Would a lab be perfectly fine leaving their longtime owner to go with another person? Would my lab even miss me? LOL
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Would a lab be perfectly fine leaving their longtime owner to go with another person? Would my lab even miss me? LOL
Oban has people he seems to like much more than others. My sister, the lady across the street, a friend of the OH. I'm sure he would happily live with my sister. Her dog doesn't seem to miss her when she's been here for a couple of week long visits. Every dog I've ever found seemed content with me but happy to get back with it's owner when I found the person. I think most dogs adapt to a new home very easily. My dog only once went home with someone else on a walk, mind you he tried to more than once. Mostly he chooses me. I bet your dog is the same.
Labs do love people but I have no doubt they would miss their "person" if they were separated.
speaking as someone who fostered many dogs, I will say 99% of dogs adapt to new homes super well and bond with their new families (assume it's a good fit for family and dog). So no I don't believe dogs spend much time past the first few months (maybe a bit more) really thinking of their past owners. I am fairly certain they don't think much of their past life, they live in the moment. Some of my fosters don't remember me at all after a year ;)
Having said that, dogs - all dogs, generally have "favourite people" EVEN when they generally love "everyone". Rocky loves everyone he meets (generally speaking) but I have friends that he LOVES. He goes crazy when he sees then even if we don't see them often and it's been over a year since he last saw them.
My dogs love me I have no doubt, but should they find themselves in another home that does well by them I have no doubt they won't really miss me or think of me :p
I guess I just see the other end of things - what does happen when a dog is rehomed. And some owner surrenders are not at all from bad places, just for reasons sometimes out of the owner's control they realize the dog would be better off in another home. And dogs really really really dog adjust just fine and live happy lives in their new homes, bonding just as well as they did with their first owners.
I babysat my nephews service dog when he went to europe on vacation...the 1st few days was awful as that dog whined all day. But then on the fourth or fifth day he was fine. A couple weeks later when my nephew returned it was back to work without much excitement by the service dog...my nephew was happier than the dog was..it was odd.
What a good question! Labs were bred to hunt with whoever has the gun that day. They are happy with anyone who throws them ducks or let's them do whatever their favorite thing is. But as someone who sends their dogs to the pro trainer for months at a time, they are THRILLED to go back to the kennel where they get a lot of birds and daily training. But then when I show up, they absolutely are all over me and thrilled to see me. Matter of fact, in the past, when the pro has been running the dog at a hunt test, I have had to stay upwind and out of sight since the dog would run directly to me and not run the test.
I think they remember their owners in some special way.
We home older labs from breeders and it does take a little while for them to settle in. Once they do, their love is unmistakable and total. I'm sure at first they missed the breeder and certainly remembered them on visits, but were more than ready to hop back in the car to head home.
One of the best things about labs is their adaptability. When we have to leave Kimber with friends, I don't have to worry that she'll be incredibly anxious. I also know she can adapt to other families' routines easily. Really, I think DH has the separation anxiety. Although to be fair to him, we had a couple of instances (one kennel, one with friends) that were clearly not good fits for Kimber.
oh i have SA when I leave my dogs. they do just fine without me, I am a mess and anxious without them LOL!Quote:
Originally Posted by kimbersmom
Me too! I won't even take vacations without my 2 with me anymore, lol! More than a couple hours makes me anxious.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanya