I'm a first time dog owner too and am completely 100% happy that I chose a lab. She is bouncy at times, but no so much since she is now 4 years old, but she is the most affectionate dog ever and loves nothing more than going for a long walk then coming home and crashing with cuddles for a few hours. We do agility too and she loves it. You sound really well informed and I think as long as you read up on the first few months you will be fine.
I have 2 Labs - an 11 year old Sky and a 1 year old Red. Sky is my first dog and she’s the best. She has had her moments over the years but she is worth it. She’s gentle, quiet and loving. Everyone loves her. Red once through the nightmare croco pup stage is becoming a fabulous dog. I love Labradors. They need their exercise but you are aware of that and can give them that.
After a Rough Collie, and a Malamute, we are on our 2nd and 3rd Labs. I think Labs are one of the easier dogs to train and live with. As long as you want a large dog, can live with more shedding than you imagine and don't mind dirt, they are wonderful pets and companions. They make fair watch dogs (barking) but poor guard dogs. The are much less likely than most breeds to bite a person or get in a dog fight. The seem to want to please, and are easy to train. They do seem to be very bitey as puppies, but for us the worst of that was over in about 6 months. They seem to do well with less exercise than you might expect, but they will take all you can give them. Almost all I have ever seen love water, and will swim at any opportunity. Retrieving tennis balls seems to be genetically programed into them, probably because they were breed to retrieve fish, and then birds. Keep in mind that as Gun Dogs, Labs were bred to get along with other dogs and people they had never met. Some people get certain breeds because they are visually impressive, unusual, or intimidating. Labs really don't fit any of those categories. When we go for a walk with our friends Samoyeds, they get much more attention (except from other Gun Dog owners) On the other hand most of the Hunting Retrievers, Guide Dogs, SAR dogs, and Drug Dogs in the world are Labs. They haven't been the most popular dog in the US and UK for more than 20 years by accident. And you will never have to spend a dime at the groomers.
I didn't say it in my first post, but I think Labs are easier than most other big dogs for a first time owner. As long as you want a fairly big dog, I think they are the best choice for a first time owner. (and a second or third time owner for that matter)
If you feel drawn to a lab then go for it! Any puppy is hard work and needs lots of patience, training and exercise. The only type of spaniel that might be calmer is a cavalier King Charles, but springers and cockers certainly aren’t. Labs can vary in temperament, so with the help of the breeder try to choose the puppy that’s right for you. I’ve been told in the past that, unlike other breeds, labs don’t grow up until they’re three, but with my two (6 and 4) it still seems that they’re working on that sometimes! They’re such fun and great company, though. Let us know how you get on.
Hello and welcome! We are first time dog owners as adults. I was also completely (and still am) drawn to labs. And let me say here that we are not your typical outdoors, active family. We own two cats, love to stay at home and are generally very introverted. But that is what I love about Harley. I feel her temperament is very forgiving in a training sense. She isn't too bright for me to cope with and she is more than bright enough for all training. But I feel okay making mistakes. Also she has adapted so beautifully to our lifestyle and like @JenBainbridge said, she will snooze most of the day if that is the type of day we are having or she will be up for fun and games. We walk her regularly and play with her daily but much less than many people on this forum. If she needed more, we would have made it happen but we have a good balance. Life is too short! Do what makes your heart happy...ps a lab definitely will...hint hint nudge nudge
thank you so much to you all for taking the time to reply and give your experiences with labs. i will be doing more research and am reading some of Pippa's books right now before choosing the lab the only other breed i had on my list was the Golden Retriever as there close in temperament and looks to the Lab. i will keep you all posted as it will be one of these tow. does anyone have any experiences with the Golden? as so far iv been reading that Golden are calmer than Labs because they mature quicker. and that Golden are less Bitey as Pups?
I have Keir. He’s 3/4 GR and 1/4 Flatcoat. He’s six months old. He’s the easiest puppy I’ve ever had - no biting at all and gentle as the day is long. I’m his puppy walker for Guide Dogs and I have to have a programme of training for him or he’d snooze all day! He loves his free runs and training walks and is very willing (so far, I’ve heard GRs can be really hard to train). He’s very foodie like a Lab, but not all GRs are. I had Bruce before him and he was not motivated by food at all. If he didn’t want to do something he’d flop to the ground and not move. But he is now a working Guide Dog and doing really well. Keir - Bruce -
I might be a bit different with my experience, but my first dogs of my own have all been Labs. I have three now. My first two were litter mates and weren't easy at all. They were super challenging for a first-time owner and not for the normal reasons. They are very anxious dogs and had issues such as barking and lunging towards children, being reactive towards strangers and scared of loud noises. My third pup is completely different; a "normal" Lab who loves everyone and wants to meet every dog and human. A different challenge, for sure, but much nicer So my recommendation would be, sure, Labs are brilliant! It sounds like you could make a good Lab owner. Just, do your research and get one that comes from parents with very solid temperaments as well as looking at the health scores. Get one of the Labs that will have you tearing your hair out as he nicks yet another pair of socks you've left lying around. That's all the fun of having a puppy. It's not fun having dogs who can look terrifying to other people as they're lunging and barking ferociously. It's not fun to have a dog who is too scared to go outside for days on end. That sort of dog will teach you more than you ever thought you had to know, but I would say is too much for the average first time owner. Breeding is so important, and not just for physical health, so do your research
My first lab was bred for temperament primarily, alongside very good health-tested parents. It really shows, he is completely bomb-proof as well as being the life and soul of the party! It really, really does pay to do your research, spend time with the breeder and meet their dogs. I also think how the pups are reared is important, rearing puppies in the home and exposing them to the normal hustle and bustle of family life, such as washing machines, visitors, microwave, vacuum cleaner and even different floor surfaces can contribute to a resilient, and well-adjusted dog in later life. This in my mind, is far better than rearing outside in a kennel.
