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Posted: 9/24/2004 1:45:50 PM EDT
Within the next month or so, I'm planning on getting a dog. Basically what I'm looking for is a dog that is good tempered and not aggressive but still energetic enough to go into the field with me during the fall and to the lake in the summer. From my limited experience with labs, they all seem to be friendly dogs and good with children.
Also, are there any real differences between black, yellow, and chocolate labs personality wise? |
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My aunt once had a black lab that was super crazy. He loved corn and wood.
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Heh. I'm on my way right after I hang up to go look at one. He's 1 and house-trained and good with kids and all that. I'm taking my two kids to meet him and see what they think. He's reportedly nuts about water and loves to play with kids and other dogs. He barks when people come to the house, but stops when you let them in. Sounds perfect to me!
Gotta go see a man about a horse. Actually, a girl about a dog, but, you know. Good luck. |
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my family has always had labs. had a black when I was born until I was 5 or so, then a few chocolates, then 2 yellows. My parents just got another black
the 2 yellows were from the same parents but different litters and were probably the smartest and best behaved that we had, but all were good dogs. The black puppy they have now is a bit head strong, but she's still prety young and had already started to behave better between when I saw her a few months ago and then again about a month later |
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I should mention also that I have a part lab right now.
She recently got hit by a car and busted up. She's been chasing cars for six years. CRC |
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My dad owned a yellow lab when I was growing up. You couldn't ask for a better family pet.
he was great with us as kids,had more energy then most and loved the water. |
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What's to know? They're like the black ones, except they are yellow.
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Chocolate labs? CRC |
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Sorry to hear your current pet. I hope she wasn't badly hurt.
As far as labs go, I've had a chocolate for the past 8 years and he's been great. Fantastic with kids, loves the water and outdoors, and an outstanding companion. I still say that he helped me more than anyone during my divorce. My only complaint is that he's a little more defensive than what most would think of a lab. He barks at cars going by, people walking in front of my house, any knock at the door, etc. If you're a woman coming into the house, once he smells you he has no problems. However, a man on the other hand will get the ferocious bark treatment for at least 5 minutes no matter what I do. I've heard that chocolates tend to be more defensive than blacks or yellows. I don't know if there's any truth to that statement, but if Chet is any indication than it's grounded in fact! It has its good points and bad points. On one hand, I know that no one will ever enter my house without my knowledge. On the other, the barking can get a little annoying when a bud comes over to watch the game and swill a few beers. Still, I don't think you can go wrong with a lab. Just know that they need plenty of exercise and attention. If you don't give it to them, they'll devote their attention and exercise to your furniture, your shoes, your clothes, your guns, your computer cables, your landscaping, your fence . . . E-95 |
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The color really causes no difference in temperament, it's largely in the breeding. Your best bet is to check out breeders in your area (there should be plenty) and check out some of the litters, and the breeding stock to see what kind of temperament they have ... If the breeder won't show you, don't buy from them, it means they're hiding something ... Also avoid "Pet Stores" like the plague, most dogs that have socialization issues stem from spending their early puppy-hood in a tiny cell at the Mall instead of socializing and playing with other puppies.
Info On Labrador Breeders here |
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Just a word of caution. They will chew up more stuff than you can imagine and will do it longer than most dogs. We have had Labs and part Labs and they seem to be chronic chewers. Have had Shepherds and Chows and more mixed breeds than you can shake a stick at and none are more destructive. This seems to be the one drawback.
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One word to stop the chewing, NYLABONE ! Get the "hambone" flavored one.
You will need 3 of the full sized ones. The first 2 will be consummed rather quickly, the third will last the rest of his life. |
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+1 Also we had lots of luck with a product called "Bitter Apple" (pet stores will sell it) spray it on crap you don't want the puppy chewing ... it tastes bad to most of them so they don't touch it. Puppies are the worst when they are teething ... When our Lab was that age we kept a 10LB bag of carrotts in the freezer at all times ... He'd get several during the day to curb the chwing and numb his sore teeth/gums ... It seemed to redirect the chewing habit for us, when he wanted to chew he'd beg for a carrot rather than lay into the furniture. |
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Labs are diggers. My half lab used to bury its damn Milk Bonz. They also dig holes for what seems to be no reason at all.
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They taste chocolaty. The yellows are more twinkie flavored. |
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The best dog I ever had was a Doberman/Lab. ( Mother was a Blue Dob. father was a Field champion lab ). Black, short hair. Dob looks, Lab instinks, retrive anything, (never lost a bird). But wouldn,t go in the water after sept, so ducks were out. Good watch dog, great with kids, and slept in our bed most of the time. I've only seen one advertised in the paper since then, but couldnt have a dog at the time.
