Dove, Dogs, and Shotguns

Seeing how I’m a lab owner along with thousands of other people across the world, I thought it would be interesting to do a little research on the most popular breed of dog in the world.

Lab’s originated on the island of Newfoundland, what is now Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The present day labrador has evolved from St. John’s Water Dog through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers in the mid to late 16th century.

Orginally the St. John’s dogs were used by fisherman to bring in the nets from the water (might explain why labs love the water 400 + years will do it). A number of the dogs were brought back to England in the early 1800’s, where they became prized sproting and waterfowl dogs.  Luckily so, as sheep protection laws and rabies all but wiped out the breed from Newfoundland.

The modern Labrador emerged in the late 1880’s through a breeding program by the Earls of Malmesbury and the Dukes of Buccleeuch, who bred for duck shooting. Two dogs are considered the oldest ancestors of the modern Labrador, Avon and Ned who were given by Malmesbury to The Duke of Buccleuch.

All three colors of labs can be traced back to the original St. John’s dogs. Also, a black and tan occasionally appeared. The black lab was the most preferred color until the 20th century.

The first recognized yellow lab was Ben of Hyde, born in 1899. The chocolate lab became more establised in the 1930’s.

If you haven’t owned a lab, get one. They are great companions, great hunting or sporting dogs, great with kids, and, in my opinion, the best breed of dog there is.

Time to RELOAD!

Dove, Dogs, & Shotguns

• Positive Reinforcement Training What exactly is positive reinforcement training? According to expert dog trainer, Don Hanson, it is the practice of rewarding your dog with food or play for behaviors you want repeated. Hanson says that "rewarded behaviors tend to be repeated and unrewarded behaviors tend to be extinguished." By using using positive......
• Effects of Drought on Dove Hunting Blistering heat, dead or failing crops, dead lawns, and burn bans pretty much describe this summer here in Texas. Most say this year's almost fourteen inch shortfall of rain is a curse, but I say it's great news for dove hunting. Before you call me crazy, let me explain. “In......
• TPWD Sets Hearings on Lastest Proposals In a news release from Steve Lightfoot with Texas Parks and Wildlife, he announced the the department would conduct 21 public hearings. The hearing would cover the topics of increasing fees and yhe new dove season propsals. Changes proposed for the 2009-10 Texas dove season include a 70 day season......

• America Can Learn To Save From My Dog When you think of great minds in personal finance you may think of Suze Orman, Dave Ramsey, or Jean Chatzky. You probably don't think of a dog, but perhaps you should. A few months ago my dog started doing something I had only read about in children's books... burying dog......
• Black women living in South Carolina are more likely to develop cancers James Herbert of the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health and colleagues examined data from the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry to determine if health disparities exist among black and white residents diagnosed with cancer (USC release, 9/13). The study finds that black women are 60% more......
• Hunting Glossary Continued Choke Collar -This is a collar that is made out of leather or chain, and that is applied to the dog's neck in such a way that the collar can be loosened or tightened based on how much tension is exerted by the owner's hand. Clips (E-Clips) - These are......