Yes the signature pic is Bigben .... pic taken when he was 11 months old

Its good that he has got tons of energy la, they laze around sleeping we'd be worry sick if they are sick or unhealthy, on the other hand too active like Shushu we'd get headaches thinking how to burn their gundog fuel
Consider youself lucky that he is healthy and energetic, else you'd be worry about medical bills
Hopefully Barney will grow up handsome just like Hunter

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Added on March 31, 2008, 9:47 amBigben is certainly a handsome GR, you must be proud of him

This post has been edited by ^Hobbes^: Mar 31 2008, 09:47 AM

reason i ask is because i did a measurement for gr at home.......he got 47 inch like that if not mistake.......i feel it is a little small size for me....LOL

nvm, i go back measure again(last measure 5mth ago)

Thanks, actually I think Sheriff's it's a mix between UK and US type. He is from a show line. Dad is dark brown and his mom is light brown. I was hoping him to turn mahogany brown or close to his dad's colour, but it turned out lighter. He is heavier, has a more bigger built and has a broader head than Hunter, albeit being slightly shorter than Hunter when standing side by side (short legs).

Love him a lot, very sweet natured and cute! We used to call him the flower horn



Bigben is a very handsome dog - love his body structure. Is he from show line?

This post has been edited by grhunter: Mar 31 2008, 10:43 AM

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Added on March 31, 2008, 10:39 amThat's correct People always say Hunter looks different, think it's because of his eyes and long guai lou eyelashes. We were very active in obedience competitions few years back and he's a very intelligent and hardworking dog (but the owner lazy).

Muffin was adopted (wandering around on the streets alone - I went door to door to help her find her owner and pasted up posters but can't find her owner after a month's effort). She got huge lab eyes, but another glance she looks like a GR. Her body structure does not resemble or come close to the breed standard a lab or a GR and she has a bushy tail that curls like a squirrel. We came to conclude she's either a poorly bred lab/gr, or simply a retriever mix.

Whatever she is, we love her anyway.



Yes I miss them a lot now! Will be back next month to shower them with lots of love (and not to mention treats)!

This post has been edited by grhunter: Mar 31 2008, 10:46 AM

Only Muffin is spayed, the boys are not neutered. Muffin gets along really well with the boys, unless they try taking her favourite bone from her while she's chewing it! (typical princess attitude). During her spare time, she loves chewing Hunter's ears as a hobby (Hunter doesn't mind). After her chewing session, Hunter's ears are all "gelled up" like spiked hair, heh heh.

Hunter and Sheriff don't get along too well - problem with them is Hunter loves to have his personal space and Sheriff is over friendly. When Sheriff comes too close (ex - repeatedly lick Hunter's face), fights ensues. Hence we keep a close eye on both of them when they're out playing.

Since you own a few GRs, may i ask a few questions regarding GRs?
Others are also welcome to share as well
Barney is my first GR.

What type is Hunter?
I heard there are 2 types of GRs, with undercoat and non undercoat, but upon searching the internet and AKC standard, i found nothing that touches on undercoats.
None of my dogs are neutered at home, does neutering them takes away their libido like the urge to mate for males and heat for females? Or are they still sexualy active after neutering?
Barney is consider cream color, but will a GR puppy grow darker/lighter as he grows up?

Thanks

This post has been edited by ^Hobbes^: Mar 31 2008, 10:53 AM

Ok, undercoat refers to the the inner layer - the soft hair underneath your dog's coarse hair. When they shed, you'd see lumps and lumps of soft hair rolling around your house like dry hays in Western movies, which is their undercoat. All GRs will have undercoat and it's good practice to comb them out often to reduce shedding.

There are 2 types of GR- the English type and the American. The American type comes in darker shade of brown and have a lighter built. The English type comes in very light cream colour (sometimes very close to white). English GRs are more structurely "heavy" - broader head as well. However, for both types - there's the show GR and the field GR as well. Show GRs are bred with bigger bone structure and longer feathering. Field GRs are bred for work hence will have a lighter, leaner, smaller built (regardless of UK or US type) and short coat to allow them to move fast and do their job.

Hunter is the English type - he was not bred for show, hence he may not be the best representation of the English type GR. Sheriff is a mix of English and American type.

As for neutering - when you spay a female, they will no longer come into heat. Neutering is mainly for birth control purposes (and some other health benefits), but I'm honestly not sure if it will completely remove (though I'm sure it will at least reduce) the sexual urge from the males - both my males are not neutered.

A GR puppy will grow darker until he reaches about 3 years old. Cream colour will definitely not end up with dark brown, but you should be able to see some shades of brown that "spreads out" your puppy's coat as he grows. A good rule of thumb to is see the colour of his ears - that will be the shade of brown that he will most likely turn into.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, i'm sorry if its too much questions to ask

I do understand the undercoat term, but i was told that some GRs got no undercoat?
Altho Hunter isnt bred for show, he still looks handsome to me

So you mean a GR's puppy ear color wont change like his furs do?

