Lab Puppy search

[Lolly2803]

I am looking for a Lab puppy. We are a family of 5 with 4year old twins and a 2 year old. I want to make sure I get from the right place with the right parents and breeder but beyond the kennel club website I don’t know where to look, or what’s good and bad. Can anybody offer any help or advice?

We got our Labrador when our dc were just turned 1 and 4. It was hard work initially having a baby, a toddler and a puppy but the dog got used to his routine quite quickly. He had his crate (the biggest one we could get) and he knew that was his space and the children was not allowed to crawl inside. It was his safe space. He learnt that the children were fed first and has never been fed from the table. We also made sure from the start that his toys were separate from the children's toys and both were not in the room at the same time. He is now much older and he has grown up with the children. He is very much loved. He adores the children and they think the world of him. He has never once gave us any cause for concern.

We looked on the kennel club for a registered breeder and found 2 that were quite local to us. We went and spoke to both and they were very informative and not at all pushy. We saw the parents and grandparents and have a file of information about his lineage and their health.
The hips and elbows scores for the parents and grandparents were given to us in the pack which included information about care, diet, health conditions, exercise etc. The breeders were only a phone call away if we needed them but we never have had a reason to contact them.

For a slightly different viewpoint on the show/working line debate. I would never choose a show line labrador. I find working lines to be much more biddable. It may be reflection on the type of people who actively choose a working line dog putting more effort in to training but all the working line dogs I meet in the park are far better behaved than the much heavier, greedier show lines.

As for puppies and small kids, well, you already know it's going to be hard. But, I don't recognise the puppies other posters talk about. I've had quite a few working lab puppies since I was young and only one has been a bit chewy/bitey. All the rest have housetrained very quickly and generally been a delight to have around. Obviously, that's with plenty of time put in to training, and plenty of rest for the puppy.

We have had 4 labs over the years 2 bitches, 2 boys.

DD is 12 now. Our eldest boy was 12.7 when he died last year.

We currently have 2 one year old labs (one from a breeder and one rescue!) 🙈

Labs are full on dogs. Yes they are loveable and goofy (the boys, girls not so much!) but they need a huge amount of training and time.

Our rescue boy came from a family who bought him in lockdown and didn’t have a clue. As a result he was crated for about 90% of his life (my heart breaks everytime I think of this!). They were not meaning to neglect him but they had no idea that the cute puppy they bought would grow (very quickly!) in to a 35kg dog with no proper training or manners. His life was miserable and so was theirs!

I work from home 3 days a week. DH works 4 days a week. We live rurally with a massive garden but the dogs have to be exercised for at least one hour a day!!

DD has grown up around dogs but she still struggled with 2 puppies in the house!!!

The other the thing people don’t realise with labs is that consistent training goes well from 8 weeks to 6 months then they become teenagers and you have to start again! 🤣 they are very stubborn and it’s a Labour of love.

Labradors should be your passion (a bit like horses I think) you have to want:
to train them,
walk them,
allow them to swim,
keep them busy indoors,
acknowledge they will eat anything (especially if it’s poisonous 🙄,
they hurt themselves out running,
they will jump up at people ALOT until they decide to listen to training,
They will rob children of food
They can be needy AF, thus protective
They are either big wimps or big bully’s (I’ve had both!)

But they are also very loyal, intelligent, funny, loving and utterly gorgeous!

Make contact with www.wylanbriar.com

They have a Facebook group too.
Highly recommend.

I was about to recommend Wylanbriar too @fredstick but you know Di's thoughts on puppies and young children..! Still, there is lots of great advice on there.

OP, you are right that a dog can be incredibly rewarding and Labradors are great family dogs. But do bear in mind that a 8 week old puppy will view your children as litter mates. It will roll around with them nipping and mouthing... that's just what puppies do regardless of the breed.

No matter how much puppy training you do, or how much time you devote to the pup at home, your children will soon get fed up of being jumped all over and nipped. From a practical point of view, you'll probably end up having to separate them for the majority of the time. Our Labrador wasn't given free run of the downstairs until he was over a year old, he was generally kept in the kitchen most evenings.

Not looking for a lab pup but I just checked out that breeders web page and I would buy from her in a heartbeat. What a sensible, considered approach to dog ownership!

We got our first pug when youngest dc was 3.

Apart from crying once because the pug puppy kept chewing the bottom of his trousers, dc was fine.

There is always a furry pug to cuddle in this house, especially since we bumped the number up to three which was absolute lunacy.

I wholeheartedly endorse everything Angrymum has said. I really wanted a lab and wasn’t going to listen to anyone who cautioned me against getting one in advance. I couldn’t see past the joy of having a dog. I don’t have you g children but am completely undone by the time and work involved in rearing a lab pup. I love and adore my boy more than anything and absolutely would not be without him but I had no idea how much hard work and effort would be involved. It has changed our lives in many ways I could not have foreseen (but there are as many pluses as minuses). realistically we probably still have another year or so of hard work and training to go - if not the dogs lifetime! We’ve experienced all the chewing nipping barking obstinacy humping mentioned in previous posts - if you don’t have any of these incidents with a lab pup you must be some kind of miracle worker. Plus waking the dog is not the carefree relaxing experience you might expect. My heart is in my mouth whenever I see other dogs approaching as our lab just wants to play (ie bounce and jump all over any other dogs despite continua training/bribing with treats to do otherwise) so even that aspect is hard work. Seriously don’t take on a young pup with young children. It’s just not worth the added pressure. Wait a few years and then take on the challenge.
As I say I would not be without my chap at all but when I’m out in the dark at 6:45am each day the mantra “a dog is for life” really resonates and I now fully appreciate just what that means and entails.

