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Original poster

Am i going to regret this? Golden Retreiver or Lab

37 replies

jenk1 · 27/11/2008 19:14

After months of DH and the kids mithering us for another dog,i agreed to go and look at some today.

Our history is that we had a lhasa apso last year,he was a lovely dog,but he had behavioural problems,we took him to a specialist and he said he was very jealous of DD who is disabled,we tried to show him love and affection but he started weeing against DD and growling when anyone went near her,so we gave him to a lovely lady who already had one and he is very happy there now.

DS went into a depression over it and we said after a few months we,d think about another one,

so ive had a look and the 2 that look good family pets are the golden retreiver and the lab,because of what happened with the other dog i am nervous about getting another,and if anyone has either of these dogs would you say they are good with small children?

TIA

OP posts:

Mutt · 27/11/2008 19:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grabshelldude · 27/11/2008 19:21

Generally Labs are very good as family pets (we have two). Golden Retrievers are also lovely dogs but they shed massive amounts of hair. Other than that not a lot to choose between them. As Mutt says, they do need a lot of exercise to keep them from destroying your house.

LittleMissNorty · 27/11/2008 19:27

Grew up with a retreiver (you will be hoovering every day) and have a lab now - both fab with kids (I have a 18mo DD), but are powerful chewers of anything (we lost a door frame and dining room table leg to our lab) and need lots of exercise.

I think they are th perfect breed with DCs around. Our lab is SO gentle with DD (even if he gets a bit boisterous with us)....but as with any animal, they are never left alone together.

BTW labs may be short haired, but they also lose loads of hair!

bella29 · 27/11/2008 19:28

Don't get a lab!

Since we got ours my marriage has broken up, my dc have left home, my cats are AWOL, and I still haven't won the lottery. oh, and I washed all my white undies with a black sock....

No, seriously, lovely lovely dogs.....

scifinerd · 27/11/2008 19:40

I heard labs fart a lot. Is that true?

LittleMissNorty · 27/11/2008 19:42

all dogs fart....mine did as a pup...not so much now.

Both breeds are bloody greedy though.....my lab LOVES DD for this reason....free food

Grabshelldude · 27/11/2008 19:43

Yep Labs certainly have a wind problem!

scifinerd · 27/11/2008 19:45

They can't possible be as windy as little children...!!!

bella29 · 27/11/2008 21:18

Both my dogs (one is only part lab) fart copiously and in a much more offensive manner than my dc, or even my dh.

Spontaneous combustion is a clear and present danger in our house

dollius · 28/11/2008 12:55

Our lab is great with the children - very gentle and puts up with all amount of prodding - but make sure you get a "bottom dog". Ours is a "top dog" and has been very, very hard to train. Still bounds up to other dogs, and you can't get his attention when he is distracted. My parents' lab was a breeze to train, however.
They need at least an hour's good running around every day, so make sure you can provide that or they can get destructive.

iggylou · 28/11/2008 14:22

I have a lab and can 100% recommend them - he is excellent with children and just generally a star.

but - would recommend you make sure you get a lab from parents who are tested for hip dysplasia (HD) as this can be a problem in the breed

RE: wind - bit of an obvious one really - but wind is related to what you feed the dog, so if you dog is farting alot - consider changing it's diet. Mine doesn't fart alot - and when he does it is usually cos he either needs the loo or has eaten something vile...

They do need alot of walking tho.

LittleB · 29/11/2008 20:27

I grew up with a golden retriever (brought by my parents when my mum started her maternity leave with me)and my family have had several since, they are really lovely dogs. I now have a nova scotia duck tolling retriever, also a lovely gentle dog, smaller than labs and retrievers, needs his brain excercising but less physical excercise than a lab or goldie and my dd (3.6) will play ball with him for ages.

Original poster

jenk1 · 30/11/2008 19:19

i saw some the other night,the golden andrex puppy types and they were gorgeous.

i think im going to be defeated and we will get one,i have shown DH and DS the comments about them needing a good long walk and they have assured me that they will do, it will be me whos with the pup most days tho.

im just uneasy because of the lhasa but he had behavioural problems,im just hoping a lab wont be jealous of DD either but im sure ive read that labs are good with people with SN.

OP posts:

Earlybird · 30/11/2008 19:28

Some labs must be lovely, or they wouldn't be such popular family pets. However, my only direct experience with the breed is a cousin's chocolate lab. It is seriously stupid, and offensively smelly. Completely and utterly charmless, with no redeeming qualities.

iggylou · 01/12/2008 09:56

Just my opinion but Choc labs are nuts... and tend to have more heath problems as they are harder to breed (Choc coat coulour is not dominant).

Black labs are the best (I am biased )

Also yellow are nice.

LadyBuntingofCupcake · 01/12/2008 10:16

Labs are much more excitable than retrievers who are, I believe, much more placid.

Labs also like to roll in badger and fox shit, and do stupid things such as chase sheep and knock small children over when they are over-excited.

Retrievers shed hair.

I still prefer labs though.

LadyBuntingofCupcake · 01/12/2008 10:17

Labradors will also eat anything in sight. Which can be hell when you're walking them. Or perhaps I have a particularly 'spirited' one.

bella29 · 01/12/2008 11:14

Labs eat anything in sight?

Oh, you mean that manky half-decomposed crow my pup brought back proudly last time

ilovemydog · 01/12/2008 11:17

We have 2 golden retrievers. They are great with kids, but keep in mind how much hair they can generate!

Labs are much better on the hair front...

mrsdisorganised · 01/12/2008 11:21

We have a big lab and a terrier, the lab is fantastic with the kids (although completely bonkers!) the only thing I find is that he is very strong and obviously needs lots of exercise and attention. On the hair...fine until he molts then there is black hair everywhere, and i can see where he sneaks onto the sofa at night The terrier is old and generally grumpy and keeps well out of the kids way!

hullygully · 01/12/2008 11:24

We have a poodle retreiver cross and she is fab with kids and babies, lies down all the time unless out for a long walk or being played with, and doesn't shed (much) hair.

bella29 · 01/12/2008 11:31

Is that a retrieveroodle, then hullygully?

hullygully · 01/12/2008 11:57

Should be - but they call them goldendoodles which I'm far too embarrassed to say..

bella29 · 01/12/2008 12:09

pmsl

ilovemydog · 01/12/2008 13:42

Oh, I soooo want a lab/poodle cross

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