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.

I used to watch someone's FRL occasionally, but eventually had to stop because the dog was aggitated by the presence of my children and would bark at them continually!

Our red is now 12 yrs old. Had her as a puppy. Kids were 6,4,2. What the fuck was I thinking!!! From working stock. She was an absolute knob at first, and I nearly returned her a couple of times! Insanely clever so needed lots of stimulation. But so gentle. Once out of the teenage years she has been golden. I could literally leave her anywhere with anyone. Love her to bits. And we had her long before she got trendy!

To second PPs, I’d be very wary of why this dog isn’t returning to the breeder. All of my dogs have come with contracts that say they must be returned to them in the event that I can no longer care for them.

My other concern is the age of this dog. That is balls deep in the Teenage Years- they become an overnight pain in the tits. So is this dog being rehomed because the previous owner couldn’t cope with that? In that case, I’d question their commitment to training in general. Or is it that behaviours have got out of hand, and they want rid? I’d be very wary of that.

I agree with the poster above that labs get a lot of good press (see. Cutesie Andrex puppy), and generally that is warranted. But often problems begin when they end up in very novice homes, and in reality they are a big, powerful working breed who require a lot of training. I love my labs very much- wouldn’t have another breed. But they haven’t come ready made.

I have one. She's lovely. Aged 5 now. Was very easy to train. A loving and very chilled dog.

Lab owner of 20 years. I've had multiple dogs.

I have one and he's always been on the spicy side! Extremely athletic, tons of energy, highly strung around other dogs and very intelligent.

But. He has the most wonderful temperament. Super trustworthy, loyal, loving etc

Given that this is your first dog I'm not sure this is a good idea, plus he's a rescue. Could have a lot of baggage and you have young kids etc.

A fit, working Lab (of any colour) isn't for the faint hearted imo.

@feelingalittlehorse

"Balls deep in the Teenage Years" made me lol 😂

In my albeit limited experience I have found that male dogs seem more effected by this than females (all that testosterone maybe?), my previous male Dalmatian was a massive dickhead from about 10 months to 2 years.

This sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Private rehome? So current owners are just getting rid of him? They CBA with him anymore and don’t care about him enough to bother trying to get a shelter or rescue involved, or return to breeders.

He likely has all manner of problems and ‘bouncy’ is code for ‘we can’t be arsed to train him.’ ‘Good with kids’ - that’s usually bollocks puppy farmers say to try and get dogs rehomed quickly.

Don’t do it.

Edit: You have young children. Do not bring a dog that likely has multiple problems, hasn’t been properly trained, that his current owners can’t be arsed with into your house with your children.

Labrador’s are NOT easy dogs. They have a great rep. But it takes work and the fact this dog is older means training (if you are a novice owner) will be downright impossible.

Ummmm, no. Our fox red is bouncy but is also trained! But give him space and he's off like Tigger! 🤷‍♀️🐕🤣

Working labs are VERY different to Andrex puppy labradors and what general people think of when they think lab.

Lots of labs are put into rescue/up for rehoming at 12-24 months. It doesn't mean that they are difficult dogs, it is more likely that the owners totally underestimated the work needed with an adolescent lab. They are lovely but this age is their most stubborn stage and they need someone who is committed and consistent with training (positive reinforcement). Labs are great family dogs, there's a reason they've been the most registered breed for 20+ years, but you have to put the work in. You'll get it back tenfold, but they don't come ready made.

Mine is working (100%, both parents and his pedigree is all working lines). He is a wonderful dog. Has a 1.5 hour walk in the woods every day and then is a calm, couch potato at home. He's not 'on the go' all the time. He knows when to switch off. Some people have an idea that working lines are highly strung. They aren't, well some are, but some are perfectly suited for pet homes with an active lifestyle.

The males have incredibly high levels of testosterone so can be difficult (anxiety/dominance), I’ve yet to meet one that wasn’t a twat.

That explains why my brothers dog is incapable of controlling himself around my female (spayed!) mutt who is a foot taller than him. He's not been done yet and they aren't sure if they will bother to neuter him...

