So we are *thinking* about getting a lab puppy...

littlemisslauren

littlemisslauren

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 March 2008
Messages
3,422
Visit site
OH is wearing me down, I want a lab and he wants a puppy.

The world of health testing scares me so can someone tell me what I should be looking for?
What conditions are labs prone to?

What scores are good? and how far back should the scores be?

Also does anyone know of a good breeder in the north east?

I will only be buying a puppy if I can find one from a good breeder that has done all tests they should.

We are still very much in the thinking phase here, our other option is to wait for a lab puppy to appear in rescue.

OR we could get another Border Terrier, our new house is small and so is my car!
 
Hips, elbows and eyes seem to be the major problems to test for in the parents.

Labs are generally very trainable, but you need to watch stealing and eating - mine ate an entire loo roll when he was 9 weeks, and is quite creative at accessing bins and stored food - locks are your friend there...
 
What Wishful said, in terms of health. Elbows, hips & eyes.

We have an ten month old working lines lab, whom we got as a young pup, and she is wonderful. She is highly trainable, wants to please, wants to be with me, will run all day if I want, or sleep all day if I want.

But it is rather like living with a kleptomanic with an obsessive overeating disorder. Absolutely everything gets picked up & carried about, and usually presented to me, amid much proud wagging & a desire to show me what she has found - everything from underwear (stolen from the laundry or off the lines), childs toys (we have a four year old child), tissues I've thrown in the bin, dead bits of snake (at the yard), etc. You cannot leave anything at all within range. The only relief is that she's not given to chewing much - only her dog beds (five have bitten the dust so far), oh, and the bathroom carpet (while I was in bath with glasses off so didn't notice).

But she is the most wonderful little person. Always keen to be with me. Always in on whatever I'm doing - assisting where possible, though hanging off haynets I'm filling, or the towel I'm trying to dry myself on, isn't actually that helpful! She is always cheerful, always loving - never has an off day. Whatever I want to do, she is up for it. Often to be found just sitting next to me while I'm working, with her whole body wagging, waiting for me to notice her.

OH had to talk me into a lab, but now I'm not sure I could live without one!

39596_482430724364_750669364_6994823_173005_n.jpg
 
Booboos said:
Why does OH need to wear you down to get a puppy, what is wrong with you woman?????? :p
Click to expand...

Betsy has traumatised me! She was a total nighmare and has scared me off puppies somewhat!:p

OH works away alot so it will be muggins here dealing with another potential ASBO puppy. Hopefully there will be a pregnancy too at some point in the future:o
 
varkie said:
But it is rather like living with a kleptomanic with an obsessive overeating disorder. Absolutely everything gets picked up & carried about, and usually presented to me, amid much proud wagging & a desire to show me what she has found - everything from underwear (stolen from the laundry or off the lines), childs toys (we have a four year old child), tissues I've thrown in the bin, dead bits of snake (at the yard), etc. You cannot leave anything at all within range.
Click to expand...

This is what Betsy (Our 14 month old terrier) did except instead of 'Look what I found mummy' it was 'Haha you STUUUUPID huuumin, you will never see this bra / very important piece of paper / pair of pants ever again... I am taking it to my lair of destruction'

I spent months chasing that puppy for my stuff.:rolleyes:

Your puppy sounds adorable, can I just have yours please?
 
I couldn't be parted from my little Faith - so named, as I needed a dog to give my back my faith (not in a religious sense!). And she has. Mostly!

All puppies are hard work to some extent, but compared to others, my lab has seemed pretty good. Other than when she had colitis, she's been quite good about housetraining, and at ten months, can be left up to seven hours if we must, and has done eight or nine hours overnight.

Only thing I'd say is that while she is very willing to please, she has no spatial awareness, and isn't overly bright! So the number of times she's banged her head on something as she goes to run under it, and doesn't duck her head enough. Or just bounced clear off something as she's not realised she won't fit through a gap. She's tried to jump in the car before the crate door was open. Tried to jump on the vet table while still attached to the other dog. You get the idea.

