What dog thread: Labrador, retriever or something else?
Discussion
. I do think fox reds generally have well-proportioned heads but then that might just be my bias!
Jamie VTS said:
A border terrier would fit every one of your criteria bar the size (ours is 10kg for reference).
Must admit, the jack russell that my parents are looking after currently is a great dog. She has changed my views on small dogs, but my preference would still be something spaniel sized or larger.stevesingo said:
Chris71 said:
stevesingo said:
Have considered (or even heard of) Bavarian Mountain Hound. Slightly smaller than a Lab, clever, loyal, energetic, robust and low maintenance WRT grooming. Oh a bloody cute.
We'd consider pretty much any variation on the gun dog theme, I think. Although it sounds like we might not have that luxury based on the price and availability of pedigree puppies at the moment. I've been window shopping occasionally on Pets4Homes for about a year and can't believe how things have changed since lockdown. It's really annoying as we've been contemplating getting a dog for about five years now.
towser said:
caiss4 said:
Surprised no one's mentioned a fox-red:
He's a working lab, bred by a local farmer. Fantastically loving, docile but goes apes
t at anyone coming to the house 
Usual lab traits - always searching for food, smells and sheds loads of hair. Now I'm retired he gets plenty of long walks which are keeping him trim (just had his eighth birthday). As the kids have left home, he's the only reason they ever come back!
I have a fox red (Yoshi) who's 10 months old now. Pretty much everything you said....kids love him, great mix of gentleness and craziness!He's a working lab, bred by a local farmer. Fantastically loving, docile but goes apes
t at anyone coming to the house Usual lab traits - always searching for food, smells and sheds loads of hair. Now I'm retired he gets plenty of long walks which are keeping him trim (just had his eighth birthday). As the kids have left home, he's the only reason they ever come back!
Picking up my first ever pup in seven weeks. A black pedigree lab. Always had cats but wanted a dog to complete the line up. Work situations have changed in the last year or so allowing a dog to finally come on board. I can’t wait! I’ll post some pics of the young lady when she gets home.
Chubbyross said:
Picking up my first ever pup in seven weeks. A black pedigree lab. Always had cats but wanted a dog to complete the line up. Work situations have changed in the last year or so allowing a dog to finally come on board. I can’t wait! I’ll post some pics of the young lady when she gets home.
You won’t regret it
Nickbrapp said:
Chubbyross said:
Picking up my first ever pup in seven weeks. A black pedigree lab. Always had cats but wanted a dog to complete the line up. Work situations have changed in the last year or so allowing a dog to finally come on board. I can’t wait! I’ll post some pics of the young lady when she gets home.
You won’t regret it
All great dogs, BUT. For ten years I'd been owned by two ( one after thev other) Cairns. I desperately wanted another rescue to home. But I got no joy.I heard of a Westie in a local place and went to look. Not suitable as we had a GS of ten years old, but passing the cages one little lady got our attention. Not my choice,or hers. I was anti JRT, Swimbo was anti Yorkies. But this little lady decided we were her choice. A JRT/Yorky cross,. She took to us in minutes, where as she'd ignored a lot of other adopters. A year on, this dog that was not suitable to be with children has a new mae she loves to be with- our 10 year old GS. She dotes on him, and he always looks for her when he visits. Same dog has another mate- our year old Great grand daughter. Shame that dog and child only see each other at social distance, but again ,this dog said to be not reliable with young kids has taken to our family.
Enjoy your lab pup but don't underestimate the amount of dog hairs you will find. They get everywhere. Also start with good habits or the thing will get fat and unhealthy. Feed only dog food at the dogs mealtimes. NO titbits at the dinner table, In fact in he early stages have a dog crate and put him in there whilst you eat. The dog will learn meal times are YOUR time and in years to come won't even venture near the table when you eat.
It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
loskie said:
Enjoy your lab pup but don't underestimate the amount of dog hairs you will find. They get everywhere. Also start with good habits or the thing will get fat and unhealthy. Feed only dog food at the dogs mealtimes. NO titbits at the dinner table, In fact in he early stages have a dog crate and put him in there whilst you eat. The dog will learn meal times are YOUR time and in years to come won't even venture near the table when you eat.
It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
Not miserable at all and very much appreciated, thank you. I’ve always had the same rule with my cats about feeding at the table and they’ve grown up as non-scroungers. I hate seeing fat animals so the same rules will certainly apply when the puppy comes home in a few weeks. It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
Regarding the sleep training, myself and my partner did the same thing with our children when they were babies. It was excruciating at first hearing them cry - 45 minutes the first night, twenty the second and then blissful silence the third. After that they slept like logs every night. Would you recommend that the very first night home or would you start it on night two after she’s settled in?
loskie said:
Enjoy your lab pup but don't underestimate the amount of dog hairs you will find. They get everywhere. Also start with good habits or the thing will get fat and unhealthy. Feed only dog food at the dogs mealtimes. NO titbits at the dinner table, In fact in he early stages have a dog crate and put him in there whilst you eat. The dog will learn meal times are YOUR time and in years to come won't even venture near the table when you eat.
It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
When I got my Choc Lab pup many years ago she was 8 weeks old and the first night in her new home she whined & whimpered around 1am,I put her back in her bed and ignored,I woke in the morning to find she had soiled on the floor so 2nd night when she again whined & whimpered around the same time I took her outside,she went to the toilet ran back indoors and into her bed.so although yours might whine & whimper it might be for the above reason It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
Enjoy,I would dearly love another but unsuitable lifestyle at present
Saleen836 said:
loskie said:
Enjoy your lab pup but don't underestimate the amount of dog hairs you will find. They get everywhere. Also start with good habits or the thing will get fat and unhealthy. Feed only dog food at the dogs mealtimes. NO titbits at the dinner table, In fact in he early stages have a dog crate and put him in there whilst you eat. The dog will learn meal times are YOUR time and in years to come won't even venture near the table when you eat.
It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
When I got my Choc Lab pup many years ago she was 8 weeks old and the first night in her new home she whined & whimpered around 1am,I put her back in her bed and ignored,I woke in the morning to find she had soiled on the floor so 2nd night when she again whined & whimpered around the same time I took her outside,she went to the toilet ran back indoors and into her bed.so although yours might whine & whimper it might be for the above reason It's much easier to start and make good habits than to try to break the bad ones that have formed.
When you get him home the first couple of nights he may whine and howl. Hard as it is IGNORE him. Otherwise he will learn that this behaviour brings you to him and you will regret that. Bedrooms should be out of bounds too.
I sound like a right miserable sod I know but these are good tips.
Enjoy,I would dearly love another but unsuitable lifestyle at present
I think we're basically set on a Labrador, a retriever or a cross based on either/both of those.
We are now actively looking too, although prepared to wait (something didn't feel quite right with the fox red litter I mentioned before, so we didn't take that any further).
A couple of questions:
Where would you look? So far I get the impression that the best bet is to approach local breeders and ask if they know of any pups rather than waiting for litters to be advertised.
Lab experts - can you explain hip scores to me? My understanding is the lower and the more evenly balanced the better? Looks like the current median is 9, so you really want 4.5/4.5 or less? How big a risk is it if one parent is hip scored and the other isn't? At what point would you turn down an otherwise healthy pup?
I suppose the latter has to factor in the price. I realise buying a cheap dog can be a false economy, but I am struggling to come to terms with the prices currently being charged for Labrador pups. I would want to see top marks in everything to contemplate spending twice what an average pup went for six months ago. Conversely, if it was a genuine loving home and the parents were healthy but not KC-registered, hip scored etc. I might still consider it for the right money.
Assuming we do go down the fully rated route, are there any other health tests to pay close attention to? I presume most are straightforward pass/fail screenings rather than scores that need to be interpreted?
We are now actively looking too, although prepared to wait (something didn't feel quite right with the fox red litter I mentioned before, so we didn't take that any further).
A couple of questions:
Where would you look? So far I get the impression that the best bet is to approach local breeders and ask if they know of any pups rather than waiting for litters to be advertised.
Lab experts - can you explain hip scores to me? My understanding is the lower and the more evenly balanced the better? Looks like the current median is 9, so you really want 4.5/4.5 or less? How big a risk is it if one parent is hip scored and the other isn't? At what point would you turn down an otherwise healthy pup?
I suppose the latter has to factor in the price. I realise buying a cheap dog can be a false economy, but I am struggling to come to terms with the prices currently being charged for Labrador pups. I would want to see top marks in everything to contemplate spending twice what an average pup went for six months ago. Conversely, if it was a genuine loving home and the parents were healthy but not KC-registered, hip scored etc. I might still consider it for the right money.
Assuming we do go down the fully rated route, are there any other health tests to pay close attention to? I presume most are straightforward pass/fail screenings rather than scores that need to be interpreted?
spanner10 said:
Huskies/ Beagles/Bassets all look lovely but are very hard work esp Huskies
Not to derail the thread (and good luck to the OP with whatever breed he chooses) but can you elaborate on your experiences with Huskies please? As previously mentioned in this thread my eldest son has a 12 month old Husky and he is a brilliant dog. Good on the lead, house trained, playful and hasn't chewed anything that isn't his. Interested to hear your experience of the negatives.Robscim said:
Let me introduce Millie!
She's a Black Labrador(mum) Golden Retriever(Dad) cross and is now 3 years old. She has a beautiful temperament and has become a real part of the family.
We got her from a breeder in Suffolk.
We wouldn't be without her now!
Rob
The thought had occured that a 'goldador' might be a rather lovely combination. I'd find it hard to decide between a flat coat, golden retriever or Lab, so a bit of a mix sounds good. She's a Black Labrador(mum) Golden Retriever(Dad) cross and is now 3 years old. She has a beautiful temperament and has become a real part of the family.
We got her from a breeder in Suffolk.
We wouldn't be without her now!
Rob
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