Tell me about your Labrador

[mrssunshinexxx]

Just as the title says really getting s lab in the next 12m not sure on bitch or dog yet we definitely wouldn't breed from it
Would love to hear all the good and not so good stories

[1frenchfoodie]

@Blendingrock so handsome! I love the photo looking in the car. Now you mention it our purebread’s tummy was a bit sensitive which isn’t a problem with our cross. We’ve looked after a number of other (working line) purebreads and they have been fine though.

[DifficultDIY]

@VimFuego101

Everything I read about labs suggests potential hip/elbow issues. What have you lab owners done/ screened breeders in terms of checking for that?

The dogs used for breeding should have scores done to present to you.

You can only do scores once in a lifetime, the ideal age being when they're a year old. This is because it is an educated guess about degeneration for the future, and so it can't be younger than one or they haven't completely grown yet, and shouldn't ideally be too old or you're trying to predict the future of already ageing hips, which would come out much worse (especially as trauma alters the picture, for example).

So the breeder should inform you of parent scores, and you decide whether you want to take that risk or go somewhere else with lower scores and corresponding lower risk.

I really liked the breeder I bought from, one parent had excellent scores and grandparents with scores of zero, which just can't get any better! The other parent had mildly above average scores but again, grandparents on that side had incredibly low scores and were used for agility, winning many awards. So I chanced it, though spoke to a vet first. The advice was not to overdo exercise and not to overfeed, to give plenty of fish oils etc, to help reduce the likelihood of any problem.

[DifficultDIY]

There is also information online about what the current annual average is for scores, because it changes all the time.

But what doesn't change is the fact that: the lower the score the better chance you have of getting no problems.

[WeAreSailing]

The most beautiful, loving, funny, greedy, hairy, loyal creature to walk this earth.
5 yo old black lab who drives me crackers sometimes but we adore with all our hearts

[mrssunshinexxx]

Wow he is beautiful and the puppy is gorgeous x

[WeAreSailing]

@Blendingrock he is absolutely gorgeous and so shiny! Not come across that mix before and on first glance he looks like a big lab or smaller Great Dane

[VimFuego101]

Thank you, @DifficultDIY - very useful.

[ar44455]

I thought they were clever and intelligent dogs.... mine defiantly isn't. Took 9 months to toilet train her !! She still won't wait by the door to go out I have to open it and tell her to go.
She has to be by my side 24/7 even when I'm having a poo 😂 they are very needy !
Very over excited near any other dog nearly pulled me over numerous times when on her lead. Other than that she's like a big baby and I adore her

[ar44455]

Oh and I've given up with trying to get the dog hair off my clothes they malt ridiculously ! Would change mine for the world she is literally my daughter 😂

[ar44455]

Brilliant family dogs, need lots of attention and walkies Atleast an hour a day