Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am trying to decide which type of dog I want. I want a big/strong dog. I want one that is unagressive, and extremely loyal. I know all of the above to be true for a Labrador. I have read about Labs and I haven't read about any major concerns about a Labrador that I have read about other breeds (Husky, German Shepherd, etc.)

I came here because I know that most of you either are major fans of Labradors and have worked with them, or own one yourselves. I also know that sometimes when people make websites about dogs and cats that they have absolutely no experience with the breed and are very good at copying and pastings tihngs from one website to their own.

I am one month away from buying a Labrador. Please right now if there is anything I should know about the Labrador that people usually don't talk about, tell me.
Good or bad.

Thanks so much for your time!!

Mimi

>>I am trying to decide which type of dog I want. I want a big/strong dog. I want one that is unagressive, and extremely loyal. I know all of the above to be true for a Labrador. I have read about Labs and I haven't read about any major concerns about a Labrador that I have read about other breeds (Husky, German Shepherd, etc.)
>>
>>I came here because I know that most of you either are major fans of Labradors and have worked with them, or own one yourselves. I also know that sometimes when people make websites about dogs and cats that they have absolutely no experience with the breed and are very good at copying and pastings tihngs from one website to their own.
>>
>>I am one month away from buying a Labrador. Please right now if there is anything I should know about the Labrador that people usually don't talk about, tell me.
>>Good or bad.
>>
>>
>>Thanks so much for your time!!
>>
>>Mimi

>>>>>>>>>

There is an article about Labradors at the link below my signature that I think gives an accurate view of what it is like to have one. I'm a big fan of the breed. They are a lot of work, especially for the first 2 years.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I don't know a ton about purebred labs, but my dog Lucy is a boxer/lab mix. She's nothing but wonderful. She had been kept outside in a tiny yard for her whole life of 8 years, had never, ever been around small children, and since she was never in the house she had never been housetrained. We brought her home with us, and she came right in the house, in over 2 months she's had a whopping 2 accidents in the house, and she's 100 percent fantastic with my two children. Those good traits could be from the boxer or the lab, but oh well. : ) If you don't want to deal with a psychotic puppy, go to a rescue organization or shelter. Labs are so popular you're bound to find one (be careful, though, a lot of backyard breeders and puppy mills take advantage of the lab's popularity and breed them badly). Labs are great, though, and if you want a big, active, strong, loving dog, they're a super way to go. Good luck!
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Kadee Sedtal
home of old lady Lucy (boxer/lab/garbage disposal), and the lovely new addition, Fancy the Wonder Beagle

Have you ever owned a dog? Labs are wonderful dogs, my present Lab is my second one. My first Lab lived to be 15, and most of her life she lived with my Golden mix who lived to be 14. My present Lab is 8 and I train and compete with her in obedience.

Labs are very social dogs and want to be with their humans. They should be socialized at a young age to get them used to people, children, other dogs, and other things. Also obedience training is VERY important if you want a good dog to live with. Labs act like puppies most of their lives, sure they might get older, but they love to play and act goofy. They shed a lot, so make sure that will not bother you. Yound Labs need a lot of exercise, and if they don't get that excercise, they can be rather destructive. Do you have any friends who own Labs?

Kim

dont mean to flame or anything, but, at 13 can you really pay to fix a dog with HD?
HD is very common in labs as are other joint issues that would require surgical fixing or if left untreated possible amputation.

an old neighbor of ours had 2, a 14 year old female that was so athritic in her old age she was PTS(one day he came home and she could not stand up) , and a 9 yr old male that would run away if no one was home and he slipped his lead or pushed a door open.

>>dont mean to flame or anything, but, at 13 can you really pay to fix a dog with HD?
>>HD is very common in labs as are other joint issues that would require surgical fixing or if left untreated possible amputation.
>>
>>an old neighbor of ours had 2, a 14 year old female that was so athritic in her old age she was PTS(one day he came home and she could not stand up) , and a 9 yr old male that would run away if no one was home and he slipped his lead or pushed a door open.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

Hip dysplasia is inherited. There are two ways to reduce or eliminate the risk of having to pay to rapair it. If you deal with a very good breeder who has bred for generations to stay away from HD, your chances of having it happen are greatly reduced. If you adopt a dog who is two years old only after paying for a complete hip x-ray and evaluation, you eliminate your risk of adopting a dog with hip dysplasia entirely. Doing this makes it safe even to adopt a rescue dog. This would cost $100 or so, not a bad expense as dog vet bills go.

Adopting a Labrador does not have to mean getting a dysplastic dog. Otherwise there is no way they would be doing all the work they are doing, in such a wide variety of serious, all-day jobs. Organizations cannot afford to invest all the training in a dog who is going down with hip dysplasia. They check them out first. Anyone adopting a Lab can do the same thing.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

I dont know of any rescues/shelters that would adopt to a 13 year old??