Would like to know , why did you chose a Labrador to join your family and have your hopes come to fruition ? For myself , I have owned Labs before Sam who is now four and a half years old and when his predecessor died , I initially said no more, but the best laid plans and all that stuff I love the breed , truly love them regardless of colour /show or working lines , their affability and joy of life , enter Sam aged 9 weeks . I wanted black and a boy as my last Lab was a girl and yellow , it took a time to find " the one " but I loved him the moment I set eyes on him . Expectation ? Not quite ! Tess had been a show lines girl , bouncy, funny, affectionate, playful and without an ounce of desire to retrieve , just a happy go lucky lass . Sam is working lines , what a shock to the system and truly I should have taken more thought on board as he is a passionate retriever and completely different to my show girl Serious , solemn , not really playful unless children are around , quiet, calm and totally devoted to retrieving . I sometimes feel that I have let him down , he was born to work but we do play at work , a lot and he seems content with his lot . Sam will be my last puppy which saddens me at times , but if this weren't the case and I could have another, would I have a Labrador ? You bet
I have never had Labs before Tatze. We have always had rescues until now - two Heinz57, two Cavaliers and a Jack Russell. I loved them all, but there is a special something about Tatze! She has such a gentle heart I have had two Lab/GRs (guide dog pups) and I adore them too. I will be having one every year until I can no longer hold a lead! In fact I think, if I could afford another dog, I would have a Lab/GR - they are steadier and easier to train than Labs, but just as affectionate - more so in fact!
I had a Lab as a kid - he was the sweetest boy ever, and I loved him very, very much. He was a black working line boy with pretty much zero interest in retrieving and he was a mad absconder. He was difficult to manage, and also difficult to keep fit and slim (as he was difficult to exercise due to the absconding thing). So, Charlie, with his retrieving obsession, great recall, and being slim and fit is everything my first Lab wasn't, but with the same sweet temper and he has way exceeded my expectations (which were pretty low, I think). I didn't really expect him to be bonkers, as this time I was getting one of the quieter, show line ones....yeah, right....
Well, I had no intention of getting one dog, let alone two. I went on impulse, which is completely out of character, but having helped to whelp these puppies, all the reasons I had for not having a dog seemed to fade away and just become challenges to meet. I don't suppose I really had any expectations, but as soon as I knew we were taking one (just one at first!) I spent every spare minute reading, reading, reading to educate myself. The parents are both working dogs and I wanted to be able to nurture these instincts in the pup(s) because a) it's a great way to exercise them in body and mind, b) it's something that will give me things to be working towards all the time, rather than just plodding round a field every day and c) it's a good party trick I was really amazed how they seemed to drink up the training and, as much as some things can be very difficult for us, in general they just love to learn. So, in that, we've come so much farther already than I thought possible. Socially has been far more difficult than I ever imagined, and their nervousness around children and other triggers isn't something I was prepared for. Overall, they are an absolute delight and they make me laugh and smile every day. You can't ask for more than that.
Ah lovely idea for a post Kate.... When I met Chris one of the first things I got to know about him was he wanted a Yellow lab.He had never been allowed a dog as a child.We started having our family dogs when I was 16.... Perfect age to love having a dog but leave everything to Mum and Dad!So between us we had Nil and Not Much dog experience.What little I did know made me ( if not Chris) understand that to do it properlywith a with a dog whilst living in the desert would take something.So,I always had the veto as it was clearly apparent that our dog would be MY dog when it came down to responsibility and training....so I made Chris wait,and wait and wait! 10 years in the waiting and I was ready to take it on! I didn't know about working and show lines, I thought a lab was a lab ....however the breeder we had always said we would go with bred and ran a gun dog kennel....so a working lad it would be! If I'm honest I did have a little niggle about this ......but doing it how we were doing it ( telephone calls,Internet videos and text messages....I know,I know ,I'd never do it again!) I ignored this and proceeded because we really did trust the breeder........I didn't know what had hit me!!!!OMG ,I loved him the second I saw him coming off the conveyor belt at the airport but oh my goodness,I had to cop on quick!The whole lead pulling was horrendous.....I was totally out of my depth....I let it get really out of hand whilst I thought I was actually fixing it,I had no idea how patient and careful you have to be about it....I used to come home in tears and say to Chris ,'Enjoy him because we are never going to get another one!' Obviously I adore him now and feel like I could never get a second dog for different reasons.....this will sound daft but I feel like it would be a bit disloyal.He is very bonded to me,he is MY dog completely but I do share! There is definitely another working lab in our future ...BUT it will be a puppy that we will choose and take him at 8 weeks......we will do all the things I missed with Dexter and I will use all the things I have learned with Dexter to give our next dog an even better life......I'm blubbijng writing this now !!A bit like Kate,I feel we have cheated Dexter of a working life that he would have loved ....but with effort and intentions and a fair measure of ingenuity and incompetence we are keeping him happy and healthy x
I wanted a big, black, show-line male lab... and ended up with a little yellow working line girl. It was quite a shock to the system - at first Poppy didn't at all fit my mental picture of a labrador, in fact I thought she looked like a yellow dachshund. I didn't expect it to take so long for me to bond with her either, as my heart and time was still very much taken up with my old dog. But neither did I expect her to worm her way so efficiently into my heart, or my life to be so taken over by her... I never thought I would love a dog again as much as I loved Bones, but I have to say that Poppy is the apple of my eye.
