In what way can lab puppies be twats? Glad you asked.
I have nearly 9 month old male lab pup who weighs almost 60lbs and has the mind of a fun loving puppy. I take him to training classes once or twice a week. I've spent hundreds of pounds on trainig, and hundreds of hours, and have read countless dog books. He can sit, stay, come here, and leave it with the best of them provided treats are involved and he has nothing better to do. But he has few manners and absolutely no morals. Today while I was picking up his 2nd bag of "dog business" I left the 1st sealed bag on top of wheelie bin. He jumped up and took the bag full of his poo and ran around with it in his mouth excitedly for several minutes. I couldnt get it off him and worried it would burst (thankfully it didn't). That was a 'fun' game for him. An hour later on a walk he remembered just how much 'fun' he'd had playing that game and jumped up to steal the new bag full of his poo I'd just picked up. I snapped and shouted (despite my usually positive only approach) and he gave that one up quickly. I'm no lightweight but he is massively strong. Today he pulled the lead from my hand and strained my arm (felt almost dislocated, and hurt my back, still sore). A few days ago he jumped up at a stranger (who appeared seemingly from nowhere in desserted field). The stranger told me in no uncertain terms to get my 'f-ing dog' under control. Believe me, I try! Yesterday my dog greeted a friendly stranger in park joyfully but then jumped up at him over-excitedly as he was leaving and nipped at his sleeve. (That stranger didn't mind but I was utterly mortified - definately not what I expected from a lab or what I thought I was signing up for when I brought home cute pup). Yesterday when I popped to loo for a few minutes he jumped up at table, went into my shopping bag (which I thought was out of his reach), ripped open and devoured 2 full bags of dog treats which I'd just bought. When I was working from home today he kept jumping up at me and forcefully snuggling into my chest, point blank refusing to move. If he wants to greet a dog or person on walk he will park himself in lying down position knowing I can't move him and wait until tgey arrive. He's chewed the plug off my fridge and TV, both in seconds. He destroyed a brand new (less than 30 minute old) door mat by ripping it into around 40 pieces) while I had popped to loo. He chases birds regularly, my heart's in my mouth fearing he'll catch one. He goes into my handbag even when I'm carrying it. He sometimes steals things from my pockets. He sometimes jumps up at me and nips my bum when he's over-stimulated by trafficnor frustrated at being prevented from greeting every.single.stranger. He sometimes digs relentlessly at carpet. He stole my neighbour's peg bag this morning and scattered her pegs. At training classes he constantly jumps up at chairs, steals anything that isn't nailed down. That's all just in the last few days. And there's much more I haven't listed.
All that said, I love him to bits. I think he's the best dog in the world. He's my very favourite 'mistake'. Mybbest friend. I wouldnt be without him. I have every faith he will grow into the very best adult dog. He's fully house trained, sleeps all night, hardly ever barks, shows no sign of aggression, is super friendly to all dogs and people, I can leave him alone for a few hours with no seperation anxiety, he travels briliantly in car, I can leave him alone in car for a few minutes while I pop into a shop, he's beautiful, he has the most irrepresable contagious joy for life. It's impossible to stay cynical or jaded when he's having the time of his life chasing a leaf. I love his happy walk, he's very trainable in so many ways. He's my first dog so I hope, with persistent training, he will grow out of his countless bad habits. Many people have better behaved digs than mine at 9 months. I would say you have to really, really want one to put up with all the mischief. I've always wanted a lab and I really, really want him. I don't regret it. But he is seriously hard work and in many ways all consuming. They definately don't arrive fully trained or like most people's idea of a gentle, trustworthy lab. For me the reality has been nothing like I expected. But I honestly wouldn't swap him for any of the more perfectly behaved puppies I've encountered at the many dog training classes I've been to. Believe me young labs can be true twats with minds of their own, and persomality traits you may not have expected or signed up for. I would say good luck. You will likely need it. I hope you really, really want one!