Want a new dog! A lab maybe? Please tell me interesting things about labradors please!!! Thanks! Do they have something to be concerned about! So that i will know when choosing the best breed!Thanks guys!
Before I advise you on the best breed for you what are your circumstances i.e work,other commitments etc where you live town or countryside all other factors I train a lot of dogs and like to know everything before advising the person on which breeds best for them
Welcome to you! Here is a great link with lots of advice on what to consider. http://www.thelabradorsite.com/6-things-to-consider-before-buying-a-labrador/ My advice would be that Labradors are the best dogs on the planet and the pups are total, total crocodiles! ..
We chose a lab for our family as we are active and wanted our dog to join (hiking, walking, biking, swimming), wanted a good natured and easier to train breed, and good with kids. I also find labs to be one of the best looking dogs around! We have found all of the above to be true for us. Couldn't have picked a better fit!
Hi I have always had Labs, from when I was a child. My first, that I can remember was a black lab, then a lab cross (actually more a Heinz 57 but very strong lab in both looks and lovely nature), then a lot of dogless years due to working away a lot , but now I am a proud mum of a nearly 7 month old lab. For me it was a no brainer as the nature, loyalty and love of life were a perfect fit for me. Although as we are just entering the teenager phase the butterflies are taking over his head I know at the other side of this phase he will be a beautiful companion . That said labs are not for everyone, the link that @Boogie has given is excellent.
My only experience of labs prior to Xena was of nice, sensible, ADULT labs. Nobody, even their owners, told me that they were complete loony crocodiles as pups. I know that I'll end up with a lovely, sensible adult eventually, but right now I can't see myself ever getting another lab. Of course, I am looking forward to going on nice long walks with her once she's grown (which is why we went for a medium exercise breed). I see people with small dogs and get a bit envious though - they don't have to worry about loose leash walking, jumping up, counter surfing etc.
That's because it's so bad, we file it away in that special place of our brain that our memory can't access. It's like it never happened. Give it a year to eighteen months. You'll get puppy broody again, and will have forgotten just how mad Xena was (see above). They often don't, but they should! The same issue with loose leash walking stands - the dog can still damage his own throat by pulling, even if it's easier for the handler. And being jumped on by a small dog is just as rude as being jumped on by a big dog. It annoys me when people allow it because "he's only little" The counter surfing - well, yeah, it's kinda hard for little dogs to do that
Loyal, gentle, and have been my best friends for years. Don't ask what they can offer you, but what you can offer them.
The only thing I miss about having small dogs is being able to pick them up for cuddles. Tho my son does anyway!
Take heart, training a small dog can also be a total pain. I used to foster chihuahua crosses and a huge hurdle to getting them adopted was instilling in them a strong set of manners to make them a pleasure to live with instead of little devils. I had ones who wanted to pull on the lead until they literally passed out, another who could jump very high and would bite me on the posterior while I was trying to fix her dinner, multiple cases of toy thieves/hoarders and of course the "I pee on it therefore it is mine" males. And "it's mine" included human trouser legs. I honestly think I was equally proud passing the Canine Good Citizen title with my long-term (1 year!) foster chi mix as I was when Brogan passed his Assistance Dog exam. None of which makes living with your croco pup any easier, but maybe you won't have small dog envy...so much!
Hi there! This is the same reason I am here. You can learn so much just watching what questions people ask about their puppies, pictures and videos people post. I've not ever had a Lab and I'm sure I'll still be surprised about many things if I get one, but at least I'll know about (I won't say "be prepared for"!) crocopups, rolling in mud, eating poo (hi, Snowy!), overly enthusiastic greetings, etc. On the positive side, what comes through in the forum loud and clear is their versatility, smarts, adaptability and seemingly lifelong goofiness which really appeals.
I am a stay home mom with a 9 yr old kid who loves dogs too. We love outdoor activities too and it seemed that having a lab is a perfect fit. They look friendly and bubbly, aren't they?
They can be, certainly, but they can also be absolute horrors when they're young. Puppies will bite - a LOT - and they can be over-zealous with jumping up, counter-surfing, pulling on lead.... they're big dogs and are slow to mature, so will have flighty puppy brains in big, adult bodies. The picture people often have of a benign, happy-go-lucky pet who slots straight into family life is often completely shattered upon bringing a Lab home, and most of us have been reduced to tears, and thinking "what have I done?" on more than one occasion. Even the most hardened of us! That said, if you have the time and the inclination to train, train, train, you do get out what you put in and you come out the other end with a fabulous companion. I would recommend spending some time reading the posts on the puppy board, especially this one, to get a flavour of what to expect: http://thelabradorforum.com/threads/puppy-problems-will-things-ever-improve.1680/
Good advice from Fiona. My three boys loved our old lab Robbie, but it was hard work. They did have lots of fun together though
My OH has two daughters - 14 and 11 and Quinn adores the younger one. Gets up in the morning and goes to wake her and hangs around her all day. However, it was a lot of work during the biting stage as puppies seem to go for kids but at 9, you can really teach your kid how to respond. We did lots of re-directing to toys, standing still and separating for "time outs" - that stage honestly didn't last long. 9 is a great age to start helping with the responsibility of a dog! The girls have a lab pup of their own just a few months older than Quinn as well. Labs are generally a very friendly and good tempered dog.
