Labrador Puppy?

JustRoss23

Hey guys looking to get a golden or chocolate puppy in mid jan anyone no what kind of price i would expect to pay? must be purebred and Ikc reg:D.. i see some going for very cheap enough should i be wary? also if anyone noes any1 with a litter of puppys pm me as i would be very interested .thanks ross:D

SillyMangoX

Be very careful sourcing a breeder. Make sure that both parents are hip scored, that is an absolute must with labs as they are notoriously bad for developing hip dysplasia, price wise, you get what you pay for. Cheap pup generally equals expensive vet bills down the line!

JustRoss23

Thanks very much for your reply. yea that was a bit stupid asking what price i expect. I just want to get the best all round Labrador puppy i can get that is reared with in a family and that's well socialized . as it will be around kids at home. Thanks for your advice regrading hip scoring

Rommie

I know a fella who had to go to Antrim, from Cork, to get a properly bred pup whose parents had all health tests done so it might take a while to find a good breeder. He went with a breeder who has working line dogs rather than show line, so it might be an idea to look at the working lines as well. Like SillyMangoX said though, hips are a big problem with labs so I wouldn't get a pup whose parents haven't been scored.

DBB

Rommie wrote: »

I know a fella who had to go to Antrim, from Cork, to get a properly bred pup whose parents had all health tests done so it might take a while to find a good breeder. He went with a breeder who has working line dogs rather than show line, so it might be an idea to look at the working lines as well. Like SillyMangoX said though, hips are a big problem with labs so I wouldn't get a pup whose parents haven't been scored.

For really popular breeds like Labs, you've got to go to a LOT of trouble to make sure you're getting a good, healthy, temperamentally sound dog.
Also, just because a dog seems expensive does not mean it's of any quality: caveat emptor! Don't use price alone as a barometer of quality, and definitely go for an established breeder who is breeding working line dogs, and rearing them as if they're going to be pet dogs.
A very basic requirement that I would demand is that the pups are spending a significant amount of time inside the breeder's house every day, and that the breeder has gone to trouble to make sure the pups have met lots of men, lots of kids, and is well versed in what life living inside is all about. They don;t necessarily have to be in the house all day every day, but they MUST be spending several hours inside every day.
You also need to purposely take toys off the pup, and see the reaction when you put your hands into its food bowl whilst eating (only ever try this with a pup, never an unknown adult dogs!). Breeders who feed pups communally from one big bowl are setting them up to become food guarders: I would want my dog's breeder to be feeding pups from separate bowls, and supervising mealtimes to make sure there's no bullying or guarding going on.
The difference this makes to a pup's behaviour for the rest of its life is incalculable. Extremely important if you're looking for a steady, well-rounded, reliable pet dog around kids.
Can I direct you to have a read of "Before You Get Your Puppy", and "After You Get Your Puppy", books available for free download from www.dogstardaily.com? Loads and loads of info to help you know what to look for, and how to get going when pup arrives home.
Labs were always traditionally held to be fantastic, gentle dogs, but the cowboy breeders have got their mitts on them and made a hames of them, both health-wise and temperamentally. As a breed, they're lucky they still have strong working lines.

JustRoss23

DBB wrote: »

For really popular breeds like Labs, you've got to go to a LOT of trouble to make sure you're getting a good, healthy, temperamentally sound dog.
Also, just because a dog seems expensive does not mean it's of any quality: caveat emptor! Don't use price alone as a barometer of quality, and definitely go for an established breeder who is breeding working line dogs, and rearing them as if they're going to be pet dogs.
A very basic requirement that I would demand is that the pups are spending a significant amount of time inside the breeder's house every day, and that the breeder has gone to trouble to make sure the pups have met lots of men, lots of kids, and is well versed in what life living inside is all about. They don;t necessarily have to be in the house all day every day, but they MUST be spending several hours inside every day.
You also need to purposely take toys off the pup, and see the reaction when you put your hands into its food bowl whilst eating (only ever try this with a pup, never an unknown adult dogs!). Breeders who feed pups communally from one big bowl are setting them up to become food guarders: I would want my dog's breeder to be feeding pups from separate bowls, and supervising mealtimes to make sure there's no bullying or guarding going on.
The difference this makes to a pup's behaviour for the rest of its life is incalculable. Extremely important if you're looking for a steady, well-rounded, reliable pet dog around kids.
Can I direct you to have a read of "Before You Get Your Puppy", and "After You Get Your Puppy", books available for free download from www.dogstardaily.com? Loads and loads of info to help you know what to look for, and how to get going when pup arrives home.
Labs were always traditionally held to be fantastic, gentle dogs, but the cowboy breeders have got their mitts on them and made a hames of them, both health-wise and temperamentally. As a breed, they're lucky they still have strong working lines.

