[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Owners of Lab retrievers (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 8/24/2009 12:27:20 PM EDT
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As a child I had one, but don't remember her a whole lot because I was young and away from home half the year.
Well along comes a chance for me to get one. The background: The vet I work with at my place of employment asks me a couple of weeks ago if I might be interested in a lab. I ask her what's up and why. She goes on with the story of how a litter of lab pups are being used in a study for muscular dystsrafy(sp?). So I go on to ask her if there are going to be any future problems with the dogs as they grow older due to the research. She asures me that no there wouldn't be becuse they only carry the gene for MD and would not affect the dogs in any way shape or form (only ~25% of labs carry the gene and the ones being adopted out are clean). The only thing is that they do have a small surgical procedure for muscle biopsies in the hind right leg. There is a scar about 6 inches in length at the surgical sight. I go to take a look at them today. They are about 15-18 weeks old and are huge. There are 3 black males and 3 black females available, and all act like rambuncious teens on super hormones. The vet told me that there would be no charge for the adoption. All vacinations, deworming, rabies, microchiping, and neutering are free, although she would not be able to provide me with a rabies cert. She then went on to tell me about the lineage of the pups. I can't remember exactly what she told me, but they have a top of the line sire and dame (I would get all documentation), and being research subjects, I can tell you that the money paid for these dogs is $$$$$$$$$$. The only problem I have is, is that if they come from such good stock I may not want them neutered. So, what say you? Do I get or not get? |
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Quoted: As a child I had one, but don't remember her a whole lot because I was young and away from home half the year. Well along comes a chance for me to get one. The background: The vet I work with at my place of employment asks me a couple of weeks ago if I might be interested in a lab. I ask her what's up and why. She goes on with the story of how a litter of lab pups are being used in a study for muscular dystsrafy(sp?). So I go on to ask her if there are going to be any future problems with the dogs as they grow older due to the research. She asures me that no there wouldn't be becuse they only carry the gene for MD and would not affect the dogs in any way shape or form (only ~25% of labs carry the gene and the ones being adopted out are clean). The only thing is that they do have a small surgical procedure for muscle biopsies in the hind right leg. There is a scar about 6 inches in length at the surgical sight. I go to take a look at them today. They are about 15-18 weeks old and are huge. There are 3 black males and 3 black females available, and all act like rambuncious teens on super hormones. The vet told me that there would be no charge for the adoption. All vacinations, deworming, rabies, microchiping, and neutering are free, although she would not be able to provide me with a rabies cert. She then went on to tell me about the lineage of the pups. I can't remember exactly what she told me, but they have a top of the line sire and dame (I would get all documentation), and being research subjects, I can tell you that the money paid for these dogs is $$$$$$$$$$. The only problem I have is, is that if they come from such good stock I may not want them neutered. So, what say you? Do I get or not get? You can never go wrong with a lab. But be prepared. They can be hyper shits until they hit two to three years old. |
If you want a fun family friendly dog and have plenty of room for one then yeah, adopt. Just know that generally Labs have about a 2 yr "puppy phase" and can be chewers. We adopted a yellow lab from a rescue in CT when my daughter was almost two. in hindsight I wish we would've waited till she was a bit older as trying to handle a toddler and a puppy was a PITA, but my daughter loves that dog and the dog loves her 
The ex and I did loose a few shoes, the daughter a few toys, and the dog really liked the trash can for a while, but now that he's kinda settled down he is great. Needs LOTS of room to run though, so either a fenced in yard, walks everyday, or access to a dog park is highly recommended. |
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Great family dogs, but they do need to be exercised alot. Either go running with you or fetch a ball or whatever. If you have a pond near you takem over and let him or her fetch a dummy from the water. They are born and bred for that. A fun thing to do.
Yeah, for the first few years they will need alot of attention and exercise. Be sure to take your dog to obidence class, it is good for the both of you. |
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I have two and like the breed.
They can be prone to ear problems because of the drop ear. One of mine does, the other doesn't. DO have lots of nylon bones for them to chew. One of mine loves stuffed toys and carries them around. If you're looking for a dog, that sounds like a great deal. I'd get the dog neutered though. They're bright enough to get themselves in trouble and do take training well as they are very eager to please. Show some pics when possible. 
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I don't think there is a better family dog than a lab. But I stopped giving two shits about lineage with this guy.
You couldn't have asked for better lineage. OFA certification and everything. Ended up replacing both knees and may have to operated on both elbows(dysplasia) in the future. Excellent dog though. it's just a shame that he can't run around and play to his full potential. 
