Fox Red labrador - tell me all

[SAHdoglife]

Thinking of adopting this breed (1 year old male).

Please tell me all I need to know as it's our first dog.

I have 2 children under 6.

They're labradors with "red" coats.

All the ones i know are lovely personalities,unlike the chocolate versions.

The ones I've known have all been lovely, but bouncy. Are the rescue happy with you having such young DC?

Lovely but bouncy definitely describes our fox red! 🐕

I have a red lab, he's very highly strung and not any easy dog. You need to be very willing to put in work for training and exercise. Although labs being so good orientated is both helpful and annoying!!
Every one I know who has had a red lab or knows someone with a red lab describes them as crazy.
I love to absolute pieces but he is hard work.
The comment about Labradors all being the same is incorrect. Red Labradors tend to be from field stock rather than show stock and therefore are harder work and more highly strung.
Why is the dog available at a year old?

Why is a one year old being rehomed? I’d be wary if he’d need additional help to overcome an initial lack of training.

Ive a black lab. Are you willing to commit to 2 plus hours per day exercise and a house permanently having dog hair hanging about ( Labs shed like bastards, my Roomba is begging for time off 😂😂)
If you are then you will have a wonderful family pet.

Apparently he's good with kids but need to ask a bit more about that.

By bouncy do you mean... jumps up a lot? Excitable? Can you train them not to do this or is this just their nature?

Do you have a good hoover?! 😂
That aside red labs are generally working lines - they will thrive having proper stimulation such as gundog training (irrelevant if you don't anticipate to shoot or not - you can just do the training). They need exercise and input, however like all working dogs it has massive reward in the fact they create a lovely bond with their person and are people orientated dogs.

Oh and labs tend to be twats until they are about 3 then lovely. They need boundaries!

I didn't say they were all the same. I was trying to make the point that they're not a different breed of dog. They're actually a type of yellow lab. You do get more in working lines.

High energy and it’s a type of energy that walking doesn’t get rid of. They are bred to work, bred to go all day. They need mental stimulation.

@OrlandointheWilderness I do actually have a Miele Cat and Dog if that will be sufficient!

Fox reds are another shade of the yellow lab. As I vet I’d advise you to ask about his breeding (if not an official rescue), ask about any known conditions, ask why he is being rehomed, ask to have him for a trial of 1-2 weeks if you decide to go ahead, look at the cost of insurance and upkeep, enroll him into training.

As PPs have said I would check whether it is from show or working lines, as the workers can be high energy. Fox reds have also been a bit fashionable recently so I would want to see hip scores etc to check its breeding. They can also be relatively big dogs. Do you have any experience with dogs, or will you be complete novices?

How ready are you to be a dog owner? Don’t mean this nastily but your comment about training makes you sound like you are not very well prepared. Dog ownership is a huge undertaking esp with two small children. Have you looked into any classes?

“Good with kids” but being rehomed at a year old?

Are you sure this is right for your family and for this dog? I would want to know exactly what the dog has experienced in its life so far, what ghosts are there, and I’d do that by getting a well-started puppy from a responsible breeder, who had raised it in a house (not in kennels), and who guarantees lifetime support and interest in their puppies. Your children are too young to be sensible and sympathetic to any possible adverse experiences that may cause this young dog to react unexpectedly, and as a first time dog owner you’re probably not going to read it accurately either.

There are temperament and behavioural issues particularly linked to red genes (and chocolates). Do a lot of research on its breeding, and if its breeding and/or history is unknown, I wouldn’t want it around kids.

Our vet has one and I have a friend with one , both took until about 2/3 to grow up and both are now lovely dogs . My concern with small children would them being bowled over by a large bouncy dog . Is it coming from a rescue or is it a private sale - if the latter I wouldn’t do it , lots of people lie .

Try to find out why he needs a new home. Assume you are being lied to. (I speak from experience). Whatever drawbacks you are told, assume they are worse. Ask to get a vet reference - any pre existing conditions, is he happy at the vets?
All labs can be goofy and clumsy, so bear that in mind with 2 small children - will he knock them over with enthusiasm for example.
Fab dogs though - we need a picture

I'd assume not well bred if the first port of call isn't back to the breeder. Likely to be from working lines, but fox red became a but fashionable so lots of litters being churned out for colour rather than temperament.

A year is a tricky age for rehoming, lots of adolescent behaviour but no bond established in a new home.

Is it a proper rescue or a private rehome? Why is he being rehomed? 12 months is a very tricky age and it takes consistent training to get through it. My FRL girl has just turned one and she's still VERY full on. She's better than she was as a very young puppy when she had only 2 settings - asleep or feral. There seemed to be no in between!

A fox red lab is just a very dark yellow lab, there’s no separate distinction for them.

it really depends on the dog but fox red tend to be from working lines. I’ve read that fox reds tend to be a bit nuts, but this obviously depends on the dog too. I am getting a fox red lab in the summer (he’s being partially trained) he is quite calm, as much as a 8 month old puppy can. But his grandma, whilst absolutely lovely was very on the go, as was some of his brothers, whereas he mum and great grandma were much calmer. Dogs are all different.

id question whether this was a rescue from a reputable rescue, or is it a private rehome? I would avoid private rehome if I’m honest.

why is he being rehomed?

Where’s he coming from? A rescue? Or by rehomed do you mean being sold by his current owners?

Fox reds are nearly always from working lines and are very hard work.
Ideally they need a job.

I would also look into why he’s being re homed

I have a black lab. Amazing with the children but can be reactive to other dogs when out and about- if she sees them bounding into her personal space she can get aggressive to them. She’s great if she knows the dog isn’t a threat though.

she needs 2 walks a day and lots of company. And the moulting struggle is real!