LABRADORS

[Helencatz]

Tell me about your Labradors please what is your experience? Are they really as bad as people make out?

Bad? You get the odd one with any breed but I’ve personally never met a bad lab!

We had one and he was the softest, most loyal dog. He was brilliant with kids, loved other dogs, he was obedient, funny, kind and always in a good mood! The only downside of lab ownership was losing him. It was the most awful thing we have ever gone through and 4 years on, we still miss him. We constantly say how lucky we were to have gone such an amazing dog!

We now have a golden retriever, so very similar and he is equally lovely and would do anything for us. They just want to please and make us happy! You can’t ask for much more in a dog.

My dad has had labradors for years and years - they are very lovable dogs, but I will say I think people underestimate their size, if they pull on the lead I struggle to hold them back. Plus they have a great sense of smell so are always buggering off after something whilst my dad bellows and whistles after them, and my fat little pug toddles along at heel looking smug 😂

As puppies they do love to chew things, are prone to hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism.

But they have the most lovely nature, are easy to train. Loyal. Good watch dogs. I have a golden lab now and a had a black lab who since passed on. Both incredibly gentle dogs and excellent with children.

They need a lot of exercise.

And entertainment.

@Helencatz

Tell me about your Labradors please what is your experience? Are they really as bad as people make out?

Bad in what way? I've never met a 'bad Lab'.

Bad?
Um.
Lol.
That’s a new one on me.
In what sort of context are you interested?

Labs are amazing. Gentle, loving, and very loyal. Amazing with my kids.

If I had to pick a downside- I'd say they scrounge all the time, they are literally always hungry and they will drool everywhere while you are eating your dinner!

ours is 11 months now and he's perfect!!

Are you perhaps mistaking light hearted reflections of lab mischief for ‘badness’? That would be like misinterpreting all children as ‘bad’ after reading Peter and Jane lol.

Beautiful dogs
Strong
Greedy
Lovable and loving
Clever
Hairy- shed like mad
Love exercise and games
Funny
Friendly

Anyone with a bit of common sense knows I don't mean 'bad' as in a bad dog. I'm not even going too bother postering again. Mumsnet always pick apart peoples post so I should of known.

What is it that your looking for in a breed?

I'm already getting a lab a lab is everything I want but everywhere you look people complain about the chewing eating too much etc I'll put that down to lack of training and exercise. I just wanted to know people's experiences because I was interested. Not because I'm doubting my decision.

you can't 'train out' a labs love of food....or exercise it so it isn't bothered. its in the dna

they don't eat too much unless the owner overfeeds
chewing is what they do as pups, explore with their mouths

you cant put it down to "lack of training and exercise'

Personally, I’m not keen on them at all.

I find them extremely boisterous and extremely rude generally speaking.
The sort of dog that races over from two fields away and no amount of growling and snarling from the victim dog makes them quit trying to interact.

I have encountered some shockingly aggressive ones too on walks though I find spaniels and cockerpoo types the worst for aggression.

I'd never complain about a lab? Best dog ever! In my eyes 😊. They are greedy, Needy dogs but why get a dog if they're not.

Beautiful dogs. Pretty much ideal family pets as long as you put the time in.
I have always had ones from working lines and found they do need a lot of exercise. Preferably five miles a day at least. Enjoy a bit of mental stimulation as well. Given the above they are loyal, loving and fantastic companions.

Yes because they never know when they are full. I have done alot of research on Labradors and I've had dogs half my life so training and enough exercise we curb any disruptive behaviour. I know puppies chew anyone with half a brain knows that.

Dogsarebetterthanpeople - oh dear sorry you feel that way. Growling and snarling I assume you mean that's what your dog does.. But then you carry on to say other dogs are aggressive 🤷‍♀️

Graymare - Thank you can't wait to get ours. Will enjoy every minute of it.

My experience of Labs is that they reflect their owners. They tend to be forgiving, happy-go-lucky and generally fun. The overeating is a myth. Labs won’t suit short-tempered passive-aggressive people. They are optimistic and believe everyone is good.

oh dear sorry you feel that way. Growling and snarling I assume you mean that's what your dog does.. But then you carry on to say other dogs are aggressive
Hm, I can see exactly what sort of owner you are going to be...

FYI, my dog is perfectly happy around other dogs but doesn’t want to interact with them.
She doesn’t approach other dogs and has never lunged at/gone for/chased/bitten another dog.
She will growl/snarl/air snap if they don’t leave her alone.

It’s quite ironic how you stated I'm not even going too bother postering again. Mumsnet always pick apart peoples post so I should of known then go on to say I know puppies chew anyone with half a brain knows that then say Growling and snarling I assume you mean that's what your dog does.. But then you carry on to say other dogs are aggressive 🤷‍♀️
Do you realise how rude you are coming across..?

Have had 4 labradors. All have been wonderful dogs. Sweet natured and intelligent. Downside to them - their hair....it gets everywhere! They also require a LOT of exercise as they are working dogs. So many labradors I see are overweight.

To conclude, labradors are wonderful but you have to put in the time to train and look after them to reap the rewards of the breed.

On our third lab who is now 4 and lovely. Chewing was easy when I realised she doesn’t like Vicks vapour rub and pepper, loves mustard though. So used to dab Vicks on anything we didn’t want her to chew. Didn’t realise about pepper until recently went she refused salt sand pepper crisps.
Crate trained this one from a pup but didn’t need it for long.
She still loves socks but no longer shreds them, she does the sock collection from under DSs bed which is very handy. She has only ever chewed my shoes, I suspect that is because she loves me most though.
It took a long time for reliable recall but I realised late on that she is not food motivated, if I carry a tennis ball in my pocket she sticks to my side like glue. The only thing I can’t distract her from are dead animals and Fox poo. She would have made a brilliant cadaver dog I suspect.

Labradors are very trainable - including to leave food. They wouldn't be the predominant breed for guide dogs if that were not the case.