MIGHT BE TAKING ON A 16 WEEK OLD LABRADOR - ANY ADVICE!

[WTFwasthat]

we are very excited, but getting the jitters about how unprepared we might be. He has come from a breeder but his owners have returned him after 4 weeks. because the daughter did not like him He is housetrained but has apparently received no training from his previous owners. His breeder is going to keep him for a week to settle back in and another week to give him some training. We are going to visit him in a week to make our decision. What should I ask her?

he's yellow Lonelylou

Mines pink and blue at the moment

bloody wet chalk on patio

Yellow = intelligent and calm. Despite what you've seen on that film . It takes training to achieve a well behaved lab

Lonelylou I take it you refer to Marley and me? I mght have to give it another look just to prepare us That way, anything pup does will seem calm by comparison

I don't know I think Mr Grogan may have had a point about American and English strains of Lab. Anecdotal evidence of those huge headed American lines does seem to indicate more brawn than actual brain.

One of Dads colleagues showed me a picture of their summerhouse that the dog ate. Not damaged. Not chewed. But systematically and determinedly ate.

Thisisnothoney, good grief! Really??? I'd better stock up with Bonios then!

tbf, he did no other damage at all. He just had it in for the summerhouse. It's a swimming pool now instead, he much prefers that!

My advice - lab puppies are bouncy and enthusiastic so it is very important to remember that a very large number of adult dogs do not like being bounced on. If you see an on-lead dog approaching, assume he is on lead for a reason and grab your pup. If you meet another dog walker and would like to socialise your pup with their dog, always ask first if their dog is ok with puppies.

If you don't and your pup gets a sharp nip in the face, or is frightened by a snap, remember that is your fault.

You'd never guess that my dog hates puppies would you , and lab puppies are highest on his list!

Ditto with people - I have yet to meet anyone who is ok with muddy puppy feet all over their trousers!

That's if you can grab your pup in time, WTF.

Good point. Be prepared to apologise to people. Quite a lot.

hahahha - I'm good at apologising. I've made it an artform. I am now only 60% nervous and 40% excited now!

Joking aside make sure you grab your pup in time.... and if there is any doubt about being able to don't let him off until you can. I have seen a grey hound grab a lab puppy by the face and refuse to let go after it hassled him (he was on lead, and the owner had called from a distance to say it was important the puppy did not approach). Nervous aggression often starts with a bad experience as a puppy.

You'll be fine, enjoy your pup

cannot seem to get an up date form the breeder. She says he is happy enough burt since he has been crated for a large proportion of the time he was with his previous owners, he is way behind on socialisation and basic training. Poor boy

Don't worry, taking him to puppy classes will sort that out in no time

the breeder is very diligent. I'm sure she will have him shipshape in no time. Just a bit frustrating waiting esp as she has not contacted me for two days!

About types of Lab - in the UK, there are two 'types'. Working and show. In the USA, they tend to call them English and American types.

Working types of lab have been bred to refine their working abilities. They tend to be leggier, leaner, finer and smaller of head. The characteristics a working lab is bred to refine are those used for their traditional work - retrieving game, so speed, style, brains, nose and bidability.

Show types are bred to refine whichever 'look' is in fashion at the time, currently quite stout with a big, broad head and chest.

A good breeder of either type will also aim to ensure a good all around dog with a true Labrador.

Colour has little impact on the character of the dog, nor of it's intelligence or attitude. Chocolates did suffer when they became very fashionable and some people were breeding just for colour and money, with no thought for the final character of the dog. Black is the dominant/original Lab colour.

The polite way of saying it is they tend to be very food motivated. It does make it easy to train them.

If she's good, you could ask the breeder if she can recommend anywhere near you for the puppy classes.

she is a dog trainer herself Narked Raspberry

Handy

what a lucky puppy to have a good breeder and you to come to! i would just like to add that i love clicker training. my dogs (tibetan terriers) are very difficult and frustrating without it but have taught the younger dog to stand on a mark with it, only took me 10 minutes for him to be doing it consistently every time i ask. he now does it to any object i put down for him. he knows as soon as he hears thr click hes done the right thing and it really helps to encourage to think for himself. we taught our puppy to wee on command which is very useful for house training. just go out with him.and while he is weeing say the phrase you want to associate with it (we use go wees) and praise him when hes finished.

Insure the dog! Our MadLab had, in under a year, done the following-
Sliced a paw pad (had to be fixed under anaesthetic)
Eaten something yucky and given himself haemorragic gastroenteritis (came frighteningly close to dying)
Fallen into a pond and sliced his willy open (16 stitches under anaesthetic) No idea what sharp thing was under the water.
He's extremely well trained (failed Guide Dog) but goes deaf if he sees a picnic or children kicking a ball. We apologise a lot and carry ball compensation money. Be prepared for mouthy-ness when excited.
If you get a clever one, they can be very resourseful. MadLab will not touch his food without the command but he will open the cupboard latches and help himsel to a box of cereal.
That said, he's just the most loving dog. He's convinced that my lap is the best place on earth and always knows if someone is upset and glues himself to them.

We apologise a lot and carry ball compensation money.

Sorry - ball compensation thing should have been in quotes, but that made me laugh out loud horsemadmom

As someone mentioned above, ensure you check the hip/ eye scores and if you can speak to owners who have bought puppies from her previously. I say this as a lab owner. My dog was diagnosed with severe hip displacia at a young age and a knee op at 3 years old. He is 7 now and has to live with my MIL as she has no stairs in her property to get in to the house. We checked hip scores but they could have been faked?! If anything feels wrong walk away however cute the puppy is.

Mine was a nightmare chewer as a puppy, ate a blackberry, several bras, knickers, shoes, opened cupboards to get food, even ate my pregnancy notes! But he grew out of it! Kongs are great as you can fill them with chicken and rice and freeze them amuses them for ages. He was so good with the children he was there first too, we had no jealousy issues. We were strict with training from the start and it paid off. However he never ever walked well on the lead despite lots of training and they are heavy when they pull!

Oh and they can really shed a lot of hair too, and will leave muddy marks all over the walls, floors etc so if you are particularly house proud bear this in mind!

I hope that it all works out as labs make wonderful pets.