Where to get a labrador pup?

average_runner

cocker5 wrote: »

The reality is most people don’t check health scores ..

If you care about dogs you would, wouldn't buy a car without checking it out.

Cherry Blossom

cocker5 wrote: »

The reality is most people don’t check health scores ..

What do you mean by 'health scores'? My dog is not a breed that needs hip scores but you can bet your ass I checked the results of the health testing that was done. I have a copy of the eye test that was done on my pup. I did want a pup from hip scored parents but discovered there was only one dog of the breed in the country that was hip scored and it sounded like he was somewhat overbred. The reason I wanted hip scores is because I was interested in agility. Plenty of people research what the scores are and what counts as good scores for their breed. It's not that hard to understand. I don't know why someone would look for a pup from health tested parents and then not bother to check what the results are. People are not that stupid, especially if they know to look for health tests in the first place.

A lot of your posts on this thread outline the excuses people use to buy from back yard breeders and disreputable online sources. Maybe you personally are not suited to buying a pup from a reputable breeder. If so you are probably best sticking to rescue dogs. You have demonstrated you don't understand the process but that doesn't mean 'most people' are not capable of understanding how genetic health testing works. It's not complicated at all and although there are always risks it's about mitigating and lowering those risks as much as possible.

cocker5

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

What do you mean by 'health scores'? My dog is not a breed that needs hip scores but you can bet your ass I checked the results of the health testing that was done. I have a copy of the eye test that was done on my pup. I did want a pup from hip scored parents but discovered there was only one dog of the breed in the country that was hip scored and it sounded like he was somewhat overbred. The reason I wanted hip scores is because I was interested in agility. Plenty of people research what the scores are and what counts as good scores for their breed. It's not that hard to understand. I don't know why someone would look for a pup from health tested parents and then not bother to check what the results are. People are not that stupid, especially if they know to look for health tests in the first place.

A lot of your posts on this thread outline the excuses people use to buy from back yard breeders and disreputable online sources. Maybe you personally are not suited to buying a pup from a reputable breeder. If so you are probably best sticking to rescue dogs. You have demonstrated you don't understand the process but that doesn't mean 'most people' are not capable of understanding how genetic health testing works. It's not complicated at all and although there are always risks it's about mitigating and lowering those risks as much as possible.

All I can say is wow .. patronising much?

I do understand the process .. I said most people don’t .. yes uneducated.. but still they don’t do any research!

anyway stay up on your high horse ...
enjoy the view!

Yes maybe I’m probably best sticking to rescue dogs ... and slum dogging it!

DBB

Back on topic now please.
Thank you.
DBB

Cherry Blossom

Anyway OP, you certainly seem to be doing your research now before getting a dog. Ultimately its your decision if you buy or rehome. Taking on a lab with little or no known background is risky. I had one for 14 years from a background like that. He was given to us by an extended family member who changed their mind after a week and offloaded him on us. He was a mad energetic puppy that jumped up to steal washing off the line but was crippled with hip dysplasia and arthritis from the age of approx 6. Pet insurance mearly pays some of the bills it doesn't make up for the lack of quality of life. I would recommended insurance whichever way you go though as labs will eat anything. Ours ate the plasterboard off the walls and made a huge hole in the hall door and did it all in complete silence He was a complete nutjob and could never be closed in the house we think due his rocky start in life. He lived as an outdoor farm dog for all his days. He was an outdoor dog by choice and only chose to come in when there were bangers going off.

Heres Johnny

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

Anyway OP, you certainly seem to be doing your research now before getting a dog. Ultimately its your decision if you buy or rehome. Taking on a lab with little or no known background is risky. I had one for 14 years from a background like that. He was given to us by an extended family member who changed their mind after a week and offloaded him on us. He was a mad energetic puppy that jumped up to steal washing off the line but was crippled with hip dysplasia and arthritis from the age of approx 6. Pet insurance mearly pays some of the bills it doesn't make up for the lack of quality of life. I would recommended insurance whichever way you go though as labs will eat anything. Ours ate the plasterboard off the walls and made a huge hole in the hall door and did it all in complete silence He was a complete nutjob and could never be closed in the house we think due his rocky start in life. He lived as an outdoor farm dog for all his days. He was an outdoor dog by choice and only chose to come in when there were bangers going off.

Ah yeah I'm happy enough with how to raise a labrador I had one in my house for 5 years and know they can be a handful, but found pretty quickly that exercising them is key. Only ever had this one dog and just really looking for advice on where to get one with best prospects for good genetics and health reasons. It's something we should all be careful of in dogs labrador size and above, they can of course have a lot of issues. Got lucky last time but just want to give it best chance this time and leave luck out of it as much as possible.

