Absolutely, this is the thing to do. Maybe you need to push the "decisionaboutaLabrador" right out of your mind for a period of time, sleep on it, and the answer will come to you!
Good idea. After just getting done with my second visit in two days, I've decided that's my limit for the week. I'm officially breeder-visited-out for the moment. I've never had occasion to use this particular whatchamacallit, but here is how I am feeling: Only I get to call it a roller-skate. To you, that would be a "magnificent perfect-for-a-dog Tardis car in an absolutely beautiful shade of not-at-all-retina-burning blue" thank you very much.
Ha ha - choosing a dog. Us, looking at photos on a board - "Is that Chocolate Lab still here?" No - it went yesterday. "What about that GSDxLab?" He went today. BUT that GSDxLab "failed" his trail. He was brought out to meet us. I (OK, we) fell head-over-heels. Took me over as year to buy my car though (which had remained on the forecourt for all that time ) Emily - take a trip to the coast, breathe, collect some stones & shells and just RELAX - no puppies.
Just have a nice time it took me 3 years to get Rory. It was a long time because so many things were getting in the way. In the end I just thought just get on time is getting short. I had doubts and nearly turned round and went home when I went to collect him. At that point in my life the sky was falling in and things were bleak. In came Rory and thats when things changed. He bought good times and fun, he helped Me concentrate on now and not worry so much about the future.
At least it sounds like you’re getting solid opinions about dogs. When I began my research to buy Snowie, the breeders had opinions about EACHOTHER! And not nice opinions...
I'm very sure this will be me too! Very wise words for me to remember. Oh yes, I've gotten this as well. Most of them seem to know the others (logical) and can be rather scathing. I saw one who was complimentary on the phone about the others I'd seen (I don't usually mention who else I'm seeing but as she asked directly, I answered directly). Then when I got to the in-person visit, she talked negatively about one of the other breeder's dogs without using her kennel name - I guess she'd forgotten our earlier phone conversation. At this point I've learned to keep my mouth shut and just nod a lot.
I'm about to ask the breeder who I got Rory from if she's will be breeding one if her bitches who l think is stunning. I know it might not be for a few years but I will wait I really like her and I know whichever study dog she uses will be good too. If I can pick up the courage I just crazy about Miriam.
Here comes the "MacLabratour"! (copyright @Rosie ) ! Beginning next week I'm heading up to Scotland for the last leg of the Labratour. I only have one breeder visit planned, in an inland town about half way between Aberdeen and Inverness. I've just learned that my work situation is about to pretty much disappear, but the positive side is that I may just have the chance to do a little bit of tourism on the side. Any suggestions for places to base myself for a couple days each in Scotland, both up north near the visit or else where? I'm really missing the ocean/beach and would love to get some beach views in before heading back to the anything-but-beachy farmlands of Germany. Ideas for inland welcome too of course. Onward with the MacLabratour!
Scotland is truly beautiful. My last visit up there was just outside Inverness and I loved that area.
Lunan Bay must make your visit list Emily. Between Montrose and Arbroath. Features frequently in my walks when I venture out of Fife https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/lunan-bay-p315721
Guess what? . . . . . Keir and I are visiting the Labratour Lassie tomorrow ‘till Sunday! We are going up on the train (Keir’s first proper train journey) and staying with the lovely Emily for two nights. I’ve weighed his food into little bags, dug out a backpack to carry his bed etc and decided which toy to bring (snakey, of course). I’m very much hoping for a visit to the famous Arnside Chippy and a walk on Morecambe costal path.
Many, many thanks to @JenBainbridge , her very kind OH and beautiful Stanley for the lovely visit yesterday evening. Stanley has just as much fun character and charm as you would imagine from reading Jen's posts here on the Forum. It was a lot of fun hearing about his puppyhood from Jen as she is a great story-teller. She and her OH really went through the ringer with young Stanley, that's for sure! It was good for me to hear, though, as well as getting to see that Stanley is now such a sweetheart. If I end up with my own wild crocopup, I can think of Stanley and have some hope. I didn't get many photos just because it was dark by the time I arrived and I've not yet mastered the whole "photographing a black Lab at nighttime" thing. Now that I've pretty much decided on a black dog, it's time to start looking for a better camera...or finally do that online photography course I signed up for ages ago and never seem to get around to doing. Thank you again for such a great visit and looking forward to meeting up again for a puppy socialisation date with Jen and Stanley! Handsome Stanley: And just for fun, the view out of my front and back windows this morning:
