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Where to get a labrador pup/find a good breeder?

57 replies

SilverBells · 18/12/2006 21:36

After LOADS of research and careful thought, we have decided to get a labrador pup early next year and wonder if anyone knows of a reputable breeder in central scotland.
also, any lab owners, are chocolate labs really as daft as their reputation, and if so, is it really a problem?! are they likely to run into roads, or hurt themselves or just be a bit gormless?! hope i haven't offended any lab-lovers, it may be an unfair stereotype!
thanks!

OP posts:
drummumadrumming · 19/12/2006 00:21

night...
keep us posted on your search...

Tillypup · 19/12/2006 11:02

If the dog is a house dog it is likely to moult throughout the year unfortunately.

Looking at the Kennel Club site to find an acredited breeder as well as trying to get personal recommendations.

As has been mentioned before Labs are incredibly common/popular dogs so are far more likely to attract unscrupulous puppy farmer type breeders as there is a much bigger market for them than the pointers I own (fabulous dogs btw )Make sure you do as much research about the breeder before you go and see the pups as there's no way you'd be saying no when you go and see then!

Find out, how many litters the breeder breeds per year and why they breed, for showing, working etc. Also find out about what health screening they do on their dogs/bitches, labs should certainly be hip scored before being bred from and I'm sure there are other health tests too. The health tests may help to weed out the less reputable breeders. As has been said before show bred gundogs tend to be far calmer than working types, some spaniel's can seem like completely different breeds and a "show type" may be easier to handle/have around the house particularly if you are a new dog owner.

Take notice of the exercise advise given about labs, you do have to quite careful with them as pups and makes sure they don't gallop too much but once they are fully grown they really do need 2 hours or so everyday as they are bred to work. As they are a retrieving breed they will love playing games with you, fetch etc etc.

Hope that all helps and good luck, however, if you change your mind about the breed of dog I can't recommend pointers enough a very underrated breed as a pet but very happy sitting on your lap all day given half the chance Also, of all the dogs I've had none have ever got people's attention like the pointers.

ps, I'm knackered now after all that typing!

SilverBells · 19/12/2006 12:27

thanks tillypup, you've given me loads of good advice there and plenty to think about!
i love pointers but just assumed that they would prefer to be working dogs. i didn't realise that if they were bred as "show type" dogs that they may be more content just as pets.
i am so glad that i posted on here, mn wisdom knows no bounds! my dh always jokes that all the questions on life, the universe and everything can be answered on here!

OP posts:
WhyDooLittleStarsShine · 19/12/2006 12:38

Tillypup - I have a beagle, I have always wanted a pointer. Do you have English pointers?
They are truly beautiful dogs. I was hoping for a pointer but we have just bred from our beagle and we are keeping one of the puppies. We'll have to wait a bit longer now.

I grew up with labs. They are lovely lovely dogs. My parents have a chocolate lab. I really didn't want to believe that her temperament would be dictated by her colour. However, she is the daftest dog. I think this as a consideration only applies to people who work them though. Apparently a chocolate lab has never won the National Trials. A gamekeeper I know says their 'brains are in their arses' but that doesn't mean they aren't the loveliest loveliest dogs.

Macdog · 19/12/2006 12:41

try Dogs Today magazine.
Click on 'Dial a Dog' for Breed/Breeder info

Also try Scottish Kennel Club

SilverBells · 19/12/2006 13:04

thanks all. i've loads of things to be thinking about now!

OP posts:
Tillypup · 19/12/2006 13:12

Yep "english" pointers, although they are just called pointers ! There is far less difference between "show" and "working" bred pointers than most other gundogs, for example I show my two girls and the other half field trials them and watching them "work" the meadows near us has shown us that they can still easily do the job they were originally bred for! I think the biggest difference in breeding lines is in spaniels and setters.

Starshine, my other half says the only "small" dog he'd have is a beagle!

My girls get two walks a day, one long one and one shorter one and as long as they get the opportunity to gallop they are quite content to sleep for the rest of the day (oh how I wish I was a dog sometimes!)having the two together does make them gallop and play a lot more than when we had one.In reality, labs and most other similar dogs should get around the same amount of exercise, not just physical but some "brain" work too (for our girls that just involves finding birds!)then you shouldn't get too many problems at home with dogs being too hyper or destructive. Gundogs really are "people" dogs so the more you can do with them/involve them in the happier they will be, so obedience and all that kind of stuff is great.

