Though I'm quite happy with being on the puppy waiting list with the breeder I met last week, the breeder visit part of the Labratour rolls on in the spirit of "leave no stone unturned" and all that. With that in mind, I've now scheduled two Yorkshire visits while I'm in the area, one for tomorrow and one for Wednesday. Also two of the people I talked to today asked me who else I talked to and when I mentioned the puppy waiting list breeder, I got a lot of "she's one of the the good ones" comments. That's very reassuring to hear. In a way, I'm pretty bummed out that I only have another two weeks of Labratouring - it's only since last week that I finally got into gear. I don't email anymore, I just call, call and call again. I've turned into a ruthless telemarketer (of myself) but that seems to be the only thing that works. On the other hand, I don't regret the first part of the trip because I got to meet more Forum people, which was both fun and started me on my road to the breeders. So I guess it's just the way it was meant to be. But I do kinda feel that I'm just warming up and there needs to be a Labratour Part Three. By the way, I'm now in my new place until I head back to Cumbria on Friday. Wifi and mobile reception are a bit dodgy, but it's a cottage on castle grounds in the middle of deers and cows. Really! I can see a castle tower from my windows! So it'll suffice for the next four nights.
There will be a third series. This is the one in which you collect your puppy. Labratour Part Three is going to be the best series yet!
Nope... The leading male role isn’t finalised yet but there’s a narrow field. We’ll be binge watching before we know it!
@Rosie I find it very amazing that all the time I have been on here, never actually seen a close up of Pongo. This must be why ge is a legend on here. Very nice boy and agree could bury your face in his neck. @Emily_BabbelHund thanks for the close up of Pongo. Now does sound like good progress is being made in your labrahunt. We do think thought that we should not have to many sequels though, don't think we could all stand it...
Close ups? You want close ups? I need no excuse to post photos of the Pongster. I give you....a close up! Ah, OK....a bit too close? Here's a better one... this is Pongo's "I am a wise, noble creature who deserves biscuits please" pose.
Pongo would like you all to please disregard the drool in both those pictures. There was a biscuit involved. And he would also like to apologise for hijacking the labratour thread. Sorry @Emily_BabbelHund .
Got a very blurry and short video of mama Cara and her four pups. This screen grab is more modern art/Rorschach test than anything else but you can kind of see the wee beasties. Breeder visit yesterday was interesting. I again got completely conflicting information from the others and while the breeder couldn't have been nicer, I walked away feeling (again) confused and overwhelmed. But I'm just going to digest before I say more and I also have another visit this morning which may put me in a better frame of mind. Onward!
How many different ideas can there be? One for every breeder I do think you have to take it all with a bit of salt. You can try to stack the odds in your favour, of course, but you will get the dog you get. He may not be perfect, but you’ll make him as good as he can be. You’ve already had service dogs that weren’t entirely perfect, but you did brilliantly with them nonetheless. You’re not buying a car here. Go with what feels right
Yeah, no joke. I don't mean to be off-colour, but the expression, "Opinions are like a******s - everyone has one" keeps running through my brain. Having said that, I'm here to learn, so I do listen very carefully and respect the opinion and information each breeder gives me. It's up to me to then decide how much to actually weigh that particular opinion in forming my own ideas. What frankly struck me as very funny about yesterday is this: I've now been to pure show and pure field. Show tells me I need show. Field tells me I need field. Both show me dogs to support this reasoning and I can clearly see the logic. At the show breeder who also has some field, her show dogs are clearly more calm and what I want. At the field breeder who also has show, the field dogs are clearly more calm and what I want. Yesterday I see a breeder who mixes field and show and tells me all about how the percentages are super important. "Ideal" for me, she says, is 70% show and 30% field. And SHE clearly backs this up by showing me her dogs. And the thing is...they are ALL absolutely right as it pertains to their own dogs. Argh! To be fair, I painstakingly researched my car for six months before buying it. So at least I'm consistent? Absolutely true. Once the decision is made and puppy is here, then we just go with that special puppy's temperament. I know that this is NOT buying a car, this is finding my buddy and assistance team mate. I'm not perfect, he won't be perfect, it's all good. I guess I figure the only thing I really can control is this "before" bit, so I'm worrying it to death. Afterwards begins the REAL work...but also the real fun.
My husband is like you. He researched his new bike for twelve months, including overseas visits. I’m impulsive about everything. Imagine the shocks he (often) gets with my impulsive decisions and purchases His only plea is ‘pleeeeeeze don’t get a cat’. Well, I did once but I don’t think I’d do it to him again - we’ll see. .
I think I know every breeder you have visited and @Emily_BabbelHund, and they are all very much at the top of their game and recognised for breeding superb dogs, that are not just suitable for working at high levels (field, show, assistance) but are equally suitable for sitting quietly and comfortably in your front room. The dogs are all very fit for purpose, the only difference is probably looks. A good breeder can really blur the lines between show and field, and I personally quite like that. I am not surprised though you are a wee bit conflicted, these breeders are completely passionate and are doing marvellous things for the labradors as a whole. Without a doubt, they are improving the breed, and you can see this in the generations that have evolved from a very careful selection process. Oh and making decisions about dogs? Benson - 5 mins...I had no idea really... Casper - the decision was made for me..I saw 3 photos...and a rough handwritten note...(which would have put off most hardened labrador owners..tbh..) Bramble - 2 mins...one photo and her pedigree...
