Does anyone on here have a biddable lab. You know the ones I mean. Our very first labrador was a biddable labrador. My brother in law has a biddable labrador. Both bitches. The labrador you bring home from the breeder and you don't need to do much in the way of training. Or at least not the intense training I've had to do with some of the dogs I've had. Our first lab was what I term as biddable. She arrived in the mid 1990's . No internetforums then. Training books came from the library. No crate , just a plastic bed and some vet bedding. I new to put her out to pee when she woke and after meals etc, I new to feed her 4 times a day. Any problems and I phoned my vets. My children were 12 years and under, three of them. The book showed how to get a sit, a down and a stay. She growled at me once over her food. Phoned the vets and was told to put food down, take food away etc. OMG! I would never do that now, but the biddable labrador seems to take all that in their stride. Three children and all their friends with the noise and the stuff that only children could leave lying around. The biddable labrador survives it all. The biddable labrador grows up into a dog that never needs a lead. ( no recall training) , doesn't chase dogs people or sheep. Ignores the cows , doesn't bark unless she needs to let you know someone at the door. The biddable labrador is one of the most loving dogs you have ever had the good fortune to live with. You never have to worry that they will do anything that you have to apologise for. They are not scared of noises ,strange people , hats, beards, men, fireworks. The vet may worry them but not enough that it makes them shake and try to escape. They do things that they shouldn't have, but only because you left stuff lying about, birthday cake , ( 40th) Christmas selection boxes .( three of , but did remove all wrappers and boxes before eating all the sweets) fortunately the cards with the money in was left intact) . The biddable labrador sits when told , no proofing there. Waits at doors, doesn't bound about in front of you . This is the dog that never attended training classes of any description. Never needed a behaviourist or one to one training. She walks beside you when out and about, she sniffs the ground and maybe wanders a wee bit, but she must watch you because she never strays far. You have no idea because you don't know that you should be reading your dogs signs, you don't need to as the biddable labrador reads you and does everything that you ask without putting in very much effort. I know all this as I was that owner who had no idea how to "read" a dog. I hadn't a clue. Some how I managed to be lucky enough to be the gaurdian of one of these elusive creatures. So if you are fortunate to be gaurdian to a biddable labrador now, please give them a hug from me. I believe you only get one biddable labrador in a lifetime, it was such a pity I wasnt aware of it at the time. My biddable labradors name was Dawn. A beautiful yellow labrador that came from working gundogs.
Re: Biddable Labradors. Ah, a mythical creature indeed! Were you taking a cocktail of recreational drugs during this time?
Re: Biddable Labradors. Dawn sounds like she was brilliant Don't think I've ever seen a biddable lab before
Re: Biddable Labradors. You must be the exception to the rule - biddable Labradors are those that are owned by other people
Re: Biddable Labradors. I've just tried Googling for biddable Labs and they don't seem to be any breeders out there.
Re: Biddable Labradors. My mother owned a perfect collie and gsd. The working line labador she bought for me was as nutty as a fruitcake. So is Charlie. Woo-hoo! Next one is bound to be perfect. I'm due. ;D
Re: Biddable Labradors. [quote author=David link=topic=8643.msg121984#msg121984 date=1415294529] I've just tried Googling for biddable Labs and they don't seem to be any breeders out there. [/quote] LOL it's a kennel affix I'm not familiar with ;D My parents-in-law had a black lab now known as Saint Jack. I'm not sure who conferred sainthood upon him but apparently he never put a paw wrong! He truly was a lovely dog, a medium build - neither show heavy or working whippet. Very handsome and affectionate - his tail would thump from his favourite spot behind the chair next to the radiator when you came into the room even though you couldn't see him. When you came in the front door he would push his way between your knees so that you could scratch his bum and make his tail wag. It is here however I fear his sainthood ends as I distinctly remember walking him in the winter with no clue as to his whereabouts until we heard the splashing of the pond to tell us he'd fancied a little dip in the darkness. In some ways he was saintly in that he always knew exactly where we were and by the time we'd walked round the park he was waiting for us by the gate. If we were ever to try anything so crass as a recall though he would just look at us in a slightly sad way......as if to say "you poor things, I shall come when it is time and no sooner" A wonderful dog, very much missed xxx
Re: Biddable Labradors. Dawn sounds like she was a wonderful girl, bless her . I`ve had Labs before Sam, but never ever one like him because he is biddable , even as a puppy he was calm and solemn, just wanting to be with me and do what I asked of him . He had his moments, no black angel but on the whole , whilst I have loved all of my many dogs with a passion , he is my special one and I am very lucky to have him as my friend
Re: Biddable Labradors. [quote author=snowbunny link=topic=8643.msg121974#msg121974 date=1415293974] Ah, a mythical creature indeed! Were you taking a cocktail of recreational drugs during this time? [/quote] Ha ha! No I think it was more to do with having three children. Lack of sleep, it can make you hallucinate. When I think back on Dawn, was she perfect? Probably not. After all she ate all of my 40th birthday cake, but that poor dog had very little training, so how else could you explain a dog that really was no bother to have around. I never once dreaded going home to see what damage she had done. My family still talk about her with reverence, even the inlaws and neighbours. So I really do believe that this mythical creature does exist. I'm hoping Cupar is hiding his biddableness. I can hope, can't I?