They're great dogs, especially if you like to vaccum. |
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One of the best breeds around if you ask me. My advice: get one from a reputable breeder. I got mine from a good breeder and she is/was a helluva dog. Extremely smart and gifted. I recently gave her to a new family due to some changes in my life and she is doing great with them. She came with a guarantee of 3 years on hip and joints. You will struggle to find an aggressive lab. They are few and far between. They are typically very good with kids. |
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Quoted: Mine was from a breeder out in Peetz CO, but he ended up in the pound at about three years old when we adopted him. The pound here has some nice dogs up for adoption. One of the best breeds around if you ask me. My advice: get one from a reputable breeder. I got mine from a good breeder and she is/was a helluva dog. Extremely smart and gifted. I recently gave her to a new family due to some changes in my life and she is doing great with them. She came with a guarantee of 3 years on hip and joints. You will struggle to find an aggressive lab. They are few and far between. They are typically very good with kids. |
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Had a stray chocolate lab puupy show up on the property last fall. Didn't want another dog but he was sweet with the kids and other dogs right off the bat so nobody claimed him and so he stayed.
Like everyone says, they chew like there is no tomorrow when young. This guy Mel, he's like a huge, goofy teen football player. Knocks down the other dogs running aroud, wants to bear fight all day. Doesn't know his own strength. But he is a bunny rabbit around the 2 small kids and loves everyone he meets. |
I owned a black lab from about the age of the litter you described into adulthood. Sadly, life style changes forced me to give him up for adoption. The hardest thing I have ever done. 
Loved my labby. Got him from a HUGE pack of hunting labs. The breeder genuinely liked dogs and they must have had 50 or so between labs and daschunds. I digress. They are very energetic and MUST have exercise or they will become very destructive. They take longer than most dogs to mature mentally but grow as fast as many if not faster. So, after a year be prepared to chase a full grown lab puppy around for another year or two. Labs are very socail dogs. Not the type that you lock up and pay little attention too. They crave human and dog interaction and can become aggressive when they don't get it (this is what happened to me  ).
But labs LOVE people. Their owners especially. I have never felt so loved as I did from my lab. They are easy to train too and their bark is a great deterrent as it is one of the loudest most pronounced in the dog world. Many people say that labs are not good guard dogs and it is true. But that doesn't mean they are pushovers. As you know labs can suffer hip dysplesia and many have sensitive stomach and digestive tracts so it is something to remember. Fed him right and exercised him regularly. He was 80+lbs of pure muscle. We are talkin' cut. You could see the definition and he had no stomach that you see on many other labs. He was a fit hunting dog for sure. Extremely strongs as well. All I know in the end was I thoroughly enjoyed and loved my labby. No dog smell, no bad breath, and in the winter he was the perfect heated pillow who would never let anything happend to me. A better friend I could not have asked for. |
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I have a 1.5 yo female yellow lab. She is an awesome dog. Very smart, will play longer than i will. She literally WILL NOT QUIT.
She is rather small only 60-65lbs. She gets along with the cats fairly well too. You need to be prepared to spend atleast 30-45 min a day with them, and mine roams free as well. 
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Do it if the Labrador lifestyle is congruent with your own. Leave the breeding to the breeders. Enjoy the dog. Who cares about lineage so long as they are healthy. Dogs that are spayed and neutered before 1 y/o have a much lower risks for developing reproductive cancers later in life. Reproductive cancers are fairly common in this breed otherwise. |
| I absolutely love Labs. we have 5 black Labs in our house. Awesome doggies, smart, goofy, loyal, very affectionate, they think they are still puppies even at 100lbs. My two males are still un-alltered and the Alpha does get rough with his son. As soon as I can afford it the boys will be castrated, tired of the marking and the Alpha pushing around the pup. |
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I can pretty much guarantee the three-generation pedigree on those dogs will be shit. The seven-generation might have a couple of winners in it, but dogs that are sold off for research are not going to come from FC/AFC, NFC/NAFC or GRHRC lines. AKC registration and OFA hips do not a good dog make. Any backyard breeder's bitch can shit out a litter of puppies that the AKC will register with hips that the OFA will certify as good.
That said, if this is to be a simple family pet or house dog and in light of the fact that the dogs are being adopted out for free with all the necessary vet work included, I'd be inclined to take one. Being a new Lab owner, go ahead and neuter. More backyard litters of Labs of questionable lineage is not what the world needs - the breed is being damaged enough already. Don't look at the dog as some kind of slot machine just waiting to spit out cash for puppies. Just enjoy the dog's company and call it a day. |
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Quoted:
I absolutely love Labs. we have 5 black Labs in our house. Awesome doggies, smart, goofy, loyal, very affectionate, they think they are still puppies even at 100lbs. My two males are still un-alltered and the Alpha does get rough with his son. As soon as I can afford it the boys will be castrated, tired of the marking and the Alpha pushing around the pup. wow... 
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Labs are great dogs. They are great family dogs and very smart and trainable. They prefer to be an inside dog, but they need lots of exercise.