Even when she's threatening to rip his throat out if he touches her again (I have sympathy with her views on this), he's bug eyed, slavering and trying to mount her left ankle or something.

We have working dogs - ours are properly worked, not just from working lines. We have labs and spaniels.
Working dogs are incredibly lovely animals, they are people focused, they need their personal and ours have without a doubt been calm, chilled animals who can have a snooze day on the sofa without exploding. They have all been good natured, well behaved and lovely to be around with absolutely no bad traits (bar stealing slippers and socks from the small span!).
However, this is ONLY because they receive constant stimulation, training, exercise and boundaries. I would not recommend a working line dog for anyone who isn't either willing to do the above or is a complete novice unless you are really prepared to put the work in.
If you get a working dog it has to be a big part of your life, mine revolves around ours I'm afraid! That said because that is the case they are chilled, well adjusted and can actually be left happily for hours if needed (but they'd rather just come and sit in the truck tbh 😂).

Labradogs are very trainable thanks to their unending appetite. They have a rather protracted adolescence, but they are well-meaning and eager to please. They tend to be friendly and good with kids, but you WILL need to put in the hard yards with training and boundaries.

We had a working lines fox red lab before they were fashionable. He had a lovely temperament, mad as a box of frogs for zoomies but would also just chill out on his bed for ages and doze once he'd had a walk. He could chill if both adults were too ill to walk but would generally harrumph at us until we walked him if we were just lazy/hung over. He was great with kids, but we did make sure he had mental stimulation and multiple walks a day - mostly was with DH at work.

He was happy with 2-3 walks a day (30 minutes, leg stretch and 45-60 minutes) but loved all day hikes best of all.

Was a dreadful food thief, had big stair gates and a lock on the outside of the utility room - lab brain is largely about getting more food.

The Fox Red hair is the worst for getting everywhere and shows on everything as it's 2 tone, each strand is mostly white with a red tip. We've moved twice since our boy died (Arthritis at 13) and still find the odd hair. Mud didn't really stick to his hair and he dried really quickly, which was good for grooming but not for the inside of the car.

@NoWordForFluffy @SAHdoglife

my friends one is like that too. He's the funniest dog I've ever known. He jumps up like a kangaroo!

he's not at all food orientated.

He's quite vocal though. Which is annoying in nice weather as he barks at everything, so you can't just leave the doors to the garden open, but other than that he's brilliant.

my friend is home all day so he gets lots of attention. He only gets 2 short walks am/pm as her husband works full time & has a long commute ( she is disabled so can't walk him)
her son WFH so at least once a week he picks them up & takes them to his house and her dog has a lovely day in their big house & garden. They have sleep overs & visits quite often.

Despite being a kangaroo, (& not quite two yet) he's pretty gentle around children, & keeps his paws on the floor.

but I wouldn't want him & 2 very small kids permanently.

the one you're considering isn't really a good idea for a novice dog owner, especially one with 2 very young children.

Ours isn't food-oriented either.

He's really good at chilling out all day as I take him out for a long walk / jog (with alllllll the sniffing he wants!) first thing for an hour. He then gets 30-60 minutes in the evening with DH as well.

He's only 15 months, so in twat stage still, mind you. 🙈🤣

@CornishPorsche, there are quite a few health reasons for not having large breed dogs castrated.

No one with children under 6 should be rehoming any dog privately unless it’s from a relative that they know very well and a dog that they already know very well

Yes @NoWordForFluffy we don't castrate unless there is a real behavioural issue. It can make dogs with anxious and nervous tendencies much, much worse. Randy dog behaviour is a training issue - they need to understand that area of work is only on your say so. Dogs should be capable of being around bitches in heat without making an idiot of themselves.

Honestly all you need to know with 2 kids under 6 and as a first dog is it’s a bad idea, you’d have to be nuts to consider rehoming a 12 month old lab.

@OrlandointheWilderness my bitch is spayed, so not even in heat! He totally loses control, absolutely obsessive about all female dogs tbh.

Private rehome with children is too big a risk. Don't do it. Look for an assessed rescue or buy a puppy you know from good lines. People can and do lie. Kids get hurt. I have seen this first hand.