I attached some of Barney's pic below, can you help me identify his type e.g. US/UK ?



Thanks for the lengthy reply once again

Your Sheriff have a beautiful look.........
Ben have a strong structure and a big chest...... anytime when move his head can pull you to any direction he want ..... i very proud of English breed..
i attach this old pic taken few month back (solrry no latest pic)
Yes his parents are Champion line in England

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Added on March 31, 2008, 11:56 amHello Hobbes
i think the one no undercoat is Lab la if i not mistaken...
Your Barney's is too small to say which type..... best to check his parent cert....
your dog body color still can go darker like the ear color ... that all can go

This post has been edited by BigBen: Mar 31 2008, 12:17 PM


Attached thumbnail(s)

No undercoat? That's odd, I have the assumption that all GRs have undercoat. Now you can't tell from your puppy because he's still got puppy coat. When he grow, his hair will be coarse, but when you feel the layer underneath that coarse hair, you will feel soft fur.

The puppy's ear colour wouldn't change as much as his fur do. But note that the colour could maybe spread out to his whole body, or only to certain parts of his body (the back, shoulders etc). Normally it's from a shade of brown to light cream.

Barney is one handsome pup, looks like UK type to me!

PS : Thanks, I think Hunter is one handsome GR indeed - love his maturity!

This post has been edited by grhunter: Mar 31 2008, 12:02 PM

Hi Bigben, yeah i think no undercoats are Labs as well until some one told me that GRs got two types of coats which is when i got confused.
They told me that GRs with non fluffy coat are GRs without undercoat, those we see with fluffy coat or in my understanding those show line breeds are with undercoat?
I got confuse till now

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Added on March 31, 2008, 12:11 pmYeah i too had the assumption that all GRs have undercoat, perhaps what they meant without undercoat and undercoat points towards show line and working line type ?
From my observation the working line have less fluffy coat, as in it lays/sticks to the body where as show lines one have more fluffy coat?

I look into Barney's coat, i saw white fluffy hair abit like broken hair or ice on glass in winter time, is that the undercoat?

Thanks, i do hope that Barney grows up to be as handsome as Bigben or Hunter



This post has been edited by ^Hobbes^: Mar 31 2008, 12:11 PM

BigBen and Sheriff are really handsome GRs.


Lol at muffin picture
She looks really happy with the wig!! Shushu will never sit still and will try to bite off anything i put on his head...


Barney is really cute!

Thanks, Sheriff is a sweet dog. Naughty, but sweet.

Did you get Bigben from a local breeder? He looks really good. Any plans to enter him for conformation shows? How is his temperament like?

Yea the working line GRs will have a shorter and thinner coat (but I haven't actually seen any pure working line GRs before). I think the show line GRs' beautiful thick coat could be because of several factors other than the undercoat, such as genetics, expensive shampoos/grooming powder plus a lot of blow drying. But generally, all GRs will have undercoat. I think it's still too early to tell the undercoat on Barney's body la, he's probably got a body full of soft puppy coat now.

Remember to takes lots of pictures, they grow really fast. Before you know it Barney will be like Bigben or Hunter

Thanks! They enjoy dressing up for the camera. Just practice often with Shushu with the stay command. Start off with putting something on shushu for a few seconds and command stay. Praise and treat for sitting still. Slowly extend the time she sits still and she will gladly put on anything for the camera in no time

Here are more pictures

Thanks

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Added on March 31, 2008, 4:32 pmYeah and i heard the'll shed their puppy fur during their 4th month ?

I took a fair few of his pics as i saw they grow up like crazy during their first few months.
Even they look different from week to week

Still thanks for the advice

This post has been edited by ^Hobbes^: Mar 31 2008, 04:32 PM

Yeah... local breeder .... he really have a good look now worry me peoples may come and kidnap him.... when i walk with him all cars, peoples slowly to see.
No plan yet to enter him for show.... he highly intelligent and obedience i have yet send him for any training i just teaching him once the next he know how to do....
1 obedience is when walk him back home enter the gate i take out the leash he will stay still until i enter the house and say OK then only move...

Wow nice pics you have got there
I guess its safe to say that GRs are realy easier to train?

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Added on March 31, 2008, 5:07 pmErr mind to tell me which local breeder you got it from ?
I had a hard time looking for local breeders, i should have consulted this thread

I heard nowadays people kidnap dogs around KL area, i have seen a fair few people distributing pamphlets looking for missing dogs
And looking at those photographs those dogs are nice dogs, perhaps its a dognappin ring?

Better take good care of your bigben, since he so handsome

This post has been edited by ^Hobbes^: Mar 31 2008, 05:07 PM

one of his favorite style......
always '8' to look at outside when heard something.......and he stand like me......





This post has been edited by keithkeat: Mar 31 2008, 10:03 PM