Oh wow Fiona, that must have been an amazing experience! No wonder you ended up with two of them Growing up I was not allowed any pets, my older sister bought us a hamster each when I was 16 and those were our first pets. I had a few hammies up until I met Stuart, after we bought the house we rescued to 1 year old cats, but then decided we wanted a dog too. Neither of us had a dog before, but growing up my Aunt has a huge, very obese yellow Lad, and my much older sister had 2 Cavaliers. After much debate we ended up buying Murphy, an 8 week Cavalier, three years later we rescued Misty, and now here we are with Jake. At only 12.5 weeks, I think he's more than met my expectations. He's a smart cookie, and I just hope that we can keep up with him. He's so sweet and loving, he's pretty laid back at the moment, nothing nor no-one we have met has bothered him at all. He's desperate to get cuddles from everyone we meet, and thinks everyone must pet him
We thought and discussed long and hard before deciding to get a dog, and it wasn't until I resigned from work that we felt we (I) could give a puppy the time and attention they deserved. Between us, we have had an English Springer, a Heinz 57, and a GSD. We knew friends with Labradors, all of which had fabulous temperaments and a joy for life, and that's why we started our search for a Labrador puppy. Himself expressed a preference for a chocolate Lab, which narrowed the field a bit, and we were fortunate to find a breeder who, although somewhat eccentric, loves his dogs with a passion. Saba chose us. At six weeks old, he trotted across the garden, and plonked himself on Himself's feet. That was it; our puppy! He's a delight with his big feet, waggy tail, and unique smell. He's also in turn frustrating and charming, cheeky and loving, and I wouldn't change him for the world.
I was never allowed pets as I grew up. My OH had a GR as a child and adored her. OH has always wanted a family dog, but was adamant it had to be a 'proper' dog, not a small dog! My auntie always had Rotties as I loved them. We both used to work 45+ hours a week so didn't feel we could give a dog the time as every minute not at work was with my daughter. After a major car accident 6 years ago I had to cut my working hours. After spinal surgery 3 years ago I had to cut my hours at work even more. It was at this stage that we started talking again about getting a dog. Hubby still worked long hours (and still does), daughter was going to go to university and I was thinking of how I could fill my time. I read a lot about different breeds of dogs and we decided on a lab - we considered a GR, but I have allergies to some long haired dogs. After several months of looking I seen a fox red litter available - I had never seen such a gorgeous colour so arranged to visit just to talk to the breeder and meet them.........fell in love with Harley so left after putting down a deposit. I was very apprehensive about having a dog, but she has exceeded my expectations so much. She is very much mine (I do share sometimes ). Our bond is amazing and she is so gentle with me when I'm in pain. I never thought my life would revolve around a dog.......but it does We are considering getting another lab as I adore the breed, but feel that we have been so lucky with Harley ( easy to train (well, most things!), loving, gentle with me and children, not chewy, slept well from early age etc), that we may not be so lucky with the next one! .
I have always had numerous pets growing up but never a dog. I don't have pure breed Labradors either, we have Hattie who is a Labradoodle and our rescue boy Charlie who is a large Labrador x Pointer. Hattie is a pure delight with everyone and dogs she meets, a true sweetheart and I love her very much. She is my constant friend and we walk for miles everyday doing bits of training along the way. I really don't know what I would do without her. Charlie has been hard, hard work and we have spent an enormous amount of time re-training him over the last 4 years from a terrible absconder with zero recall to a well behaved, most of the time boy with a good recall (most of the time ) we really do love him dearly for the lovely natured boy he is who is loved by all I don't think I would ever have a pure breed Labrador in the future.
