My old Lab, Tom's Redneck Lady (she is truly missed, may she forever rest in peace), retreived hundreds and hundreds of dove here in GA and absolutely lived to hunt those little speedsters. If only I had known then what I have just learned, that dove feathers represent a health hazard to dogs; then maybe I would have been blessed to enjoy her company a little longer than the 15 years and 3 months she was on this earth.
Seriously, to me this sounds like a bunch of BS; as I have personally witnessed dogs (no matter how well groomed) eat some pretty disgusting things; so can't believe there is much out there, besides anti-freeze and various poisons, that will cause a dog's digestive tract much grief (let me state my qualifications, I am not a veterian; but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn last night). One sick/funny story about my old dog Lady; got up one morning to adjust my water level and looked out the bathroom window to see Lady burying something by a tree near the creek. After getting dressed and puttering around the house awhile, I went to the shed; grabbed a rake, and walked down to the creek to investigate. Carefully buried by the tree was a half-eaten black cat. Now I have no idea if Lady actually ate that cat, or if perhaps she was just doing the neighborhood a favor by disposing of the hideous carcass; but I can tell you that, had Lady indeed feasted on a little cat meat, she suffered no ill effects from swallowing any cat hair, and that in spite of the fact that such hair would result in fur balls if swallowed by any cat.
Chuck, I encourage you to dove hunt with your lab; they are the best dove blind company you will ever have. Lady loved to dove hunt so much that she became my extra pair of eyes. Most dove hunting here is in hot weather. In the field Lady would be at heel on my left side and panting so loudly the noise she made was about all I could hear; but if she ever stopped panting, she had spotted a dove and that was my clue to look in whatever direction her muzzle was pointed. Lady was the first "dove retreiver" with which I was ever priviledged to hunt; and many are the "classic American" sides by sides we field tested together. I learned many things hunting with this dog; but one thing that stands out was how much my shooting (shells per bird) improved. If a feathered bird went down; and I don't care how far it flew in those last moments, nor how thick the cover was in which it fell, she brought the bird back and laid it in my hand. And if I was having a really bad day shooting, the compassion she felt for her disappointed master was incredible, she would quietly slip away to visit other blinds; and when she saw the shooter therein distracted, grab a mouthful of birds and deliver them to me to lift my spirits! She was also versatile, Lady would work close to a covey of quail; then when she knew I was in position, flush them on command (and then retrieve our prizes). She also tracked down and allowed my son to recover two bow shot deer that did not leave a blood trail; and retrieved the morning paper on command every day. She was literally a four-legged member of the family, and I hope your lab will bring you as much pleasure.
Topgun thats one hilarious and great tribute to a good dog. Why dont you attach a picture of the old girl. Sounds like one helluva dog.