A brilliant post DBB thanks so much:D Just starting to read them topics you suggested thanks again:D.

cena

Our lab is great around kids. from when we got him at the age of one and half years old

ISDW

The 'golden' labs are actually Yellow, so if any breeder calls them golden, I'd walk away, if they don't know that basic info, i doubt they'd do all the relevant health testing etc.

Best of luck, always had labs or lab crosses growing up, fantastic family dogs

JustRoss23

Oh i feel quite embarrassed now:o:o
Thanks for that:D;)

Irishchick

OP you should consider re-homing rather than buying. We are already over populated with puppies. Over 5000 dogs were put to sleep last year.

I'm sure if you looked you'd fine a suitable lab in a dog shelter.

Sigma Force

Lab puppies are so so common in rescues of all colours it's well worth checking out rescues and at least you have some come back and support with a good rescue. Cost wise a rescue puppy would be cheaper but will have had all the health checks etc. done.

Irishchick

Well the chances that it has been hip scored would be slim. However hip scores only tell you what the parents hips are like. They are no guarantee that the pup will have good hips. Plus no matter how good they are almost all labs will develop hip dysplasia to some degree in later life.

He/she will have been checked by a vet though and have had a thorough clinical exam. Some rescues also spay/neuter before re-homing.

You will however have the satisfaction of knowing you have saved a dogs life

bleary

There are so many lovely labs in rescues at the moment that people have to leave behind due to emigration. I understand why people want to bring one pup up from scratch but these dogs are tried and trusted with families and kids.
Check out Oscar (IKC registered 7 years old) <snip>
Or Roly (also 7)
There are new labs on that page every month

Mod note: please do not mention names fo rescues on-thread. It is against the forum charter.
Thank you,
DBB

tk123

bleary wrote: »

There are so many lovely labs in rescues at the moment that people have to leave behind due to emigration. I understand why people want to bring one pup up from scratch but these dogs are tried and trusted with families and kids.
Check out Oscar (IKC registered 7 years old)
Or Roly (also 7)
There are new labs on that page every month

The OP wants a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder - what's wrong with letting them get one? Maybe they don't feel confident enough to take on an adult dog with possible behavioural issues from being dumped out the back and never trained. Maybe they want to minimise the chances of having to deal with HD/joint issues that an overweight dog may have ? Maybe they want a puppy for their kids to grow up with instead of an older dog who may not being around too long?

I'm sorry if that comes across as being harsh but taking on a rescue dog isn't what everyone wants to do?

bleary

I suppose because the amount of money people pay and the thought a lot of people put into it tends to encourage breeders who have no interest in the dogs , just the money that they can make.
So many people won't consider rescue dogs because they want the 'best' for their families. I understand this but
I can't understand why someone would pay for a dog and hope for the best (dog properly socialised and not in bred)
when they can get a dog that has been vetted from a rescue.
And the reasons that rescues are full to the brim are often because of uninformed owners who just bought a dog without thought.
If the OP wants to buy a dog at the end of the day that is their right and I respect that but I think showing the sort of beautiful dogs that are available from rescues gives everyone more information.
And if it makes people think for a while before buying a dog then I'm happy.
And as I said there are new labs on that page every month , including puppies and there doesn't seem to be any shortage in any other rescue either.

Millem

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Hey guys looking to get a golden or chocolate puppy in mid jan anyone no what kind of price i would expect to pay? must be purebred and Ikc reg:D.. i see some going for very cheap enough should i be wary? also if anyone noes any1 with a litter of puppys pm me as i would be very interested .thanks ross:D

I have 3 yellow labs, one I got as a 12 week old pup, another one at 9 months and the last one at 7 years. I would never again have a pup!! Teeth like razors, crying in the night, teething, toilet training, silly nonsense etc. They are mad as brushes till about 4/5! My parents got their lab at 1 and a half and I know there is no way they could of coped with a tiny pup! Labs are great pets, a lot are unwanted at 6-9 months as they are very strong dogs who can get boisterous without training. With an older dog you know what you are getting as personality has developed. Everyone is entitled to buy a pup etc but from my own experience oldies all the way.

DBB

Folks,
OP specifically stated that he's looking for a puppy, which must be purebred and IKC registered.
The point has been made to OP by several posters now that such an (adult) dog may be available through rescue, so let's not go off-topic any longer on this subject.
We can take it now that OP realises there's a rescue option open to him, so let's get back on topic with OP's original request, unless OP specifially states that he will consider a rescue dog.
May I remind everyone once again that rescues are not to be mentioned by name on-thread.
Thanks,
DBB

Irishchick

tk123 wrote: »

The OP wants a healthy puppy from a reputable breeder - what's wrong with letting them get one? Maybe they don't feel confident enough to take on an adult dog with possible behavioural issues from being dumped out the back and never trained. Maybe they want to minimise the chances of having to deal with HD/joint issues that an overweight dog may have ? Maybe they want a puppy for their kids to grow up with instead of an older dog who may not being around too long?

