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Original poster

Can we cope with a lab?

59 replies

JessiCake · 22/02/2017 11:06

DH grew up with labs, absolutely adores them, and from his point of view it would be a lab or nothing.

DD (4) has inherited his obsession!

We have always said we WILL get a dog (DD is an only child and DH has always wanted a family dog) when the time is right.

DD starting school in Sept which was one of my main stumbling blocks (wanted her to start and settle in before taking on a puppy) so we are starting to talk more seriously about it.

BUT - we live in a terrace in London, it's by no means massive (especially ground floor), about 1300 square feet in total. And our garden is small.

We have decent parks about 10 min walk away though, and HUGE commons about 10-15 mins drive.

I work from home so would be able to be at home pretty much all day with the dog, no leaving it alone for long periods or anything like that.

But is it just unfeasible to have a lab in a small house like ours? DH's house was twice our size when he grew up with them (though back garden still small) and he was literally across the road from a big wide common.

I keep looking fondly at smaller dogs - our neighbours had spaniels which I alos love - actually, come to think of it they had 2 spaniels in a house the same size as ours so maybe 1 lab would work...! But they had no kids!

Should I be trying to steer DD off the subject of her precious golden labrador or do you experienced MNers think we can manage it, with our specific circs?

Thank you.

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Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 20:50

Thanks willdo, that is really great advice.

DH was a really good lab owner in his time (at least, his dog was a lovely, gentle, easy dog, albeit food-obsessed) so I'm thinking he must have some idea what he's doing.

For my own part, I really would want to go all-out to ensure a dog that's as well-trained as possible. Happy, stimulated and relaxed. The rest of my family (who we see a lot) are all terrified of dogs so if we want to introduce any dog to them, it's going to have to be a relatively well-behaved one!

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Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 20:53

Ms Adorabelle, he is GORGEOUS.

I love black labs, actually, but I think DH and DD are wedded to the idea of a yellow.

Interesting point that I didn't know (mentioned by an earlier poster, thank you) that there are 'working' labs and 'pet' ones. I'm attracted by the more slim-line kind of lab from a size point of view (eg one of the reasons I would avoid a chocolate is that they seem to my eye much heftier than most black and some yellow?) but for our lifestyle I wonder if we would be better off with one that didn't need QUITE so much exercise and being on the go all the time.

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willdoitinaminute · 22/02/2017 20:58

This is my lovely lady who is mainly working with a little show. She is full of energy but has not been very destructive so don't be too put off by working lab reputation. I am currently training her to collect dirty socks from my DS bedroom. She takes them downstairs but hasn't got the hang of putty them in the laundry basket yet!

Can we cope with a lab?
Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 21:02

willdo... happy sigh... I hadn't expected lovely pics of labs to pop up on this thread!

Does make me realise how much I love them too, though.

We would definitely get a female as that's what DH is used to (and what DD wants). Will do more research into the working/show issue.

Getting quite excited now but also terrified!

We are probably a good 6-12 months away from actually getting the dog but I want to be fully genned-up (also because I want to be able to say to DD, with my hand on heart and not getting her hopes up unfairly) that we are definitely getting the dog she wants... she asks a LOT...

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MiddleClassProblem · 22/02/2017 21:02

Late to the party but we actually had 2 yellow labs in a 3 bed maisonettes in London with a courtyard garden. I was home with them all day (still am but not in London any more) so could take them out a couple of times or in the summer I would spend the whole day in the park with them. Benefits of London is that it's actually pretty dog friendly with pubs and cafes and mine went on bus, train and tube (although you're meant to carry them up the escalators so I avoided stations where that was the only option).

I never had any issues. We had one on her own from 3 and then when she was 6 we got a rescue lab pup. No issues at all but I think we were also lucky in their temperament. They were 9 and 3 respectively when we moved out.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 22/02/2017 21:03

Well as long as they get out for a walk each day, and you can do some training and playing at home, you should be fine. Sometimes you can overstimulate a dog. And in my experience, most dogs spend several hours a day sound asleep. They have this enviable ability to fall absolutely spark out in about thirty seconds. I wish I did.

The point a pp made about not over-exercising young dogs is a valid one. They're not fully grown till about two and certainly in the first year you don't want to put too much pressure on their joints. They are susceptible to elbow and hip trouble. They say five minutes exercise for every month of life until they're a year or so. Makes it easier to get used to the routine too. And it doesn't mean a regimented walk every day. We often go for a stroll down the beach or to the park or geocaching round a stately home and the dog comes too. They do fit in to your lifestyle surprisingly easily.

MiddleClassProblem · 22/02/2017 21:04

Ps I would always prefer a bitch. The youngest is a dog and will be my only one. DH grew up with males but I grew up with females. They are far more aware imo although ours can be a bit manipulative.

MiddleClassProblem · 22/02/2017 21:06

Also my days in the park were mostly me under a tree reading whilst they mooches around me investigating the long grass with a 30 min walk/run either end.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 22/02/2017 21:06

Sounds blissful!

Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 21:07

Thanks MiddleClass - hugely appreciated.

Also that is excellent info for me about not over-exercising a young dog. It certainly WOULD make it much easier for us (me, mostly) to get used to the new routine.

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Mum2jenny · 22/02/2017 21:17

I want to get a lab but my dh wants a jack Russell or similar as he thinks they'll be easier to train and need less walking. I think he's wrong and want a black or choc brown lab, as I had one as a child and loved her to bits. Easy to walk and would take as much or as little exercise as she got.

MiddleClassProblem · 22/02/2017 21:19

I worked at a dog rescue but the one breed I would never own would be a Jack Russell. I have a friend who has 5 and loves them but I find them such hard work and don't really trust them.

MiddleClassProblem · 22/02/2017 21:19

That's my personal feelings though

Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 21:21

MiddleClass - my lab-loving DH really dislikes Jack Russells too... he may have been nipped by one too often as a child, I think, because he goes on about how nippy they are, and it's the one dog he is wary of letting DD approach to ask if she can have a pat.

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Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 21:22

That said, the very first dog DD showed an interest in at the park when she was tiny was a lovely easy Jack Russell.

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AndShesGone · 22/02/2017 21:23

Remember you can't lift them on escalators for the tube Grin

I always had labs growing up as I love their soppiness but I got a wee dog for London so I could carry her on the tube if I needed to

Original poster
JessiCake · 22/02/2017 21:24

Laughing at idea of lifting a huge Lab on the escalator!

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Mum2jenny · 22/02/2017 21:33

I'm not keen on Jack Russell's as I think they can be nippy dogs, much prefer the idea of a lab

Bellatrixandstrange · 22/02/2017 21:55

My baby is from a working line and is really lazy! I have to drag him out every day and it takes him a good 20 minutes to accept I'm not taking him home. He would be happy to sleep on my lap all day.

Can we cope with a lab?
Noitsnotteatimeyet · 22/02/2017 22:04

I grew up with labs - we had a fiendishly clever fox-red girl and a rather dim but very sweet-natured pale yellow girl who we got at 5 months as she was gun-shy. Our eldest was absolutely bomb-proof - WW3 could have been kicking off and her only thought would have been how to steal some food ... the younger one was afraid of her own shadow, which had the unexpected bonus of keeping her reed-thin all her life. Both were from working lines but very different characters - although they both had tails which could clear a coffee table in seconds Grin

When we first got them we lived in a townhouse (tall and thin) with a small garden but thankfully quite close to Richmond Park - as long as they had two good walks a day (about 2+ hours a day in total once they were adults) they were perfectly happy to mooch around with us for the rest of the day

REW2016 · 22/02/2017 22:20

Yes! There are no dogs quite like labs! We have two girls, a chocolate and a yellow and while both very difficult characters they are such sweet dogs. Both have taken until around 2 to chill out and we're a handful to begin with but settled nicely. We are in a bigger house now but had the first dog in a small terrace with small garden and she was fine; you will be too with plenty of parks etc around for when the pup is a bit older. Champdogs is a good website with KC registered breeders who will give details of parents and blood lines as well as health screening tests done that have been mentioned before. Our girls are both from show lines and is good condition, i.e. not fat but quite different sizes - 31kg and 26.5kg so not necessarily a very big dog. The yellow sheds a lot more than the chocolate btw. Small or large house, a crate is a good thing to have at least initially and going to training classes will help with bonding, socialisation and really build your confidence. Getting the dog in the summer is a good idea too so you can spend more time outside and get into some routine before term time. Good luck - you're going to have a ball!

babyblackbird · 22/02/2017 22:31

Don't write off working labs . Mine has one hour a day of off lead walking and spends the rest of his day asleep. I do sometimes take him out again but he really is not bothered.

He is truly the laziest dog we've ever had. You can't generalise - it's all about individual temperament and personality.

Can we cope with a lab?
honeyroar · 22/02/2017 22:34

We've got 2 labs and a small crossbreed fluff ball. All are rescues. All adore kids. I've never had a little dog before. It's nice having something that can't pull you over and you can pick up easily!

My first lab was rehomed as they had a toddler and no garden. She was 2, fat and hyper. She is a powerful dog that can knock 3 coffee cups over with one wag of her tail. She dragged DSS all over until he was 11. Our second lab had 4 homes prior to us, he was 14 months old. He was incredibly energetic until he was 6yrs old and needed so much exercise.

Labs are lovely dogs but don't underestimate them as easy choice dogs. They also eat everything and throw themselves into water/mud at every chance they get!!

somethingwitty3432 · 22/02/2017 22:39

Get a labradoodle (lab/poodle cross) instead. Hypoallergenic as they don't drop hair or smell like labs and are smaller so need less exercise & space but have same lovely temperament as labs. Far better suited to your size house

Hoppinggreen · 22/02/2017 23:14

Nothing wrong with a lab cross but it isn't a lab so you may as well get any other breed. It may be very much like one or nothing like one.