"Hallo" from a Californian in Bavaria

Hi all!

I'm new here, and as you may be able to tell from my avatar, new to Labs. I'm going to be asking loads of questions, hopefully in the right sections of this forum (forgive any newbie mistakes in advance!), but here I'll just say 'hi' and a little about myself and why I'm here.

The sad stuff out of the way first: my beautiful best buddy and assistance dog passed away at Christmas at the age of 13. He was a Rottweiler who came to me at six weeks old via the breed rescue group where I volunteered (too young, I know - long story). He was my second Rottie. The first was from an excellent and responsible breeder and was a dream to train. Brogan, my rescue boy, was my eternal challenge. He was rescued from a dog fighting ring (illegal of course), and boy did it show in his temperament. But we weathered the storm and he eventually passed his Assistance Dogs International certification: 12 hours of testing spread over four days and that pup aced it!

Six years ago I got offered a short contract job in Europe. I could live anywhere and work from "home" where ever that was, as long as I was in a Euro time zone. Hurrah! Brogan and I took off together with one backpack and one carryon and never looked back. We visited ten countries and lived in Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Ireland. Brogan rode vaporettos in Venice, took Italian lessons with me in Florence, visited the Vatican and the Louvre, watched seals in Kerry, hung out in the biggest beer hall in Munich and was specially invited into the cockpit for one of his last of many plane voyages. He was The Man.

It's been six months since he passed and I'm still missing him terribly. In his job as assistance dog, he did even more for me than I had realised (or trained him to do).

I'm now looking for my next dog buddy and assistance dog. I believe strongly in rescue, but also realise the pluses of getting a puppy from a responsible and experienced breeder.

I would love another Rottie, but there are lots of issues and challenges inherent in the breed which you can likely imagine but I won't go into too much here. Suffice it to say that the breed has changed a lot in the twenty years I've had them and German Rotties are very different from US show line Rotties. But all that is not why I'm here in the Labrador forum.

I'm researching what would be the best breed for me, considering the service and training aspect that I will undertake with my next dog. I started looking at Labs as I felt I should as there has to be SOME reason that they are used so often as Guide and Assistance Dogs. The more I've found out about the breed, the more I've come to admire them and think that they just may be a very good fit for me. And while my friends keep telling me that a Lab would be "boring" after a Rottie, the more I learn the more I think that I may be too boring for a Lab! Compared to Rotties, Labs seem like they are on speed! So I'd like to learn more from you all to make sure I'd be up to the task and also how to choose one. All I know is that I keep looking at a lot of big working breeds and for many reasons keep coming back to smart (and silly) Labs.

And by the way, I'm still traveling... so Brogan's Valiant Successor will be a nomad from day one. Another consideration!

So that was really long (I'm a long winded writer - fair warning), but that's why I'm here with a Rottie avatar. I really look forward to reading others' posts and finding out more about the breed and if I would make a good "Labbi Mama" (as they say here in Germany).

Thanks to all in advance and greetings from Regensburg!

 

Hello and a very warm welcome to the forum from me and my two monsters, Willow and Shadow.

I know very little about training assistance dogs myself, but we have the wonderful @Boogie on here, who is a puppy walker for the Guide Dogs Association in the UK. She'll be able to tell you about the wonderful dogs she cares for, and their journeys. All I can say form my experience (limited) is how versatile Labradors are. They excel at all sorts of work, be that gun dog stuff, scent work, agility, flyball, caniX.... the list goes on. They also make fabulous companions, obviously, which explains why they're such a popular breed.
Contrary to popular myth, though, they are not all the boring plodders that they're made out to be - as some of the stories on here will make you realise if you stick around! Highly intelligent often translates to highly mischievous if left to their own devices, but they generally adore learning and being given jobs to do. Of course, it depends what your needs are as to whether they're the right fit for you.

As far as choosing one is concerned, you have to do your research when you're looking for a dog to do a particular job. There are two "strains" that are generally mentioned, the show type, which is bred for conformity to breed standard - generally the blockier head, shorter legs type, and the field type, which is bred less for how it looks and more for the characteristics which make a dog suited to working on a shoot. These often look less "Labradory", are often finer-built and taller. Of course, these are massive generalisations, and you also have a myriad of "inbetweens", either through specialised breeding programmes designed to get dual-purpose dogs, or simply because people have mated two dogs without much consideration - although this may be less ideal for the breed as a whole, it's the way a large percentage of Labs come into the world, and probably accounts for a sizeable chunk of the pet market.

