Hello everyone, We have finally decided to get a puppy, This will be our first dog/ puppy that we will have so i'm very excited and a bit scared too!! We have seen a puppy advertised in near my local area but i don't think the pups are KC registered - Does it really matter if they are or not, it does say that his mum is and the ad says the dog is not owned? i'm not quite sure, I'm going to view him on Monday, what kind of questions are best to ask and what should i look out for when viewing? Thanks all
Hello and welcome to the forum from me and my 18 month old choccie girl Mabel. Here is a link that I think you will find really useful. http://www.thelabradorsite.com/choosing-the-right-dog/ Here is another link which may help you. http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/ I actually waited two years for Mabel, I started researching on the Internet, found a possible breeder then booked a holiday in Wales gave her a call and popped round to see her. I wanted to check out she was what she said she was. We are now friends it was an incredibly positive experience. She was very open and friendly, I could ask as many questions as I liked. She had all the paperwork in a file and was well organised. I felt incredibly comfortable with her. I know it's difficult when you see cute little puppies but if in any kind of doubt walk away. Good luck exciting times ahead.
Thank you for providing the links thats great, i'll have a read through them now, as well as the labrador handbook thats just posted through my letterbox
Very exciting that you're looking for a puppy. And welcome to the forum too. Totally agree with Clare's advice to walk away if it's not 100% right. Labradors are not rare and there are lots of litters out there. Those articles that Clare linked to will give you a lot of info about what to look for and what kind of standards you should be aiming for.
The Labrador Handbook is a blessing to have, so useful. I'd suggest buying Total Recall as well. It's the one book I'd wish I'd read before Mabel arrived. I've had hardly any recall problems following advice in the book.
Welcome, I'm a new puppy owner well we're on our 5th week now with Millie. It took me a long time to find Millie, here in us, Pennsylvania is on top 5 of puppymills breeders which is why I was being very careful and made sure I had all kinds of questions, made sure that they had the papers they claim to be able to provide (a lot of them said that the papers will come later) vet reference (papers of that the puppies been to the vet). But when I found Millie I knew it was right, the breeder called me and asked me a lot of questions (no one else did that) and made sure that I would be willing to sign to bring her back to him if I couldn't keep Millie. I went there with my husband and daughter and I looked at all kinds of things, how the mom looked like (ears,coat,mouth) she was so nice and my husband fell in love with Millie's mom. I even mailed 2 other people that had gotten puppies from him a year ago and I got very nice feedback with pictures. I found them through some other forum discussing breeders in pa which is how I found this one breeder.
Hi all, Went yesterday to view the pup as couldn't wait. i have put down a deposit for my boy, i have attached pictures too to show him i just knew that he was the one for me, he was so cute kept looking and licking me which i thought was a good sign now i have around 5 weeks to go i can plan on what to buy prior to him coming home, we are thinking of naming him Archie or Marley, to me he is a Archie
Welcome to the forum. Archie/Marley looks very cute. Enjoy all the preparations for your puppy over the next five weeks!
Hi and welcome from me and my boy Bailey. Archie/Marley is adorable. Enjoy getting ready for his homecoming in five weeks - they will pass really quickly!
Welcome from Hattie 8 years and rescue boy Charlie 5 years. Aww he's so adorable whatever name you choose. Have you bought Pippa's The Happy Puppy Handbook? Well worthwhile as it contains everything you need to know about bringing up a Labrador. Enjoy the puppy preparations and the forum! x
Thanks for the welcome all, much appreciated , I can see this forum will defiantly be the go to site, Im thinking of buying a crate for him sleeping during the night and his ‘den’ go to place, im also thinking of buying a playpen with having a comfortable bed, toys and a mat for him during the day when im not able to constantly keep an eye on him, Also the breeder where im getting him from is going to feed him Pedigree puppy food (tinned), I wanted to feed him dry kibble as I have heard this is the go to food in regards to quality and nutrition, if I can and change would it upset his stomach or should I introduce gradually? Thanks all
Hey there Amar..... We normally advise to change a food slowly over 7 to 10 days when possible. Puppies have very delicate tummies and invariably are pretty loose anyway when they move away from mum to a strange place. I would agree that in most cases a kibble diet rather than wet food diet is better, but maybe wait a week or two for settling in before making any changes?
Hello Thanks for the update. I actually contacted the breeder who actually said that puppy isn't 100% on food and when he is they will start him on dry kibble I went to the pet shop today and noticed lots and lots of bones stuff in freezers to give. When do I start giving all of these things when he is a little older but when
Hi Amar, do you mean properly feeding RAW? If so there is some advice on the Raw feeding boards, but this can be quite tricky to begin with,, to ensure all the essential nutrients are included http://thelabradorforum.com/forums/raw-feeding.39/ It you mean stuffed bones (the hollow bones filled with "meat paste" then I think I would avoid them. I'm not terribly sure what type of things your pet shop will be selling (I don't know what MY local pet store stocks in their freezers!)
Hi My local pet store is justforpets and they have a freezer with all kinds of stuff like bones,pig ears , frozen chicken legs etc etc. That's what I was referring too apologies
