Labs are great dogs... If you've got the time to see them through the high maintenance puppy stage. When they are pups, they will find trouble wherever it may lurk. My buddy's lab stands in the window to see him off, then its over to the coffee table for a nibble on the leg, then the couch for a nice scratch session.
Its not the dog's fault, its because my buddy has a job & can't stay home all the time to watch him. He is using a muzzle to help curb the gnawing, but it is only a partial fix.
My advice is to go with a rotti. I'm on my second one & I'll never go back. I've had a austrialian blue healer, a mutt, a little terrier and a cat. Rotti is by far the best pet I could hope for.
Extremely loyal, protective of my property, protective of our campsite when camping (and also protective of all our friends & friend's children), very well tempered (through good training), smart (though that is debatable), and generally good natured.
Short hair means very little shedding, docked tail means no beer cans swatted off the coffee table. Plus, I keep her inside for the most part, so I know damn well that nobody will be breaking into my house. Walk up the front step, or lurk in the yard & she'll let you know that you'd better not be planning entry.
It annoys me when I hear about activists grouping rottis into the dangerous dog category. Of course they can rip your face off. Any mid to large sized dog can. The activists should be pushing for severe punishments for the owners of uncontrollable dogs; they are the ones at fault.
My dog is absolutely great with children. In fact, when we are camping, my friends' daughter is not allowed to leave the campsite unless she is escorted by 'Moxie'.
Never have I had such an obedient dog as her. She responds to my voice & my whistle immediately. I can snap my fingers & point & she'll go wherever I'm pointing. When she starts to play rough, all she needs is a stern "ehhh" & she settles down.
Of course, this is more good training. She knows two things: cookies and slippers. To her credit, she's only actually gotten her ass smacked by the slipper twice. Now, just the presence of the slipper in my hand is enough of a warning.
The only trick a rotti owner needs to know is that your rotti will emulate your emotions. If you are high strung, your dog will be too. If you are yelling & screaming all the time, your dog is likely to freak out too. I guess what I'm saying is that rottis aren't for everyone, but anyone that has a normal temperment can successfully "own" (or be owned by) a rotti.
To keep it fair, I might as well toss in the cons about my dog. She pulls on the leash. Just GO GO GO!!! GOTTA GO NOW!!! She's not sure where, but damned if she ain't getting there NOW!
That is my fault though. I let her get away with it because I figure it's her walk, so let her do what she wants.
She doesn't do it with other people though, which is where the smarts comes in.
Couple pieces of rotti advice:
If you are looking for more of a pet ie, a dog that can be in the house without getting too in the way, go for a runt. Mine is a runt & it is great because she doesn't even dare to question my alpha status.
Also, german rottis are hairier. The american ones' hair is shorter. These ones are not outdoor dogs (especially in the winter). They are ok down to about -15 (with a doghouse) but lower than that & bring the little guy inside. My dog is inside year-round & she loves it. Of course she goes outside for good portions of the day, but whenever there's no one home, she's inside sleeping on the couch errrr gaurding the house.
I'm sure that most of these qualities are found in labs too, but the thing I don't really like about labs is their relentlessness when it comes to playtime. Rottis are happy knowing that they are loved and that they are somewhere in the chain of command. The yard is theirs. No question about it. You are welcome there, and so are your friends, but only a very stupid man would enter the yard of an unknown rotti. The same can't be said for labs.
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