I think it's difficult to say that either "type" of Lab would be better suited for a job as an assistance dog, because it's so dependent on the individual dog and their personality. So, choosing a puppy from parents whose characteristics you like is probably the best place to start, rather than going "show" or "field". The Labs that the Guide Dogs Association use are specifically bred for purpose, so are probably not indicative of the Labs you would find "on the street". But, it might be worthwhile investigating a puppy from these lines that doesn't make the grade as a Guide Dog. I've heard that many of these "failed" puppies go into other disciplines as assistance dogs that aren't quite so challenging, so, again, it probably depends on your needs.

Please keep us updated whatever way you choose to go. We love all dogs here (even have forum cats, ducks, ferrets and other critters!) so don't feel you're excluded if you choose another breed

 

Hi Willow and Shadow's Mum!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm already deep in the research on field/show (visiting breeders, going to shows here in Germany) and discovered a rather wonderful Boogie thread last night about her Guide Dog walker summer guests. I loved all the stories and videos!

Actually my concern isn't that Labs would be too boring for me, but that I would be too boring for them. Both my Rotties have been quite easy to train (my rescue boy had reactivity issues when young but always learned quickly) and very calm from a young age. People would complain about them always winning down-stay competitions in obedience class simply because they couldn't be bothered to get up. So I see Labs in training videos zipping around and I think, "Wow, do I have the skills for that?!". On the other hand, it may be good for me - liven me up a bit, you know?

I'm also having a bit of a language/cultural barrier to my person-to-person doggie research in Germany and wanted to connect here to get the scoop in English where I understand everything (and not just 75% like I do in German). I did by sheer luck find a breeder in Germany whose pups go to guide dog programs, but to be honest, I was actually thinking of looking in the UK (or Spain where I live 4 months of the year) just so I could better understand what the breeders are telling me. I started falling for Labs this spring at a massive dog show in Seville, so I know there are some lovely ones there.

Still at the beginning of the journey with a lot to learn!

 

Hi Emily and welcome to the forum!
I am a first time dog owner with my lab who is just over 6 years old.
From my time on the forum I would say that there is a steep learning curve at the puppy stage, a prolonged puppy brain in adult body stage, then a faithful companion stage.
Life is never boring for sure.
@Karen might be able to give you some advice on the German end of things. Also @heidrun who is now based in the UK too.

Whoever you end up taking home - lab or otherwise, I think it would be kind of interesting to have you stick around!


jac

 

Hi Emily, I live in Germany too (near Frankfurt), and would be happy to help if you have any questions specific to getting a lab puppy in Germany. The two most responsible and respected breeding associations are the Labrador Club Deutschland (mainly focused on show-line labs) and the Deutscher Retriever Club (mainly focused on working-line labs). Buying a puppy from a breeder accepted from either of those associations will as far as possible guarantee that the breeder adheres to the strictest of stipulations.

The main problem with getting a pup in Spain or the UK and bringing it back to Germany is that recent EU regulations mean you are not allowed to take a puppy across international borders until they two weeks after it has had its rabies inoculations, so basically until the puppy is 14-15 weeks old, so you would be missing the very important early phase (unless you could stay with the pup and bring it back with you once it is old enough).

Good luck on your search!

 

Hi Emily, welcome from me & Coco, a German Shepherd x Lab, he is a rescue. Sorry for your sad loss of Brogan, handsome boy. I look forward to sharing the next stage of your journey.

 

Welcome to such a wonderful community of informative members who are willing to help and a big hello from 9 week old Stryker the pup who is Lab and Australian Shepard mix.

I know first hand that Labs, at least from my way of life, that they love to travel. Though I haven't traveled from Country to Country I have traveled a lot around the United States and have always taken my dog with me. As it will happen, I too recently had to say farewell to my best friend and companion due to some health issues and I am now starting fresh. So I'm sorry to hear about your loss but regardless of what you decide breed wise, you sound like you'll make a good host for any dog.

Best of luck to you!

 

Hello Emily welcome to the forum from my two Fred and Annie and me

 

Hi and welcome from me and Obi

Most Rotties I've met have been much more laid back than most Labradors I've met. But I wouldn't worry about being too 'boring' for a Labrador. What a Labrador wants more than anything (except maybe food) is to be with its human. Sounds to me like your dog is going to have a lot of human company and a lot of adventures - a Labrador would love that.

