Looking for a reputable breeder of hunting stock.

Thanks

You do know they have a shortened life expectancy due to genetics ?

I have trained with other handlers of Flat coat they are great dogs, I would do a google search for either AKC or UKC hunt test or field trial clubs and check with them for anyone running flat coats, get in touch with them since yhey would know the better breeders if not themselves

You can start your search by going to ENTRY EXPRESS or HUNT SECRETARY. These sites will list tests for the whole country, go to various tests in your area, look at the premium or entries and look for flatcoats, many retriever breeds sponsor their own specialty test but they would be listed under the named sites I mentioned. They also have a classified section which would include either started dogs or litters
also this is a great site to check
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/index.php

My current flatcoat is hunting hard at age 11. My first flatcoat hunted until age 15. My second flatcoat made it to 11 and Chloe my third flatcoat died of cancer at age 7. Luna my current and best ever flatcoat came from a Texas breeder named Mary Young. You can try to reach her at maryeyoungwf@gmail.com or youngmwf@aol.com Mary is part of the flatcoat inner circle and would be a great resource. They are a tremendous breed that hunts hard, loves people, and need daily exercise and interaction. They are perpetual puppies and very entertaining. I hunt ducks, geese, quail, chukar, doves, and pheasant with my my current dog Luna. Good luck.

Yes LB, I know and have run many events w/ Mary Young.
Isn’t she Mary Smith now ? I know she had her goat rope & hog tie (among other thing(s) set on Dr. Smith !
She is known as the flatcoat lady down here (TX).0 I think she got tired of losing to other black dogs (Labs) and started running one. Dr. Smith was also running a Lab.

We have an FC person in Lake County, not too far (relatively) from you. If you'd like, PM me a phone or email and I'll get it to her, or ask her if i can give you her phone number. I don't have either, but a friend of mine is staying with her for the winter.

Heard from Mary and she is thinking about breeding with my Luna's niece. I'm not a field trial guy but there isn't a lab in our duck hunting group that performs as well as Luna. She weighs 58 pounds in her old age (11) and still jumps in the duck boat with an assist from the tules. Quite athletic. In her younger days she could leap into a canoe solo with a mallard in her mouth. She'd have them lined up in the bottom of the canoe. Yes I do have a bias!!! Luna was Mary's personal dog that I luckily acquired when she was a year old having lost my Chloe to cancer. Mary had me fly her and the dog out to Coronado CA to see if we were a suitable home. The rest is history.