Tell me to stop looking at Labrador puppies

[StroppyTop]

I really, really want a Labrador at some point in my life and the urge is currently very strong.

I already have a 7yo whippet and 3 teenagers and life is good, all on an even keel, manageable, great.

But I have such a hankering for a lab! I work from
home, have time for good walks and playing, probably can’t afford huge vet bills but could afford to feed/flea/vaccinate another dog.

Tell me your dreadful puppy stories and nightmare lab tales…

I chose my breeder from Champdogs. And PainlessPup is nearly six months old. We had an eight month wait on the breeder's list. Champdogs tells you if they are show or working or trials lines (not good for pets), pedigrees, and also any health testing that has been done. I needed DNA testing as well as hip and elbow scores, as my previous Lab had suffered from an inherited condition. Use the filters on the site. I said within a hundred miles of here and I narrowed it down to five to look at in detail, then a shortlist of three that I contacted. One never replied, one wasn't having a black litter till about now and the other we joined the waiting list. Do your research.

Our current Lab is 1.5 and a gorgeous, glorious, wilful, playful bundle of mischief, willingness to please and cuddles.
I prefer working lines, because they are trimmer and more active. We launched straight in the deep end with our first Lab, a working chocolate girl and my oh my, was she a steep learning curve! Chewed everything, ate everything, had Opinions on just about everything. She was our DS’s ‘childhood dog’ and irreplaceable. We still miss her so very much, but suspect she is still here in spirit, passing on tips to current Girl
We asked around friends, colleagues and the day care we used previously for a decent breeder. Passed on several as not suitable for various reasons but then we found one who we liked and trusted.

I think we need a Black Lab next. Well, not next, Now-ish.

Do it! A well trained working Lab with a spark of independence is the best dog in the whole world.

My girls both came from breeders who had litters as they wanted the next generation.

Mine the same, both the owner of the bitch and the sire kept pups from the litter.

@StroppyTop yes, not as chunky, more athletic. Our pup doesn't need huge amounts of exercise everyday. We prob do about 90 mins a day in the week over two walks with longer at the weekends but we do quite a bit of training in the day too. She's just a year old at the moment. Ours isn't a big chewer but I think that's quite variable and down to the luck of the draw.

And be prepared to pay! PainlessPup was more than a random mating on Pets4Homes with no health testing, but careful breeding costs money. PainlessPup is working lines, so not huge, but grandmother was a show champion so he is quite cobby, as they should be. There are too many snipey, tall, long, thin Labs around these days.

Aw, you are a soppy bunch and I am still 😭 from your stories of adored labs.

The whippet already does the fox poo trick so I am used to that, as much as you ever can be.

I will start doing my research and try and be as sensible as possible about this ridiculous decision.

you are right of course to think carefully but you know it is a waste of time and you will cave…

Labrador puppies become Labrador teenagers! And they stay as teenagers for a very long time!

I have an adolescent lab with, at best, a third of a brain cell and a hell of a lot of attitude so we need a lot of wine. Then some gin. Then a lie down in a dark room. I’d say you could borrow him but he has a lovely face and everyone tends to forgive his awful adolescent behaviour because he’s just so pretty, so he probably won’t help!

There is a big difference between whippets and Labradors not just in size, but behaviours too.
Plus Labradors shed an insane amount.

Should I be sharing photos like this, instead?

The hair!!! Especially when moulting. Mine was a pain for recall and nicking things until about 18mths old. Now she’s wonderful. Just socks :) Gentle (unless you are a delivery driver in which case she makes you think she’s a hell hound), very very loyal and loving, fantastic with kids. She does tell me off though if her dinner isn’t ready on time, there isn’t enough space on the sofa, her bed need organising, she wants a walk and I’m not ready yet etc etc. Wouldn’t be without her even if I do have to share all snacks!

My dps aunt had a lab
beautiful dog,had one brain cell (they said that if he’d had two,he could have ruled the world),always hungry,very charming,full of life-it was like dealing with a bouncy ball,only the ball had fur and claws,those eyes-just like melted chocolate and seemed full of wisdom and he’d always bring one slipper over to my mil when she walked into the house (like I say,if he’d had more than one working brain cell,he would have twigged she isn’t one legged)
I met him just before they had to have him put to sleep-such an adorable dog
for their last walk,they took him to a bridge he used to climb as a puppy but had got too old and frail to do it anymore
he only went and climbed it one last time-I think he knew
i miss that dog-I cried for hours when we got the call to say he’d gone

We really got off lightly on the hair front, she's just started moulting a bit now but this is the sum total of what I get from a brush. Friends labs you could make an entire new dog with what came off them.

The little monkey! 😄

Beautiful! Lovely to see them in their natural habitat with a carefully retrieved duck 😁

@Imnotahippo 😭😭😭

Wonder if they can be bred for low moultiness?

Ok, 18 months of pain. A timeframe is good.

That was to @SundaysinKernow

They're awful dogs, what with their puppy eyes, soft floppy ears and constant cuddles 🥰

He’s a pretty big whippet but yes, smaller than a lab.

@alanabennett awwwwwww!!!!

Best dog ever..if its not a lab its not a dog. Cookiedog is almost one and is the best dog, calm when around new kids, bonkers when he's out swimming, loves cuddles and attention and happy to chill in the sun when needed. Here he is with his favourite teddy

Beautiful!

She really did calm down amazingly after her teenage phase @StroppyTop The pictures of incredibly cute pups on here are no good for me! I’m considering my girl having puppies. She comes from good working stock etc and I’d love to have a litter from her. A lot of work though…..
I’d back something a few have mentioned already…my girl is working stock and so is much lighter built than many labs which I think will be much better in her older years. She can’t resist a low flying bird however!