Re: Biddable Labradors. My dad got a biddable black lab bitch when I was nine. He decided to take her out shooting, so he bought a rifle and got permission from the local farmer to keep the rabbits down. We went out, she was off lead, steady as you like, he shot a rabbit, she retrieved it and delivered it to hand. No training whatsoever. Best dog I've ever known for marking. I can tell you it was a bit of a shock when I got a series of black lab bitches of my own years later......
Re: Biddable Labradors. What an interesting thread! I don't much of anything about dogs, apart from some very helpful dog trainers, and this amazing forum! Always had dogs when younger, but they are more of hazy memory! We have spent some considerable time training our chocolate lab, Benson since we have had him from a pup, (now a year old) there is no doubt he has quite an extensive vocabulary of words/commands he now understands. Now the interesting thing is our rescue dog (nearly 6...) had no understanding of any command in any shape or form, not even his name. He just seems to know what we want, he reacts differently to Benson, almost as if he is trying to anticipate what behaviours we need, whereas Benson is waiting for a cue. Now I don't know if one is more "biddable" than the other, Casper is far more like the sort of dogs we had when young, taught a couple of things, and training was more about "house training" than anything else. It really is fascinating observing the difference between them.
Re: Biddable Labradors. Just to add that what Sam has in being biddable , Millie makes up for in being definitely not
Re: Biddable Labradors. I would say that Ruby is a biddable lab, if she wasn't so scared of gun shots she would have probably made a great gundog. The downside is that she so wants to please that when she does something which isn't quite right she hates being told off. Chloe
Re: Biddable Labradors. My first dog, Nicolae, was like Dawn - if I selectively screen out the cat chasing, annual late summer plum gorging festival and the ingenious and sneaky food thievery.
Re: Biddable Labradors. No biddable labs, but I have had the pleasure of knowing two biddable Border Collies in my life....
Re: Biddable Labradors. I am in the [quote author=UncleBob] biddable Labradors are those that are owned by other people [/quote] camp Is there a degree of Rose-tinted glasses with a hint of nostalgia. Being a first time dog owner, my Lab is the best lab ever and so much better than anyone elses. Oh well....apart from the *clears throat* wildlife issues.....
Re: Biddable Labradors. [quote author=drjs@5 link=topic=8643.msg122042#msg122042 date=1415301826] I am in the [quote author=UncleBob] biddable Labradors are those that are owned by other people [/quote] camp Is there a degree of Rose-tinted glasses with a hint of nostalgia. Being a first time dog owner, my Lab is the best lab ever and so much better than anyone elses. Oh well....apart from the *clears throat* wildlife issues..... [/quote] Rose tinted glasses! Never. Oh maybe. No never. I have had the privilege of being guardian to ( excluding my dog when I was a teenager living with parents) 7 dogs. 6 being labradors and one a cross, mummy was a black labrador and daddy didn't hang about long enough to find out what breed he was. Believe me when I say that if I had never had Dawn and Jake had been my first labrador, he would have been my last. I am so glad that other people have had the privilege of knowing a biddable Labrador. No , they do things they're not supposed to, but very seldom and nothing bad. Every dog I had during and after Dawn ran away. Jumped fences , stole food, countered cruised or bin raked. I had to start from scratch with all of these dogs. Cupar is going to be my Male version of Dawn. He is , I know he is. Please , please pretty please.
Re: Biddable Labradors. [quote author=Cupcase link=topic=8643.msg122047#msg122047 date=1415303314] Cupar is going to be my Male version of Dawn. He is , I know he is. Please , please pretty please. [/quote] He is - definitely!!! ;D I saw a lovely post on Facebook.... Everyone thinks they have the best dog And they're all right ;D
Re: Biddable Labradors. Oh, I don't know... Charlie is completely nutty, overflowing with ants-in-my-pants energy, a thief, a clown and his tendency to clown around all the time makes him both easy and difficult to train (depending on what it is I'm trying to train). On the upside, he is also full of life, joy and fun, loves all experiences, all people - including vets - and most dogs. He doesn't bark and enjoys going to firework displays. He is not my perfect one in a lifetime dog. He's my fabulous one in a lifetime dog though. ;D ;D ;D I wouldn't swap him for all the biddable labs in the world.
Re: Biddable Labradors. [quote author=JulieT link=topic=8643.msg122054#msg122054 date=1415305167] Oh, I don't know... Charlie is completely nutty, overflowing with ants-in-my-pants energy, a thief, a clown and his tendency to clown around all the time makes him both easy and difficult to train (depending on what it is I'm trying to train). On the upside, he is also full of life, joy and fun, loves all experiences, all people - including vets - and most dogs. He doesn't bark and enjoys going to firework displays. He is not my perfect one in a lifetime dog. He's my fabulous one in a lifetime dog though. ;D ;D ;D I wouldn't swap him for all the biddable labs in the world. [/quote] Oh, ok then after reading that on behalf of Charlie, if Jake had been my fiirst I probably would have had another labrador. Thank goodness he lived to 14 years though, because he calmed down just a wee bit, my gentleman Jake. I have loved all my dogs. Whether biddable or not, they have all had something special. Be it , stealing food , jumping fences, barking, non existent recall. I have loved them all. But Cupar is going to be biddable , I just know it. After all I picked the biddable puppy. Didn't I?
