LABRADORS

[Helencatz]

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

@helencatz In your attempt at brevity - your post was very unclear, you want people's experiences but didn't express what your concerns were, how can we advise and share experience if we don't know what you want to know? However, now you have clarified...

Labs are intelligent, very bidable, keen to please. If I was to describe my experience of them I'd say "solid and dependable". They are not complex characters and I found their personality very clear at a young age which made training easier and I could read them like a book from adolescence so controling them was simple - they were utterly bulletproof. Chewing can be down to boredom or anxiety to preventing this will avoid issues. Teething when they are pups so supervise and give them suitable toys. Mine never chewed at all. One did lick out of anxiety but he was tempermentally quite a shy insecure boy. I didn't find mine overly energetic, but they do need mental stimulation and plenty exercise. 5 miles a day from ages 2-10 then shoulder displasia affected them both badly. This can be a breed issue - especially in some breed lines. Neither of mine were needy - in fact they were both very self contained and restrained. Quite happy to be walking by side or lying in the hearth rug - not demanding at all. Hunger - they are opportunistically hungry. Easy to train them not to scrounge and steal food but they will readily take whatever is on offer to them. Its a genetic thing. I fed them on quality dry food and used a measure cup. They put on weight when they lost their mobility though sadly, and their hunger was more obvious as boredom was more of an issue. Both mine lived til 12. Both had pain and mobility issues in the last 2 years of their life. I would recommend Labs due to their ease of training, calm and mild nature and dependability. Like all dogs they really need to be trained, well at the beginning and consistently throughout their life. They will reward you well for this. My biggest issue with them was casting. They are supremely hairy.

Hope that helps.

Labradors are only overweight if owners feed them too much. And I would agree that they are happy go lucky dogs. They love to be loved.

All dog posts should feature pictures

We had a labrador when I was growing up. We got her because she was a reject Guide Dog. I don't think you can do that now.
She didn't pass the training because they said she refused to lead. Wanting to make friends with everyone and say hello to every passer-by when out training instead of leading and concentrating on her job.
This was very lucky for us because it meant she was the best pet ever!
Happy, friendly a total big softy

Labradors are fab.

They are lovely souls! Strong though! We had a black lab as a family dog when I was an older teen/young adult and he was a gem and didn't shed much. He was of working stock and needed a lot of exercise. Not too bad for shedding . My current boy is yellow and sheds like a beast! An absolute beast and I was not prepared for the fluff, but we got a eufy vac and lowered our house pride standards! He's a lovely temperament too but thinks he's a chihuahua and will sit and lie on me and generally take liberties. He's show line and although likes a good amount of exercise in the morning he just wants a brisk half hour at night. Sometimes refuses if raining at night but never ever in the morning no matter the weather. A delightful oddball!

Thank you to all that have given helpful comments. Labs are beautiful, so excited to start our life together.

They're a bit 2.4 children for me. I imagine people who have labs to have a perfect marriage with two (.4) perfect little children and a big estate that they drive to holibobs in the cotswolds. Don't know why and I know it's stupid.

I hear they're a bit nutty and full of beans.

Thank you for posting photos of your labs 😍

We got her because she was a reject Guide Dog. I don't think you can do that now

Yes, you can, but applicants outnumber available dogs by a considerable amount, so you'd be very lucky to get one.

You can also get retired Customs sniffer dogs (often but not always labs) which can be mildly awkward as they tend to 'alert' at the vets, but useful if you have teenagers....

Yes we signed up but they don’t get your application more than 6 months and if you don’t hear you have to reapply. I assume still the case as this was last year we tried

Good glad they are nutty and full of beans sounds a absolute dream that may put others off but their personality is endearing.

I’ve had dogs my entire life. We as a family now have a 9month old lab. He is lovely and sweet but crackerjack puppy crazy. His puppy phase is longer than all the other breeds we’ve had.

I'm still mystified as to what you mean by bad. Despite your arsey response, I'm curious to know whether there is a particular trait you are concerned about? Our labs (all rescue) have been gentle, loyal, humble dogs. None have been scroungers either interestingly enough.

Apparently they are puppies till they reach 3 or 4 that should be fun. Not scroungers that's good my daughter won't be happy if she pinches her pizza 😁 I'm sure with training tho we will be OK.

Oh OP you made me laugh saying you could train them out of chewing and eating everything in sight. Time does that.

Totally worth it though - you spend the first three years ‘training’ then a switch seems to flick and you got the well behaved, bulletproof dog you always wanted. I’m not saying your input isn’t vital - but having had a beautiful, boisterous boy for 11 wonderful years, I don’t kid myself nature, and growing up, didnt do as much or more than training. See the 18 month old who randomly causes absolute destruction in a flower market (my dog). Or runs into an elderly lady’s house cos the gate is open, up the stairs. Training was a part of it - time did more.

Best of dogs, would do it all again. But Marley and Me is possible for much longer than other breeds. By about 7 he was bulletproof. Be prepared - and enjoy. Totally worth it, but don’t be fooled by the guide dogs (theyre trained full time) or the older lab plodding. Babies for years. It’s fab!

One final thought - please please get a lab from health tested parents, grandparents - and elbows as well as hips. Nothing will prepare you for how much you’ll love them, and to put down an otherwise healthy dog for a largely genetic joint disease when their wider system is fine is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

Baybetterdays - I've never had a labrador that's why I asked for experiences. I didn't even think about guide or a old lab plodding along interesting that you thought I was when I mentioned training seems I've got some bitchy comments when mentioning training a dog as to me training a dog is natural. Weird.

Baybetterdays -- my lab is from health tested parents grand parents are health tested hips etc.. I can see the line back for generations kc registered show lines.

Our Lab is the sweetest, gentlest, friendliest and most chilled-out boy you could come across. He is so loving and sensitive. He improves our family life to the power of 100. I don't know how we would've stayed happy and cheerful through lockdown without him.

He literally has no downsides (ok yeah he sheds a LOT! But I don't care and I'm house proud!).

Don't forget there are show Labs and working Labs. We have the former - he's large and muscular, has a completely different face shape and body type to the working Labs who are more slender with a more pointy face. Mine can be happy on two 30-minute walks a day if we're pushed for time, but he usually has 1.5 hours most days. I believe working Labs need more activity.

My boy is the best decision I ever made except having children and I would find living without him extremely hard now.

Great! Don’t worry re training it’s just labs do grow up late. So so late in most cases 😂So glad you’re going the responsible route on breeders - so many labs suffer unnecessarily. Am jealous but also very excited for you! Black, yellow or choc?

Ps have you seen the Fenton video? I bet he was trained too...

Good point about the lines. Our last lab (even though she was a rescue) was clearly from a show line. She had joint problems all her life sadly, but drugs and hydrotherapy kept her as well as was possible. She was a wonderful dog and very easy to care for.

Our current lab is from a working line. She is exceedingly clever, needed more stimulation and exercise and has generally been more work. She's very elderly now, deaf, a bit wobbly and has dementia. But we love her very much.

Two very different experiences.

We found this website www.thelabradorsite.com/ really useful when we got our lab. He is the softest, daftest, most loving and excitable, dog ever. Pulls like a train but loves to learn! Our main problem is that he loves everything too much! However he is now 2yrs and is beginning to calm!

Love labs. We have a fox red lab and he's the best, wouldn't be without him.

They're lovely dogs, OP, and great family pets - but they love to eat. Whether it's food or not.