Tell me everything I need to know about Labradors please!

[Chocadore]

The good, the bad, the ugly.

Especially chocolate ones.

We've had our heart set on getting a Labrador (I've previously had staffies but not for several years now). We know several and they're amazing but we only really see them when they're out on walks on leads etc.

We want to be as prepared as possible as to what we might be letting ourselves in for

My 2

They are hairy, they stink, they will steal any and all food, regardless of how well trained they are. They will roll in and eat shit, dead things and basically anything, the more disgusting the better,, and then they’ll probably throw it back up on the carpet later.

They’re also funny, lovable, bonkers, fun, cuddly.

Sounds like me tbh

On the downside she can hunt out and eat cat poo at 100m 🤮 and has the beginnings of arthritis (she's nearly 10) so costs a fair amount in treatment.

We have a black lab, male 2 yrs old. We did so much reading, planned his training etc. Felt very prepared. The first few months were full on but felt like we were going in the right direction. He house trained quickly but chewed loads, mouthed constantly and pulled on walks. But he did seem to be responding to training. We also did puppy classes which were ok. At about 5 months he turned in to a total dick, refused to respond to training, still chewing, mouthing plus jumping up and barking and jumping on other dogs. Nothing seemed to work. Tried two more trainers they couldn't help. Ended up paying a behavioural consultant off telly who was v expensive but good. She did help a lot as she focused more on environment than training which seemed to work better. I cried so much over the year in frustration, feeling like a failure, feeling judged. We couldn't invite people round or socialise with the dog easily our lives were being dictated by an animal. When he got to about 18m things started to improve. Now at just over 2 he's a lot easier, hes good on walks 90% of tbd time better at home tho he still chews and mouths sometimes. I love him but he's cost a fortune and made life a lot harder

Bin raiding, food stealing, hard headed, stubborn beasts that will create tumbleweeds of hair that will forever grace your floor. Nothing is safe, mine ate socks, underwear, nappies, dead animals, and poo from every species. They smell, drool, take forever to dry, and can break your nose with a well-timed headbutt. They will also steal your heart and break it into a thousand pieces when they leave.

This is my boy that I lost 2 years ago to cancer. I miss him so much 💔

Mine didn't get the lab memo so she's fussy and will choose a ball over a treat any day of the week. She's always been pretty chilled in the house even as a puppy but very lively out and about.
House trained in under a week and very cuddly.

They're not the brightest. They will eat your actual house. They're deeply lovable, family dogs. When they get fat the look like barrels on legs.

I've really enjoyed reading this thread as we are collecting our Labrador puppy on Sunday and I'm 50% excited and 50% nerves 😂

They do need training as they are big dogs and can be a bit over-friendly but they are easy to train because they love food so much.

Never assume anything is out of reach. They can climb and they’re determined. Mine chewed as a puppy but grew out of it. He’s good off-lead but because he’ll eat anything I have to watch him. They can have joint problems so make sure you get the hip score of the parents.

Mostly though they are just so loving. Mine just wants to spend time with us every moment, whether that’s chasing a ball in the park, running on the beach, or cuddling on the sofa. Get used to never going to the bathroom alone again too!

They eat everything. Are huge. And swim in rivers.

Gosh @tizwozliz she's beautiful !!

So much happiness, the best greeting every morning, every person is so exciting. Very (too) bouncy. Loves to swim and dig. Thankfully, mine doesn’t eat poo, although she eats everything else. She is the love of my life and she unites our family - the teens dote on her and hang out and chat with us more because of her. They would never come on a dog less walk but are happy to do a family walk with her. Literally the best thing EVER.

They are strong! My elderly parents can’t manage walking our puppy.

Wouldn't be without them.

We’re on our third lab. They’ve all been second hand dogs. They’ve all been fantastic. None of them have chewed. All food orientated, but would never steal, we can even leave food on the work surfaces overnight and they’d not touch it (they sleep in the kitchen). All very ball obsessed. All adore people and children. All shed hair like you wouldn’t believe. The first two were water obsessed, particularly the choc, but current lab isn’t remotely interested in water, but will happily swim if our other dog does. None of them have been fat, but they aren’t over fed or given many treats. The choc was very fat when we got her. She was also an incredibly intelligent dog, contrary to popular (and stupid) belief in the shooting world (personally I find gun dog people not particularly bright themselves!).

One bad point of labs is their average life span is about 12. They can be very bouncy for the first five years, they finally mature then they can start ageing a few years later!

Its definitely worth looking at rescues. The lab rescue that one of ours came from had several given in this week. Mostly lovely young dogs that have been given up due to financial issues rather than any dog issues.

My much missed choccy was an absolute nutjob. He was so clever and completely food orientated too, which was hard when he ended up with diabetes.

If you didn't shut a kitchen cupboard properly he would be in there. He used to rip open bags of flour and rice and spread them everywhere. He would rake through the bin constantly for anything he could find.

He once managed to pull the George Foreman off the worktop to lick it clean - knocking a box of 15 eggs off at the same time. They vanished, shells and all. This one cost me as he had to go stay at the vet for a bit.

