[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Labradors! Anyone keep a Lab inside? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 1/17/2008 3:53:47 PM EDT
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The rescue dog thread made me think of a question while I'm working late. Anyone have a lab as an (full time or part time) inside dog? If the fiancee puts up with me for 7 more months we will be dog shopping. She wants a mini doxie like she had before (stayed at home with "Grandma" when she moved out) and I want a lab. We are both dedicated dog lovers and these are the only little ones we want for a while. My lab will be a hunting dog but mainly a companion. My main concern is hair. I'm hoping a Furminator will take care of most of the problem.  Any advice or input from the hive mind? Thanks in advance. |
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Growing up we had a lab who was an indoor dog. I don't remember her shedding too much at all. Although this particular lab liked to scratch her sides along the walls, so there would be a black tinge at her height. Just make sure to train it well. Some friends of mine have a lab that isn't trained at all and he's a monster. Jumps, and chews all over. |
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I'll wager that no one on this board has had as many Labs as indoor dogs at one time as me. They do shed but if you use one of those brushes that strips out the underfur in the spring and fall, you should be OK. People were surprised at how quiet the house was with all my Labs. That is, of course, except at feeding time.  My late wife wanted them in the house and in the house they were. John PS: The answer is 23. |
No problems. Had since a pup. Times were hard and I lived in a 600sqft hole in the wall. No issues.
    Yep I keep my lab in the house most of the time. Be careful around hunting season tho, make sure you keep them outside enough that they grow out a coat heavy enough to deal with the colder water temps. Keep the dog brushed and give em a bath once a month or so and they are fine. You will have hair around the house but that is part of owning a dog IMHO. |
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I have two yellow labs that are inside dogs. They do shed quite a bit and you might want to match the color of the dog to the dominant color of your floors/carpet. If you have light colored tile and light colored carpet, get a yellow rather than black or chocolate. I'd love to have a black or a chocolate lab, but the hair would just be nuts. +1 on the Dyson. They really work. |
your poor black lab has the face of terror! do you beat him a lot  as for shedding problems, get the furminator, it is the shit!!! ebay is the cheapest since they go for about $50 or more at local pet stores! |
Two indoor labs here. Big plus one on the Dyson and big plus one on the Furminator. I take mine swimming often, followed by vigorous toweling. They get fish oil Omega 3 caps and vitamin E caps daily which keeps their skin soft and dander free. That helps a lot. efxguy |
My labs are outside dogs, but when they do come inside, they shed like crazy. our small male and female and my hunting buddy  ETA--- For the guy who had 23 indoors.... My three range in weight from roughly 50 pounds up to 100. I can't imagine having 23 dogs that size in my house all the time 
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Black lab. Never messes with anything. Lays on the bed or couch until he hears the garage doors open. When he greets you at the door you would think he hasn't seen us in 2 weeks. ETA: You will have a problem with hair, however, I find that it's a small trade off for the love and companionship you will get in return. |
 I have two black lab mixes. The one with Border Collie prefers outside but both are inside/outside. Labs need a job, every day. I run them a couple miles in the woods daily and that keeps them sane and happy. (they consider that a job) I also take them everywhere along with one of those Chinese cat sized dogs. They love getting dog bisquits at the drive thru bank. Don't get one if you can't keep them exercised. It's life for Labs. BTW labs have puppy dispositions for life and are great with kids. Lots of hair in the vacuum.   Woops 
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| My lab is an inside dog. I keep her down in the basement bar area when I am not at home because she can't be trusted by herself yet. Only casulty so far in 8 months has been the door between the basement and the laundry room. Let's just say it doesn't have to be open anymore for her to go between the rooms. |
Chocolate Lab 8 years old here. Crate when he was a puppy, he's had run of the house for at least 7 years. He used to be able to hear my truck from several blocks away, and would be waiting at the door for me. Now I can open the garage door, walk in house, and usaually toss my keys on the counter before I hear him jump off the bed upstairs. He still sits and looks at the empty chair or couch for permission to get on it, if you're in the room with him. |
| We have one that lives inside, the hair has not been much of a problem, she stay's off the beds and the sofa (at least when we are around) and since my wife started cooking for her (rice, chicken, w/olive oil/corn mix) she seems to shed even less. Another bonis to cooking for her is that she doesn't fart anymore. And yes we have a Dyson. |
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My avatar, Bullet, is inside all the time. He sheds a bit, so we have to vacuum a lot. He likes to track in mud and dirt, but we've trained him to stop at the door till we can wipe his feet down. When he's REALLY dirty, not often, we dunk his paws in a bucket of warm soapy water on the porch before bringing him in. He's not a problem, given all he does for us. Hell, I'm messier than he is. |
| All three of my family's dogs live in the house, and they're fine (generally) the lab doesn't shed much, even in the summertime. Then again, my comparison is a German Shepherd which sheds year round, massive tufts in the summer, and the fluffy dingo (some sort of mutt) who is even worse about the hair than the GSD. |
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I'll play. Here's my Lab-Pitt which adopted ME by jumping in the truck while I was shooting my AR's at the range. Some dickless POS had abandoned him out there, mid summer 100 degrees and no water for miles. He was only about 30 pounds of cuteness, now a healthy 85 pound hell hound. Home intruders beware, he has the run of the house all day and night, except our insane Cattle Dog guards the master bedroom. Paladin  check out his demonic eyes!  best friends.  to my cattle dog, he's just a damn small calf. she's started shit with 100 pound rottweillers thinking it's her job to herd them! |
GF has a mostly Black Lab (and about 1/4 pit / "American Staffordshire" IIRC) that she keeps indoors with her. Shedding is not too bad for a dog. Nothing like my GSD I had as a boy. John ETA an apparently obligatory dog picture... This is Lily. 
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The animals stay outside. The fish stay in the aquarium which is located inside. BigDozer66 |
| We had a Black Lab. She was an indoor dog. Didn't shed that much and she was VERY smart. Wouldn't try and get on the furniture while we were at home, only when we were gone. Would sometimes walk in on her as she got older and would catch her sleeping on the couch. |
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Good looking dogs everyone. A guy that works for my dad is planning to breed labs. Both prospective dogs have papers and good bloodlines. He said when they have a litter he would just give me one. This was after I said I wanted to buy one. We'll see how that goes. I've been reading up on labs the last year or so and I'm getting pretty excited. Would I look like a ghey asking for a brush and a vacuum for Christmas?
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Great dogs! My two are 50/50 meaning they are in half the time outside the other half. I keep them outside so they can get the excersise they need, and they arent as wild when they are let in. Black Labs seem to be a very social/ people orintated, and want to be part of the family. You will have to vacuum often though....... |
And then they would sing, wouldn't they ? |
A little raw wheat germ and flax seed meal every morning with a little milk will give them coats that put a mink to shame. |