I really want a working Lab. The looks, the temperament, the athleticism, the intelligence... So I am moving doing the research, checking out breeders, moving to a new house, part time job on a farm where I can take my dog and pen him, walk him regularly, field where we can play fetch...yes, during work. Great...then I view the house and the only access to the promised garden is up a short flight of steep steps!!!? There is a small yard about 5 feet by 12 feet perhaps before the steps but is that enough space for a grown lab? What do you suggest I do, apart from move to a different house as it is sort of a package deal. Could I leave the back door open with access to the yard..? but what will happen to my kitchen then? Should I have a new set of less steep steps landscaped into the garden (the house is built into a mountain side) As I said I really want a lab...please help.
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hello John, and welcome to the forum! Have you got your dog yet? Is it a puppy or adult dog? Adult dogs don't need free access to outside all the time, although very small pups need a lot of time, and someone at home, at first. Steps for an adult dog won't be a problem (until or unless they are older).
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi, Julie. thanks and thanks for your interest. I haven't bought a dog yet as I won't be moving in until about 8 weeks time and I would love a Puppy to move in with me ideally. So, an adult dog could negotiate steps without joint worries then?
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi and welcome If the dog can be in the house with you I don't think the tiny garden is a problem. As long as they get enough exercise, training and time with you a dog will be happy. My dog is inside our house most of the time. He only really goes into the garden to go to the toilet. I guess you are worried about a puppy running up and down the steps? I'd just block off the steps till your dog is old enough to go up and down the steps safely. Until then the small area of garden can be used for toileting and the puppy/dog can be inside the house when at home and not out and about on adventures with you. I think you could make that work with no problem Before you get a puppy make sure you get and read Pippa's Happy Puppy Handbook!
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi John, welcome from me too! Many people have dogs and live in flats and apartments, and somehow manage. I'm not sure that I would necessarily think that a good thing, but you have to balance up the pros and cons. I would think that if you have plenty opportunity for outside exercise (that includes the time as well as the space/location) whether on or off lead, that is what is probably more important. Some of our member I think use outside runs and house their dogs outside too, and as long as adequately protected against the elements, could be a consideration. I don't think that having constant access to a large outside space is necessarily a make or break point if all else looks right for you. Hope you get a selection of answers to try and help you decide, jac
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Thank you both for being so kind I think my heart and mind are made up now and it should be ok ;D I just need to find the right Puppy now. Cheers!
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi John and welcome from us Hattie 6 years and Charlie 3 years. Nothing more to add to the great advice given except to say good luck with the move and choosing your puppy. Keep us up to date. x
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi Hattie and Charlie respectively Thx for the good wishes. How should I keep you up to date...continue this thread on this health forum when I get him or start a new thread on the Puppy forum?
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? I think a lot of member start out on the Introduction bit, here then move on depending what issue comes next! jac
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi John, I don't have my pup yet but I find ways of contributing on the site (like this) and along the way people are kept in touch with how I am doing. We all love to hear about the 'journey' and you'll get lots of encouragement and advice, like: should I buy this or that; what insurance; my breeder says this - is that right? etc. So, keeping us up to date is not hard! You also get to see lots of lovely photos while you are waiting for your pup.
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi John, It sounds like you have already made up your mind and just need reassurance well, I think you have it. I agree with everything else that has been said. Definitely get the Happy Puppy Book as it has so much in there about before you get your pup and once you have pup. Good luck and let us know how you get on
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Dogs don't need free access to the outside all the time. Once they are fully housetrained there's no problems with them being left for a few hours between toilet trips. If it were me, as others have said, I would block off the steps and just use the smaller yard area whilst the pup is young. Then once they are bigger and able to manage to steps you can open them up again. It sounds like the dog would be coming to work with you anyway so you wouldn't really need to worry about leaving the dog in the house alone. And if you do - as I mentioned, once housetrained there's no problem with a dog being left for a few hours at a time.
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? A blustery Good Morning to you. I'm a UK member but we have members all over the World. Dogs have to cope with the heat of Dubai and the cold of a Canadian winter. They live in cities and on farms. They only thing they have in common is that we all love our dogs and do our very best for them. Molly is from a working line. She is all the things that you describe, BUT she is always on the go and "in your your face". I read of other people worrying that their puppies are sleeping too much. I have NEVER in nearly six months known Molly just fall asleep. Think carefully, if your dream is of a Lab snoozing quietly at your feet in the evening you may have to wait a while for that to happen You clearly have done your research and know what you want and have mad your plans. So what colour is 'he' going to be and what name have you decided on (as I'm sure you already have)
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? Hi to all, and thank you for your kind responses. The Happy Puppy Handbook arrived yesterday but I'm putting off opening it until the money I am waiting for arrives (any day now hopefully) and I can start to realise my plans. It's not easy though, I want to start planning everything and contacting breeders even but I'm just going to have to be patient for now so restricting myself is a plus for now just in case disaster strikes...Heaven forbid :-[ Tina, how can you tell that I've already named him? I hate being so predictable!!! I want a fox-red or perhaps black dog and I'm hoping to name him Chester. Bit of a 'Cat' name that I know but there is a reason and I'm confident he'll doggy-fy the name. How much is a good working line fox red going to cost do you reckon...£650 at least I guess? Sorry I don't know if it's ok to ask questions about that :-\
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? You were just so full of enthusiasm. I know you can already see him in your minds eye and of course he would have a name in your head. I paid £600 for Molly last November. She cannot be registered with the Kenel Club because she is the bitches fifth litter, but both mum and dad were registered pedigrees. The puppies they produced from previous litters could be registered. I just wanted a pet so it didn't concern me.
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? My Penny was £450 and we brought her home in March 2013. She's fully kennel club registered but they weren't kennel club accredited breeders. From what I've seen through researching you will pay more for a puppy from accredited breeders than those that are still KC registered but from other breeders. Probably also depends on the area you live in and to how many breeders are near you.
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? I think it depends on area. I bought my KC reg, fox red, working lab bitch, Amber, from Yorkshire and they were £550-£600. I got mine for a small discount as my friend's mum bred her . Mine had PRA gene tested parents and they were both hip/elbow scored. So ticked all my boxes really. Fox reds really are beautiful, although be prepared for being asked if it's a vizsla/ridgeback/xbreed quite frequently!! My baby is 5 months old now and although she is a handful, I think she's amazing. Still wishing I'd bought some gauntlet bird of prey handling gloves though to protect from her crocodile teeth!! Good luck.
Re: What to do for the best for the Lab'? We paid I think it was £800. Quite a lot, but both parents were extensively health tested,and that was important to us, KC registered etc.ect..They have been breeding labs since the 80's and Benson's sire comes from a world class show line. Tbh though we took one look at him and said yes can we have him? Then went through a nerve wracking few minutes wondering if the breeder would let him go to us. Good idea to do all your research before hand as one look at gorgeous, cute lab puppies and you are lost! It was also good to meet the parents, and we could see how healthy and happy they were. Our pup is turning our exactly as they said he would, which is reassuring, as we were looking for a dog with a calm and gentle temperament. At the time I don't think we could've handed a working line lab, maybe in a few years
