we have decided we really want to own a chocolate Labrador, I don't want a show dog or one that is the best retriever the world has ever known I want an adorable obedient pet that we can enjoy for years to come, my only preference is that he is chunky, so here is my question, how do I ensure that the puppy I select will grow up to be chunky/big, ive looked at hundreds of ads that state lovely chunky puppies but all puppies can be lovely and chunky!!!! is there anything that I should look at in the breeding that ensures he grows up to be a big dog?
You need to have a good look at the parents rather than the pups to judge what they'll turn out like. For chunky/big boned dogs I would be looking for show breeders, but, even with pet bred pups please make sure the parents are health tested.
Here is some information on health test that should be done on all breeding pairs. http://www.thelabradorsite.com/health-screening-for-labrador-diseases/ It's very important that BOTH parents are tested; just having one tested is no better than neither. And it's no use to be told that the grandparents are clear. Ask to see the certificates for both parents and walk away if they can't be provided. If you're after something particular in the dog's appearance, your best bet is looking at both parents; your puppy will likely turn into an approximation of them. You're right, there's no real point looking at the puppies themselves. My two looked like your archetypal Andrex puppies when they were very young; now, they look nothing like a show Lab. They're working type Labs, so have smaller heads and a generally lighter frame than the show types. So, for the chunkier type, you'd best look more towards show lines. However, it's very important that you don't let your Lab get fat, just because you want a sturdier build. It's absolutely terrible for their joints, and you're setting the dog up for years of pain. A large percentage of Labs out and about are overweight, and it's a sad thing to see. A proper weight show Lab will have a nice chunky head, but will still have a well-defined waist when viewed from both the side and the top.
I would add, although not mentioned in the article, x-rays on elbows which should be 0/0 for both parents as essential. As Fiona says, no certificate just walk away. Ask to see the pups with mum and dad as well as possible and see how they react to you a stranger as it can indicate the future temperament of a puppy. A good starting point in your search is probably the Kennel Club Approved breeder scheme. Also as Fiona says a large percentage of Labradors are overweight so please do not confuse overweight with chunky. A Labrador should look something like this from the side Juno on the Humber Heritage Trail (2) by Rosemary McDonagh, on Flickr You may also find it interesting to read Pippa's book 'The Labrador Handbook', just so you don't expect your "adorable obedient pet" from day 1 or perhaps even day 361
thanks for the advice so far, ive already eliminated 75% of the adverts that I have seen, am I also right to assume that a show type puppy woukld be slightly less highly strung than a working type?
Hi Melvin, welcome to the forum! Very, very generally speaking - yes, a show bred Labrador is probably more laid back than a working line Lab. But it does depend from dog to dog. Working line Labs TEND to be more sensitive, they TEND to be more workaholics, they TEND to be smaller and faster and need more exercise, and they TEND to be easier to train. If you are looking for a chunky family pet, then a show bred Labrador is likely your best bet. But all Labradors require a lot of exercise, a lot of training, and plenty of company, and while they look adorable, they are quite challenging for the first year or so!!!
Welcome, you have had some great advice. I just wanted to add that whilst breeding and temperament play an important part obedience comes from training. Labs are amazing family pets but the ground work with positive training in their first couple of years contributes to this status. Don't underestimate the challenges and work needed. All great fun though and soooo worth the effort. Good luck with your search and we look forward to puppy pics soon Emma and Meg ( a totally awesome delightful calm laid back working black lab )
