Page 2 | Labrador

HotnSunnyRainbowRoses · 27/03/2022 17:23

I haven’t read the full thread yet.

I have the possibility of adopting an 11 year old chocolate Labrador. I didn’t want a puppy as I don’t have the time to educate a puppy. I have 3 boys, 15,11 and 5
I would not adopt an adult dog with an 11 and 5 year old. No way. Especially not one as big as a Labrador.

Would it be ok to leave the children with the dog until I get home? Obviously not straight away as they would need to get to know each other, but I’m thinking long term
Fuck no!
No, you do not leave a big dog (that you don’t even know if your adopting it at 11) alone with your children 🤦🏻‍♀️

SaxendaSummer · 27/03/2022 17:57

our labrador is left a couple of times a week for 6-7 hours. I do break that up and come home for lunch and a quick walk though

he loves his bed with classic fm on!

we have a camera set up so i can see him and take through it at him if necessary

WhiteXmas21 · 27/03/2022 18:29

Aw, I have a similar aged Labrador. Gorgeous boy. Cannot imagine why anyone would be rehoming their loved companion at that age - on the face of it , it’s cruel.
My fairly fit boy and not overweight boy has just started monthly arthritis injections; has various joint supplements and nsaid drugs. That’s £100 per month at the vet. He has physio ( discretionary) but another £100+ per month. His insurance when he turned 9 became unaffordable after cancer treatment.
I still pay less to the vet/physio than the insurance company wanted , but it’s a lot of money before I buy food.

So, unless they have infirmity which prevents them taking care of said dog, or they are being forced to move somewhere unsuitable, there’s a good chance that they cannot afford to keep the dog and they want to palm it off on you.
Beware.

somethinginthewater · 27/03/2022 20:37

If they can't take her to America it would be much kinder to ask a breed rescue to find a nice indoor home where she could have some comfort in her old age.
A labrador of that age is very likely to have arthritis and leaving her outside all day is really unkind.

StrawberryPot · 27/03/2022 20:55

Ok I’m hearing what everyone is saying about the dog being left alone for 6-7 hours a day but what do other dog owners do? Am I to believe all dog owners are at home all day? I find that highly unlikely!

Um - sure - lots of people get a dog and go to work leaving their dogs alone all day. Does NOT make it okay Responsible dog owners don't do that.

Gingerninja4 · 27/03/2022 21:05

My healthy almost 8 year lab is 90 a month no vet trips other year boosters and one sprain where my mums dog bounced into her when was puppy which was not claimed on they excluded that for 2 years

So anything that fogs ever been to vets for be excluded amd suspect you are looking at around £130 easily insurance maybe more

At 11 he will be coming towards end of life ,he may also find a 5 year old to much and be bit grunpy maybe snappy know my boy takes himself of when my niece visits after a few mins ( mine are all teens )

Doesitmatterreally · 27/03/2022 21:19

I have had four labradors, all of them very placid but when they get older they definitely get less tolerant. I assume their general aches and pains make them less patient. They also moult constantly and are very prone to stinking the house out. They remain strong dogs even in old age and I would not recommend rehoming an aged lab with young children.

tabulahrasa · 27/03/2022 21:33

“I assume their general aches and pains make them less patient.”

Pretty much what I assume too.

The first dog I had as an adult was a lab cross who I adopted when he was 5, he loved children, as in actively saught them out... by the time I had my DS when he was 12, he just kind of went, nope, too damn old to do that now, lol. He wasn’t aggressive or particularly stressed, he just avoided him because he wanted to spend his last couple of years lazing about. But that was the house and people he was used to with one child added in, not a complete upheaval.

IggysPop · 27/03/2022 21:36

Our last dog died in 2010 - we only had him three years (7 year old rescue). We each arranged to work one day a week, came home at lunch time and got a dog walker. He was a lab-collie mix. There is no way I would have left him alone with children. He was also extremely expensive in vets bills, special food, enhancement activities for his joints (doggy swimming). And yes to smelly - he also lost some bowel control in his final months and so there was quite a bit of cleaning. We knew exactly what we were taking on though - please be sure that you do too.

When he died, we agreed to wait until one of us retired and so in 2019 we got our Labrador. I cannot imagine leaving him more than 3hrs tops in a single sitting. He has at least 2x1hr walks a day.

Basically what @Doesitmatterreally said. Labradors are very strong dogs into old age. And I also would not re-home in these circumstances - not fair on the dog.

Indoctro · 27/03/2022 21:52

Absolutely no way would I take a adult and even worse elderly dog into the home of a 5 year old

You kid will potentially end up with his face bitten,

It's a crazy idea please don't do it.?

