Labrador puppy freebie

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

Labrador puppy offer.

So best friend of SIL, dad owns a dog (she lives with her dad) and it’s had 7 puppies, Labrador. They’ve offered a free one to me and my DPs, so 2 puppies. I think DB would love one but they have a baby and a 5 year old and are in the process of moving to a house from a flat so timing not great.

We both have cats. I also work and am about 2 days in office.

DP’s unsure and so am I. Would you turn a Labrador freebie pup down? DP’s have had Labrador before so we are well aware of how much is involved re walking etc.

Op it's so much work. They are boisterous when little and need lots of exercise and stimulation. My lab is nearly 2 and wow its been an eye opener, my kids are late teens so thankfully help out and share the load otherwise I'm not sure I'd cope between work, constantly hoovering his hair up 😆 and my own interests.
My lab is great company but definitely harder work than we thought he'd be. He's a big strong dog who keeps us all on our toes. I'd just say really think about the time and energy you will have.

My DM when I was 9, we got a lab puppy but when we collected her she was 3 months and DM had broken from her job as a teacher for 6 weeks so spent a lot of time with her, socialising her and with all the shop owners.

I’d say yes.
we’ve had one really hairy shedding lab. One that shed a bit and the current one barely sheds at all!
Cats and labs generally get on fine. Once you get over the teenage lab stage they’re usually great easy going dogs to live with.
I wouldn’t have a dachshund, they were a hunting breed and it won’t have been bred out of them.

I would feel very uncomfortable about anyone whose dog has got pregnant by accident and then gives one away for free. How can it be a 'good pedigree' if it was an accidental mating? Did they know the health scores (hip and elbow scores essential) of the sire? Can you afford the insurance - for a lab you're looking at £150 per month or thereabouts once it hits middle age and above. A crucible ligament injury can cost about £6k+. Never take a dog on a whim. If you want the Daschund, take your time, so your research and contact a reputable breeder.

If you want the Daschund, take your time, so your research and contact a reputable breeder.

That applies to any pup, but particularly with breeds that have become over-popular. The number of dachshunds there are now - especially minis - can't possibly all have been bred properly, there must be lots of dodgy imports and puppy mills. There's a lot of trendy dapples around... we visited crufts for the first time this year, there simply weren't any dapples there, the pedigree smooth haired were all Black and Tan or red.

Labradors are really difficult dogs.
From what you've written above, it sounds like you are a dachshund person. Which is great! But a completely different beast.

If your hearts not 100% in this, you will really struggle to cope with the hair, the mud, the smells, the chewing, the fear of public shame (!) qand the sheer physicality of this breed. Labs are not easy dogs at all.

And it's from working lines so will expect even more physical exercise and mental stimulation.

Honestly I'd thank them very much and then politely decline. If they truly love dogs then they will understand.

There's something really off about the way you keep calling the pup a freebie. It makes it sounds like you see it as a fun goody bag rather than a living animal that will need fed and walked and will shit in your garden.

DP's have now said yes to one but have insisted upon health checks. I think DM is looking forward to having a dog they can walk but will look into other options e.g. dog walkers for if they can't cope with this (they're fine now). They also want a girl (bitch) puppy as less boisterous. They will travel up when pup is about 8 weeks old to see it and then collect at 12 weeks. Paternity test apparently not advised until pups are 3 weeks old and they're just over a week and a half old now. I am not having one, far too much hard work!

@MeinKraft - I don't mean to be seeming off about calling the puppies freebies, it's just the way it was put to us. I know puppies and dogs are hard work as my parents and family have had them for years (none ever from puppy farms). The ones my family have had have been all sorts from Irish terriers, Yorkies, Doberman, long haired German Shepherds and Lassie dog and miniature poodles. DM has had an Afghan Hound and a Lab. It was just quite unexpected. We knew the dog would have puppies as I saw the best friend of SIL recently when she came up to London. I just assumed they'd be sold and to the community around there as it's countryside and the supposed father of the pups is a working gun dog.

I know all about the hair and other options from when we had a Lab as a child, also the fact that she was half gun dog bred so would go after anything in hunting mode like rabbits, and straight into lakes, the sea etc.

I don't think labs are that difficult if they're trained well, mine was lovely, very well behaved and friendly. But she was trained well and had my DM's full attention for 6 weeks as a puppy. Plus even though my DM had never had labs my stepdad had so he knew what to expect.

Having said that DP's are in good health (stepdad 72) and both walk a lot anyway. They rarely go away or abroad but know people (inc me) who would look after the dog.

DP's are looking into all this re health wise and have the money for the insurance.

I'm still not 100% myself about the story of how the dam/bitch got pregnant but according to the best friend it was a true 'accident' so what can they do now? But the pedigree of the dam/bitch is a good one apparently so is the sire's too.

So they’ve “got pedigree papers” but they’re also currently “having DNA tests” to check who the father is? Is that the normal Kennel Club procedure?