WhyDooLittleStarsShine · 19/12/2006 14:21

I see Tillypup.
I know that the German's tend to like breeding pointers too that are very popular but IMHO they don't have the same appeal.

utterlyconfused · 19/12/2006 14:25

Definitely the kennel club website. We are in central scotland and had a black lab litter this summer - the 3 bitches already had good homes to go to but there were 7 dogs and at least 4 of those went through the kennel club site. You'll also get useful advice on what you should check before buying etc.

SilverBells · 19/12/2006 19:07

thanks utterlyconfused, i have looked at the list for scotland and there are a fair few breeders so will check them out. what sort price do labs go for up here, or does it depend on the parentage of the dog iyswim?

OP posts:
Tillypup · 19/12/2006 19:41

If you have a look on the champ dogs website under labs they have a puppy list which will often have the price of the pups on it, that should help, it also has lists of breeders to help your search further.

Tillypup · 19/12/2006 19:42

sorry I'm rubbish, it's www.champdogs.co.uk

WhyDooLittleStarsShine · 19/12/2006 19:42

I'd say anything between £460-£650.

dingdonglapinroseonhigh · 20/12/2006 16:10

Oops forgot about this! Our lab is great with children, the DTs absolutely adore her and are getting good at shouting at her they do have a good reputation with kids.

dingdonglapinroseonhigh · 20/12/2006 16:12

BTW our lab lives outside most of the year, is in at night in colder weather and all day at the mo as its bloody freezing, but she has a kennel and enclosed area outside so is quite happy with that.

drummumadrumming · 20/12/2006 17:54

dingdonglapinroseonhigh.. does your dog come inside during the day?... we hope to get a dog in March and it will sleep in the porch which is singularly glazed.. it will be in the house with us during the day and I worry that it will get cold with all the extreme heats especially in the winter..... [soft dappy emoticon]

dingdonglapinroseonhigh · 20/12/2006 19:59

she's in during the day this week as its so cold, but generally is outside day & in at night

12yeargap · 21/12/2006 10:55

definately make sure the parents are hip scored, A displastic lab is going to cost you a fortune.

This might not be popular, but virtually every choccy lab I've ever known has been obese and arthritic by 5 or 6 years of age. Stunning puppies, but waddling, wheezing adults. Sorry. I'd go for a black or a yellow, but you'll still need to watch their weight.

Agree that English pointers are stunning.

12yeargap · 21/12/2006 10:58

meant to add, have a look at www.labradorforums.co.uk loads of good advice there.

WhyDooLittleStarsShine · 21/12/2006 12:26

I'd agree. You have to be fussy with the chocolate lab puppies. The ones that are bred to 'be' chocolate lab are usually short and dumpy, as the parenst tend towards.
Ours was a fluke as she came out of a litter of ten from a taller black dog and yellow bitch, she was one of two chocolate ones. She is also of Irish pedigree. I don't if that is why but we have managed to maintain her at a good weight and she is 7 years old.

SilverBells · 21/12/2006 17:59

thanks again for all the info everybody-peeps!

OP posts:
christmas2NDTIMEmistletoenwine · 21/12/2006 21:05

Yikes SilverBells!
Did you read the bit about 2 hours exercise a day!

No wonder there are so many fat labs about!

Get a stunted mutt like our Ernie! He's exhausted after 15 minutes and refuses to move unless you carry him.

Tillypup · 21/12/2006 21:27

Another reason for all the fat pets around apparently is that people mistake feeding them for giving them affection, so they get treats all the time etc etc.

The 2 hours thing is quite flexible really. It doesn't mean one 2 hour walk everyday but can be split up into several shorter sessions. One thing to remember though, just letting the dog out in the garden (however big the garden is) is not likely to count, unless you are out there playing with it as a dog on its own probably wouldn't do too much in "its own space".

Another thing I thought (whilst out walking my dogs ) is, when you speak to a breeder find out about aftercare and advice once you have the pup. A reputable breeder will be more than happy to keep in contact with you once you've bought the pup, they will be interested to hear about the puppy's progress and be there at the end of a phone/email in case of any problems. They shouldn't just be looking to get you to and over your cash and get shot of you IYSWIM.

Tillypup · 21/12/2006 21:30

Here, hopefully is a pic of one of my girls (she really is a daddy's girl!)

Lola

Tillypup · 21/12/2006 21:34

And this is my other girl (I'm such a proud mum) at our local country park.

tilly