love to work, are natural retrievers, and have the same looks and temperaments as Labs that don’t point. Our line of Labradors are excellent house dogs and companions, and are great around children and other pets. They are not "hyper" and bouncing off the walls like some FT Lab bloodlines. We have bred for a dog that is easy to train and have around and also has a superior nose, which is another department some FT lines are lacking in. Our Labs hunt, retrieve, and have excellent SCENTING ability. Several of our dogs have gone on to become premier drug and bomb dogs. One Trieven bred Lab is currently the top Arson dog in the nation, and another is the head bomb detection dog at San Francisco International Airport ! We have not certified any of our personal dogs for several reasons. The main one is that a dog can be taught to point, made steady, and become certified. There is no way to tell whether a dog is natural or "taught" to point. Obviously the taught dogs will not be as strong in producing pointing offspring. One trainer told me he could "teach a Poodle to point a light bulb". In the beginning, the certification program lacked in proper water work. We have been told that the problem has been rectified. However, we have also been told that a good number of dogs fail the water portion of the testing. If this is so, that is not a desirable characteristic in Labs. The pointing instinct in our bloodlines is totally natural, and they are still good "Labradors". As soon as the dogs are on a few wild birds, they start pointing. This characteristic can be traced back to our FC-AFC Trieven Thunderhead and FC-AFC Trieven Classic, who are in a lot of "pointing Lab" pedigrees. We do have a number of dogs we have bred, as well as a many of Twist pups, who are certified pointing Labs. We have NEVER taught one of our dogs to point, in fact we don’t have the slightest idea how to train a pointing dog...ours just do it! What We Look for in a Labrador Retrievers / Gundogs First For over 35 years, Trieven Kennels has bred Labradors which excell in retrieving and as cold water specialists. This is of primary concern to us in our breeding program. It is our feeling that any Lab which lacks these important characteristics, whether they point or not, should not be used in ANY breeding program. If we lose the retrieving ability, marking ability, the power of an aggressive cold water retriever, and the trainability and family-friendly personality of the Lab, you might as well go out and buy a Setter or a Pointer. Our first goal is that our Labradors maintain the important qualities they have been developed for in this country. They must be of correct size, as depicted by the AKC standard, females generally 55 to 70 lbs, and males 65 to 80 lbs. They must have good length of leg to carry them tirelessly, along with the correct build to give them good endurance. We don't breed for abnormally big dogs; one sees very few Sumo wrestlers running a marathon. Our dogs must have good disposition, be good in the home, and have a high degree of trainability for ease of training with the amateur trainer. We like a nice Lab head, not too broad, nor too snipey. No short, stubby, Rottweiler heads here, nor any Greyhound heads. Our dogs are very similar in appearance to the original Labs imported and bred in this country back in the thirties. They must have the retrieving instinct, bird desire, marking ability, and willingness to brave cold, rough water conditions to be in the Trieven breeding program. They must have the physical ability and desire to hunt birds all day, with natural quartering instinct and great nose, then, we select for those who ALSO have the natural pointing characteristics. The POINT is the icing on the cake.

The Breed

What We Look for in a Labrador

Retrievers / Gundogs First