Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 1:39 pm Post subject: Started search for new puppy
Hi,
I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right section - or even if this question is allowed. But I was after a bit of advice/ pointers for my search for a new puppy. I already have one male black lab - who is about to be 5 years old. We've thought about getting a second dog many times, but the time has never been right.
Anyway - my question is this - how do I find out about the tempraments of labradors. My current dog is amazing, but he didn't really calm down until he was about 2.5 years old. He has the sweetest kindest nature, is quiet in the house, just so good. However, I was looking for one of the slightly less exuberant labs - but I am finding it hard to work out how to get that kind of information, what I really need to do is speak to people who know lots of breeders and could suggest lines I could look into?
I'm not sure I've explained myself very well... but anyway - I am looking for breeders of gentle working chocolate labs. I have already spoken to the fantastic woman who owns the sire of my dog (he is a working choc) and she has put me in touch with a lovely sounding litter, with similar line to my current dog, but am wondering if I will end up with a second canine super athlete!
Now you are all going to tell me that that this is just what labs are like aren't you ;-D and perhaps - I should stick with the line I know because I know they are amazing (if energetic) dogs!
Why do you want a working bred lab, if you want something more quiet/sedantary? Working bred dogs, by their very 'job description' are likely to be more active/highly charged (not all - before everyone jumps in and says they have a lovely docile, lazy one... ).
It might be worth looking at the lines that the Guide Dog for the Blind folk use, as they will have the requisite temperament and gentle patient nature you are looking for. You may be able to take on one that didn't 'make the grade' even.
Chocolate - you will be severely restricting yourself if you are looking for only working chocolate lines, as this is a very small gene pool at the moment. On the whole, the vast majority of chocolate labs are from show/pet lines.
If you do like the lines of your original dog, then it is probably worth looking into that litter, but obviously the pup you pick could be completely different....
Also, you will find that with training you can definitely take out (ie. channel) some of that exuberance that you are concerned about.
I was also going to say working Labs would possibly be more energetic than show bred. Although our show bred dog is crazy. In my opinion all labs get that way at some point and then calm down with age. Apparently it is the 'teenage years'.
The pup I have now is very, very quiet. I am actually quite shocked. But I am preparing for when he gets older and 'forgets' his training etc. I know not all labs go through this and I am going to try do everything to make sure he doesn't get too loopy.
All Labs are different. Even though your dog may have been hyper the next dog may be quiet! I have seen in it Coco's litter. Like I said my pup is quiet and one of the girl's is just mad! She can never relax and calm down. So if you are going to look at a litter go for the quietest one. But that does not guarantee it will be quiet the whole time.
____________ Sarah and her Labs.. Charlie(04/09/11), Marley(11/04/10) and Coco(21/02/09).
Thanks for the reply! And you are definitely saying things that I agree with!
I know working are more active - but I just love them. We have done some gundog training (with someone on this forum) with our current dog - plus we did clicker training too - and he isn't a bad dog at all, very manageable, just very very active. However I do know that there are slightly less highly charged models out there (but how to find them?!) - perhaps not in chocolate though.
Perhaps we may need to look at a black dog - to find something a little more docile - and perhaps something with less FTCH or FTW in pedigree?!
I have a 6month old working/show chocolate lab who so far looks like a working type. He isn't too loopy and will quite happily snuggle with me for most of the day but he can get a bit restless but a walk sorts that out. I was told by my trainer that they tend to be a bit loopy till they finish growing, roughly 18months old I am afraid. I think breeders try for an even temperament but each one is still individual. If you like your dog go back to your original breeder, if they don't have any puppies they might be able to recommend a litter to you.
My breeder had loads of choccies last time (although those particular matings will not be repeated due to a unknown EIC issue - they took my pups parents on from another breeder who hadn't tested)
I know its silly but I wanted a working lab because I prefer the shape. I now the working lines are bred for their energy and stamina but the show lines came from working dogs too, and many are active gundogs, as Stauntonvale said, you never really know what your going to end up with. Speak to your potential breeder and they should be able to pick the right puppy for you. We did this with our breeder, we said we wanted a pet (were very specific, wanted a chocolate dog, although originally we asked for a black dog), not a working dog, (but we picked the Labrador breed because we knew they could keep going all day if we wanted to) and they narrowed down our choice to 2 puppies and we they picked the one that seemed the most interested in us, and now I have my amazing little George.
Good luck with your search.
feel free to pm if you have any other q's
____________ Gemma, Lee and our lovely little George
Perhaps we may need to look at a black dog - to find something a little more docile - and perhaps something with less FTCH or FTW in pedigree?!
I have two black Labs. I couldn't tell you about their breeding because they are both rescues/rehomes, but they are the leaner sort, particular my youngest. Docile is not a word I would use to describe either and the oldest is almost 13!
If you are looking for a more docile Lab, have you considered adopting an adult rescue dog? There are always lovely Labs looking for a great new home.
Perhaps we may need to look at a black dog - to find something a little more docile - and perhaps something with less FTCH or FTW in pedigree?!
I don't think either of those points are likely to help give you a more 'docile' dog. Going for black, instead of chocolate, will just give you a lot, lot more choice of litters.
Something with less FTCH in the pedigree will just give you more 'unknown'. ie. you don't have any independent proof of whether the dog came from good working stock or not. It won't mean the dog will be less hyper, in fact it could mean it might be more so....
Your best bet is to get help/recommendations from your breeder or a trainer who knows you.
TBH I also wouldnt go looking for the lines that Guide Dogs use, not only do they 'normally' only use their own stud dogs which arent available for use on other dogs, there are health issues to think of. (Am not going to say on a public forum).
I hadn't really thought about the FTCH or FTW meaning that - I had always thought that meant the dogs were more likely to be more active and high energy. My current boy is very quiet around the house, with a lovely gentle nature. But as soon as we are out he is 'on' and it took a lot of training (and some maturing in general on his part!) to channel that into a dog that I now find easy to walk - I would definitely say he was over 2 before this happened. I now have a toddler and I was thinking it might be better to go for something quieter. However I am just thinking that really - even a docile one is going to need a lot of training if I am going for a puppy - so I pretty much may as well go for the lines I know. I have to say the breeder I contacted did suggest this litter based on me asking for something gentler, so I should trust that she will have factored that in.
Gem - I also prefer the shape of a working lab! I also like the temprament in general.
Di - I regularly see a choc lab that one of your dogs sired I think. He is my dog's Nephew as well.
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