I`m thinking of adding a dog to the family ie myself wife and two kids 12 and 10. I understand Labradors make good pets for my purposes ?

Does anybody know anyone "trustworthy" who has puppies or a young dog who is looking for a new home. Or does anybody think there is a better alternative please ?

Labs are excellent pets, very loyal, my girl is 4 yr old now, a little overweight even though we walk about 10 kms a day, only thing is they are a stomach on 4 legs, they will eat anything, but excellent with kids.

May aswell have another child.

Big dogs take up a lot of time, effort and money.

Tied for 15 years with a dog.

Great for people with no kids and lots of spare time but IMO negatives far outweigh the positives.

Get a gold fish would be my advise.

Labradors are brilliant dogs. You don't realise how different each type of dog is until you spend time with them, take for walks etc..

Growing up we had a Lab who was very easy to look after and friendly.

I currently take a Collie out for walks for my sister and you can't tire it out, It won't walk next to you if you let it off the lead (has to be 50 yards in front. Very protective but doesn't bite and takes a lot of looking after. My mate has the same with his recently purchased springer, always wants to go out.

Is it just you, or does Mrs 7decades want a doggy too?

MACCA wrote:Is it just you, or does Mrs 7decades want a doggy too?

Yes , she is the driver of the process

You can't buy a better dog in my opinion. As stated, they will eat anything so you have to be
very strict with them. They absolutely love water and will find it wherever you are ! Brilliant with
children, easy to train and very loyal. They also like and need a lot of exercise.

You can't really go wrong - if I couldn't have a Labrador I would go for a spaniel.

I re-homed a 18 month old Black Lab from the Labrador welfare trust in Sheffield 3 years ago, I think theres also a Lab rescue home in Lancashire too.
Best Dog I've ever had, lovely temperament, great with other dogs and children and very loyal.

Go down the rescue route, these dogs have done nothing wrong, they simple find themselves in a situation where they aren't cared for and loved..... best thing we ever did!

Great photo of a great dog there. I notice the wet underbelly ! ! Water nearby was it ? LOL

He'll always find water Funkydrummer, and never of shortage of it when we're out on Bronte moorland which is where that pic was taken.

7decades wrote:Yes , she is the driver of the process

My Mrs also wants a dog, but I'm not budging.

We have just re decorated nearly the whole house and I don't fancy ripped or damaged furniture whilst house training an animal.

I don't know if it's just me, but i can instantly smell if a household has a dog as soon as they open the door.

And I would hate picking up poo several times a day and walking to the nearest bin, always looks a touch uncomfortable when I see people doing this.

Mawson needs one as a Guide dog!

Golden Retrievers make good family pets too, so worth considering.

My parents have had a lurcher for the last 10 years and I love him to bits but I don't think I will ever be able to have one myself. They're incredibly demanding and as somebody previously mentioned they do tie you down, my parents dog needs one hour of walking per day minimum and can basically never be on his own or he gets anxious.

I much prefer the independence of cats but sadly I'm allergic to them, looks like a goldfish for me after all ..

Spike wrote:Mawson needs one as a Guide dog!

Of the Craig variety?

Speaking of Mawson, he was sat in the cricket field stand yesterday.

We have sadly recently lost our dog. This was the forth pet I have to take down to the vets to be put to sleep in my lifetime. I have been a bit upset in the past doing it but nothing like this time. Me and my family literally fell to pieces.

She was a border collie and the most amazing dog I have ever known and we where extremely lucky to find her at the RSPCA about 12 years ago. It was like we lost a member of the family and I have not mourned like that since my dad past. It affected other people too. I know of at least 2 other friends who bawled they're eyes out when they found out. One the friends I mention is a bit of a hard man and he didn't mind admitting to having a good cry over it!

The one thing would I would say is what ever dog you go for is to check out the parents. If both parents are good natured you are normally on to a winner!

