Please, need some advice and info on Labs fellas

[WantinCrappie]

I been wanting to get a Lab Puppy for a while now. Actually been wanting one for about five years now but to be fair to the lab we just had a small fenced in yard and didn't believe that was the right place to have the dog. I now have 10 acres for it to run and play, with many adjoining acres so I've got plenty of room. Many years ago I would never have thought of having a bigger dog in the house but as I have grown older I'm fine with it now. I've also got a five year old daughter who can't wait to get one and a wife who is also excited about getting another dog.

So does anyone personally know anyone who breeds labs that they would recommend?
This dog will not be used as a hunting dog, more of a companion to all the family. Would like to take him/her fishing with me when I've had enough of Sam. :D When I married my wife she had a little lap dog so that was part of the deal and believe it or not the little thing goes everywhere with me now. Guess she grew on me.
I don't plan to breed if I decide on a female. How do I decided, a male or female? Benefits or downfall to each? Have no idea which way to go on that one.

I see them listed on the internet for $25.00 to over $1,000.00. If I get so much more of a dog spending $1,000.00 then I will do that. I've had dogs all my life but never went out and picked one out that I wanted. My dogs in the past have found me or I've taken them from someone who didn't want them or couldn't keep them anymore. And they were all great dogs and didn't cost a dime.

Anyway, I know I'm saying and asking a lot but would really appreciate your advice and opinions because I know some of you have some great knowledge on this subject.

Thank you all for your time in advance,

Chris Wyatt

[beagle man]

I have owned and bred lab in the past, the best dog ever,good with kids, verry loyal, east to train, Just one big alert, be sure and get a back ground check on Hip Displacia, labs are verry prone to bad hip joints, The verry best Dog I ever had the pleasure of owning me was a black lab awsome dog.

easy to house break, they are verry protective of the people they are arround and can attack another dog or person if they feel a threat.
not prone to barking. great watch dogs, they need exercise every day, they love to play fetch, and return ie retriever. if left alone for long periods of time be prepared to spend time with them till they are done with you.

my labs never bit anyone but they would come between you and me every time and push me back.

best dog ever

[HOOKEDONFISHIN']

Jim M. had a lab pup. Bread very high and it had sever hip problems. I would say it was the best looking lab I have ever seen.

[Jigging15]

Beagle is right on in his information. All of it. My older brother had a kennel for several years and had labs. He had blacks but if I ever get to the country again I would have a chocalate lab. With out a sought the best looking puppies I have ever seen. Followed closely by a Beagle of all dogs. If I run into my brother I will see if he has any connections up this way. Most I have seen up this way are hunting dogs in the $150-300 range depending on color and male/female. Also Jeff "stumpthumper" at Everharts should know of a place to get a good one. Like you said would not be used for hunting but if out of a good bloodlines of hunters it would be a very smart dog and easy to train for the house and family fun. They have a great life span also. So a puppy now would not die and break your little girls heart until she long gone to college. If I get any info from my brother or from Jeff I will shoot you a PM. Also beeders that sell to brokers is a great way to get one. The brokers will not by every dog raised so the breeders then just sell cheap to get rid of them. So if it has the wrong marking or something the brokers won't take it and then you could get a deal.

[Coupedog]

I have one of the best labs in this part of the world , He is my friend for life you will see him in the front of my boat .

[Coupedog]

Oh his name is COUPE,

[John Brower]

we've had labs for a lot of years, best dogs ever, but, they chew up stuff as puppies,
had one that ate the wire off of my boat trailer several times, chewed up fishing rods,
as she got older, a wonderful dog. she's gone now, i miss her.
John b.

[mduncan62]

Lapdogs are great lapdogs, working dogs are great working dogs either hunting or farming. Seen a lot of people get working dogs and want them to be lapdogs, and have a ton of problems with the animal.

If you buy a $1000 lab it's probably got some serious hunting lineage and has been bred for it, kind of his destiny in a way. My Brother bought a champion bred Gordon Setter, best hunting dog he's ever seen. Dog did great in the hunting, not so good his 3 daughters and other kids. Ended up back with the breeder.

Just food for thought.

[grb22]

Had a 1/2 black lab and 1/2 blue healer, without question the best and smartest dog that I will ever have in my lifetime. Loved his family like nothing you ever seen, and he could run and play all day long........ loved to learn, you could teach/train him to do almost anything in just a few minutes. We got an old steel truss bridge over the Moreau River on the road behind our house, my son and that dog used to walk down there every day in the summer and catch catfish off that bridge, I'd walk down to check on them and there'd they be just sitting on the bridge waiting for the line to "twitch", the 2 best friends you ever did see. He didn't take to strangers to well, and did bite a couple of times when he was younger (not sure if that was the lab in him, or the healer) but he mellowed out big time as he got older and, especially, after we got him "fixed". He died last October (man, I'm choking up just writing that), we miss him every day. I also had a yellow lab several years back, another unbelievably smart dog and a great pet. Good luck with your search, they are a great breed. Sorry to be so wordy, your post brought back some great memories.

[bwillaub]

I've been the proud owner of two black labs, both AKC. Wonderful dogs, wonderful companions, and I have thought of and missed them both. You can't go wrong with a Lab. Like Michael said tho, check the lineage for hip problems. Good luck, Chris2. Hope you find the "perfect" fit for you and your family.