Any Labrador owners out there?

[bigfatsi]

Our beloved dog died just over a week ago after 16 happy years and it now seems strange not to have a dog around! Our last dog was a Yorkie as we lived in a small house in the town but we've recently moved to a larger house in a village on the outskirts so there's plenty of countryside/parks to walk and play in. I'm going to look at a Labrador puppy tonight and am curious to find out what kind of animals they are to live with. I have two 6 year-old daughters, a normal size garden and am happy to walk the dog well on a morning and evening. Both myself and my wife work full time although I can organise 'babysitting' in the early months. Long term the dog would be alone between around 8am and 2pm on most weekdays. Does this seem reasonable? I know it hasn't been long since our last dog but between my wife and myself we have quite a bit of time off due in the next three weeks so we would have more time at home with him when he's just getting to know us. My main question is are Labradors ok with kids and as they get older are the ok to be left for a few hours?

Simon.

[blackbeltbob]

we have had several Labs over the years and they are brilliant.
great with kids and very tolerant however as pups they are prone to trying to destroy your house up until they reach two years old. this is just the experiences we have had but on the whole they are great. we just lost our german shepperd and will soon be looking for a pup and it will be a lab this time.
hope this helps, show pics if you do get one

[Snooky]

My mate has just lost his dog and got a very nice Lab from the local rescue home, he has 2 kids and is great with them, and my 2 love him to bits and he is fine with all of them, So I'd say a great family pet, only reason I am getting a Terrier is the fact I want one, but also we don't have the right size house for a Lab, but would be on my list of possibles,
My kids are 5 and 3

[Grumpy]

Labs are great with kids and are very loyal but bigger theives than Ronnie Biggs :lol:

[strapping young lad]

labs are great friendly dogs

lot nicer than friggin jack russells!

[blackbob]

labs are great friendly dogs

lot nicer than friggin jack russells!

dont think you should slag off jack russles cos i might send mine over to sort you out

[Guardian.]

LABS ARE A PERFECT FAMILY DOG, I HAVE A BLACK GUNDOG AND SHE IS SO TOLERENT WITH MY 3 YR OLD BOY CLIMBING ALL OVER HER AND HANGING ON HER EARS. UNLESS YOU ARE UNLUCK AND GET A BAD DOG AND THAT HAPPENS WITH ANY BREED, YOU CANNOT GO WRONG WITH A LAB.
LEAVING IT IS OK AS LONG AS IT HAS TOYS OR THING IT IS SUPPOSED TO CHEW AND A BIT OF SPACE TO MILL AROUND IN.

[Jas278]

I have 2 Choccy Labs and they are fab ,but they are dustbins, the down side to them is they love company human or dog and if left alone will chew,purely down to bordom ,but would nt you ? my 2 were never left when pups so no problems.............they are the best dog to have..

[schuee]

We have a 12 year old black Lab, we have a 2 and 5 year old who absolutely adore him, he gets more affection from the kids and SWMBO, than I ever will  :lol:  :lol:

He is my " Old Stinker ", it is a shame they don't live longer, still he loves his walks and his food  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Cate]

98% of labs are fantastic dogs, great with people and kids but they can be walking dustbins, watch their weight!
Considering dogs are pack animals I ask you to consider if it is fair to leave a dog alone in a new house for 6 hours at a time, every day?
Spending time off with it while you it gets used to you is lovely, but then you go back to work! ouch!
Think about taking on a rescue dog that may be used to being left rather than a youngster who may enjoy ripping your house up while you are out.
Saying that, puppies are fantastic and give hours of fun, better than tv anyday! Awwwww
Best of luck.  :D

[v8kenny]

lot nicer than friggin jack russells!

Here's what mine thinks of your comments ! - mind you after seeing the state of your hand I can't blame you  

[Evilgoat]

lot nicer than friggin jack russells!

Here's what mine thinks of your comments ! - mind you after seeing the state of your hand I can't blame you  

Why would you take a pic of your dog doing that? :)

[Keri]

As suggested if you can rescue a dog, there are lots of dogs out there old and young looking for homes but are overlooked due to people wanting a puppy......And a puppy just grows up to be a adult dog.A rescue dog will show you as much love and respect as a dog you have had from a pup just sometimes you may have to work harder at getting that love and respect. Although with you both working for 6 hours a day i don't think you would be able to rescue a dog as rescue centers like you to leave your dog for only a few hours a day at most.