I, like many know how you feel BigChaCha. I had a collie/sheepdog for 15 years - from the age of 3 to the age of 18 - I grew up with her. When she had to be put to sleep, I felt like I'd lost my best mate (well, I guess I had!).

i know of a gentleman at our golf club near littleborough who currently has Labrador pups for sale...was asked yesterday if we wanted to purchase one but having already got a dog I said no,so didn't enquire about price,i believe they are from good bloodlines and I am pretty sure he also owns the parents

Got a Lab from Leigh dogs and cats home 2 years ago when she was 8 months old, and it's the best thing we've done. She's brilliant with our 10 yrs old son and his mates, but as previously said, they will eat anything including a few pairs of my slippers

Thanks to my wife, we've had dogs for the last 30 years so we can be described as 'dog lovers'. However, and I don't really know why, but I can't stand black labs. Maybe it's because everyone seems to have one or the many I have come to contact with over the years have been stupid, but they always strike me as being all muscle with a small brain. I'm sure people who have them will attempt to 'put me right' but they won't succeed. A really, really good friend got one recently and I have to think twice now before I go round which is a real shame. Horses for courses I suppose.

"as previously said, they will eat anything including a few pairs of my slippers"

Huncoat, Mines never chewed or ate anything in the home.... other than my takeaway pizza I'd left on the sofa whilst I answered the phone when we'd first got him

balzak69 wrote:i know of a gentleman at our golf club near littleborough who currently has Labrador pups for sale...was asked yesterday if we wanted to purchase one but having already got a dog I said no,so didn't enquire about price,i believe they are from good bloodlines and I am pretty sure he also owns the parents

I would be very obliged if you could find out a cost for me and when they will be ready please ?

Very Many Thanks

My parents have one, she's absolutely brilliant.

Owning a pet of any kind now can cost a fortune if they have to go to the vets.
You can't really leave it alone if your both at work all day or plan a day out have a holiday, unless you take it or the dog is cared for by some else.
If you get a bitch you will have every go in the area sniffing around yours, when she's in season and if you've a lawned garden it will have loads of dead grass patches in no time. Bear in mind the dog hair mess in the house when they're moulting.
More often than not your house and car will smell of dog.
Maybe best seeing if your ready to take the responsibility of a dog by looking after a friends for a week and then seeing what you think. You will then know if you've time to walk it before and after work, especially when it's dark, pouring down and cold.
The plus sides the affection and loyalty they give and the extra excersise you will get, plus the security a dog offers to your property. I've had lot of dogs in my lifetime.

BigChaCha wrote:We have sadly recently lost our dog. This was the forth pet I have to take down to the vets to be put to sleep in my lifetime. I have been a bit upset in the past doing it but nothing like this time. Me and my family literally fell to pieces.

She was a border collie and the most amazing dog I have ever known and we where extremely lucky to find her at the RSPCA about 12 years ago. It was like we lost a member of the family and I have not mourned like that since my dad past. It affected other people too. I know of at least 2 other friends who bawled they're eyes out when they found out. One the friends I mention is a bit of a hard man and he didn't mind admitting to having a good cry over it!

The one thing would I would say is what ever dog you go for is to check out the parents. If both parents are good natured you are normally on to a winner!

We lost our dog in January, absolutely devastated as a family. I feel your pain.

A few weeks ago we decided that we really missed a dog in the family and are currently 3 weeks into puppy training again. We will never be able to replace our old dog but the house is alive again!

My advice would be to avoid Labs that are bred for being gun dogs. We have one, from the best lines and whilst he's beautiful and fiercely loyal to us, he's been bred to work and not to be a pampered pet.

7decades wrote:I would be very obliged if you could find out a cost for me and when they will be ready please ?

Very Many Thanks

7decades...will make enquiries and get back to you

balzak69 wrote:7decades...will make enquiries and get back to you

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it

FactualFrank wrote:Golden Retrievers make good family pets too, so worth considering.

If you want to hoover 6 times a day get a retriever, we've burned out 3 hoovers already!!!! . Amazing dogs though, gentle giants and full of fun

Have a lab who is almost 2, Fantastic friendly dog and brilliant with kids and other dogs, If you are on f book have a look at Labrador Rescue (North West) .. they have dogs that need homes but also they are very helpful if you have any questions ..

I've been training guide dog pups for a few years now and I can assure you that they are a very clever dog ...just ask a partially sighted person who owns one..