Currently have a yellow lab 14 mo old and he is GREAT....!!! ( Man should be so lucky as to find a wife as good as his dog)....!!! |
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Not if you get them a kids pool to play in. The main reason they dig is to get in the cool dirt. Labs are great family pets. But can chew everything you have to pieces when they are pups. But like has been mentioned it's not to bad if you give them something to chew on that is theirs and train them to only chew on it. |
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We have two female yellow labs and they are the sweetest creatures you can imagine. Something to think about though. Labs shed all the time. Think about the color of your carpets and flooring when picking the dog. We have light colored tile and carpet. If we had black dogs you'd see the hair everywhere. And don't think you can keep up with it unless your dog will live outside most of the time. Ours are spoiled babies that have their own couch, sleep inside, and spend a lot of time inside.
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I've had several, all colors. They are a bit hyper, they are chewers, they are diggers. They are also the most fun, most loving, and cutest full size dogs there are. Get one!
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The Lab I had growing up was the smartest dog we have owned yet ..... very well manored with no formal training . He lived along time ; was a great companion .
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Make sure you get one from a reputable breeder,they do have health issues. Hip dysplasia being one of them and knee problems. They are great family dogs and very protective of the family. I can't stress getting from a good breeder.
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We picked up a male black lab puppy about 3 weeks ago and I'm estimating he's about 12-14 weeks old. We named him "Stormy" because hurricaine Frances had just blown through. We got him through a pet rescue and they told us Labs are the hardest dogs for them to place, because there are so many of them.
Stormy's very smart and even tempered, but full of energy and loves to play with our other dog. Housebreaking was easy. It only took him a few days of watching our 11 year old Beagle go outside before he picked up on where he was supposed to do his business. If it's going to be a house dog, I would reccomend a crate and crate training. It's worked great for us. If we don't keep an eye on him he will chew up everything in sight, but the Nylabones seem to work. About 3 hours ago he tried to eat a toad. The bad taste made him run around shaking his head while he was trying to dig a ditch in the grass with his face. He'll forget and try it again in a little while. |
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What she said. I've got friends on another board who absolutely freak out if anyone buys/sells/breeds Labs without proper certification of hips and eyes. You can find info about it here; www.conservationcafe.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=7&DaysPrune=365&submit=Go |
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We have a female yellow and she is the most loving dog you can imagine. Her name is Madison and she is very spoiled.
Capt. Picard, you actually have one couch for your labs and one for yourself? That is nuts!!! The wife and I thought about buying another couch as well, but Madison allows us to use hers when she is not on it so it works out well. GREAT dogs. ;) |
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Got a yellow male last year.
Fantastic dog with kids. They can do anything to him and he just takes it. He will bark at moose and neighbors once or twice until we tell him its OK and then he is quiet. Good manners and we have trained him OK. We can walk him without a leash and he is un-cut. Great dog. Spend the money to get a good breeder, the cost of the pup is nothing compared to the overall cost. |
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My sister and her husband have a Chocolate and a Yellow (Yellow is about 1 year older). They are a bit rambunctious, but tolerate all the pulling of the tails and ears and attempted ridings from the baby humans (3 yr and 1 yr) without even growling. They had to cut the Chocolate's tail down to about 4" because she kept wagging it so hard and hitting it on things that she would split the skin and fling blood everywhere like a Monty Python skit. Every Lab I've ever 'known' will run straight for water every chance they get - hmmm, people should probably use them for duck hunting - and I've never known of an honery one. I would recommend getting the tails cut down to 2" nubs (you'll still know when they are happy because they wag their entire back ends) and work on their obedience all the time because they act like puppies their entire lives.
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Check your IM please. |
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I've had yellow and black labs.. I want anoher one, but don't have the time or means for one..
It's rough on me and my daughter to walk past the board with all the puppies for sale at Sportsmans Warehouse! |
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Thanks Muddy and no offense taken.
