Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 40
  1. #21
    Senior Dog Halcyon's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1,058
    Thanked: 517
    Quote Originally Posted by Lyra View Post
    I also believe in not spaying/neutering before 18months too (if you have to at all), but I realize that can be a whole other debate.
    Nothing wrong with that as long as you are responsible and can manage him/her. Have you read through Neuter/Spay - Pros, Cons, Risks, Benefits - Research Article Links? It lists a link to all the studies the board has collated over time so you can make an informed decision on what is best for you.

    Back to the topic, I have a conformation Lab as well. Hunting isn't common around here so a majority of reputable breeders breed show lines. For us, temperament and health were our number one priority. We wanted the odds stacked in our favour as much as possible as well as, having the lifetime support of a knowledgeable and caring breeder. Both sire and dam come from show lines but our breeder also does casual retrieving with her girls. I can't compare between field and show lines but I do know that mine is very active. He requires around 2-4 hours of off leash exercise a day. If weather is poor, we can get away with an hour. Of course, mental stimulation is also involved to keep him a happy, tired Lab.

    When researching, I've read that show Labs tend to be "dumb" which is far from the case here! Bobby is rather clever, especially when food is involved. He has learnt how to open cupboards and twist open his Wobbler and picks up tricks quickly amongst many others.

    The outline for the physical stimulation you can provide sounds more than enough!

    Compared to the field Labs on the board, Bobby is stockier, shorter and bulkier. He has a relatively thick otter tail and a handsome, blocky head.
    Hidden Content

    "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true until the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous



  2. #22
    House Broken Candy and Spike's Dad's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Marysville WA
    Posts
    169
    Thanked: 48
    I have an English lab and Candy. Candy has a small head with small body.. so I have no idea what kind of lab she is.. I think she is a craiglist lab(back yard breeder or puppy mill). I think Candy would make a great service dog as she just enjoy being right next to me and she love to please. Spike and Candy both are very calm and love people and other dogs. One thing I noticed about the difference is that Candy is much more athletic than Spike. If I throw a tennis ball to Candy, she would catch it proabably about 85-90% of the time, Spike, on the other hand, would drop it or the ball would hit his head or face and drop it about 70-80% of time. Candy would catch the ball and bring it back to me so I could throw again.. but Spike won't bring it back, ever. He would take the ball and leave.. Neither one of my dogs are aggressive either, even over treats or food.

  3. #23
    Senior Dog charliebbarkin's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    here
    Posts
    838
    Thanked: 647
    Quote Originally Posted by 3ChocMom View Post
    Actually, this sounds like more than adequate exercise to me. It's more than my dogs get during the week. I have a long commute to and from work and I am single so, especially this time of year when it gets dark early, my dogs don't get walked much during the week. They get one short walk in the morning and one in the evening. And they do perfectly fine. I have 3, a 9-year-old, 2-year-old and 7 month old puppy. That said, they have each other and they wear each other out better than I ever could by myself. Don't forget that doing training exercises are also a good way to tire out a young dog. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. And I agree with the poster above who said you shouldn't run with a young puppy. If you want a jogging partner, please wait until your dog is at least 18 months old before you even start running with him/her. Forced running on hard surfaces while they are growing can lead to elbow and/or hip dysplasia.

    As far as the English/American, I agree with the others. It comes down to the look and temperament you prefer. Of my 3, one is field bred and two are show bred. I have raised a lot of field bred puppies and I can tell you this. My 2 show bred dogs were MUCH easier as puppies (well, one is still a puppy, but he's the easiest puppy I've ever had). My field bred girl is pretty chill in the house though. She becomes a straight up nut if you even think about showing her a bumper, and she's constantly bringing me toys to throw in the house, but she is also one of the most obedient dogs I've ever had and she will stop when you tell her.

    Temperament is important and I think it goes hand in hand with finding not just a reputable breeder, but a really good breeder. By that I mean, someone who spends a lot of time with their puppies, believes in keeping them stimulated and exposed to new things (normal household noises like the vacuum, TV, normal kitchen sounds, etc.) and knows each puppy's individual personality. It's not uncommon for a really good breeder to pick your puppy for you. Some people don't like that, but don't get hung up on it. It's a breeder's job to know those puppies well, they spend the first 8 weeks of their lives with them, and it would be silly of any puppy buyer to think they could do a better job picking the right one after spending an hour or so with several cute puppies running around. So when you get to the point of finding a breeder, ask how they raise their puppies and make sure you like what you hear.

