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Original poster

goldie labs

26 replies

mj4ever · 23/08/2009 21:53

just wondering if anyone on here has a labrador??
how are they with children??
is yours k.c or not??
temprement??
cats??
other dogs??
I have read up on them but would like to get a persons view.
thankyou for any replys.

OP posts:
DrNortherner · 23/08/2009 22:00

Hi! We have a black lab, he is 18 months got him aged 8 months from a labrador rescue charity.

He is utterly adorable and getting him was teh best thing we ever did. We have a 7 year old ds and often have other kids here and the dog takes everything in his stride, he has been pulled about, jumped over, had blankets thrown over him (of course we do teach ds to treat him with respect ) But in reality the dog loves being part of the fun! He has NEVER shown any agression to anybody or another dog, he has a wonderful temprament. It's always the small yappy dogs who show agression to him IME when out on walks.

He will do anything for food, loves us all to death, is funny, entertaining, cute and a loyal and faithful freind. we all love him

Labs do shed like hell though - I didn't know that before we got him. You will need a decent hoover!

Harimosmummy · 23/08/2009 22:00

I have a choc lab.

Perfect with children.
KC registered.
perfect personality.
Doesn't like cats
Perfect with all other dogs

My dog is6 now and my kids are 1 and newborn.

I trust the dog implicitly with both children, no matter how un-MN that is.

DrNortherner · 23/08/2009 22:02

Forgot to say mine likes to chase cats when he sees one but all they have to do is hiss at him and he retreats!

Any I trust mine implicity with ds

daisydotandgertie · 23/08/2009 22:06

We've got 2 black labs and they're both fabulous!

They're very different with regard to temprement; one is full of excitement with everything and into it all; the other is quiet, gentle and cuddly. It was really easy to tell which was which from as early as 4 weeks old. Both are KC reg.

They're friendly and quite easy going, are easily trained and very, very keen to please us. They're both brilliant with children even though we don't have any of our own.

They were both wary of the cat when she was alive and are oblivious to the chickens. In fact, they'll both be told what they are to ignore because I've trained them that way.

The only warning I'd give is that they're bloody hard work as puppies (although no different to any other breed). It doesn't last long, but puppies are a complex mixture of defiance, dependance and difficulty. They have a lot to learn very quickly!

Hope that helps. Can you tell I heart my labradaughters?

Harimosmummy · 23/08/2009 22:07

oh, yes... dog is not brave if the cat does n't run!!

Funnily, he isn't bothered at all by squirrels or other small animals, nor by the deer we have in the garden,.... just cats!!!

and boy does he love food!!

Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:10

DR that is lovily to here, he sounds delightful and made me smile thankyou for your reply

harimosmummy do you have cats?? just wondering cause i have two but thinking a lab might be alright if brought up with them
thankyou for your reply

don't worry also have a collie and trust her implicity too

OP posts:
lilymolly · 23/08/2009 22:11

2 black labs here also! mother and daughter.

Both have NEVER shown any aggression towards people and esp children.
I have 3 yr old dd and 21 week old ds and they are their protectors

KC registered
The older one has been aggressive to other dogs, but only because she has attacked by a terrier in the past and is ultra protective of me

Fine with cats, horses, sheep and cows

I LOVE MINE DEARLY

Love labradaughters btw
we call our the labrawoggies

Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:11

yes i think cats are always top dog
i know mine are

OP posts:
lilymolly · 23/08/2009 22:13

mine only shed twice a year btw

Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:14

thankyou daisy

i have a border collie too, surely labs cant be much harder

can they??

OP posts:
Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:16

All postive reply's thankyou.
im sure they are the perfect breed for me

OP posts:
swineofthetimes · 23/08/2009 22:20

I have a 2 year old black lab - who is wonderful and whom we adore.
I have a dd with SN, and he is fantastic with her.
He is not KC registered (and I'm proud of it ), but does come from a working line.
Perfect temperament.
We don't have cats, so can't comment, however he gets on well with my other two dogs.

Hope this helps

Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:25

thankyou

need to find a breeder now
lots of work ahead.

OP posts:
Hobnobfanatic · 23/08/2009 22:42

Do you mean a Golden Retriever, or a yellow Labrador?

Both are lovely family dogs - but there are hereditary health problems with both (as with most pedigree dogs), so make sure you research these and ask the breeders for proof of current health test certificates (such as for hips and eyes). Certainly only buy a Lab pup where the parents have been eye-tested.

Good luck - I'm getting broody just thinking of a cute Golden pup!

Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:53

hobnobfanatic

yellow labrador

yes i will be, i'm after a k.c lab so all the tests will be done and proof of vaccinations and seeing both parents and i am expecting to pay a lot of money so i want proof that all the tests have been carried out.

OP posts:
Original poster
mj4ever · 23/08/2009 22:54

i know hob arent they just gourgeous, cant wait

OP posts:
spugs · 24/08/2009 13:29

My aunties is an advert for why not to buy from just anyone.
Hes 6 years old, has hip dysplacia, diabeties, cateracts and bad skin. He costs a fortune in vets fees and at some point in the near future will be put to sleep as he is almost totally blind and nothing can be done apart from a very expensive operation.

Despite all this though he is a lovely dog, sheds hair like mad and is great with kids. He is over weight due to a lack of mobility which I think they can be susceptible too (there seems to be lots of fat ones around)

So definitely go for the health tested parents etc

swineofthetimes · 24/08/2009 20:06

They do need a lot of exercise to stay looking trim. Our dog has 2 hours a day exercise and is a lean machine as a result, however you see a LOT of very fat labs

Original poster
mj4ever · 24/08/2009 21:40

i have a border collie aswell so that is not a problem

OP posts:
swineofthetimes · 24/08/2009 21:51

lol - one of my other dogs is a collie x - she's now 14 and still needs an hours walk. They are loons (labs much easier ).

Original poster
mj4ever · 24/08/2009 22:15

swineofthetimes

They are a nightmare(perhaps not the correct word) but beautiful dogs, i totally agree they are loons,be nice to have a calm lab in the house

OP posts:
Hobnobfanatic · 26/08/2009 10:11

Kc reg does not mean that the tests will be done! Buyer beware! Kc registration is no mark of health or quality - it just means that the dog's parents are Labradors!

Kayzr · 26/08/2009 10:15

They can only be KC registered if the parents have had their hip scores done and have had their eyes tested. The KC also recommend that they have their elbows graded and are DNA tested for PRA - progressive retinal atrophy.

Hobnobfanatic · 29/08/2009 11:32

No Kayzr - that is not true! I know this for a fact. Many puppyfarmed dogs are KC registered. To be an Accredited Breeder, it's recommended that the breeder do the tests available, but it doesn't matter what the results are. A dog can have a massive hip score from an Accredited Breeder! And a dog can be registered with the Kennnel Club if no tests have been done. Fact.

Fraochsmum · 29/08/2009 12:11

We have 2 labradors and our first child on the way - I have no reservations about how they will behave with him. IMO they are perfect family dogs. They are both KC registered, Hobnobfanatic is right though as they don't have to hip scored - ours had a litter last year and neither of them have been done. It is a good idea to research the parents the pup is coming from though, as problems will be hereditary.
They will require as much exercise as your collie, but will demand more food and a whole heap more attention! You do see many fat ones, but I believe it is only due to overfeeding and lack of exercise (unless they have hip problems and are not very mobile).
Our oldest dog is quite bad with other dogs, but for the first 4 years of his life lived on a farm and never saw other dogs. If integrated with other dogs from the off, there won't be any problem.
They are very strong animals too (Fraoch is 35kg, but v. lean ), so be aware of that.
I hope you find a good pup, I don't think I would go back to any other kind of dog again!
I