I might just be very interested and will let you know asap. As for Rusty, We are active people with four kids who always want to play with the dog. He has been hyper since we got him and hasn't changed with age as some have predicted. He pants furiously, non stop regardless if he's worked hard or just relaxing. I say relaxing but he NEVER does. Our dogs are family and indoors with us. Rusty has never been this because he will not settle down, ever. He bounces off the wall, running and just rambling through the house. For reference, he's a big lab, 100-105 pounds and on the skinny side. We have two younger kids (4-6) and he doesn't bite but he just knocks them around like bowling pins. We have taken him to group training, private training, personal training all to no end. Tried the diet changes, holistic to the tune of $200-$300 a pop no change. We tried an experiment for several weeks one time. We literaly ran him ragged. Walks three times a day along with throwing balls or training dummies for as long as our arms would go. He would pant, drink and just go right onrunning around. I don't like the idea of putting him down but letting him go and become someone elses problem, someone who might not treat him well because of his behavior is not an option. I think I know what has to be done but that doesn't make it any easier. He's unlike any lab I have ever owned or been around. |
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have they checked his thyroid...is he cut???
my friend had a dog like that...once... i forget what his name was..it was a chocolate..that was a freebie. and it was nutz...and ran everywhere..never sat still..unless it was in a coma..and snoring. my friends and i always called it "RUNNING DOG".. being in indian country..we have a habit of calling things..liek we see it..just like the old indians did.. "running dog" my hunting budy calls JAZZ "white trash" since i bred her to a black dog.. no yellow will ever have her now... i now have "WHITE TRASH" stenciled on her crate. |
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Absolutely cannot go wrong with a lab of any type.
Big part of picking out a lab: Know the parents, and if they have not had their hips checked, do not buy. I cannot stress how important it is to know if they come from parents with good hips. Don't buy if you don't know. This will ensure a long life for your pup. |
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hips are a crap shoot...
50% environmental... all the good breeding in the world does no good...if the dog ends up doing something cronically that causes a disruption. 50% of all vets misdiagnose HD...routinely. and cant give a good Xray position to save their life. the position of the dog during the Xray will make or break the OFA reading. hips are very important..dont get me wrong but the variables are very strong.. |
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I'll second the notion that the chocolates are not the best pick. IIRC, that color is from recessive genes and a "weaker" line overall. Maybe wives tale, or maybe not. YMMV. Labs and Goldens are great dogs. |
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BTW, Clinton's dog, Buddy, was a chocolate lab. Talk about ruining the breed!!! |
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I had a yellow female which was a fantasic dog. My current dog is a black male named Lucky. He's a rescue dog. I've been real lucky with both, very little chewing. I do have a friend at work though who's lab would destroy the house on a regular basis. Labs do require exercise, and lots of attention.
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Same goes for woman finding a husband as faithful and undeniably devoted. |
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Overbreeding in Labs is a problem so you must choose your breeder with care. Top breeders offer health guarantees. Stay away from the excessive breeders, those that breed for the very light yellows ect. Hip certification from both parents is important but not 100% reliable. Expect to pay top $ for a good one. They are not dogs to be left alone and need alot of attention and work. They are not "apartment" dogs as an example. I strongly recommend "crate" raising for all dogs but Lab's in particular. The up side is they are just about the smartest and easiest to train dogs you can get IMO. Great with kids and loyal to the death, I swear my Black Lab is part human, he is so smart. If your willing to take a Lab in as part of the family and devote alot of time to the pup you cannot get a better breed.
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SPECTRE;
Contact a local or state LE agency Canine Trainer and get that dog evaluated right NOW! If he is truely hyper and crazy for the ball, rag, stick, etc. and will hunt, hunt, hunt for it if you throw it in the bushes, (I mean 5-15 minutes and still hunting) is well socialized and not situation shy, somebody will take him and give him what he desperately needs...a job! Drug dog, bomb dog, etc. there is always a need for good ones...and Labs can make some of the very best! (BTW you can possibly write his value off as a tax deduction if an agency takes him and will sign a receipt for you) |
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I have to disagree on the "Chocolate=poor quality" remark. I have raised 4 labs, and my chocolate was heads and shoulders above the rest. These were champion bloodlined dogs from workingstock.
The chocolate was a fantastic hunter, and even pointed quail. Would not give up if given the command "dead bird". Best retrieve of all time was on a broken winged tundra swan, what a fight! Even trained him to "bring me a beer". He died when he was 15 years old, I still tear up when I think of him. |
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Got a love that Lab |
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I have a German Shepherd/Yellow lab mix (possibly Golden Retriever), and everyone i know has commented on how great a dog she is. Shes 9 right now, so she's getting up there. Energetic as a puppy, but not too bad. My grandpa owns woods and a lake, she loves it there. (its about an hour from my house). all i have to say is 'wanna go to the LAKE?' and she gets really excited and if any door in any vehicle is open outside, she'll hop in. My neighbor has a black lab. He's more energetic than mine ever was, and slobers more. One day i was determined not to quit throwing the ball until he quit. it took a looong time.o
Both great dogs. Goodluck. |
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That freebie chocolate sound like Rusty. If by "cut" you mean nuetered, yes he is and it didn't change his problem at all. The vets have checked his thyroid as well. Perfectly healthy just whacked. |
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