Retrievers and labs.
Discussion
We have a 7mnth old GR at the moment. Had a couple when I was younger too.
At a couple of months old when we got her:
5 months:
She is a lot of fun... but sleeps a lot! then runs round like a mental... then sleeps a lot!
Also cannot catch... balls just hit her in the face! She loves water
She loves everybody and other dogs. We did spend a lot of time socialising her when we first got her which I think definetely helped.
Fur does get everywhere...!
cheers.
At a couple of months old when we got her:
5 months:
She is a lot of fun... but sleeps a lot! then runs round like a mental... then sleeps a lot!
Also cannot catch... balls just hit her in the face! She loves water
She loves everybody and other dogs. We did spend a lot of time socialising her when we first got her which I think definetely helped.
Fur does get everywhere...!
cheers.
My chocolate lab is about 5/6 yrs old and is still a nutter in everyway. He is working stock but not a worker more a lazy, food orientated, sofa dwelling, snoring, ball of fur. We don't have any kids but he is brilliant around them and lets them pet him though he can be a bit boisterous. He is so much fun and loves to play all the time. We have also nicknamed his tail "The tail of Mass destruction" as its sits around coffee table height knocking stuff off all the time. Wouldn't have him any other way.
We've got 3 male golden retrievers, all from show lines, brilliant dogs! Lots of fun and very good natured.
Health wise I suppose it's mixed - the eldest one, Dino, had cancer when he was 8 - an operation sorted him out and he'll be 13 in March, he's got a touch of arthritis in his back and is a little bit slow these days. The middle one, Enzo, damaged both cruciate ligaments within 9 months of each other - operations have sorted him out and you'd never know he had leg issues. The youngest, Lusso (3) has had no health issues....so far!
As someone mentioned earlier training and socialisation as a puppy is important.
An investment in a good vacuum cleaner is essential
Mud is loved by some retrievers but not others...
The bigger the toy, the better!
Good luck with choosing
Health wise I suppose it's mixed - the eldest one, Dino, had cancer when he was 8 - an operation sorted him out and he'll be 13 in March, he's got a touch of arthritis in his back and is a little bit slow these days. The middle one, Enzo, damaged both cruciate ligaments within 9 months of each other - operations have sorted him out and you'd never know he had leg issues. The youngest, Lusso (3) has had no health issues....so far!
As someone mentioned earlier training and socialisation as a puppy is important.
An investment in a good vacuum cleaner is essential
Mud is loved by some retrievers but not others...
The bigger the toy, the better!
Good luck with choosing
A.J.M said:
Alfie, 10 month old fox red lab.
My mum had never allowed me to get one, so I went out and bought him with the belief she wouldn't send him away when he was in the house. She now loves him.
He loves to chew plastic bottles and play with his friend Riley.
Wonderful dog, such a peaceful nature, still gets hyper at meeting new dogs though.
Our Milo looks the spitting image - fox red but just 8 months old.
Brilliant dog. Chews everything (but nothing important - ready supply of 'things to chew' including plastic bottles and cardboard boxes)
Gets hyper when meeting other dogs.....but hates travelling in cars!
I'd post a picture but he's just been to the vet's for 'the op' so not that full of beans at the moment!
riosyd said:
We've got 3 male golden retrievers, all from show lines, brilliant dogs! Lots of fun and very good natured.
Health wise I suppose it's mixed - the eldest one, Dino, had cancer when he was 8 - an operation sorted him out and he'll be 13 in March, he's got a touch of arthritis in his back and is a little bit slow these days. The middle one, Enzo, damaged both cruciate ligaments within 9 months of each other - operations have sorted him out and you'd never know he had leg issues. The youngest, Lusso (3) has had no health issues....so far!
As someone mentioned earlier training and socialisation as a puppy is important.
An investment in a good vacuum cleaner is essential
Mud is loved by some retrievers but not others...
The bigger the toy, the better!
Good luck with choosing
If you take your very young puppy to a car show. 2 of the dogs above may drool over him. Not in a "aww he's a pup", more, here have some saliva over your face.. Health wise I suppose it's mixed - the eldest one, Dino, had cancer when he was 8 - an operation sorted him out and he'll be 13 in March, he's got a touch of arthritis in his back and is a little bit slow these days. The middle one, Enzo, damaged both cruciate ligaments within 9 months of each other - operations have sorted him out and you'd never know he had leg issues. The youngest, Lusso (3) has had no health issues....so far!
