Ok now what?

[jessesnewperson]

I have his papers, but I don't know anything about dog bloodlines and haven't had time to google them. I know that AKC registered lab puppies for for at least 350-400$ for black ones around here, higher if the parents were shown, worked etc or if the pups are yellow, chocolate, white or silver. Way more than I would spend on a dog, no matter how cool he was. Jesse kind of fell in my lap or I would not have him.

[Tanya]

I have his papers, but I don't know anything about dog bloodlines and haven't had time to google them. I know that AKC registered lab puppies for for at least 350-400$ for black ones around here, higher if the parents were shown, worked etc or if the pups are yellow, chocolate, white or silver. Way more than I would spend on a dog, no matter how cool he was. Jesse kind of fell in my lap or I would not have him.

it's not about a dog being cool. If you want a dog of a specific breed, wanting and expecting them to have the appropriate temperament of that breed and with the best odds of being healthy you can only support reputable breeders (I know you didn't get this pup from a breeder). There are too many labs out there with horrible temperament and horrible painful and life shortening health issues to be willy nilly breeding a "papered lab" that is a great family pet. and asking for more for a colour or a sex is very very irrefutable of a breeder and frowned upon. So while the family breeding their great family lab to the neighbour with a great lab doesn't make them bad people by any mean, they are not doing things right and bringing puppies into the world with a higher chance of being very unhealthy/unsound and no guarantee on temperament.

A lab is NOT a lab just because it is purebred. If one wants a well rounded lab of correct temperament (which is generally why you are drawn to a breed, their temperament) and that won't cost you a fortune at the vet and heart ache they need to go with a breeder that does things right: clearances to ensure the dogs are as unlikely as possible to pass on health issues and that breed for correct temperament.

PLus, there is a huge issue with dogs dying in shelters because there are, simply, too many dogs. Too many easy to get dogs for cheap which encourage people to get dogs on a whim and then mess them up and rehome them or dump them. Part of why letting your intact male outside unattended for long periods of time is concerning to some people. Nothing wrong with leaving a dog intact but if you do, you need to be absolutely responsible for them and ensure they never get to an intact female and add more puppies out there. And leaving an intact dog outside all night is risky on that front, especially a dog you haven't had very long so you don't know all that well. just because he didn't run off yesterday doesn't mean he won't tomorrow or in a week.

[jessesnewperson]

Your opinion is noted.

[ZRabbits]

I don't just have an invisible fence, I should have specified. I have a small farm that is completely fenced. The invisible fence is to keep the dogs out of the horse pasture and the barn, and keep them closer to the house. They have plenty of space to run, they are just not allowed to run with the horses. It's added protection to keep them from trying to jump the perimeter fence, since they never get close to it. So there no more risk to anything getting to them as there would be with any other type of fence.

He did well last night. I brought him in when I got home and he hung out for quite a while. He didn't mark anything in the house, he did start to pee in the living room, I promptly corrected and sent him outside to finish. He did and wanted back in with no further incident. It kind of floors me that someone would buy a dog as expensive as he must have been (akc registered purebred) and not housebreak him or train him. Baffles me.

Thanks so much for clarifying. Understand now your set up.

Good to hear he did so well. Lilly is learning that inside vs outside, she needs to act accordingly. We believe she was never an inside dog, so she needed to learn. So far, with using the crate and leash inside, she's finally understanding that she can just lay down, sleep or chew on her toys, and just be with us. No accidents, other than us missing HER clues. The more you do this for your boy, I think he'll get the idea.

Regarding people and their purchases of dogs, only have to go back to my childhood. Parents and relatives bought purebreds always, but never trained them. And when they acted out it was either being locked up in the basement or the garage. With a comment of "that dang dog". Just the attitude of "chattel". Oh look what I have. I didn't know what true ownership of a dog was until I met my husband. So grateful, because with our dogs, got so much out of them, trained them, spent time with them, made them part of our family.

BTW, to be honest, agree with Tanya regarding purebreds. Anyone can give you a piece of paper, doesn't mean or guarantee good temperament, good health. When I do start looking for a 2nd pup, will go to a reputable breeder, will build a relationship so that he/she can pick out a pup for us. Color wise, truly would like a chocolate. My husband wants a Yellow. I'm right now at the point, just want a healthy pup!

KAZ