    ETA: As far as size goes, use the parents of your puppy to get an idea of that. My girls are small, even by the Labrador standard. Brandy, my field bred girl, is about 58 pounds. Lily, my 2-year-old bench bred girl, is 55 pounds soaking wet and short (about 17" tall at the withers). Jax isn't done growing yet, but he's also bench bred. He's 7 months old and around 66 pounds now. I expect him to be around 80-85 when he's full grown.
    i was was going to respond pretty much exactly this. So instead, a thank you to 3choc and a pic for the OP. Visual diff of show vs field.

    Charlie and Burton


  4. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to charliebbarkin For This Useful Post:

    barry581 (12-01-2014), Georgie (11-29-2014), Scoutpout (12-04-2014), Snowshoe (12-01-2014)

  5. #24
    Real Retriever Zookeepermom247's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    266
    Thanked: 127
    I wanted an English Labbie because of the beauty of their body, the block head, and the calmness. My Sophie is from a breeder that bred with caution , respect for the breed, with the utmost attention paid to health and good nature calmness. She is a prize... I love her so much. She will be one on Dec 2. She now sleeps next to our bed on the floor. She is fully potty trained for months now. She can stay in the home with our three Maine Coons for about 2 hours (we are never gone a lot) not crated and we will come home to a sleepy labbie girl waiting for us to return by the door. Nothing is disturbed, so far in the home. She responds well to "Sophie come" and we are training her off leash a bit when we are in the front yard. She is now walking to the mail box with daddy and not taking off to sniff out the exciting smells. She is wonderful.. now walking her with her harness has its ups and downs.. but she is moving forward. She is gentle.. and loving, and happy and loves her Maine Coon buddies! Good luck..

    Sophie's mom

  6. #25
    Senior Dog Meeps83's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,917
    Thanked: 1052
    For us, I didn't want a lab unless it was bench bred. So many in our area are field bred or BYB. We don't hunt and I wanted a dog from a reputable breeder from reputable lines. When I first started researching the breed I learned that there were actually 2 different "types". That's when I realized that bench bred was different composition wise. I like the thick body, blocky head, and droopy eyes. Maverick is a fantastic dog. He's smart and obedient and easily trained. He is not agile or go all the time, but that's his personality. I think mostly comes down to looks and what you want to see in your lap every day. Because whichever you choose he or she will spend a lot of time in your lap.

  7. #26
    Senior Dog doubledip1's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Upstate New York
    Posts
    1,944
    Thanked: 1711
    A lot of bench breeders also take their dogs out to hunt tests, so I wouldn't be alarmed if you hear something about that.

    Look for a breeder, not a puppy.
    Hidden Content
    Sarah, human
    Luna, born 6/14/13, gotcha 8/18/13 and TDI certified 5/12/2015
    Comet, born 4/3/15, gotcha 6/9/15
    Double Dip, 25 y/o Draft/Welsh pony
    Gracie, 17 y/o DSH cat
    Hidden Content
    Hidden Content

  8. #27
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    C. WA
    Posts
    1,624
    Thanked: 1235
    Funny, this past weekend I had a couple visit. Based on their initial email, I had some concerns. They did NOT want the "English type". They wanted a field type. Mine are "tweeners" for the most part, but some, like Roxy, are mostly show bred (she has a gorgeous head and is definitely better boned than most of mine). I felt the girl who was more field bred would produce too active of a pup for their family (2 young kids-- one basically a toddler). Anyhow, once they came and met the whole gang, they fell in love w/ Roxy!

    They told me they had another meeting w/ another breeder of "field" labs the next day. I have heard big red flags on that breeder already, but encouraged them to go check them out. I told them to ask about health clearances as I was never able to find more than ~3 dogs listed on OFA and those were from 10+ yrs ago. I also had heard living conditions there were pretty awful... the males on chains outside, etc. Anyhow, suffice to say that no, they'd not be pursuing that breeder after their visit either (another of my puppy owners also had visited last year). They asked to be put on Roxy's list, but also said they'd be perfectly happy w/ a black pup from Tango too.