He chewed through the bottom of a box I thought was high up and out his way just so he could pull everything out and scoff the chocolate liqueurs that were inside it. He was somehow ok after that one though.

But despite all that I still miss him like crazy. He loved his walks, we could go for miles and miles and he would love running into streams or the sea, but you couldn't get him in a bath.

He loved chasing a ball too and even when he went blind from the diabetes he would sit squeaking his toy balls when he could. He learned so many new commands after that too though and he worked out the layout of our house perfectly so very few people actually knew he was blind, it still didn't stop him running around like crazy outside but he learned that if I shouted "wall" he would have to stop immediately.

He just loved attention, no matter who it was. One of his favourite days out was to go to the vet because he got cuddles from so many people there.

Oh and no matter how many times I discouraged him from chasing sticks, he was obsessed with finding them and carrying them around. Although most of the time we were talking small branches rather than just sticks.

He once gave me the dirtiest look when I threw a stick he had found into a stream and he went swimming off to fetch it again and bring it back to me.

I have a fox red working type - but one bred for temperament over working drive. I call him my himbo. Very handsome, very fit (god help us if he misses a walk), always up for a good time and a laugh. But not one of life’s deep thinkers 😂

He does thrive on a job though - our chosen one is Canicross. I do think they do well with a job to do.

We have 2 labs, a chocolate boy (2) and a black girl (2) our boy was a rescue (we got him 2 days before his 1st birthday!)

Pros’ chocolate Boy - he is a goofy idiot indoors, loves a teddy and will carry one around all day, take one on walks (and leave it in a puddle) wants to share his teddies with everyone, very affectionate, listens well and is very intelligent happy do lots of tricks to show off, loves food but not as obsessed as some labs, although has been known to steal food, just generally loves life (hates horses).

cons - barks at the window (then looks round because he know’s it’s naughty), can forget all training and his name if he wants to when out, often wants to share his teddies with people that maybe don’t appreciate a one eyed whale teddy as much as he does, really just wants my partner to kick me out so they can have their bachelor life together😂 he is obsessed with him

my girl pros - she is quiet indoors , very intelligent - but doesn’t like to perform tricks for guests and will look at me like I’m crazy when I ask her to spin or bow in front of people 😂, food obsessed, will actively do things for attention which are really cute, flawless recall and heel work and all other aspects of training when out even when distracted, somewhere new whatever it is she is always to be trusted, loves us completely unconditionally, will actually sigh when boy dog gets on her nerves which is brilliant

cons - kinda none she is my dog and my fav 😉

they are labs 3 & 4 for me and I wouldn’t have any other breed

I have the wiry show trial type, and they are a bit highly strung and hot wired. But so beautiful and sculpted, more so than the labrapig type.
They are described as “game finding athletes” and mine can jump a five bar gate from standing.
They are very food oriented but would choose going out above food.
They adore working, which can be flushing, retrieving or hunting.
Easy to train and one of the brighter breeds.
All year round massive hair drifts and indifferent to mud, etc. Ideally, they have a coat rich in lanolin, which makes them waterproof but a bit smelly. Some of them dig, too.
Always jolly and mostly cooperative, whatever the plan.

Now the best bit, they are surprisingly and individually quirky, more so as they get older.
I have had labs who:
bark at the full moon
sing as they eat their dinner
decided they are wine lovers, always show up at the pop of a cork.(they never get any)
get visibly annoyed with DH if he misses a shot
decide to retrieve someone else's bird (a dreadful sin)
spend the whole day crying if DH takes the other lab shooting and not her (heart rending)
take a dip in the river every day, even if icy
tap irritably on the sofa, if they feel ignored
chew their own toenails, to keep a decent short length
Empty the bucket of water in the run every time they get told off
nick logs from the woodpile, to chew, Including smuggling small bits of bark in at night
Adore cars and sometimes get in the cars of complete strangers and refuse to move.

Adorable as puppies, oh yes. Here’s my old girl as a pup:

The Labradors I know of have hair falling off them and it sticks everywhere. My friend had a bbq and there was hairs on the food. I didn’t eat, but got very drunk.
Most pointless bbq to be invited to.

After reading all these I’m thinking my boy is not so typical. He’s not motivated by food. A bowl can lie for hours.
Absolutely loves his walks - off the lead 99% of time and runs like a greyhound. Never chewed as a puppy either.
Fantastic nature - gentle and loyal. Follows me from room to room!
Downside is the hair - everywhere!

They like food.

Ahh they are amazing. So so good with kids, so loving and loyal. Mine is 2 and a half and has really completed our family. She loves swimming and balls the most! Also food- any food! She loves a good walk and a good nap- mainly on our bed ha! She’s very very gentle and patient. She was hard as a puppy with the chewing mainly. She figured out toilet training quickly. It was chewing, recall and pulling on the lead that were hard- we got a halti head collar in the end that helped. Even though I have to hoover all the bloody time, I don’t regret getting her even for a minute