Love Labradors, couldn't eat a whole one though.

BennyD wrote:Thanks to my wife, we've had dogs for the last 30 years so we can be described as 'dog lovers'. However, and I don't really know why, but I can't stand black labs. Maybe it's because everyone seems to have one or the many I have come to contact with over the years have been stupid, but they always strike me as being all muscle with a small brain. I'm sure people who have them will attempt to 'put me right' but they won't succeed. A really, really good friend got one recently and I have to think twice now before I go round which is a real shame. Horses for courses I suppose.

There's quite a few breeds I don't think I would own, but I can't understand and who "can't stand" any breed. Especially someone who then describes themselves as a dog lover.

Barry and Huncoat, they are beautiful dogs, if it wasn't for mine and my families love of golden retrievers we would have a black lab or a flatcoat, all amazing dogs with great temperaments.

Saxo - could you kindly feck off from this board you irritating toad.

Golden Retriever everytime, fantastic dog.

ewanrob wrote:Golden Retriever everytime, fantastic dog.

Andreshotboots wrote:

FB_IMG_1475532420465.jpg

That dog/bitch looks happy!

Dogs are more tying than babies in a family. Be careful.

We very sadly lost our two Rhodesian ridgebacks ( which are exceptional dogs) over the past couple of years.
Now we feel it is time to bring some new life in to our home.

We decided against getting ridgebacks again as we didn't want to be constantly comparing them with & being reminded of our previous girls.
So after much consideration & speaking to different people we decided to get a couple of labs.



Which we pick up this weekend

To all those that criticise dogs or say they are tying etc, yes they are tying but the love & life they bring in to your home far out way any negatives.
If we want to go away we find somewhere that lets us take the dogs with us, loads of places inc some cafes/restaurants now let well behaved dogs in.

JPS71 wrote:We very sadly lost our two Rhodesian ridgebacks ( which are exceptional dogs) over the past couple of years.
Now we feel it is time to bring some new life in to our home.

We decided against getting ridgebacks again as we didn't want to be constantly comparing them with & being reminded of our previous girls.
So after much consideration & speaking to different people we decided to get a couple of labs.



Which we pick up this weekend

To all those that criticise dogs or say they are tying etc, yes they are tying but the love & life they bring in to your home far out way any negatives.
If we want to go away we find somewhere that lets us take the dogs with us, loads of places inc some cafes/restaurants now let well behaved dogs in.

Having a dog obviously works for you, which is great, however I think acknowledging when you're not the sort of person that is cut out to properly look after a pet as dependent as a dog is very important, and if more people did it then there would be less dogs that get abandoned.

Great dogs and excellent with kids, i have a 6 year old Lab, the best dog i have ever had. I would strongly recommend pet insurance too, ours had to have two teeth removed after crushing stones and an operation on his stomach to remove a stone the size of a golf ball that he swallowed.

My Lab...

Had Labs for years, all colours, the current one is a chocolate. Wonderful pets, but be aware that golden and cream tend to shed quite a bit of hair, black and chocolate very little.

I looked after a chocolate brown Labrador, Frankie, in Christchurch NZ for 3 months while his owners were away in the UK. The best dog I've ever been around bar none.

Frankie died from an inoperable tumour in my third month of looking after him, 2 weeks before his owners were to return home. It was sudden and unexpected and breaking the news to the owners over the phone was heartbreaking.

I'm moving to France within the year and both me and my partner have agreed to get a Labrador when we are settled. After Frankie, I've never wanted another breed of dog.

CnBtruntru wrote:they will eat anything, but excellent with kids.

I normally feed mine Wagg mixed with tinned food. Never thought of adding the kids. That would have saved me years of grief.

Fantastic dogs.

Get a black lab, not as daft as choc brown, golden retreivers shed way too much and can chew through your house. As mentioned very tying, i am already thinking of cold dark 6 am walks this winter. Dont for one minute think your kids will take it out after the second week.
If you get the right one , train it well, it will be bearable to own, if you leave the kids and the missus to it. Then your furniture, bed and dinner plate will not be yours for 15 years.
Enjoy!