2 important thingsIf you don't have the time to give them alot of exercise while they are young they will be destructive. If you don't have the time to give them good exercise when they are older, they will likely get fat. If you are aware of that, go for it. You said they had a good lineage, so they should be good to go. Don't worry about the fact that they want to neuter them, unless you know what you are doing you really shouldn't breed dogs anyway. Most GOOD breeders don't make that much doing it, its all about bettering the breed. The only thing I don't understand is why she can't give you a rabies certification? Does that mean she cant give you the tag for their collar or what? |
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My black lab is 4 and a half, and still plays like a puppy! It's pretty funny to see him (he weighs 102 lbs) try to crawl up on me or the wife because he wants to sit in your lap. If you do get a lab, when it comes to buying toys, or training dummies etc... the only name you need to remember is KONG!
They are the only company that makes things my boy can't destroy in mere minutes!! |
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Quoted:
My black lab is 4 and a half, and still plays like a puppy! It's pretty funny to see him (he weighs 102 lbs) try to crawl up on me or the wife because he wants to sit in your lap. If you do get a lab, when it comes to buying toys, or training dummies etc... the only name you need to remember is KONG! They are the only company that makes things my boy can't destroy in mere minutes!! This ^^^^^ If left unattended,my lab can shed a tennis ball in five minutes! |
I already gave my advice, but I thought I would share a pic too.
Also, check out a Furminator. Buy in on amazon for $30, not in store for 60. They work as advertised in the videos |
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Quoted:
The only thing I don't understand is why she can't give you a rabies certification? Does that mean she cant give you the tag for their collar or what? since they are not owned by Joe Public they are not going to be registered with the county...therefore the vet can't give me a rabies tag, but they will have the shot. Research animals are treated differently according to law. I would have to take the dog to a regular public vet and get another rabies shot...and therefore have it registered with the county |
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DONT BREED HIM,
An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin 
Labs are awesome, They can be silly 
Faithful 
Athletic 
And destructive if you dont run em enough 
Edit for more pics |
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Quoted:
DONT BREED HIM, An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt173/jeffco55/Moose.jpg read the original post. the ones being adopted out do not carry the gene |
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I've had Lab mixes, Beagles and Golden Retriever.
When my Golden Died 4 years ago we got a yellow lab. Best damn dog we ever had. A tad hyper but listens well (still a youngster) I don't have a fenced in yard and only 1/4 acre and he stays on the property and follows my wife and I everywhere. Love 'em. Get 'em. |
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Quoted: DONT BREED HIM, An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt173/jeffco55/Moose.jpg My BLM's grandsire is Ebonstar Lean Mac as well. |
My cancer survivor …
Long story short … the shirt is covering up a scar from surgery to remove a Mast Cell tumor … tumor showed up when my pooch was around 4 years old … Operation was a success but the pathology report that came back basically said 'No guarantees. We'll have to keep an eye for recurrences forever' … been about 4 years since, and he's doing fine and is as active and insane as always … even at 8 years old he stil plays and bounces around like a puppy. Great dog. Would do anything for him. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
DONT BREED HIM, An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt173/jeffco55/Moose.jpg read the original post. the ones being adopted out do not carry the gene Cut from the OP they only carry the gene for MD These dogs are carriers, thus they can pass on their defect, I stand by my original statement, Reading comprehension, do you have it? |
    I got this one from from someone off Craigs List when she was 1.5 years old. She is a little over 3 years old now. She was AKC but had been neutered. I could care less, she is an amazing dog. My neighbors and family keep telling me how lucky I was to find her. All the neighborhood kids like to come over and play fetch with her. The first 6 or 7 months with her were very trying as she was chewing up stuff but that seemed to stop when she was about 2 years old. She is smart as a whip and a ball of energy. I think she would retrieve a tennis ball for as long as I was willing to throw it for her. I think I would be hard pressed to find a more loyal dog. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
DONT BREED HIM, An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt173/jeffco55/Moose.jpg My BLM's grandsire is Ebonstar Lean Mac as well. What breeder did you get your dog from? Do you run him in trials? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: DONT BREED HIM, An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt173/jeffco55/Moose.jpg My BLM's grandsire is Ebonstar Lean Mac as well. What breeder did you get your dog from? Do you run him in trials? Breeders name is Ken Susnara out here in NorCal. And Gunny is strictly a family / hunting dog. I don't run him in trials. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
DONT BREED HIM, An ethical breeder will not breed anything with any known defects including being a carrier. We got Moose from a local guy who has a nice finished bitch that he bread with the top field trial dog alive in the country(Howdy), and Howdy's dad holds the record for the most points EVER in field trial competitions. We got a guarantee for hips,eyes, and elbows, and I can hit up the breeder for training advice because he lives not 4 miles from here. Here is Moose when he got his puppy certification from the UKC, he has since earned his Started title from the UKC as well SHR Mister Moose McLovin http://i609.photobucket.com/albums/tt173/jeffco55/Moose.jpg My BLM's grandsire is Ebonstar Lean Mac as well. Small world. One of the dogs in my hunting group is of Lean Mac ancestry. |