Do you need a big garden for a Labrador?

[crossedwires]

Just considering breeds and we favour the Retriever breeds for temperament, trainability and to fit with our famiy dynamic but we don't have a large garden. It is a reasonable size, fully fenced in with lawn and decking but it is certainly not large. Would this be alright? Also, is it feasible to look after a dog as a lone parent? My children are both at school so no toddlers to take care of, but is it really do-able on your own? i don't work and have no commitments outside of normal family stuff. I could, in reality, organise my life around a dog's requirements but is it as easy as all that. We would want a puppy (from a rescue or otherwise).

no opinions? On MN? I don't believe it!

Our neighbours have two retrievers in an ordinary victorian semi with not a huge garden. They go out for lovely walks though... They seem content in the garden and can rough play etc but not exhaust themselves like they might in a big garden... As long as you have time to take him out it sounds fine.

Not particularly, so long as the walks are long and strenuous. HTH.

You do not need a big garden for a lab, because you will be out walking them lots in all weathers. I wear out my boots roughly every 6 mths. Have rarely worn out my labs .

No - but as with many breeds of dogs, if you are going to be kind to your canine companion you need to commit to decent walks every day, rain or shine. Sounds fine in principle - but I get really fed up of having to do this every day, it's very tying

thank you all. So do you think it is doable as a single owner? Or would I be putting too much pressure on myself?

Hi we have GR 17 weeks and I'm on own most of time it's lovely he is such good company and (gush) he has totally changed my life . Our garden isn't big as long as you can walk him it's fine. They are a wonderful breed (biased ) and I would now be lost without him

My sister has two. She has a small garden but a nature reserve behind her house. One of her 8 children is charged with walking the dogs twice a day for at least an hour.
Some days it is easier to get volunteers than others.
I can't see your lone parenthood being a factor TBH.

Our garden is tiny but our lab X gets one big walk every morning and a couple of smaller ones depending on what we're up to. He just uses the garden to potter in (and dig!) really.

No problem looking after a dog on your own, although it can be a hassle if you don't feel well because labs really need at least one long walk a day. I find it easier to drag myself out never mind how bad I'm feeling rather than put up with whining dog shadowing my every movement all day.
We've got a very small garden, mostly hard surfaces/and decking, nowhere for dog to dig, apart from plant pots. He used to tip them over and eat bulbs but now he's nearly 2 he doesn't do that any more, spends most of his time outside sleeping on the patio (as long as he's had his walk) or annoying the cat.

this is all very encouraging! My only reservation about doing this as a single parent is that all the doommongers seem to leap on the fact that 100% of doggy care will be down to me, what if I'm ill? What if it snownig/raining etc. People can be so damned negative about it! So, would you say a good 45-60 min walk wtht off lead run (once dog is old enough) about plus one short 20 min walk late evening would be about right? If we were going out for the day to the coast/woods etc. obvs dog could come with us so walk or outing would be a day long thing.

what are your views on gender? I'm not particularly fussed either way.

We don't have a large garden and our lab is happy to mooch and sunbathe. He also like to retrieve so plentiful supply of Kongs/tennis balls. He has one spot where he digs but he choose behind a large shrub so that's OK !

I think the thing you need to consider is that age of your DC. Are they old enough to be left home alone if the dog needs a walk at night or on a freezing cold morning in school hols and they don't want to go again ?

I have a labrador puppy with an average size garden. She goes for one 15 minute walk extra a day at the moment but it will be upped as she gets bigger (she's 4 months old). She's knackered after being with the kids and running around the garden.

I also look after her alone and train her alone. It's not too bad at all.

I have a female by the way as I heard females are generally better around children. Right or wrong information, I don't know but she's very happy and great with the kids, even if she does like to play with them constantly and be involved in everything.

I have a boy, I childmind and he is fine but bouncy with kids lol

so would you recommend spaying/neuting as soon as is possible?

neutering

we are not 100% decided yet LemarchandsBox - i am 90% there but still researching practicalities.

We got a lovely black lab, girl. One word of caution. Please make sure she/he is hip scored. We are just back on track with her walks after two total hip replacements and she is only 19 months.

Best of luck - she has changed our family so much for the better.

We had lab neutered at 12 months cos so many dogs round here. Vet suggested not earlier so had physically matured.

We have a Lab and he has 3 walks of minimum 15mins per day with one of them being at least 1/2 hr (&If you can throw in a few longer ones at weekends, all the better) but no you don't need a large garden. We have quite a large one but dogs get bored in gardens no matter what their size. What they want are the lovely smells, scents of other creatures and the socialisation with other dogs and people. If it's snowing or raining or you're ill? Sorry, it's still down to you! Having said that you can modify things for a few days as necessary and as long as they get out for a few 15min ones then you're OK. On the up side, Labs are the most lovely loyal pets so they pay you back in spades.