Labrador Forum - Labrador Chat

Funny Lab Stories

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:07:06 +0100

I've recently watched the film 'Marley & Me' and couldn't help but love the film, as it show's how much personality our lovely Labrador's have!! Since then, I've been looking for some funny Labrador stories, Have you got your own?

Julie
Puppy Feeding

My Lab's A Little Minx :D

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:38:13 +0100

My Labrador has a habit of escaping every time there is an opportunity, luckily we live in a rural area and we are always able to retrieve her safely, but does anyone have any hints or tips on how we can solve this problem?

Julie
Puppy Feeding

trixie may be........

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:23:18 +0000

Just a quick note that trixie may be pregnant, she has been mated but we not sure yet.

Labs Puppy to Adult

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 21:44:07 +0000

Can I get the view of the members when they think a Lab changes from Puppy to Adult.

Speaking to my local pet shop whom I've build a good relationship with in their estimate it's around the 10 month period.

Agree/Disagree?

Thanks.
Roy.

Carrek knew about dads cancer

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:38:34 +0100

I was listening to something on the radio the other day and it reminded me of how Carrek knew my dad had cancer before any of us did.
Going back to when Carrek was but a pup and first met dad he had sniffed and bothered around dads groin area. It was a bit embarrassing and we just thought Carrek was being a pest. But 2 years ago dad finally got around to mentioning this patch on his groin to his doctor. It was diagnosed as skin cancer and unfortunately had spread. But Carrek knew all along. How I wish we'd known what he was trying to tell us, maybe dad would still be with us today.
Anyone else had a dog who had smelt something was wrong? On the radio it seemed to be dogs that are good working breeds who did this the most.

Odd Behaviour

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:46:07 +0100

Carrek has some odd behaviour which we can't understand. We've tried every aspect, reading books, watching TV progs even had a behaviourist who specialises in Labs. She helped with some problems and I think the benefit of hindsight helps us understand some things.
One thing that isn't a prob, but we can't understand is the suckling of his blankie. Carrek wasn't taken from the litter until he was 9 weeks old so it's not early separation but he has done this from day one with us. He's now just over 5 and still does it. After his tea he beats the daylights out of his favourite toy and then suckles blankie. He fills his mouth with it and you can see his jaws working actively suckling. After a while he sighs and then goes to sleep for a while. It just seems a very odd thing for 37 kilos of solid muscle to do.
Cazz is notgood with other dogs and we put this down to bad experiences as a pup. He got ambushed by an out of control GSD on his very 1st walk out after jabs. He wasn't hurt but mentally it affected him as he always looks behind him on walks now. He was also regularly attacked by a nasty Jack Russell at the park where we walked. He would always submit but the Jacko continued. In the end I took a photo and threatened to report the owner. He had friends there and used to enjoy running with them. But gradually he stopped being sociable. It coincided with his neutering. He then decided he didn't like any dog that walked past the car in the car park. He'd seek them out in the park and go for them. Luckily the Newfoundland didn't take offence and Cazz came away with nothing than a mouthful of hair. But the behaviour became so bad I had to stop going there. It seemed like at 1st the car was his, then the car park then finally the park and if he didn't like a dog that was it.
He is an Alpha male and I can relate his behaviour with wolves. He won't let an Omega dog near him, but if he meets another Alpha male then it's war. he's generally ok with girlies and puppies. He's totally different with hubby but seems very protective with me. I've heard this many times about dogs behaving differently with men and women.
He's a nervous dog for all his bravado and doesn't like the washing machine, fan oven or hoover. We're working on them and slowly making progress.
Any one got any ideas?
Oh yes, one really silly thing he's terrified of feathers but regularly charges the fence to send our chickens flying!
He's an odd bod but we love him dearly and just want to try and make his life easier if we can.

Dog Friendly Cornish Holiday Cottage

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 17:27:59 +0100

Don't know if anyone's interested but we own a holiday cottage down here in Cornwall that's ultra dog friendly. We got fed up of having 2nd rate accommodation just because we had dogs. My dad died last August and I spent my inheritance buying this 200 year old cottage near Launceston. We provide throws for our dog guests so they can get on the furniture - they do at home so why not on their holidays. There's a dog box with towels, spare leads and collars and water bowls and bottles for days out. You get a complimentary cream tea & a bottle of wine, the dogs get a tennis ball each & biscuits Pooh bags are provided. Dogs go free! We say up to 2 large dogs but if you have 3 it doesn't worry us. Have a look - http://www.hellangoveholidaycottage-cornwall.co.uk

over empathetic lab!!

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:59:12 +0100

Hi everyone, new on here and looking forward to lots of interesting chats going forward.

Ok, so heres one for you and im really interested to hear if anyone has experienced anything similiar. My lab is 4 and has the most wonderful life if i may say so myself - shes my baby!!

We normally walk a minimum of twice a day and often for much longer at weekends and when the weathers good so shes extremely fit and active.

3 weeks ago i ended up bed ridden with a slipped disc and i have been told to expect a minimum of a further 4 weeks for recovery. I am barely allowed out of bed never mind the house! I have left the house for one hour in 3 weeks - i am going crazy.

Anyway, my wonderful baby lies beside my bed all day long and appears to be really content. I see no signs of boredom or resentment for not going out. She follows me everywhere and walks in front of me as i go down the stairs to protect me - unbelievable.