One thing I'd be looking for in the parents and the pup is a confident, bold temperament. You want a pup that does not startle easily, that is curious rather than nervous in new situations and that isn't bothered by noises, crowds etc. Look for parents with that temperament and avoid anything with any signs or history of anxiety or timidity.

 

Hi and welcome from me and fox red girl, Harley
I love Rotties My auntie had Rotties for years and they were amazing dogs.
Sorry about your loss of Brogan - he's very handsome.

I was worried about getting a lab as I have spinal injuries and can't be pulled and have to go careful at times with playing with her. I don't know why I worried......(apart from me not teaching her loose lead walking from day 1!)......she is amazing. She gets me out walking every day, has an amazing recall, loves life and is very affectionate. We do agility every week and she's getting better at working away from me so I don't have to run. Whenever I come home from work or popping out, Harley will sniff my neck when I bend down to say hi and this determines how gentle she is with me. I really do think she knows when I'm having a bad day as will happily jump on the sofa and snuggle, but when I'm having a good day will want to play. She won't play tug with me or get rough like she does with my hubby and daughter (she's 21, not a little one).

 

Hi Jac and Lilly,

Thanks for the nice greeting! Yes, it should be interesting and looking forward to learning more from you all.

 

Hi Rachael and Obi,

Yes, Rotties are very laid back. My puppy trainer used to call my first Rottie "Jurassic Puppy" because he moved so slowly. It's highly likely that Brogan was a mix (he only got to 32 kilos and had a bit of tell-tale Lab mix feather butt) and was more active, but still much more chilled out that most Labs I've met. I agree on looking for a "bullet proof" personality in a puppy and the puppy mama. I can see this in an adult but not so much in a puppy, so I really would like to find a breeder who can give me some help there.

 

Hi Stryker,

Thanks for the kind words - I'm very sorry for your loss as well. It's tougher than I thought, and I knew it would be tough.

Labs do seem like they would be happy travellers as most seem to love meeting new people. Both my Rotties were like that, though every breed description you read says they are "cautious" with strangers. Maybe I got lucky? But that is what appeals to me about Labs, that they are known for being so social.

 

Hi Karen,

Very glad to meet you and (if you can stand it) I think I'll be asking you a lot of questions! I hadn't looked too deeply into the cross-border issues yet as I was still hoping to find a pup where I am before setting off traveling again. I'll have a closer look at those to make sure I understand them before getting too invested into looking at breeders outside Germany. Spain would not be an issue as I live there part of the year. A UK breeder sounds more difficult then, although with my lifestyle it would not be all that hard to arrange to simply stay in the UK for a month until the puppy was old enough to go back to Germany or Spain. If I do get a puppy (vs an adult rescue) I would prefer one here in Germany because (1) I know they are obsessive about health checks for sire/dam and (2) to have a resource for advice close by.

I've only visited two Lab breeders here so far, both DRC. That's for another post, but for very different reasons they both left me feeling that it wasn't the right fit. But I know that people can go through dozens (if not hundreds) of breeders in a search, so I realise I'm only at the beginning.

If you have any further recommendations (I'm already haunting the DRC/LCD sites and using that as a basis to do exploratory breeder visits), it would be great to hear your advice. I'm going to the Leipzig German Winner show at the end of the month as well - more for fun than anything - but that may also be a good time to keep an eye out!

 

Hi Naya and Harley,

Thanks for the kind words about Brogan. Rotties are sort of addictive, kind of like Labs I guess.

I do have a concern about being able to weather the zany puppy period in terms of balance (I've ended up flat on my back with more than one foster dog), so that's really good for me to hear that you and Harley are doing so well. Also hearing how sensitive she is and how she has different play levels for who she is with is really encouraging. I'm also all for the couch snuggle! Is she a show Lab or field Lab? Or in your opinion does it even matter?

 

Welcome to you.

My son lives in Heidelberg and my dog is called Tatze


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Thanks for the warm welcome and words about Brogan. He was indeed a handsome pants (one of my many weird pet names for him).

 

Thanks to you and Fred and Annie! They're lovely!

 

Thank you for what you said about my puppy thread.

Most Guide Dog puppies are Lab/GR crosses which is a perfect combination for an assistance dog.

They have the enthusiasm of Labs and the steadiness/determination of GRs.


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Thanks for the welcome! I've already been reading about your summer adventures in puppy caring. I loved watching the videos of Tatze with the little ones. What a pro puppy buddy!

I had to look up "Tatze" as I've only ever used "Pfote" for "paw". Very clever name. Plus that can be my new German word of the day as I'm unlikely to forget it!