As someone mentioned earlier training and socialisation as a puppy is important.
An investment in a good vacuum cleaner is essential
Mud is loved by some retrievers but not others...
The bigger the toy, the better!
Good luck with choosing
riosyd said:
A.J.M said:
If you take your very young puppy to a car show. 2 of the dogs above may drool over him. Not in a "aww he's a pup", more, here have some saliva over your face..
Haha it will just have been the one dog, Lusso, here he is wearing his own slobber!
I'm noticing that loads of people have labs that chew the house and furniture. Makes me SO glad Alfie never bothered with any of it, insoles from shoes though... a few of them got chewed before he grew out of it.
Can fully recommend an antler chew toy. Last longer than normal chew toys and good for teeth etc. Alf loves his so much i need to buy another.
Fantastic breed, i currently have a white lab and a chocolate labradoodle, both are wonderful dogs, very loving and great with children of all ages 
Just a bit of advice for all dog lovers. Make sure you keep wellies away from puppies or any dogs that like to chew. I lost a lab pup because she got her head stuck in a welly one night and suffocated. It totally devastated me and at the time i'd never even considered wellies as a health hazard, but i was wrong. I'd hate for anyone to go through the upset and most of all guilt i went through, it's awful. Please keep wellies in a safe place. It's so easy to come in and kick your wellies off after a walk and leave them where your dog can get at them
Just a bit of advice for all dog lovers. Make sure you keep wellies away from puppies or any dogs that like to chew. I lost a lab pup because she got her head stuck in a welly one night and suffocated. It totally devastated me and at the time i'd never even considered wellies as a health hazard, but i was wrong. I'd hate for anyone to go through the upset and most of all guilt i went through, it's awful. Please keep wellies in a safe place. It's so easy to come in and kick your wellies off after a walk and leave them where your dog can get at them
Edited by Rae420 on Friday 25th January 15:08
caiss4 said:
For a minute I thought I'd posted this!
Our Milo looks the spitting image - fox red but just 8 months old.
Brilliant dog. Chews everything (but nothing important - ready supply of 'things to chew' including plastic bottles and cardboard boxes)
Gets hyper when meeting other dogs.....but hates travelling in cars!
I'd post a picture but he's just been to the vet's for 'the op' so not that full of beans at the moment!
What's the consensus here on 'the chop'? Bertie is just coming up to 8 months now and we've not come across any problems as yet (in fact he seems to already have accepted that self-abuse is the way forward, and indeed perfected it).Our Milo looks the spitting image - fox red but just 8 months old.
Brilliant dog. Chews everything (but nothing important - ready supply of 'things to chew' including plastic bottles and cardboard boxes)
Gets hyper when meeting other dogs.....but hates travelling in cars!
I'd post a picture but he's just been to the vet's for 'the op' so not that full of beans at the moment!
My gf - softie that she is - has decided that there's no way she wants to see our boy lose his back wheels but I'm worried that he may develop either behavioural or physical problems if we don't have it done...
GALLARDOGUY said:
My black lab is 15 months old and still has his danglers.
Not had any behavioural issues as a result. He's never tried to hump anything as yet.
That's reassuring - had visions of him 'decorating' people's trousers and running off/ generally being uncontrollable etc - which would be a shame as he's so good nowNot had any behavioural issues as a result. He's never tried to hump anything as yet.
To the OP - couldn't recommend a lab highly enough - Bert is our first dog and is absolutely amazing in every way. Some pics below taken just after a swim on Wimbledon Common the other week.
I've lost my ball...
Hurry up...
zzz...
DarcySmith said:
How about half Red Setter half retriever?.. 
Does that make them a resetter? (groan)We've 2 Black labs, both pedigree, and have had a bit of destruction from Both of them. Murphy, now 8, chewed the walls as a pup - apparently that's quite common, something about the lime in the plaster, and he dug a hole in the landing carpet - because he's quite, quite mad!!
Charlie who is 2, had a thing for remotes and headphones, but no furniture. He still nicks remotes, but just runs off with them, as he knows I'll follow him, get it back off him, and not chastise him too much (belly rub)
They'll eat most things we do - spicy please dad - with no tummy probs, and I love 'em both to bits. They do take a fair bit of input early on, but so do most pups. They're very freindly, good with other dogs, and very protective of the house. What's not to like?
(I must figure out how to post pics)
Edited by celticpilgrim on Tuesday 12th February 12:53
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