I hope I'm wrong

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

If she really is a lab person, she will make the time to care for any kind of pup it turns out to be.

I went through this three years ago. I lost my black gal, Wendy, after 12 and a half years. She had hip issues, and ACL surgery, so I had been lifting her in/out of the car and her activity was limited to following me to the garden then relaxing and watching me. I'm single and was working a full time job, gone for 10 hours a day. Wendy was the perfect lab for me. She had steps I built so she could get in her chair and look out the window. Greet me when I got home, eat, outside for a quick one then at my feet or next to me on the couch. I still miss that old gal and her predecessor, Sweetheart!

But... Decided to get another pup. Since the first two were such angels, I thought it would be a walk in the park. Yes, I knew I would spend all my spare time playing and training, but... there was that void in my life that needed filling. And who wouldn't want a lab puppy!!!!! An opportunity came up and "Sunshine" entered my life. I called her 'Wendy' so much I was thinking she would think that was her name!!! Sunshine was no ordinary little black gal, she was an over energetic little spawn of satan monster!!! I was getting up two hours early to exercise her before work. After work, out for 3, 4 or 5 hours of off leash running like a nut... She wore me out!! From the 4 week biting stage to the getting little sleep because she NEEDED to be exercising, I really questioned my choice. What the heck was I thinking????

The first year and a half was a nightmare. Lack of sleep was the biggie. She plum wore me out. At that point I had resolved to myself I was stuck with one of the moron labs: too much energy and not learning anything. Even now, she does not go for walks, she goes for RUNS! She has two speeds. STOP and l@@k at me for a command, and RUN to execute it! LOL!!! Her 'moron' days disappear at two years old and she is smart as a whip. I trust her 100% off leash to follow commands. She amazes other lab owners at the lake, and she never ceases to amaze me. I let out a "YO!" to get her to stop and look at me then can guide her with hand signs to do any task. Is she what I was expecting out of my lab? Not at all. Does she meet my expectations of what I wanted out of my lab? No, she exceeds them. I was used to labs that were looking to please me. All labs need a job. Sunshine NEEDS to have something to do to please me! Example: "go lie on your blanket." I was used to a lab who went over a laid down. Sunshine RUNS to the blanket, PLOPS down, tail going a mile a minute!... YEAH!!! I'm on the blanket, YEAH!!!! This is great!!!!!

I guess where I an going is IF your friend is really a lab person, she will adjust her life to accept one, no matter what they turn out to be. A gentle giant/lap dog or a monster. My life is VERY different than with my last lab, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Sunshine is now such a joy to have around, ok.. maybe not so much on cold rainy days... But she is a part of my life and I'm sure your friend will accept whatever this new pup brings her. Give her support! Help her see the good points to having a lab puppy! Remind her the horrible puppy stages are not going to last forever and soon she will have the perfect dog for her situation. Send her here for moral support for those puppy days when she is ready to throw in the towel!!!

[barry581]

I truly hope this all works out ok!

[Meeps83]

That's a tough situation. I'm sure she'll love the puppy, but the devotion might not be there. I know some people forget that puppies aren't born perfect when they have a perfect dog and they expect too much from the start. Hopefully it's a good fit for them and they can all love and enjoy each other.

[sheltieluver]

I met the little darling shes so cute but what lab puppy isn't. This is a worse situation than I anticipated. I was talking to her yesterday and shes like I know his heart was in the right place but I'm not ready for a puppy I don't have the time or money. She then complained that the puppy got her up at 430 it was cold ect ect. Her husband will not get up to take the puppy out. I explained that the puppy only getting up once consider herself lucky. When Gauge was a puppy he had me up about every 2 hours and would cry for a bout an hour when I put him back in. Shes good in her crate. I'm going to try and be there for support and to help her. I told her I would take her on the weekends or even during the week so she could play and run in my yard and be social with other dogs. fingers crossed. Her name is Belle.

[Maxx&Emma]

Sending good thoughts this works out.