Puppy Advice (merged)

Ruffles_2

Have a look here http://www.apdt.co.uk/trainers_area.asp?area=Lincolnshire or there's this lady http://www.apbc.org.uk/regions.php?region=lincs

west_is_best

I have lab's and absolutely adore them.

I would suggest that you buy a puppy thats been handled a lot, not fed twice a day and forgotten about...
A puppy thats had a lot of human interaction will be more turst worthy with little children..

I have too found that golden labs are more scatter brain than black... black labs tend to be more laid back. Even though both are absolutely adorable, up untill they are around a year and half, golden one's tend to be "deaf" in nature, only when they want though!!!!!!!!! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

good luck xxxx

Fleago

Here's my tuppence worth! I much prefer the boys! Currently we've got two males, (entire) and one !!!!! (spayed after her first season). The males are far more affectionate and, quite frankly, rather like big babies in their demands for attention, cuddles etc. They were also a darned sight easier to train! The !!!!! is much more distant, would rather keep herself to herself and is far less affectionate than the boys. I've mainly had males, only two !!!!!es over a lifetime of dogs, and to be honest, much as I love our girl, any others we get will, in all likelihood, be males.

I have to say that the unwanted aspects of males that have been mentioned are not my experience. Our entire boys don't go about marking, don't display inappropriate dominance issues and don't go about humping everything in sight.

Fleago

DKLS wrote: »

I am surprised at the amount of working breeds suggested on here, I wouldnt have a Springer or a Collie for a family, unless its for a very active family.
I once spoke to an old gundog trainer at the Yorkshire show, who had bred Springers for 40 years, I asked him do they ever calm down?, His reply which I will never forget, in the broadest Yorkshire " Ay lad bout 10 mins before it dies"

You know what, DKLS, I'm going to come out on the limb with you! I've had gundog breeds my entire life, with one of a terrier breed and a Heinz 57 thrown in for good measure! My experience of the gundogs is that whilst they are amazing and generally very good with children, they are hard work in terms of the amount and quality of exercise they need, plus they are ultra intelligent (they need to be to do the job they're bred for).

The intelligence means learning to read them like a book and keeping one step ahead of them and having a training regime that is firm, fair and consistent and which, quite frankly, is life long because they are always working out ways to get one over! :rolleyes: I think this is especially true of the HPR sub group members, who, despite being gorgeous, are, in my experience, and to (mis)quote Blackadder, as cunning as the cunningest fox at the world championship of cunning foxes!

I think if it's a working breed, it's very important to think beyond the superficial good points of a particular breed and to think about, for example, what it is bred to do, what it's natural instincts are and can you effectively channel them etc.

Sorry, people, if this has come across as a bit holier than thou or as a rant, it's just that I have bitter experience of people going for the superficial attractions of my current breed (which are glorious and endearing to be sure) only to end up with a bored juvenile delinquent that the family can't cope with.

Good luck with your search, rev. I hope you and your family find the perfect dog for your circumstances.

Fleago

PS The labs that aren't black or chocolate are YELLOW!! :rotfl:

chatname_2

Good luck in finding the right dog for your family, I got the Mother of my present dog from a breeder more that 17 years ago and we are still in touch although Cari the dog died at the age of 15. She and her Daughter Aimee are both Belgian Terveuren and they have both been fantastic both with my own children when they were growing up and now Aimee is wonderful with my young Grandchildren. I have a younger sister with Retts Syndrome and Aimee is very good with her too.

This is a very energetic breed and at 13 Aimee will still chase a ball. I do think that you would have to have some experience of dogs to have one, the point I'm making is that going to a good breeder could be a very good move whatever breed you choose and perhaps the first step could be to go to dog shows and study the breeds you are interested in. You don't have to want to show dogs to do this. You could then talk to breeders and find out who you build up a rapport with. The Kennel Club could give you information about this. I'm not discounting crossbreeds and mongrels as I've owned these also, but depending on what breeds they have in them they can have a bit of a split personality. Also maybe it would be a good idea for the family to take the dog to a good training class or socialisation class which should be fun for everybody including the dog.

TAG

Hi Sally,

Sorry I sort of hi jacked your thread but didn't answer your question. When we went to get our new puppy a few weeks ago I was adamant that we would get a male.

There were only 2 left of the litter one male, one female. I picked up the little boy first. But he wasn't particularly interested and appeared to be a bit nervous. So then I had a hold of our little girl and she sort of picked me really. Though she was a little unsure as well she was happier to be held, had a good sniff of me and was generally much more interested. So the decision was made.

Have to say though we very nearly ended up with both of them. Felt horrible leaving him all alone. Very tempted, but the MSE head took over in the end.

I've had 2 male dogs in the past. But I have to say she is just as affectionate and responsive as they were. So I haven't as yet found much difference.

daisykinn1

It depends on the breed, if you get a border terrier (like me) the females tend to me more independent and the males are apparently more affectonate so we ended up getting a male. We've always had males in our family and they've all be extremely loyal, friendly and we've never had a problem with dominance. I do encourage neutering regardless of sex, there are enough unwanted puppies needing homes at the moment with all this credit crunch malarky.

DKLS

Fleago wrote: »

You know what, DKLS, I'm going to come out on the limb with you! I've had gundog breeds my entire life, with one of a terrier breed and a Heinz 57 thrown in for good measure! My experience of the gundogs is that whilst they are amazing and generally very good with children, they are hard work in terms of the amount and quality of exercise they need, plus they are ultra intelligent (they need to be to do the job they're bred for).

The intelligence means learning to read them like a book and keeping one step ahead of them and having a training regime that is firm, fair and consistent and which, quite frankly, is life long because they are always working out ways to get one over! :rolleyes: I think this is especially true of the HPR sub group members, who, despite being gorgeous, are, in my experience, and to (mis)quote Blackadder, as cunning as the cunningest fox at the world championship of cunning foxes!

I think if it's a working breed, it's very important to think beyond the superficial good points of a particular breed and to think about, for example, what it is bred to do, what it's natural instincts are and can you effectively channel them etc.

Sorry, people, if this has come across as a bit holier than thou or as a rant, it's just that I have bitter experience of people going for the superficial attractions of my current breed (which are glorious and endearing to be sure) only to end up with a bored juvenile delinquent that the family can't cope with.

Great post, I was brought up with gundogs and pack hounds, well I did have a grandad that was a gamekeeper on a huge country estate, and those dogs worked for a living and loved it. I hold strong views about people choosing a breed to suit their lifestyles.

I often shake my head in disbelief, when I read a post on a misbehaving collie or springer in a home.

ms.prong

Hi everyone - just an update

Laila is pretty much toilet trained! Well apart from a couple of accidents but I guess that is to be expected as she is still a baby.

Thanks to everyone for the advice, esp Georgina about the treats. We started giving her little bits of cheese or cocktail sausages and this seems to have done the trick. I think she found the usual treats quite boring but she goes mental for these.

rev229

We are of to a dog rescue centre on Saturday window shopping only and to get as much info as possible. we won't be bring a dog home until after our summer holiday as I would hate to put it back in kennels while we are away, the cottage we have booked don't allow pets.