We'd like a dog. Where do we start?

[Goingtobeawesome]

It won't be for a good few months if not a year but I'd love to get advice and to make sure I get everything right.

He or she would be our first dog together though I lived with two as a teenager.

We have two cats and two Guinea pigs already. Plus some fish and a snail.

They would be my dog ad I'd be home all day. Was dog or job!

We'd like a Labrador retriever.

We've considered the local rescue place as we have for our late Guinea pigs and current cat from them but DH is concerned about not knowing the full history so would the dog be safe with the children. They are 11-15.

Any advice? Thank you.

Sorry to go off topic but those two lab pics really highlight just how fat the average lab is. You can see they aren't thin yet they are a totally different shape to all the labs I see walking round here!

Cavalier truth be told, mine could do with losing a kg or two. She's not been getting the same amount of walking as DF, who has her while I am at work, is off his feet right now.

Also she's working-type and their lower line isn't as straight as a show's. Even non-overweight shows will look fat compared to a worker in good shape

MidLife - it was an immediate Awwwwww. It's a long way from us though. 5-6 hours in the car sounds mean for him .

Wyldfyre - what a handsome dog you have.

hennipenni - your lab is so cute! The others jot so bad either .

With a few stops 5-6 hours is manageable OP.
I travel from Scotland to Derbyshire annually and it takes me about that long. Mind you my car is basically a dogmobile - estate car with built in crate, massive bed, inbuilt water bowl etc...

A couple of stops while he stretches his legs and has a drink, and he will be absolutely fine.
Your most worthwhile journey ever.

DD doesn't want a dog .

I'm gutted

Oh, I was excited for you, knowing how much you had to look forward to with all the pleasure that a dog brings.
Well, it's something that you need to talk about as a family.

But she used to hate the cats and now likes them so....

Fingers and paws crossed.

We live in London and got our dog from Many Tears in South Wales Goingtobeawesome.

It was worth the long drive - he's an absolute darling!!

cavalier if you could see our lab in the flesh you would probably think she could do with putting on a kilo or two!

It probably won't happen. Much as it would do me the world of good for many reasons to have a dog, DD is going through a really difficult time at the moment and this might tip her over the edge. She has to come first.

Maybe I could adopt one like at London zoo where you pay towards its care and can visit..

You can volunteer to walk dogs at your local shelter and there's an adopt a puppy scheme, a guide dog puppy, where you get updates though I'm not sure if you ever get to meet the dog.

Thats such a shame your dd has said that. I have found even though my ds didnt want anything to do with a dog if we got one, he comes downstairs and throws the ball for her several times an afternoon/evening. He also likes to do bits of training with her as well.
My dd has a few emotional problems and she just loves giving our dog a hug (I know not all dogs like it, but ours does).

When we got our dog, I did a lot of research. We had chickens at the time and my original thought of border terrier went out of the window. I then read up about spaniels, esp cockers, and had my heart set on one. We set a budget but soon realised it was too low so almost doubled it. We luckily found someone who had bred their family dog twice and was then having her spayed, so not a prolific breeder by any stretch, and was only a short drive away.

The show vs worker is quite important. A show isn't just for doing dog shows like crufts. They have much less energy than workers so need less walks and other things to tire them out. In the case of a cocker though, they need much more grooming which I underestimated and didn't start the right way (1st ever dog for me) and she hates it.
You need to think about how much you can walk your dog, and where, as to which type would be more suitable for you.
If you go down th rescur route, and want a spanner, have a look at spaniel aid. They have a fb page and have some gorg dogs on there, all with their own stories.
There is also blue cross and rspca for rescues, not just dogs trust.

I hope your dd changes her mind as having a dog has really added a heart to our family. Its like having a fun toddler about all the time, who can be trained to do what you want, and is so happy for you to come home. Even if you have only just put the bins out and have been out of the house for 1 minutes

She said get one then, just don't want one, I want a lock for my door.

I'll wait. I expect she'll leave home at some point so I'll get one then and if not, I'll never have a dog.

11 & 15 are good ages for a first dog. Couple of words of warning for a Labrador.

Our Labrador is working line and slim but still weighs 32kg. Show line can go up to 45kg. A child or even a young adult will struggle to always safely control a dog that size in all circumstances so all the walking will be down to you or your dh. Our lab still sometimes takes me by surprise if he sees another dog he wants to play with.

Nothing prepares you for the amount of hair Labradors shed, all year round, then they moult a few times a year and there is even more. I never vacuumed more than once a day in my life before we got our lab.

Love our Labrador and he is a brilliant pet.

I don't remember the Labrador I lived with moulting at all but it wouldn't bother me. Our cat likes to leave her fur everywhere .

She's agreed!!!!!!

Just to point out that the show lines require less walking does not always come true

My lab from show stock needs and does go for hours

I love watching him swim as well you can see the strength him .That these are very much dogs that was designed for swimming /retrieving

Agree on the moulting though we always seem have dog hairs

May be no help at all but if you want her to get used to dogs and aren't getting one immediately then how about volunteering with The Cinnamon Trust? Lovely walking and outside the home so neutral territory.

Her criteria is he has to be golden coloured and she gets to name him.

We'd like a Labrador or Labrador retriever or a golden retriever. And I think we'd like a puppy.

Black Retriever X

Happy Paws Rescue

Labrador Rescue

Labrador Rescue Kent

Many Tears

Max the Lab

Golden Retriever Rescue & Rehoming

Labradors in Need

Labrador Rescue Trust

Labrador Lifeline

Thank you Bagel. I tired to reply yesterday but the wifi wasn't working. I'll have a good look today.