Hey and welcome! I never ever, ever, wanted a Labrador. I didn't want a short haired dog. I have grown up with German Shepherds and was willing to compromise on a Golden Retriever due to reading up on temperament etc. I knew I couldn't have a GSD as a first time dog of my own. We searched for Golden retrievers to rehome but everytime I contacted someone they had already sold. We didn't want a pup but wanted a young dog. We saw our boy completely by accident on Gumtree. His eyes were what sold him and I am so glad we did. He is so much happier and healthier now. I was down in Portsmouth to view him within 2 hours of the ad going live - having text the owner 10 minute after he posted. We brought him home the very next day and we wouldn't be without him. He is fantastic. Best dog I could have hoped for and I am now a complete Convert (I was from the moment we met him)
I grew up with Airdale terriers and various other cross breed dogs. Homer is hubby's first dog. The dogs we had were loved dearly but had to fit in busy family life. Homer on the other hand has definitely changed our lives and we fit in around his demands. It may be that he's a spoilt "only child" dog. He is much more intelligent and needs much more stimulation and excersise. But if you are up for the challenge the reward is so much worth it.
The working Golden Retrievers are full on, Labs are easier Other Goldens look lovely but can be stubborn and oh those hairs! I used to be a vet nurse and once two Golden Retrievers came in and lay under the washbasin, when they went, there was a thick carpet of hair, I said to myself then 'never have a Golden"! Labs do moult, the Blacks seem to moult less than the Yellows, I don't know about the Chocolate ones. But nowhere near a Golden Retriever.
I am also a first time dog owner, and when I was finally convinced to agree to getting a dog (dogs were NOT on my radar), I started researching breeds. One of the reasons I agreed to a lab, was that in my reading I kept seeing descriptions of breeds good/not good for first time owners. Labs were on the "great for first time owners due to temperament and train-ability" list...so I agreed to a lab. I was more hesitant to a GR simply because I was not interested in brushing/grooming. No regrets...she's been a great dog since day 1. Since I had never had a dog before, it never crossed my mind that she may be considered challenging compared to other breeds - ignorance is bliss!
I have read that Goldens are a little more eager to please and Labs a little more stubborn. Goldens excel in obedience trials. Some SAR trainers suggested that Labs made better SAR dogs because they would be more likely to follow their instincts and ignore their handler, if the handler tried to re-direct them in the wrong direction, and the Golden would be more likely to obey the handler even if the dog knew it was wrong. That said Labs are very trainable, and easy to live with, if you survive the initial puppy phase. I'm sure Goldens shed more than Labs, but I am constantly amazed at how much Labs shed. While from a distance they look like a short haired dog, they are NOT.
I've been conducting my own scientific () experiment on breeder and doggie visits by wearing black trousers and noticing what sticks the longest after the end of the visit. While I can't say whether the AMOUNT of shedding is any different between the colors as I'm not living with the dogs, the type of hair does seem different. Yellow hair acts like it has little fish hooks on the end of each strand and will stubbornly stick to anything. Black hair is more slick and can be simply brushed off most of the time. Chocolate fur can go either way but tends to be somewhere in the middle. Show-type Labs of any color generally have a thicker double coat and the finer hairs of the undercoat are the most resistant to being brushed/vacuumed away, but the yellows by far have more of the finer undercoat (hello @Rosie 's Pongo, supreme yellow moulter!). A lot of black field line dogs have the double coat completely bred out of them so seem to lose far less hair outside of moulting season. Also I found that nearly all yellows give me a mild allergic reaction (itching nose and eyes), where I have no issue at all with blacks and a more mild reaction to chocolates. So just a few more things to think about when choosing a color!
That's interesting! Shadow's coat is completely different to Willow's. I agree with the fish hook hypothesis. Yellow hairs stick to EVERYTHING!