    So as stated by Doubledip1 above, choose the breeder first, then maybe narrow it down on the prospective mother. Ask questions about the stud and what the breeder expects energy wise from the pairing. Be comfortable in how they breed, how they raise the pups, and how everyone gets along in the pack. Make price and timing of the litter your lowest priority if at all possible because some have fairly long wait lists, esp if only breeding a litter or 2 a year. Anne
    Hidden Content
    The WindyCanyon Girls (taken Summer 2018)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Northern Spy CDX RA JH OA OAJ CC (14.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Ruby Pink BN CD RA CC (4.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Kanzi BN CDX RE JH (5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon ItsOnlyMoneyHoneycrisp BN RN CC (16mos)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Pippin BN RI CC (2.5 yrs)
    IntCH WindyCanyon's Envy CDX RE JH CC (10.5 yrs)
    IntCH HIT WindyCanyon's Kiku A Fuji Too CDX RE JH CC (10 yrs)







  9. #28
    Real Retriever fidgetyknees's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    349
    Thanked: 103
    Quote Originally Posted by windycanyon View Post
    Make price and timing of the litter your lowest priority if at all possible because some have fairly long wait lists, esp if only breeding a litter or 2 a year. Anne
    Love this .... make timing a low priority, yip timing for the litters I have picked from breeders never co-incide with my plans, the variables are too much. My new pup will be due at the beginning of February and the timing really couldn't be worse - but it is the breeding I really really want, so I am just going to have to deal with it.

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to fidgetyknees For This Useful Post:

    windycanyon (12-01-2014)

  11. #29
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    MN
    Posts
    2,636
    Thanked: 1369
    Quote Originally Posted by fidgetyknees View Post
    Love this .... make timing a low priority, yip timing for the litters I have picked from breeders never co-incide with my plans, the variables are too much. My new pup will be due at the beginning of February and the timing really couldn't be worse - but it is the breeding I really really want, so I am just going to have to deal with it.
    This is so true! We never wanted to potty train a pup in the winter, let alone the coldest winter in MN history......but we did with Bacon, because he was from the litter we wanted!
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

    Instagram: @mrbaconthelab


    Born: 9/02/13

    Gotcha: 11/08/13

    Hidden Content

    In memory of Lily 1/1995 - 2/2/2012

    Hidden Content


  12. The Following User Says Thank You to BaconsMom For This Useful Post:

    windycanyon (12-01-2014)

  13. #30
    Puppy Lyra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Maryland
    Posts
    28
    Thanked: 5
    Quote Originally Posted by windycanyon View Post
    Funny, this past weekend I had a couple visit. Based on their initial email, I had some concerns. They did NOT want the "English type". They wanted a field type. Mine are "tweeners" for the most part, but some, like Roxy, are mostly show bred (she has a gorgeous head and is definitely better boned than most of mine). I felt the girl who was more field bred would produce too active of a pup for their family (2 young kids-- one basically a toddler). Anyhow, once they came and met the whole gang, they fell in love w/ Roxy!

    They told me they had another meeting w/ another breeder of "field" labs the next day. I have heard big red flags on that breeder already, but encouraged them to go check them out. I told them to ask about health clearances as I was never able to find more than ~3 dogs listed on OFA and those were from 10+ yrs ago. I also had heard living conditions there were pretty awful... the males on chains outside, etc. Anyhow, suffice to say that no, they'd not be pursuing that breeder after their visit either (another of my puppy owners also had visited last year). They asked to be put on Roxy's list, but also said they'd be perfectly happy w/ a black pup from Tango too.

    So as stated by Doubledip1 above, choose the breeder first, then maybe narrow it down on the prospective mother. Ask questions about the stud and what the breeder expects energy wise from the pairing. Be comfortable in how they breed, how they raise the pups, and how everyone gets along in the pack. Make price and timing of the litter your lowest priority if at all possible because some have fairly long wait lists, esp if only breeding a litter or 2 a year. Anne
    That is where I plan to start, I am going to go to the Potomac show in April and hopefully meet some breeders there. I am less selective on the puppy at this point, because honestly I know I will love whatever puppy I get. I do like the "stockier" look of the show bred (or English, I guess it doesn't matter what you call them), and proven temperaments are high on my list next to health. I have just recently begun asking around about some of the breeders close to my area, with mixed results. I was hoping to find a breeder that pairs you with a puppy best suited for what you're looking for, but so far I've found a lot of "first come, first serve." Maybe I am a odd for wanting that, but I figure that the breeder has been around the puppy and knows its quirks and personality. I want a puppy for its personality that fits my lifestyle, not trying to change mine to accommodate a puppy that was way more/less active than I was hoping for.

    I will be honest and say that I am trying not to get a puppy in the winter, but I am open to changing my mind, just as I am not committing myself to a color. Although I do prefer males, but I would still accept a female if the breeder thought she was the best fit. I may be one of the easiest buyers/adopters.

 



Not a Member of the Labrador Retriever Chat Forums Yet?
Register for Free and Share Your Labrador Retriever Photos

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •