I have been looking for a trained lab for a while and have came across several that looked fairly good.

The best trained is a 4.5 year old that only needs two more passes to have hrch title, the others are 2 to 3 year olds started /trained but with no certs.

All in same price range,
Is a 4.5 year old past his prime is guess is what I am concerned about

Opinions from lab owners would be appreciated

No he is just getting in his prime usually 3 to 6 yrs still have plenty to enjoy after that

The younger dogs would be around a little longer. If you get the 4.5, he'll be getting old about the time you get used to him in a couple years.

Id get the younger dog. The younger they are the more personable they are to you. I've had mine since she was a pup and I do not know what I would do without her. I trained her myself and ill admit she is no championship dog but she is a championship hunter. No offense to those who want a feild trial dog for hunting but I've hunted with them and ill take a well trained armature hunting dog over any champion trial "hunting" dog any day. In my experience the more time you spend with them the better hunter and companion they'll be. Just my $.02.

They all have a personality. I would choose the personality you like best.

....and HRCH doesn't mean a thing in the field. I have run hunt tests. Hunt tests are controlled hunt scenarios. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can mimic the real deal.

IMO 4.5 is too old to start from scratch to build a hunting relationship. That dog has habits, at no fault of its own, but it does have habits you may not accept and that can become an issue in the blind or during a retrieve. Freshwaterkilla is correct that he is in his prime, but IMO he as approaching the peak of his prime.

I am not a fan of buying dogs already matured beyond their juvenile years. You have missed out on THE most important element in any retriever used in the field, building LOYALTY and TRUST. DO NOT be blinded by all the acronyms in their name.

I am in no way trying to discourage you, but informing you.

I'm with barnes on this. 4.5 is to old to build a good solid relationship. I'm just proud of the fact that I've had my lab since she was a pup and I did all of her training. I don't really get into all the different acronyms for all that stuff. I just know I enjoy the hell out of watching her work and hunt and I honestly believe its because of the relationship we've had since she was a pup. So I say go for the younger pup because as stated before he/she my have habits you may not like and it is still early enough to "fix " things.

my reason for not starting with a pup is limited time to spend with it that it would really need for good training and by the time i send it to a trainer for the amount of time needed then i am financially better off going with one that is already started to finished

I guess that is another issue too. The first summer I had pepper I had the chance to.work with her a lot. I mean everyday. If that is not a option then getting a dog that has been started would be a good option. It will already have many of the basics and now you can "fine tune " the dog the way you would like. Plus 4.5 years old is just getting into his prime. That's why id go for the younger dogs. The certs don't really mean anything to me. No offense. The only certs my dog needs are all the ducks she brings back! Well, if I can hit em!

iah, thanks for the input, im not really looking to continue the hrch trials anyway, but was using that as a basic guide of the training the dog had by just looking at Ads without actually seeing them in action. i figured by checking into some of those i would narrow my chances of getting the more common breeds that i have owned called Shittteaters

I guess i miss understood a few things, but I see what ur sayin about using it as a good base for making ur decision on which dog to buy. That's a good idea and a great start! All of our families dogs came from people we knew that decided to have pups. But I would still get a younger pup. 4.5 is just a little to old to be starting a hunting relationship with. IMO.

I have had a dog in his prime till 8 years old.

Thanks
I bought the 4 year old and he worked out fine

Ak Thamks for the help

My question is why would you get rid of padna after 4.5 years.

makes sense

Guy I purchased him from had got him as a puppy and worked with a trainer very close for several years, they did hunt test etc. He works railroad and has been working the last 40 days straight, had to take a sick day jus to sell him, he wanted him to go to someone that would hunt him and hopefully finish his hrch title, (only needs 30 more points) he did not want the dog to stay kenneled all the time

I went and looked at him while he was at the trainer,then went back a couple of days later to purchase, it was basically an interview to see if the dog and they liked me, they had already turned down a couple of gude services in arkansas due to not wanting him to jus be worked and put up etc.

So far he is doing great, he knows what to do better than I know how to tell him

I made the right choice for me, maybe not the best choice for others but I did not have the time or patience to start from scratch, maybe will on the next one

we hunted an 8 yr old last year that outperformed any dog i have ever hunted with......calm, patient and worked his ass off.