This will make a lot of people mad, but here goes.
Pointing lab?
There really is no difference between a pointing lab and a “regular” lab. That is despite what any of the pointing lab breeders are going to say. Don’t agree? Ask the AKC or UKC how many pointing labs they have registered. It is the same number of silver labs and cinnamon labs….. zero.
Every dog regardless of breed has some amount of point in them. The point is the instinct to wait for prey to make a bad move then ambush it. Pointing dogs have had this behavior breed into them more thoroughly over the years and generations, so they have a tendency to hold point more and longer, but all they are doing is displaying the same behavior every dog has to a differing degree.
Some “pointing” lab breeders are trying to pull those instincts into their bloodlines just as the setters and the pointers did generations ago, but they have a very, very, very long way to go before they create a new breed. And really this is not something that is all that new of an idea all they are doing is modifying the sit to flush which was what a lot of the labs and other flushing breeds have been trained to do for a very long time.
That is not to say they are not making headway with their breeding to get more point in the labs, but this is nothing that cannot be done with you’re regular run of the mill lab if the trading time has been put in. Point to flush, sit to flush, it’s all in how you whoa break the dog.
Your lab is pointing most likely because he is getting a good amount of scent and is trying to setup his “ambush”. He is thinking he can jump that bird and get a hold of it if he waits a second and gets the bird to relax a little.
A lot of times a dog will slow down a little after they have been in the field for awhile, when they do that they are more likely to catch scent, because they are breathing thru their nose more than their mouth then VOLIA! You get a point.
If you like this behavior you can pull more out of him by check cording him along slowly perpendicular to a planted bird after you do some whoa post work.
Don’t like the behavior? Then work the dog onto birds with the wind at his back, if he slows down correct him thru it with the check cord and get him to run thru the planted bird.
The smart hunters bring a lab along to get the bird after they shoot it, because you know that pointer isn’t going to get any feathers in his mouth.
