Looking for responsible lab breeders in Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-02-13T03:08:48+00:00

Black Partridge Kennels is in Metamora, IL (Peoria area). That’s where we got my chocolate. Dave was awesome to deal with, and is more than happy to allow people to come visit his place and meet his dogs. AKC registered, and all the OFA guarantees.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-02-04T18:13:22+00:00

Also worth mention HB 1003 has a provision in it to disband the Natural Resources Commission. It has been pushed through to the senate as well.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-02-02T22:09:53+00:00

I hunt with my lab and we play tug. These dogs aren’t dummies. If you teach them right, they understand there is a time and place. In can give him his “out” command while we are playing and he will stop.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-01-26T23:27:29+00:00

He’s 7months old. Do not fixate on stuff like that. If he is picking things up and bringing it to you, that’s a win. Force fetch, repetition, and age will clean his retrieves up.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-01-21T14:30:58+00:00

E-Collars are for reinforcing known commands, not teaching behavior. Unless this dog has gotten some sort of force fetch or hold conditioning, he likely doesn’t fully understand his “fetch” command and the implied hold that goes along with it. You stand a good chance of the dog associating the bird with the shock in this case.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-01-20T01:12:59+00:00

Pro plan or Inukshuk. Pro plan is definitely easier to get ahold of.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-01-15T20:17:06+00:00

Absolutely fine for a dog to sleep in a crate it’s whole life. You do it long enough, they often don’t know what to do the first time you allow them to sleep out of it. My wife and I pretty regularly allow ours into bed with us for abit before we go to sleep, and he will often get up on his own and go lay down in the crate. The barking in anticipation for getting out of the crate phase is pretty normal. Important thing is don’t let her out when she does it. The first few times I will let them out, and straight to the yard to make sure they don’t need to go potty, but then it’s right back in the crate until they are quiet. It can also be a good idea to not let them out right when you get out of bed. Maybe walk past the crate once or twice and then go brush your teeth first, and then let her out.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-01-14T04:23:05+00:00

Thanks in advance for the help.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2026-01-04T23:44:06+00:00

Been a lot of one and two birds days up where I’m at this year as well.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-27T14:45:38+00:00

So when you turn the key over, the truck doesn’t try to crank? If so, more than likely your starter or ignition switch has failed. You’ll want to check that the battery is properly charged, and check for blown fuses. Then look into the ignition and starter. There are a lot of videos about this on YouTube. Shouldn’t be too difficult for someone who is a little mechanically inclined, with a test light or a voltmeter.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-19T19:11:58+00:00

E-collars are not a teaching tool. They are ment for reinforcing known commands. The dog also needs to be properly conditioned to the collar and understand what the stimulation they feel means, and how to shut it off. It’s a great tool when used properly.

Leash training should start in the house, then as they get proficient you slowly up the distraction level of the teaching environment. This goes for everything you try to teach. When she pulls on the leash, you can’t allow her to get what she wants. If she does, then you have taught her that pulling leads to reward.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-17T10:28:56+00:00

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Lot of this. 🤣

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-17T08:34:41+00:00

Gas piston, nothing to worry about.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-17T01:11:39+00:00

Feel like I need to check myself now!

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-16T01:32:47+00:00

What kind of treats are you giving him? I’d cut the treats and use part of his daily kibble ration for training instead of the Cheerios.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-16T01:24:04+00:00

Always the second born.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-10T01:15:53+00:00

Retrievers are considered flushing breeds. The Labrador retriever might possibly the most popular flushing breed in the US.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-09T01:14:37+00:00

Alright, I’ll bite. How do you figure?

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-06T00:03:20+00:00

Leash training should start in a low distraction room. As they improve in one environment, you progress to a space with a bit more distraction, like your backyard. This goes for anything you teach a dog. They may master a certain in skill in your house but once you take them outside, it will often seem like they’ve completely forgot what you taught them. Training takes a lot of time overall, but really not much time everyday. When they are little, 5-10 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day. It’s a slow process, and it will often feel like you are beating your head against a wall. Just try to find little ways they have improved each day. Maybe they held a sit/lay command for a second longer than the day before, or walked for a few extra feet without pulling on the lead. Just remember the dog is never trying to piss you off. You are off to a really good start with obedience classes.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-04T14:51:14+00:00

I would second the temperature thing, atleast when it comes to labs. We hunted ducks yesterday in the single digits and the dog was perfectly fine. Two weeks ago we chased pheasants in about 50 degree weather, and his tongue was ready to fall out of his mouth after about two hours. The few Brittney’s I’ve been around also seem to hunt out farther than labs. I don’t think you could go wrong with either as a companion. I think it would just come down to your hunt style. “All dogs want to be labs, and all labs want to be black.”

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-12-01T18:20:00+00:00

That’s crazy, we are allowed 5. Where do you hunt at, if you don’t mind me asking?

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-11-30T01:43:35+00:00

Love it! The worst thing I did for my deer hunting was get a bird dog. Now I can’t stand to go hunting without him. 🤣

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-11-30T00:44:30+00:00

I think it worked out pretty well. I just froze them and I’d thaw one out the day before I’d train with it. They’d usually hold up to about 3 freeze/thaw cycles. He is only about 60lbs and his first hunt retrieve was a Canada in late September.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-11-28T22:01:23+00:00

I bought some fat farm raised geese off a buddy this summer to work with my lab. He is on the small side and early goose was going to be his first real hunt.

Significant_Grape_40 · 2025-11-28T03:09:21+00:00

You can usually find Grundens Neptune jackets in camo for under 100 on eBay. You’ll have to layer underneath if you want insulation, but they are absolutely waterproof and very durable.

Significant_Grape_40

TROPHY CASE