She is perfect with our daughter, albeit very boisterous! But hopefully she'll calm down a bit as she gets older. Only problem I have between the pair of them is screams from my daughter as the puppy runs off with her toy, and my daughter says it's not fair because the puppy won't share!

I don't find that Faith is plotting to take over the world from stupid humans (more like terriers are), but rather is up for whatever you want to do today - and that is pretty much all she wants to do - whatever I am doing. And if she is doing something, she wants to share it with me.

I think they are lifes optimists, and professional best friends.
 
I really have just been scared off by Betsy. She is a lovely little dog now and I can't imagine not having her in our lives but she really did test me!

I want a lab because I think they are amazing dogs, I need something bigger in the house (Terrier yap isn't very scary) and they are brilliant with children (Which we will be having in the next couple of years).
 
Faith sounds very much like my Dylan was at that age, his spacial awareness has improved greatly - although he did walk into a full length window whilst leaving the pub earlier this week because he was too busy following his nose & not looking where he was going!

He still nicks anything left lying around, particularly slippers, gloves & hats (mainly stuff that smells of us), doesn't chew them, but doesn't always bring them straight back either, little monkey. Never pinches food from our worktops or bins though, even if food is left unattended on the sofa etc.

He picked up house training really quickly which I was very impressed about as he was bred in an outdoor kennel. Cracked poos within a couple of days & pees within a few weeks, so by the time he was 11-12 weeks old, but he was supervised carefully.

Neither of us wanted a lab, but it was the best fit for what we needed & I'm so glad we did - he's great company & just wants to be with & please me - what more can a girl ask for? I love him to bits & wouldn't part with him for the world now.

There does seem to be a big difference in personality with labs, so I would choose your puppy carefully for temperment as well as health tests. We got Dylan from a breeder who has quite a few which go on to become guide dogs.
 
Definitely make temperament (after health testing) your guide. I would also go for a working strain or if you can find one a mixed (i.e. show and working) kennels, although I understand these are rare these days. Our family dog was from such a kennels but sadly his breeder has passed away:( We knew that breeder would be the one when my little sister (who was only 4 at the time) accidentally sat on the bitch's head when she over-balanced, and the darling dog just sighed and practically rolled her eyes, didn't turn a hair - and her son Barney was indeed a fantastic family dog:)

There are labs in the puppy class I sometimes teach and they are a pleasure - they love working with their owners and they pick things up fast (they are working bred pups). I was SO impressed with one in particular last week, she recalled to her daddy, through the entire class of puppies who were all doing heelwork, jinking around them all with no hesitation at all:) She is a credit to them! Sadly they keep a very close eye on her so I have not managed to snaffle her away yet:(:p:D
 
With regard to scores, elbows go from 0 - 3, I would say you want parents of either 1 or 0 score. With hips , it depends on the breed average, and ideally you want parents with scores of below the breed average. In GSDs the average is 19, I personally would want parents with scores in very low teens or single figures, and scored dogs all the way back in the pedigree if it is say a 5 generation pedigree. Hip scoring has been going on for around 30 years so there is no excuse imo for dogs a good way back in a line not to be scored.
As said, temperament is of equal importance, a decent breeder will be happy for you to visit before the litter is due and meet all their dogs.
 
MurphysMinder said:
With regard to scores, elbows go from 0 - 3, I would say you want parents of either 1 or 0 score. With hips , it depends on the breed average, and ideally you want parents with scores of below the breed average. In GSDs the average is 19, I personally would want parents with scores in very low teens or single figures, and scored dogs all the way back in the pedigree if it is say a 5 generation pedigree. Hip scoring has been going on for around 30 years so there is no excuse imo for dogs a good way back in a line not to be scored.
As said, temperament is of equal importance, a decent breeder will be happy for you to visit before the litter is due and meet all their dogs.
Click to expand...

That has helped alot thanks MM :)
 
I`ve got a 6 month old choc lab and she`s fab!!! She doesnt chew a thing, she is a hoarder though and will take all shoes/wellies/expensive boots into her basket and just snuggle up to them.
They are greedy though...so hide any other dogs food out of the way lol
 
picture.php


I love my lab very easy to train, great nature, truly a best friend! Could not recommend them highly enough especially with children - my 2 year old cousin grabs at her fur and uses her as a walking aid. The only thing she likes to steal is the sun lounger!
 