I never had a dog growing up. My OH grew up with German Shepherds but they were his dad's dogs so he never took part in the care and training. It was my idea to get Ella. The OH wanted a female GSD and I wanted a male Labrador so naturally we researched breeders and put ourselves down for a male Labrador (I let him chose the colour though ). When the litter was born and we were told that there wasn't a male for us but we could have a female, we didn't think twice to say yes as I really wasn't that fussed and the OH was quite pleased to be getting a female instead. Has Ella met my expectations? Absolutely not! No amount of reading could have prepared me for how much hard work having a lab puppy would be. The time, exhaustion, energy, destruction, physical pain, constant need to clean and what feels like never ending training is far beyond my wildest dreams. I honestly think that if I truly understood the commitment, we would have thought twice before getting a dog. However, we find ourselves with this bundle of (constantly shedding) fur. Never have I felt such joy, happiness, loyalty and love. She makes us laugh every day, she's the most affectionate, wonderful animal and we love nothing more that spending time with her and spoiling her rotten. Has she met my expectations? No? Would I change anything? Absolutely not!
I'm just addicted to labs. I've just given in to it now.Why fight it its lovely expectations? never really had any. I don't because of the way I have to live. Love my dogs and each one has brought something different into my life. I never expected Lassie and I defiately did not get that. They seem to be the one reliable constant in a chaotic ever changing world. Its not so lonely when you have a lab. They take up my time and I don't have to think about anything else except them. Thinking about other things can be very frightening. they don't worry about me being ill and that is a real break and i can just be me They've made me laugh so much and I've found myself new friends and got me into really interesting places and I really did not expect that. I've found peace with my dogs and the strength to carry on, when all i've wanted to do is go to sleep and stay asleep. Also they are great for getting me out of stuff. I used to be embaressed if I was too ill to do something or just need a break from stuff now I say "sorry I have to get home for the dogs" It can be hard to explain to someone that you need to rest. So I don't mind the fur and the Lab induced poverty and Mub slobber smell dead things that should not be in the house, its seems a very fair exchange. love them
One of my most vivid childhood memories is of arriving home from school on the last day of summer term at 5 years old to find my dad opening a wooden crate in the garden. Next minute I had a yellow Labrador puppy in my arms and licking my face. I've been in love with Labs ever since. Another yellow girl followed in my late teens who accepted being ordered around by my son when he came along and could walk and talk, they absolutely adored each other. And now I have my Juno who is all I could ask for in a dog as mad as a hatter and so gentle the next, full of fun and play but will settle when asked, who falls asleep on my feet so I don't want to move and disturb her, who gives the gentlest licks and greets me with her entire body quivering with excitement. So many lovely memories of my Labs, and lots more to come in the future.
Well, we kind of fell into Lab ownership, we "inherited" Simba when he was about 9 moths old from our son's (now ex) girlfriend. He is not a purebred but is crossed with. Newfie. Previous owner had some some training but she really didn't have a lot of time for him due to work, I'm afraid he spent a lot of time locked in her bedroom. So he definitely had behaviour issues we had to work through. Has he lived up to expectations? Well, I didn't really have any expectations for him at first, but I have to say now I am amazed at how far he has come. He still has some behaviour issues but has turned into a lovely, quiet, confident, goofy dog who is really a very good friend to me, especially as my hubby's work takes him away quite a lot. My kids are all out of the house too so I really don't know what I would do with out him. My previous two dogs were Border Collies and we got Simba about 6 months after my old dog died (16 years). I had fully intended on getting another Border Collie but I will say now that I would be happy to get another Lab!
Lisa Simba sounds a really lovely boy especially the very good friend description Goofy is good as well
Yes and no. With Jet we prepared for the typical Lab we'd read about, heard about and observed at friend's houses. Lots of energy, lots of trouble, lots of work till they got older and were worth every bit of anxiety. Enter Jet, the rare Lab puppy to come out of the womb already trained. "No biting, no barking, no jumping" said her breeder and it's as if Jet heard. She was the star puppy in our obedience classes where she impressed and I disappointed because I didn't want to trial her. Same with agility where we were the only pair allowed to advance to the next level and the only ones to go on to trial. Jet was a dream but I knew she wasn't typical. To make up for Jet along came Oban. Oban, who I was warned would be a handful, would challenge me, would know how to get his own way, would run to greet perfect strangers as if they were his long lost friends. From Jet's, "What would you like me to do next?" I went to Mr;, "Hmmm, what's in it for me?" LOL, as one trainer put it to me, Oban would be the one I would learn the most about training from because he would demand reasons for the behaviour I expected of him and he would figure out how to not comply. LIke a kid, always saying "Why?" that's Oban. Finding Oban took some doing. We wanted a small male. Try to find a stud, or dam, at the low end of the weight range allowed in our Canadian Standard that has titles in conformation. It was hard to find dogs within the range at all. We did find a lovely stud dog of all things at the same breeder we got JEt from. He wasn't titled yet but had some impressive show results. We signed up for Oban. Oban is 68 pounds, about the middle of the range. I can lift him and carry him which was a concern. He's not ever going to be shown, even I can see conformation faults. But he met our expectations and hopes, challenged us with his very self confident and outgoing personality and I believe loves us with every bit of his heart.