I'm sorry if that comes across as being harsh but taking on a rescue dog isn't what everyone wants to do?

What a load of bull!

Shelter dogs are perfectly healthy and will have been seen by a vet before re homing if you go to a reputable shelter.

What's wrong with buying a dog? Ask the 5000 who were killed last year because people bought instead of adopting. If people really cared for dogs as a species and forgot about their own selfishness they would choose rescue every time.

Not all dogs in shelters "have behavioural issues because they were dumped out the back" people surrender dogs for all sorts of reasons.

Not all shelter dogs are old or overweight. There are plenty of young pups in shelters.

A bought dog had just as much chance of developing hip dysplasia.

JustRoss23

Thanks everyone for all the helpful reply's i don't really want to get in to a debate about which is better to get a rescue dog or buy a pup. we had an accident in which a family member got attacked by a rescue dog a few years ago which turned us off getting one now i no this was a rare thing to happen and could have just have easily happened with our own dog at the time but it didn't and in the end dog had to get put down. so for peace of mind we are gonna get a puppy in which kids can grow up with it and bond with it. just to add i am not slating a rescue dog in any way shape or form, if it was just my decision it would be a rescue dog but its not :o so it will be puppy:D.. also i no how many dogs they are not looked after and abused i use to volunteer at the rescue center in Longford..Thanks again:D

tk123

Irishchick wrote: »

What a load of bull!

Shelter dogs are perfectly healthy and will have been seen by a vet before re homing if you go to a reputable shelter.

What's wrong with buying a dog? Ask the 5000 who were killed last year because people bought instead of adopting. If people really cared for dogs as a species and forgot about their own selfishness they would choose rescue every time.

Not all dogs in shelters "have behavioural issues because they were dumped out the back" people surrender dogs for all sorts of reasons.

Not all shelter dogs are old or overweight. There are plenty of young pups in shelters.

A bought dog had just as much chance of developing hip dysplasia.

Just to clarify I was commenting on the dogs mentioned as examples on the page that was linked to and what I was reading between the lines/could see from the photos..not tarring all recuse dogs with the same brush..

Back on topic - OP would you travel to the north/uk for the pup? I've heard of a few people doing this for other breeds where they don't have any faith in the lines here anymore and think I'd consider it myself? I saw a demo of golden retrievers and labs from a show in the uk on tv/youtube and they were like nothing I've ever seen here in terms of their build and just everything about them - the looked so healthy and perfect examples of the breed!

JustRoss23

Simply answer for the right pup i would be more then willing to travel to the north or England:)

tk123

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Simply answer for the right pup i would be more then willing to travel to the north or England:)

Same here - just rope somebody into driving!

Bizzum

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Simply answer for the right pup i would be more then willing to travel to the north or England:)

Hi Ross, Keep an eye on the Shooting/Hunting forum here on Boards, some good dogs on there up and down, bred by dog men, who know their dogs, for functionality and soundness. You won't go far wrong with a proper working type Lab.

DBB

Irishchick wrote: »

What a load of bull!

Shelter dogs are perfectly healthy and will have been seen by a vet before re homing if you go to a reputable shelter.

Despite my on-thread warning, this post continues the off-topic rescue agenda... I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that you were writing your post as I posted the on-thread warning.
There is to be no more off-topic discussion of rescues, or the ethics surrounding rescuing a dog, on this thread.
Do not reply to this post on-thread
Thanks,
DBB

Dunny

Paid for Lola and il never regret it. Labs are fab

(yes i checked the local rescue/pound first)

codie

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Hey guys looking to get a golden or chocolate puppy in mid jan anyone no what kind of price i would expect to pay? must be purebred and Ikc reg:D.. i see some going for very cheap enough should i be wary? also if anyone noes any1 with a litter of puppys pm me as i would be very interested .thanks ross:D

Did you find the Lab pup you were after?

JustRoss23

Yeap sure did got it in england:D

Pinklady11

I have to say Labs are brilliant. Have one myself and he is so good with the kids. I always say he's the third child in the house!

Any pics of your pup OP?

ISDW

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Hey guys looking to get a golden or chocolate puppy in mid jan anyone no what kind of price i would expect to pay? must be purebred and Ikc reg.. i see some going for very cheap enough should i be wary? also if anyone noes any1 with a litter of puppys pm me as i would be very interested .thanks ross:D

JustRoss23 wrote: »

Yeap sure did got it in england:D

So not IKC registered then

JustRoss23

KC Registered;)

RubyGirl

Any pic's, love labs. My 3,4,5 & 6 baby in this house.