My lab is an angel ..... Seriously. She's 3 yrs now. Mine is a chocolate show strain. She had a small chewing phase on one corner whilst teething, buy apart from that has been really easy.
She's got an amazing temperament, loves other dogs, loves their owners more (she'll go to people over dogs). Is amazing with children, my neices / nephew adore her.
She did go through a plastic eating phase, and has recently discovered the bin bag - my fault for putting left overs/cat food in a place where she can reach it.
She's also a complete couch potato in the house, although is a rubbish guard dog. And will remain the same whether she gets 15 minutes or 2-3hours of walking.
She also gives great huge at bedtime, and follows me round the house wherever I am ... I love them,'but concede I'll probably never be as lucky again - a friend if mine says you get an animal in hour life that's Special, and intruky believe she's the one.
Get one, they're very trainable, and easy
 
Yellow Dog was perfect as a puppy - he only ever had two accidents as he copied Bear and she virtually housetrained him for us! He chewed a couple of things but he was teething at the time and I stupidly didn't give him enough things to teeth on. The only problem we had with him was he would escape out the cat flap but as the garden was secure it wasn't really an issue :) He's from working strains - he's the only one from his litter that didn't go to a working home (good job, he's far too lazy to work lol).

Bear was a brilliant puppy too though we had her at 5 months - she ate my revolting school shoes for me :D but that was it.
 
It looks like we will be getting a lab puppy!!! Not untill the end of the year / early next year though so plenty of time to find a good breeder / the right litter for us.

Looks like I will be able to manage a spot of fostering for a certain rescue... :p
 
Dont do what I did and go and visit a litter - I went with my ex to look at some puppies and managed to walk away with Yellow Dog... I blame the dog obv :p
 
Labs have pretty good barks - ours sounds a lot something large and scary - although he doesn't bark much he definitely means it when he does...
 
I got The Moo:cool: from Labrador Rescue:) at just over a year old. He is a working type so is legging and skinny :D he doesn't steal food ( but grasses up the spaniel when he does;):D) but I am forever looking for odd socks and shoes are never in pairs:rolleyes: we did have a chewing faze after he first arrived and was settling in:rolleyes: but that is over:) he loves his walks but also loves a kip - preferably on a sofa or a bed :rolleyes: - has a big scary bark and will not let strangers in the garden or near the house but is as soft as a marshmallow with anyone he knows especially kids (they generally get licked :rolleyes:) he is very sociable with other dogs, cats, horses etc an all round big softy and very very handsome ;):D:D

Considering I had never met him before he was delivered I couldn't have chosen a better puppy:)
 
MurphysMinder said:
In GSDs the average is 19, I personally would want parents with scores in very low teens or single figures, and scored dogs all the way back in the pedigree if it is say a 5 generation pedigree. Hip scoring has been going on for around 30 years so there is no excuse imo for dogs a good way back in a line not to be scored.
As said, temperament is of equal importance, a decent breeder will be happy for you to visit before the litter is due and meet all their dogs.
Click to expand...

For the labrador retriever, in 2008, the breed mean score was 15. Ideally, you want all dogs in the pedigree as far below this number as poss. However, even a 0-0 mated to a 0-0 doesn't give you any hard guarantees.........it just minimises the risk.
 
Thanks guys :D You lot are a helpful bunch :p

New house should be ready in September so puppy hunting will NOT begin untill then. Hopefully Betsy will remember her manners by then!
 
littlemisslauren said:
Thanks guys :D You lot are a helpful bunch :p

New house should be ready in September so puppy hunting will NOT begin untill then. Hopefully Betsy will remember her manners by then!
Click to expand...

Honestly, I must be misty eyed over Jake and Brig being babies, cos the current two have put me right off having more pups! I blame Zak, he's a restless soul, bless him and inventively naughty.

I think temperament is desperately important. I've told the OH I'll choose any future pups: he likes clever, naughty ones, I like cuddly ones that want to be with people. :)
 
cinammontoast said:
Honestly, I must be misty eyed over Jake and Brig being babies, cos the current two have put me right off having more pups! I blame Zak, he's a restless soul, bless him and inventively naughty.