J Madone

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Ah yeah I'm happy enough with how to raise a labrador I had one in my house for 5 years and know they can be a handful, but found pretty quickly that exercising them is key. Only ever had this one dog and just really looking for advice on where to get one with best prospects for good genetics and health reasons. It's something we should all be careful of in dogs labrador size and above, they can of course have a lot of issues. Got lucky last time but just want to give it best chance this time and leave luck out of it as much as possible.

We got a rescue lab almost a year ago, she was approx 2 years old and had pups before she was rescued. She was very nervous when we got her. We are over the moon with her an absolute dote. Haven't looked back.

Cherry Blossom

Heres Johnny wrote: »

...
Only ever had this one dog and just really looking for advice on where to get one with best prospects for good genetics and health reasons. It's something we should all be careful of in dogs labrador size and above, they can of course have a lot of issues. Got lucky last time but just want to give it best chance this time and leave luck out of it as much as possible.

It really sounds like temperament and health are your priorities which would suggest that a reputable breeder is the path for you.

Heres Johnny

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

It really sounds like temperament and health are your priorities which would suggest that a reputable breeder is the path for you.

It's as much that I dislike the practice of people breeding dogs for a bit of a side income without being an enthusiast and doing it for the right reasons.

average_runner

Heres Johnny wrote: »

It's as much that I dislike the practice of people breeding dogs for a bit of a side income without being an enthusiast and doing it for the right reasons.

A true enthusiast will have all the health checks etc done for you. The people we got our lab off are great, always in touch to ensure the dog is getting looked after.
If someone sells you a dog without asking the right questions, you know they are in it for money

I know one breeder took a pup back from it owners as they weren't treating it well. The breeder kept him and is now 5 years old and ruined.

Heres Johnny

average_runner wrote: »

A true enthusiast will have all the health checks etc done for you. The people we got our lab off are great, always in touch to ensure the dog is getting looked after.
If someone sells you a dog without asking the right questions, you know they are in it for money

I know one breeder took a pup back from it owners as they weren't treating it well. The breeder kept him and is now 5 years old and ruined.

Yeah I get you. My black lab (who I miss very much now she's not in my house) was, as I mentioned, part of an unwanted litter and I got her for 50 quid that the owner didn't even want but I gave it to him to cover costs of the vaccines he had paid for, he was a friend of a friend and not in it for the money. I'll post a pic if I can

Heres Johnny

Here's my favourite one

Cherry Blossom

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Yeah I get you. My black lab (who I miss very much now she's not in my house) was, as I mentioned, part of an unwanted litter and I got her for 50 quid that the owner didn't even want but I gave it to him to cover costs of the vaccines he had paid for, he was a friend of a friend and not in it for the money. I'll post a pic if I can

You understand that allowing a bitch to have an unwanted litter is an extremely irresponsible thing to do. Having pups puts a lot of stress on a dog. Giving away pups for free is also questionable. 'Free to good home' dogs frequently end up as bait for dog fighting and in the possession of other unsavoury characters. If they weren't able to keep their dog secure they should have had her neutered.

There is no comparison between that and having a litter of very much wanted, meticulously planned pups for the purpose of bettering the breed. If the only dogs that existed were brought about by random throwing together of dogs with no regard for health or temperament the whole species would be in a sorry state. There is not a thing wrong with ethical breeding.

Heres Johnny

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

You understand that allowing a bitch to have an unwanted litter is an extremely irresponsible thing to do. Having pups puts a lot of stress on a dog. Giving away pups for free is also questionable. 'Free to good home' dogs frequently end up as bait for dog fighting and in the possession of other unsavoury characters. If they weren't able to keep their dog secure they should have had her neutered.

There is no comparison between that and having a litter of very much wanted, meticulously planned pups for the purpose of bettering the breed. If the only dogs that existed were brought about by random throwing together of dogs with no regard for health or temperament the whole species would be in a sorry state. There is not a thing wrong with ethical breeding.

Nothing to do with me! I don't know the man and the pups were born 8 weeks old and ready for homing before I ever heard of them. I gave a pup a good home! He was choosy enough in fairness he refused to advertise them or charge for them and only gave them away on recommendation and to people he knew.

average_runner

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Here's my favourite one

A beautiful dog

Heres Johnny

Picked out a beautiful black bitch pub yesterday, going to get a puppy crate and some food tomorrow then go to collect her in the afternoon (I gave away all the puppy paraphanelia I had). 10 weeks old. I'll stick a few pics up when I have them. Excited about the puppy phase again in a time where there's very little else to be joyous about. Should be able for some decent walks as summer wears on and gets a bit older.