Also think how lost a puppy would feel when his new family suddenly start leaving him all day. Maybe it would be better if you got 2 dogs that way when they are left they have each other to play with?

I have 2 dogs, but work from home so they are not left regular hours regular days but both understand that sometimes i have to go out for a few hours.

 :)

Iv never had any experiance with labs other than those that my uncle has had. They just arn't my sort of dog  :)  but good luck

[Cate]

Hang on with the 2 dogs scenario, especially 2 puppies at the same time, this can be a bad idea as 2 puppies growing up together do not need YOU! they don't bond so well with family members as they have each other, training is more difficult, and as they get older and the hormones start to rise you could get heirachy problems!
When I was a Vet Nurse I had to do several heavy bouts of behavioural therapy with dogs and their owners because the dogs didn't take notice of their owners or would fight incessantly. Can be sorted but easier not to go down that route to start with.
Look for a pair of rescue dogs, ones that are already steady and have settled with each other.

[Keri]

Hang on with the 2 dogs scenario, especially 2 puppies at the same time, this can be a bad idea as 2 puppies growing up together do not need YOU! they don't bond so well with family members as they have each other, training is more difficult, and as they get older and the hormones start to rise you could get heirachy problems!
When I was a Vet Nurse I had to do several heavy bouts of behavioural therapy with dogs and their owners because the dogs didn't take notice of their owners or would fight incessantly. Can be sorted but easier not to go down that route to start with.
Look for a pair of rescue dogs, ones that are already steady and have settled with each other.

I think alot of that comes down to the owner i know many people who have had 2 puppys and have not had any problems........ And others who have because they treat the puppys like babys not dogs.

As all very good with rescue dogs but not many rescue centers are gonna let dogs go to homes where there left alone 6 hours or more im guessing sometimes unless you lie to them.

[andycwb]

Labs vary tremendously in temprament.  Some are fantastic and can be trained well, others are just totally nuts.  Read "Marley and me: Life with the world's worst dog" to see the worst case scenario - and remember they are also bred as guide dogs.

If you can get a guide dog (or similar) reject, you'll get a fantastic pooch.

Andy

[Minotaur]

Well here's mine tuppence worth.......................

Labs are great family dogs  - in general, as previously stated all breeds, humans included, have their exceptions.
Generally labs are great for all the family, they have very good temperaments with kids and love attention.
They are often glutinous to the point of being sick, if given the chance.
They are very trainable - the gun dog gene comes out - try to avoid first generation litters from gun dog/farm rellies - they tend to want to be outside all the time.
All Labs want, need and expect lots of exercise, reasonable amount on pavement etc and lots in the fields/wide open spaces.
They are truly a joy to own and are very loyal.

Persoally, I would agree that there are no more probs in having two pups than a bit more effort than having two. They will still expect loads of attention - which will take time and effort, but the rewards in return are fantastic - but you have to be committed and taking them to training/obedience classes wil pay dividends - I have owned and bred labs in the past, and as a dog to be kept as a pet with young children, I do not think you cold find a better dog.

Opting for two pups - as when you are out they will entertain themselves, but do not expect that they will not still need their dose of human/owner attention - that is from all in the household - but I do agree that 6 hours a day is too long, especialy in the first 6 months.

Make sure you buy from a respectable breeder, NOT from a pet shop or breeding farm, definately check that they have had their jabs and have all their certificates - Hip displasure, eyes, etc, etc
Check the kennel club website , and do your homework - local vets, animal hospitals and RSPCA will warn you off the places/people to avoid and the best places to try locally.
If I had the time and space, I would have at east two tomorrow and would trus them with my kids, who are 2 and 4 years old.

"A Labrador is the best ,and most loyal friend, a man could ever have"

Good luck

Chris

[DiscoveRay]

Lab/collie cross :D

Best dog in the world :!:

Ray

[bigfatsi]

Thanks for all your replies. Well, as you can imagine, we couldn't resist the gorgeous little bundle of fur that stared up at us so we are now the very proud owners of a male yellow lab who looks just like the Andrex puppy! I'll post some pics as soon as I can.

I looked at a few rescue centres and they actually told me that I would be best off with a puppy if it was going to be left at any time as they will get used to it quickly. Go figure!

Don't worry, he won't be left on his own for long. He'll be chauffered to 'grandmas' for the next few months when we're at work and when he's a little older he'll be visited regularly throughout the day by either my wife, 'grandparents', neighbours or friends so I think he'll be fine. It's not perfect but it's a hell of a lot better than a lot of dogs out there!

