I have a theory about Lab pups and why they are such hard work when babies and so wonderful when adults. It's their friendliness and sociability that's at the root of it, I think. When awake they want to play play play play - but always with someone, dog or human. I've had five pups all told, Tatze and Mollie full Labs, Kara, Gypsy and Twiglet Lab/GRs and Bruce GR. Mollie and Tatze, when playing as pups only ever wanted to play with dogs or humans. Toys, yes, but only with a person or another dog involved. We often hear on this forum that Lab pups don't want to play on their own. The Lab/GRs were like this but nowhere near as full on, and would resort to playing with toys if no dog/human were available. Bruce would happily play with toys on his own. I've just been watching a video of my friend's eight week old GR pup playing and rolling round with a toy for ages. Photo of baby Mollie, just because.
I think you are right. Only this morning someone brought a darling little cocker spaniel pup into work, as part of his socialisation. 11 weeks old, and he just sat quietly while all the ooing and cooing was going on. Not once did Cassie do that, she has always been convinced that the world is in need of her involvement in everything.
Yep! You can practically hear "My names Stanley we're best friends now, yeah? Great! What you doing there? Stanley help!"
I love Labrador pups , for their sheer love of life , their enthusiasm and love of every single person/dog/child that they meet along the way . Sam was the first pup I had had in many years , the others since had been adult rescued dogs , but the memories he will leave behind are second to none , just wonderful silly , clown like and utterly enchanting pups with the odd bit of insanity chucked in for good measure x
Today I was at training class for the first time in about 2 months and all the dogs are new, one is a similar age to Harls but all the others are older. Shame (I shouldn't preface with shame but the pup was SO different to Harls) the one who is a similar age to Harls is a St. Bernard. A lovely, gentle soul who perplexed Harley because she has never met any dog that large...or hairy...and with so much slobber. It was enchanting to watch this giant pup do the class. The older dogs were all BC's and GSDs. I was quite surprised when two of the BC's got into a bit of a scuffle, Harley was plain horrified. So yet again we are the only retriever or/and lab in the class. And even though she isn't a little pup anymore I enjoyed her so much. She is so animated, her face goes from frowns, to smiles, to head cocked in the matter of the intructor talking about something. I am not saying anything about the other dogs but she is very bright, she picks up on things so quickly BUT she gets over them very quickly too. So I agree @Boogie, the enthusiam and friendliness that was OTT as a young pup is being slightly tempered now and I really enjoy her - to be honest she has a similar wacky sense of humour that I do.
Frankly in all my puppy classes with my definitely non-Labrador dogs, I was rather perplexed why ANYONE in their right mind would get a Labrador puppy. They were always the ones who could only be termed "problem children". I thanked my lucky stars for my wisdom in not taking on such a problematic breed. That is all...now I must get back to my research for a Labrador breeder. So, you know, I can have my own problem child.
Oooh, adorable Mollie. You're absolutely spot on about baby labs, how they want and need to have someone/somedog to play with. My Molly is just the same, even now at 15 months, she will bring a toy and thrust it at me to play, or just bring her adorable self for some fun. Don't you just ADORE labs?
