Hi everyone, joining today as I have just read some great info on the forum whilst scouting around Lab site. Specifically training puppy recall off the lead - I would never have guessed and learnt something new already. I'm always open for new ideas & suggestions so here I am. I don't have a lab yet - our long friend Scooby past in Feb 17 aged 14 and we've been without a reason to walk for most of the year (getting unfit and fatter by the day). I'm still not convinced now is the right time for a replacement but destiny has taken me down the road of finding by chance a 3 yo black lab looking for a home at a trainer/supplier (ADK9) for sale on the cheap as he's not great with strangers - I'm not in a position to have a pup and a rehoming centre probably wouldn't take us due to working albeit not excessively. so we are off to see a doggy on Friday to interview each other as new friends and take it from there. Does it ever get easier to replace one Lab with another? doesn't help they are both black male working types either. This would be the first time with another pet so close after the previous one. in the past there's been a 5 year gap between Dalmatian and Lab - so not exactly similar experiences. Thanks for the welcomes - Ian
Sorry to read about the loss of Scooby in February, I lost my beloved Drift in September. I don't this it is a case of replacing one dog with another one, someone so wisely said "I am not replacing my beloved dog, but creating a new space in my heart'. There will never be another Drift, he was a difficult dog, but he had so much about him, everyone loved him, Rourke hasn't got the same character but I still love him for himself. I have tried to find an adult Black Lab for company for Rourke, but cannot! I would say, be wary if this dog is not great with strangers, do you think you could handle that problem? He may not have been socialised, but if you have time and patience you may be able to cure that problem, perhaps with some professional help, he is probably afraid of strangers and isn't an aggressive dog. Do let us know how you get on.
Hi there and welcome. I am very sorry to hear you lost your Scooby; I well know how painful that is. I hope you and this new dog like each other and that it is a partnership that will benefit you both.
Hi there, Ian, welcome to the forum. Lilly is my first dog, so I can't comment about "replacing" your friend Scooby. But from observations of others, some can't bear to be "in a state of doglessness" and will find another companion as quickly as possible, and others find it more difficult, sometimes putting it off for years. We are all different. What I would say, like Stacia, I would be wary of a dog who has potential socialisation issues. Could you do a try before you buy deal? Might be useful. As far as recall goes, you may well have read some of the posts in the puppy section about letting your puppy off lead as early as possible, and I can't recommend Pippa Mattinson's book "Total Recall" highly enugh - it is the best.
Hi and welcome from me and 4 year old girl, Harley. Sorry to hear about your loss of Scooby. I hope the visit goes well for you both on Friday. If it's meant to be, it will be. If not, I'm sure another dog in the future will benefit from coming into a loving family.
Hello and welcome from me and my two Fred and Annie. Sorry for your loss of Scooby. I would be very careful before getting a dog who in not good with strangers. There are lots of Labrador rescues all over the UK with older dogs who need a home. Sorry I don't know where you are, but you can Google them. Good Luck
Welcome to you from Mags, Tatze and Keir from Manchester UK Tatze is my pet dog, a black Lab and she's four years old. Tatze means 'paw' in German. Keir is my fifth Guide Dog puppy, a yellow Golden Retriever/Flatcoat cross and he's seven months old.
Hi Everyone - thanks for the warm welcome. I'm quite open minded about seeing 'hunter' this week. Existed and nervous but cautious too. I've read reviews of the dealer and yes there are a few horrendous reviews but 2 out of 80 but to be fair and objective so do Bentley Rolls Royce etc. etc. etc. so I'm looking at the positive not the glass half empty & with an open mind. that's me worrying more about the humans than the dog itself of course. This all started with the fateful Facebook post of adult Lab for sale locally and I wasn't overly impressed with what I saw on offer. Genuine though the dog seemed the sellers were definitely not - at best they were selling a dog for profit obtained under false pretences as a rehome from someone desperate. I'm told 'Hunter' is ok with socialising and other dogs but is just first meet 'Grumpy' when first meeting strangers but Ok otherwise, happy bouncy and a jolly chap- I had a lengthy discussion with the trainer and if all is true then it should just be a bit of kennel anxiety until he settles in with us. Besides I'm grumpy with strangers too so we'll be as one I'll post back some pics if we go ahead and if not will keep looking and looking for any tips etc. Ian