I met both of his parents whilst I was there and saw all their papers although his are in the post and due any day now. Visited the vet yesterday and had his first jab. Turns out the girl who works there has two of his brothers from the parents first litter!

I'll post pics when I get home. Prepare to go "...Awwwwwww......"!

Simon.

[Jas278]

Get him a Buddy then you wont have to feel guilty.......

[mud-club-matty]

my lab aged 12

[Range Rover Blues]

Labradors are prone to obesity, or however you spell it.  Lovable as they are I find them a bit, well soft in the head rather like my sister's Springer but now quite as smart.  I love htem don't get me wrong but they need about 9 miles a day and that's a lot for a human.

I also think you should look at a rescue dog before putting money into a breeder's pocket.  They take no reponsibilty for the hundereds of dogs this Christmas that will be in the pound before the middle of january,it's disgraceful.  Both our dogs are rescue and I wouldn't swap them for anything, sure you need to get inside their heads a little bit (bracken has been beaten by a bloke) but then that should be true of any dog.  I dispair of the types you see on dog borstal/me or the dog who think an animal is just a fasion accessory, so I'm glad you've already thought about how much time you have for a new dog.

As an aside, if anybody is after a good family pet, big enough to not trip over, great with kids, lazy and in need of little exercise, adopt a greyhound.  Seriously, you can get a good dog that's come to the end of it's career for peanuts as a rescue  and other than a short bust of energy they are one of the most lazt dogs I know, happy to sit by the radiator in the warmth keeping out of trouble.

[Range Rover Blues]

One of ours is a GSD, that's bracken and she's scred of her own shadow.  We got Max, a colie GSD cross to keep her company, the "old dog teached new dog the rules" scernario.  It didn't work too well,ok so they are both house trained etc but now we have 2 big puppies.  Max has settled into a nice 3 year old dog, eager to please and Bracken has definitely come out of her shell, she used to be so scared of me allthough she loved me Dad.

Thing is ours get left but as long as they know we are coming back they are ok, they have access to dry food all day, water etc, plenty of toys and the house is full of our stuff.  This last bit is important as I often find they sleep on my washing, it smells of me and that reasures them.

I do find them terratorial, fortunatley the postman loves them and Max loves him.

[bigfatsi]

Here he is. It looks like he'll be called Sam although this isn't finalised yet!





Cute, huh?!

Simon.

[sleeplessparadise]

Awwwww  :D It's sooooo unfair :(  I not allowed a puppy Johnty says NO! So all I have is nintendogs :lol:

[mike142sl]

I remember that stage well. Ours is Three now and they grow out of that cute puppy stage so quickly.

But talk about Babe Magnets. I took ours, Meg, on holiday to S Devon when she was 4 months old, looking like she was fresh from an Andrex Advert and I couldn't walk a few yards without being approached by groups of girls - to make a fuss of the dog of course, but had I known that in my late teens I'd have bought one then!

[Range Rover Red]

He's gorgeous, we've got loads of photos of Willow (ESS that RRB referred to) when she was the same age.  They look so sweet and innocent when they're curled up like that, don't they :)   (Make sure you put any new shoes away!)

When Willow was a puppy she was absolutely mental and my friend/dog trainer/flyball captain, who has had Labs and Border Collies for years, spent  two years assuring me that you don't get much sense out of a gundog until it is about two years old.  They do settle - eventually - into wonderful dogs.

Sam tbc will, in time, quite happily walk you off your legs all day, then be ready to go round again.

Good luck with him. :D

[Fireyred]

Bless so cute, I had a Long Haired Golden Retriever all through my childhood and into my early teens, my best mate he was. He came almost everywere with me.

   Miss him

[annabelle]

:) How about a Lab/Greyhound cross?  Thats what we have, she has been with us about a week now, she is seven weeks old so still a baby really.  She is doing well with the toilet training, mostly does it on the newspaper and because she is rewarded she squeezes the last drops out to get a treat - must be the greedy lab side coming out.  At the moment she is like a greyhound with a lab head.  We have a cat aswell.

[dreadnought110]

Lab/collie cross :D

Best dog in the world :!:

Ray

 couldn't agree more our's is 4 now and we love her to bit's the land rover's named after her and the missus (dog's name first :lol: )