I have plenty of friends who have tried taking her out for a walk including my Mum - she knows them all well and she is simply refusing to go. She gets to the gate and stops. They managed to drag her (gently of course) down to the open space to throw her ball and she just stood there and ran back home to me.

Ok, so my question is two fold;

a) As an incredibly fit and active labrador (and owner normally), what do i do? Is it going to do her any damage if she is refusing to go out walking. In reality, we are probably managing to get her out with someone once, twice a week at the most but not for long walks.

b) Should i be worried that shes simply happy to lie by my bedside all day long showing no signs of anything? She just sleeps and sleeps and sleeps but does nudge me through the night to check im ok.

Am i going crazy? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Guess Alfie is going to stay single :(

Thu, 31 May 2012 19:08:57 +0100

Well......After losing Ted (my Sprocker) just under 2 months ago I have been looking for a friend for Alfie: Alfie being Alfie has decided he doesn't want a friend just yet

Last week end we went to look at a female Rottie....and gosh was she a beauty. She had been found as a stray in Maldon, Essex, done her time and then been moved to the rescue centre. She was THE NICEST dog you could wish to meet! She was friendly, knew some basic commands, wasn't bothered by other dogs or cats/ didn't pull on the lead...she was just a joy....BUT the precious, precosious Alfie wasn't having any of it!

I feel like it was my fault really. We took both dogs on a walk, hadn't even reached the field and Alfie lunged (in my head anyway) and snapped at the girl. At this point I had a panic attack and said that's it! I can't do it! I'm crap at rehoming and we need to go home!

As you can imagine my (dog savvy husband) was not best pleased at this point...but I couldn't do it! I've lost my nerve with adult (rescue) dogs and I just could'nt work through. The lovely Rottie didn't even react!

I found out yesterday that the owner of the rescue centre has decided to keep the dog for herself.....she really is a gem of a dog!

My question is : HOW do I get my nerve back?

We rehomed a choc lab male just over a year ago.....he and Alfie absolutely hated each other to the point they would have killed if left to it. We rehomed Fin (but he was PTS less than 2 months later for going for one of the 3 children he lived with. I guess Alfie ( or me) hasn't gotten over it yet. What are we to do???

Labs come in three colors

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:10:32 +0100

Not sure how much of an issue it is over in England, but right now in the US we have a good number of back-yard breeders and puppy mills producing another variation of the "designer breeds".

Using names like silver, champagne, white, charcoal and I'm sure a good deal more to sell these pups at outrageous prices to uneducated buyers. Fact is, the Labrador comes only in three colors: Black, Yellow - from cream to fox red, and Chocolate - light/dark.

If you're searching for a pup and see any other color used to describe a Lab than those three, turn and run the other way.

Here is the Labrador Retriever Parent Club's official stance on the matter as well:

http://www.thelabradorclub.com/subpages/....php?nid=3

Problem

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:52:36 +0000

Hello

I'm thinking about getting a lab for myself, but face only one major problem. We have wooden floors and I'm worried that the dogs nails would eventually ruin the floor. Anyone faced this problem? How did you handle it?

P.S. I haven't been on here for a while - like the improvements

Puppy Obedience Classes

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:15:21 +0000

Just get a new lab? One of the best things you can do to get your friendship off to a great start is enroll him in a basic obedience class (once he's up-to-date on his vaccinations, of course *wink*)

It's a great way to learn (for the novice owner) just how to use certain commands and just how a young pup thinks, or for the more experienced owner to just brush up on some teaching methods. Most classes are very informative and present the right and wrong ways to correct, say and show your pup just what you want him or her to do! It's also a very easy way to start socializing your pup, getting him used to other people and other dogs.

Victor Black

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:05:12 +0000

Hello Folks.
I don't know much about dogs in general, let alone labs.

But, I'm told they are some of the best dogs, and now that my boys are old enough (and responsible enough) to take care of their own pets, I'm wondering what I should get them?

My wife argues that we should see if they take care of a fish before we get them a "real" pet, but I know I would be the one cleaning the aquarium all of thetime.

I would prefer to get them a dog, which could live outside most of the time. My youngest is four, almost five years old, and I think he would be fine. But my six year old is autistic.

How do labs usually behave with children? What special steps should I take if I get them a dog, especially a lab?

Thanks in advance,
--Victor Black

Just what is a "breeder"?

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:42:41 +0000

A wonderfully written article by Peggy Adamson, first published in 1969 in text form as a result of a speech she had given at the Annual Symposium of the National Dog Owners and Handlers Association.

Here's a short quote from the article,

Quote:True breeders speak the same language, whatever their breed. Without the slightest previous communication, they discover that they think the same way, they have the same ideals and goals and standards of behavior and the same awareness of responsibility. Like the Beautiful People in the social world, they immediately recognize each other - not because they know each other's names or who they are, but because as kindred spirits they realise what they are.

and a link to the full transcript:

http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breeder.html

At what age?

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:32:33 +0000

i have just been reading a thread re trusting dogs with kids. My previous dog adored my children and vice versa but they were never left alone together.

My question is this..... at what age would you allow your child/ren to be alone with the dog? By age I mean age of child and dog?
My eldest child is 11 and I trust her no end with any animal - she is a very gentle soul, but I would never allow her to be alone with our previous dog as he had HD and so could be unpredictable with the pain. We wont be getting a lab for several months at least so my eldest daughter will be 12 ish and my youngest 7ish depending on when we get a pup