Indoctro · 27/03/2022 21:54

You might want to have a read of this recent thread.....

“Getting ANY adult dog breed is strongly NOT recommended” www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4511055--Getting-ANY-adult-dog-breed-is-strongly-NOT-recommended

XelaM · 28/03/2022 00:46

Leaving a dog in the garden all day is so cruel.

My daughter's friend has two GSDs who they permanently keep in the garden because the mother doesn't want them in the house. It's so awful to watch and they are really mean and scary dogs now.

AlwaysLatte · 28/03/2022 01:02

The current owners leave her in the garden when they’re at work. I was planning on doing the same
Sorry but this is so sad. Is there not a better home with a lap and warm house for her later years? 😢

AlwaysLatte · 28/03/2022 01:04

Ok I’m hearing what everyone is saying about the dog being left alone for 6-7 hours a day but what do other dog owners do? Am I to believe all dog owners are at home all day? I find that highly unlikely!
I'm home all day. But when I wasn't I had a cat.

BiteyShark · 28/03/2022 06:30

Ok I’m hearing what everyone is saying about the dog being left alone for 6-7 hours a day but what do other dog owners do? Am I to believe all dog owners are at home all day? I find that highly unlikely!

I work full time and got a puppy. It's a mix of WFH and outsourcing care just like you would do with a child e.g. we pay for daycare. Others use dog walkers but I prefer daycare.

I'm a bit shocked that you don't lock your front door when you are out. Let alone the security issue I would imagine also invalidates house insurance etc.

Indoctro · 28/03/2022 09:28

@User020367

Ok I’m hearing what everyone is saying about the dog being left alone for 6-7 hours a day but what do other dog owners do? Am I to believe all dog owners are at home all day? I find that highly unlikely!

They simply don't do that hopefully

I only work 4 hours , twice a week because we have a dog.

If I worked a lot I wouldn't own a dog, cats are more suited to a lifestyle of someone who works full time.

Bowlofhotslop · 28/03/2022 09:42

It’s not cruel for a Labrador to be in the garden during the day in normal UK temperatures with a suitable shelter, they come from Labrador and were bred to jump into the icy sea FGS. It’s no wonder most of them are so fat and out of shape in this country. Plenty of working labs live in outdoor kennels year round and are perfectly happy.
I would be very wary of taking one on at that age though, hip problems and arthritis are likely to cost you a fortune. Also would not be leaving it alone with kids, it might be placid but you don’t know it’s full history.

tabulahrasa · 28/03/2022 10:23

A kennelled working dog is hugely different to an elderly pet in a garden.

Bowlofhotslop · 28/03/2022 10:37

Not really if that is all the dog has known. Being outside for 6 hours but sleeping and spending the rest of the time inside is not cruel.

Limegreentangerine · 28/03/2022 10:43

Please don't leave the the dog alone all day in a garden!!!!

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 28/03/2022 15:52

It’s not cruel for a Labrador to be in the garden during the day in normal UK temperatures with a suitable shelter, they come from Labrador and were bred to jump into the icy sea FGS. It’s no wonder most of them are so fat and out of shape in this country

Eh? What does being kept indoors or outdoors have to do with being fat and out of shape?"

Being outside for 6 hours but sleeping and spending the rest of the time inside is not cruel

Just because it's all the dog has known, doesn't mean it's not cruel.

Older dogs suffer a lot with their joints and should be able to be indoors where it's warm and comfortable.

Bowlofhotslop · 28/03/2022 16:19

You’re right it doesn’t matter whether they are in or out in that respect it’s just that insisting it is terrible and cruel for a double coated, large, working breed to be outside with a suitable shelter for a few hours in a safe garden is another way they are humanised and mollycoddled.
I didn’t say it wasn't cruel because that’s all the dog has known, some dogs may only know cruelty. I was responding to the comment that a working dog in a kennel and a pet in a garden are different.

Ladyli · 28/03/2022 16:33

We have met the dog and she is lovely, very docile, gentle and we want to give her a good home for what time she has left.
I live in France and the weather is better than the uk. In winter she would be kept indoors when we’re out. As I keep saying I live in a secure area where it’s practically impossible to access the property so a door would be left open for her so could easilY come in and out.

Ladyli · 28/03/2022 16:34

And I contacted the local vet who didn’t see a problem at all in adopting her

Indoctro · 28/03/2022 21:47

Your children are the problem and the risk the dog poses to them.

Don't be silly, you are testing this dogs temperament on your 5 year old.

Do you want his face ripped open.? As that's exactly what could happen to him.