Thanks everyone! So I actually met a lovely lady in my love park who has 2 labs. She gave me the breeders number and I spoke with him. He sells working labs but either to continue as working dogs or lots go for assistance dogs. He trains them to basic level and then they go. He also has a non verbal autistic daughter like myself. So we decided to take 1! He is available once the shoot season ends so on Saturday we are going to get him! He’s 9 months old. I’m sure it’ll be a challenge but I have the time. I am at home all day.

Has he been worked? Do you know if he's spent much time in a home or has he spent most of his life in a kennel?

Bit of both. Bit of work but not loads and bit inside and out. Used to children. Last few weeks in the house all the time.

Have you and the kids met him yet? Were you able to meet one or both of the parents?

Sorry for all the questions. I've worked with plenty of fear aggressive dogs, including ones that are OK with adults and older kids but fear aggressive towards toddlers.

We haven’t met him. I’ve seen his parents and grandparent. Got all the paper work etc. The dog has met a few toddlers that live a few doors down and has been around them a fair bit and fine and is used to children over 6.

A working lab 😬

We have a show Lab, age 7 months.
When he's off the lead he's full of energy and adores playing with other dogs.
In the house he's brilliant, very calm and biddable.
I know this could change.....
DCs are 13 and 15 but it was more about me now working from home as the reason to get him now.

I grew up around labs as my dad was a puppy walker for the guide dogs. I think the first one we had was when I was 6 only one boy scratched me and he was send to a different family we had a total of 5 guide dogs. One who didn't pass and then one which retired. Amazing beautiful dogs and great when trained right, they need plenty of exercise as they full of energy. We are looking at getting one in afew months. My.dc are almost 6 almost 9 and 14.

We’ve got him but he’s very nervous. He sometimes just stops on the walk just a few metres from the drive way. Won’t budge then eventually does until stops again. He also barks and growls when he sees a person or a dog. But then sniffs and likes being stroked. He looks sad. Tail down but the odd time he wags like when he sees us in the morning. He likes me. My mum came round today for first time and he growled and barked loads. One time jumped up from laying down and did it. Which really frightened two of my children. He’s used to other dogs and cats. He’s just very unsure. And just looks sad. Don’t know what to do. Is this normal?

I’m guessing this is a young dog that hasn’t been socialised and has maybe been kept in a kennel. I would recommend a decent behaviourist. For now don’t do anything that makes his more anxious. So avoid visitors and if he doesn’t want to walk then don’t make him. He may not even be used to a lead.

@Lolly2803

We’ve got him but he’s very nervous. He sometimes just stops on the walk just a few metres from the drive way. Won’t budge then eventually does until stops again. He also barks and growls when he sees a person or a dog. But then sniffs and likes being stroked. He looks sad. Tail down but the odd time he wags like when he sees us in the morning. He likes me. My mum came round today for first time and he growled and barked loads. One time jumped up from laying down and did it. Which really frightened two of my children. He’s used to other dogs and cats. He’s just very unsure. And just looks sad. Don’t know what to do. Is this normal?

He also barks and growls when he sees a person or a dog. But then sniffs and likes being stroked. I would stop allowing him to approach people after he has growled at them. If you ignore his warnings (growls) he may feel like he has to escalate to a snap or bite, without giving prior warning. I would read about the canine ladder of aggression/communication, if you haven't already. He's probably giving subtler signs that he's uncomfortable before he growls.

I agree with what @Wolfiefan says above. Have you taken him for a vet check? A decent behaviourist will insist on one before they see him, and your vet may be able to refer him to a behaviourist. If he's not already neutered, I wouldn't neuter him yet (& potentially ever depending on advice from the behaviourist).

Had you met the dog before you took him home? Agree he sounds very poorly socialised. Stop letting people come up to him, maybe muzzle on walks if you’re very worried, no visitors for now and sort a good behaviourist ASAP.

I have noticed it’s just women. He growls but when they say his name he’s ok. And he freezes on walks and won’t walk. Just can’t move him. He didn’t even want to play with another Lab that approached him. He sniffed him but then just sat. We definitely don’t have a happy bouncy Lab.

You need to take a step back. This is not a well socialised and happy dog. Don’t stress the dog by putting it in situations it feels worried by.

So what do I do?! Not take it out.

Am I correct in my understanding that you agreed to take on a dog without even meeting him? And without introducing him to all family members? Do you have him on any sort of trial basis and what happens if it doesn’t work out? This seems very odd.

I think you are right to be concerned about him he doesn’t sound like any young lab
I have known.

Start with a vet check and a calm quiet room at home with maybe you only as key human. Let him develop some trust in you.

What advice did the breeder give?