I think temperament is desperately important. I've told the OH I'll choose any future pups: he likes clever, naughty ones, I like cuddly ones that want to be with people. :)
Click to expand...

Yep we are the same! When it came to picking Betsy or her sister OH won. He wanted the clever gobby one that was beating the others up, I liked the little chubby quiet one. I wouldnt change her for the world now but my god she tested me.

I am so jelous of my friends springer puppy, he just follows her around staring at her lovingly. I have an ASBO dog:rolleyes:
 
Our working lab is mainc, hyper and needs about 20 miles of walks a day. BUT that is her day to day life, we live on a farm and shes up and at 'em with OH all day. On Sundays shes a PITA! If she wasn't so fit, though, I think she would be easier. She was a doddle to train and just wants to be doing whatever we are doing.
She has got dodgy elbows, in spite of coming from a fully health tested family and has cortaflex but you would never know it now. She can do a full days shooting, walked up or driven, and is sound as a pound the next morning.
I wouldn't be without one now. My understanding, although I have never had one, is the show types are thicker but lazier!
Her greatest find is dirty underwear from the upstairs laundry basket, to be presented with much snorting and wagging to any unsuspecting visitor...has caused MUCH embarassment in the past.
 
I'm late to this but all I can say is go for it! My black lab is nine months old and is brilliant. I hadn't had a puppy for 16 years and was dreading it but he has been an absolute dream. He never suffered SA even on his first night here. He only chews his toys, doesn't bark, doesn't pull on the lead, easy to house train, doesn't beg for food ( he will lie on my feet while I'm eating from a tray). He loves going out in the car and has never been car sick and he loves everyone including my horse and donkey.

His main 'fault' is running up to people when he's off lead on the beach so I have to watch out for small children so he doesn't knock them over. Hopefully this is something he will grow out of. It's a pity you are so far away as I could highly recommend his breeder. Good luck with your search and I am looking forward to seeing pictures.
 
I've never had a dog before but OH has and was really keen for us to get one. After much research into breeds etc we went for a lab. We have a chocolate bitch who is an absolute delight. She is from working stock and quite small. V intelligent and we have never had a bit of bother from her.

From day one she never left any "gifts" around the house nor did she ever chew anything.

Skye is two now and I wondered what on earth we did before she arrived. As a bonus my sister got a bitch from the same litter (a black one) and called her Ruby. It is lovely to see the two of them together. They have the same mannerisms etc and are really alike.
 
Coming from both a buying and a breeding perspective.
I bought my first dog (black lab) 4 years ago from a colleague, I made sure that she had the right health tests done and the dog used to come into the office so I knew she was lovely.

3 years later I decided to breed. My bitch has the most lovely temperament this is due to her breeding but also for the 1st year of her life she did everything I did and had to fit into my life. this made her a super, friendly and flexible dog.
I found lovely dog again from someone that I knew, the only thing that was worrying my about my bitch was because she grew up with spaniels she tended to run around like one so I was looking for a dog that would steady her up.

Both the dog and my bitch are working dogs, the bitch less so, as the dog does field trials.

We had 12 puppys, the bitch during her pregnancy and the puppies after had the best possible care they needed despite what it cost. I made sure that the pups had a very rounded education, they went in the car, met other dogs (our 4 other spaniels), got played with by children, spent most of the of time exploring in a massive out pen (part of a field so long grass etc) I also had a tape with lots of different sounds playing (fireworks, tractors, aeroplanes, hoovers, guns etc)

I sold them all really easily to both working and pet homes and have been in contact with every single owner in the last month or so they have been thrilled with the pups and the biggest thing was that they were well rounded puppies that didn't have hang ups or worries about anything. They plus the vet have persuaded me to have another litter next summer!

So basically take your time to find a really lovely bitch (with good health scores) with a nice healthy litter who have been well handled and well educated. don't make your decision because they look cute or they are cheap etc, make it on temperament and upbringing.

Sorry a bit long but hope that that gives you an insight to both sides of things.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top