Cherry Blossom

Sorry, but how are you doing this now given the current restrictions? I'm sure you know how important socialisation early in a dogs life is to their temperament later in life. How do you plan to socialise the pup? In the last few days there was a report in the independent of a man sentenced to four weeks in prison for traveling from Derry to Co. Kerry to buy two dogs. I think its brilliant personally that the judge came down on him like a ton of bricks. I hope we see a lot more of it.

Daz_

Just for any others reading this And thinking Lab seeing as the OP already got one .
As mentioned by a few on here , do consider registered breeders from kennel club .
The big problem out there is hip dysplasia as I discovered after getting our Lab .
I believe there is a check process with registered breeders focusing on hips and ensuring no issues .
Or rescue of course seeing as the dog still needs a good home etc .

The Bishop Basher

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Picked out a beautiful black bitch pub yesterday, going to get a puppy crate and some food tomorrow then go to collect her in the afternoon (I gave away all the puppy paraphanelia I had). 10 weeks old. I'll stick a few pics up when I have them. Excited about the puppy phase again in a time where there's very little else to be joyous about. Should be able for some decent walks as summer wears on and gets a bit older.

Congratulations and enjoy your new pup !!

the beer revolu

Cherry Blossom wrote: »

Sorry, but how are you doing this now given the current restrictions? I'm sure you know how important socialisation early in a dogs life is to their temperament later in life. How do you plan to socialise the pup? In the last few days there was a report in the independent of a man sentenced to four weeks in prison for traveling from Derry to Co. Kerry to buy two dogs. I think its brilliant personally that the judge came down on him like a ton of bricks. I hope we see a lot more of it.

Nice to see that Johnny's want of a puppy outweighs the need to suppress a pandemic!
I'd like to see them prosecuted, too.

My 90 year old mother is in hospital with a broken hip and is receiving no visitors but Johnny travels to buy a puppy!

tk123

the beer revolu wrote: »

Nice to see that Johnny's want of a puppy outweighs the need to suppress a pandemic!
I'd like to see them prosecuted, too.

My 90 year old mother is in hospital with a broken hip and is receiving no visitors but Johnny travels to buy a puppy!

God I hope your mother will be ok?

I would love love love a puppy. We're obviously still devastated about Lucy but had decided June/July might be the right time for a puppy months ago but there's no way I'd get one now when I can't socialise her properly!?

OP please make sure to get insurance asap if you haven't done so already and please god you won't need it for joint/behavioural issues.

the beer revolu

tk123 wrote: »

God I hope your mother will be ok?

She's doing well in the circumstances, thanks.
Got a new hip almost a week ago and is recovering well. None of the family have seen here since she was taken away in the ambulance!

Heres Johnny

the beer revolu wrote: »

Nice to see that Johnny's want of a puppy outweighs the need to suppress a pandemic!
I'd like to see them prosecuted, too.

My 90 year old mother is in hospital with a broken hip and is receiving no visitors but Johnny travels to buy a puppy!

Best of luck to your mother but don't think you should have brought her into this thread. My own mother isn't in the best of nick either at the moment but don't think me getting a dog will help or hinder either of them. I drove a car today (which I know I wasn't meant) I kept my distance from the breeder who also kept her kids inside even though they wanted to say goodbye to the pup. Brings to the grand total of about 5 people I've spoken to face to face since St Patrick's day and amounts to about 10 times leaving the house. So I wish your mam well but get off the high horse before you do

Heres Johnny

tk123 wrote: »

God I hope your mother will be ok?

I would love love love a puppy. We're obviously still devastated about Lucy but had decided June/July might be the right time for a puppy months ago but there's no way I'd get one now when I can't socialise her properly!?

OP please make sure to get insurance asap if you haven't done so already and please god you won't need it for joint/behavioural issues.

Yeah I will, I've always insured dogs. I'd hate to be in the position of not being able to afford medical care if something bad ever came along. Or if they caused an accident or anything. She's a little dote, sleeping in the crate now after her first meal.

the beer revolu

Heres Johnny wrote: »

So I wish your mam well but get off the high horse before you do

Expecting people to follow the legally enforceable guidelines around travel restrictions which are in force to try to suppress the worst pandemic in our lifetimes is being on a high horse now, is it??

But Johnny wanted a puppy - yes, that's the important thing.

I'm out before I get a ban or warning.
The mind boggles at people's priorities.