Yellow Labrador

[moncton golden flames]

I am looking to get a dog, specifically a Yellow Labrador. I've never owned a dog before, and am really looking forward to it. I am struggling with the decision of where to get my dog. I see my two options as; A dog advertised in the newspaper or thru a local breeder. The local breeders seem to be almost twice as much money as those found in the newspaper, but they have health guarantees on eyesight and hips. Is it worth paying more money to go thru an established breeder? or am I throwing money away? Any suggestions or stories are welcomed.

[Bertuzzied]

Whatever you do, just don't buy from Petland. Did you try the bargainfinder? www.buysell.com

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

I am looking to get a dog, specifically a Yellow Labrador. I've never owned a dog before, and am really looking forward to it. I am struggling with the decision of where to get my dog. I see my two options as; A dog advertised in the newspaper or thru a local breeder. The local breeders seem to be almost twice as much money as those found in the newspaper, but they have health guarantees on eyesight and hips. Is it worth paying more money to go thru an established breeder? or am I throwing money away? Any suggestions or stories are welcomed.

I own a golden retrieve lab cross. You are going to love your dog, they are so smart.

My parents raise and sell Saint Bernard dogs and they offer the same guarantees. They also provide the purebread papers. Buying from a breeder will enusre you that if you ever have any problems you always know where to go to. The dog will have atleast two of its shots.

I know that a few times people that have bought dogs from my parents had a few tragic events with there dogs, one got stolen and another was electrocuted. My parents gave them new dogs at no cost. Not saying that all breeders to that but I think you would be much better buying from a breeder. As long as it's not one of those puppy mills.

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by Kobatuzzied

Whatever you do, just don't buy from Petland. Did you try the bargainfinder? www.buysell.com

I refuse to buy a dog from a retail outlet like Petland. I'm not convinved on their treatment of dogs, nor do I trust where they may come from (Puppy Farms?)

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I own a golden retrieve lab cross. You are going to love your dog, they are so smart.

any thoughts on Labradoodles? my wife wants to get one.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

I refuse to buy a dog from a retail outlet like Petland. I'm not convinved on their treatment of dogs, nor do I trust where they may come from (Puppy Farms?)

They are totally puppy farmed. How else can they get a consistent supplies of puppies like that. I almost bought my shiba from petland until someone slapped me on the side of the head when i mentioned it. hehe.

Funny. i found out a few months later a neighbor bought a shiba from petland. It is a seriously f'd up dog. it acts more like a german sheperd! That said they have the only shiba in the world that can be offleashed.
Health problems already and he is only 3 years old.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

I am looking to get a dog, specifically a Yellow Labrador. I've never owned a dog before, and am really looking forward to it. I am struggling with the decision of where to get my dog. I see my two options as; A dog advertised in the newspaper or thru a local breeder. The local breeders seem to be almost twice as much money as those found in the newspaper, but they have health guarantees on eyesight and hips. Is it worth paying more money to go thru an established breeder? or am I throwing money away? Any suggestions or stories are welcomed.

Why pay (much) . . . . look for a free one that needs a home.

Josh is at Happy Valley/Goose Bay SPCA

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=7046544

Other rescue links in the Maritimes from a few minutes of Googling:

http://www.labrescuens.booii.com/text/adoptme.php

http://www.labrescuens.booii.com/text/links.php

http://maritimeanimalrescue.com/marni.shtml

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=5960942

http://groups.msn.com/LabradorRescueClubofNovaScotia/

http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/adop...cue/71562.html

You should be able to find a list - somewhere - online of reputable breeders or at least contact a rescue agency that might have a recommendation. Or talk to your soon-to-be veterinarian.

http://www.grandane.com/NB.Kennels/breedsR.html

Puppies are little hellions. Be aware they'll be tough to take in the first six months of their lives. Those bad habits mysteriously disappear at about nine months or so.

Make sure they're well-socialized in those first six months or you'll end up with a dog for the next 12 years that is difficult to take out in public. Puppy classes can help quite a bit with that.

Cowperson

[Khel]

I got a black lab puppy 3 months ago, I went through an established breeder and never regretted it. If you can go meet the breeder and see the environment they raise the puppies in for the first 8 weeks it will show you if they are a true breeder vs a puppy farm. The breeder we got our puppy through was awesome, they had a great big room for the puppies, they got lots of socialization from visitors, and we were allowed to drop by for a visit anytime from the first week they were born to the time we took him home.

You do pay more from a breeder, but you get good bloodlines, our pups parents are both obdienence, hunting and confirmation champions, and judging from his looks and intelligence he's well on his way to doing the same. You also get the health guarentee and if the breeder is like ours you can watch them grow from the small wiggly thing that fits into your palm to the happy puppy he or she is when you take them home. Well worth the investment for a pet that will share your life for the next 12+ years...

And CowPerson is dead on, Puppy classes are an amazing help. I recommend Sit Happens up on McKnight, their "puppy playtime" is more fun for the owners than the puppies I think... 20+ puppies having free rein to play for 45 mins is priceless

[moncton golden flames]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Why pay (much) . . . . look for a free one that needs a home.

Josh is at Happy Valley/Goose Bay SPCA

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=7046544

Other rescue links in the Maritimes from a few minutes of Googling:

http://www.labrescuens.booii.com/text/adoptme.php

http://www.labrescuens.booii.com/text/links.php

http://maritimeanimalrescue.com/marni.shtml

http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=5960942

http://groups.msn.com/LabradorRescueClubofNovaScotia/

http://www.1-800-save-a-pet.com/adop...cue/71562.html

You should be able to find a list - somewhere - online of reputable breeders or at least contact a rescue agency that might have a recommendation. Or talk to your soon-to-be veterinarian.

http://www.grandane.com/NB.Kennels/breedsR.html

Puppies are little hellions. Be aware they'll be tough to take in the first six months of their lives. Those bad habits mysteriously disappear at about nine months or so.

Make sure they're well-socialized in those first six months or you'll end up with a dog for the next 12 years that is difficult to take out in public. Puppy classes can help quite a bit with that.

Cowperson

Thank you for all your work on finding those sites for me Cowperson, but i'm in Calgary

I have thought about rescueing a dog, but I have heard of some cases where the dog just never comes around. For some reason it feels like buying a used car, you never know what you're getting into.

Could you or anyone else recommend a good book on raising a dog?

[TimSJ]

hands down.. yellow labs are the best dogs ever....

Well at least i think so..lol

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by moncton golden flames

Thank you for all your work on finding those sites for me Cowperson, but i'm in Calgary


Could you or anyone else recommend a good book on raising a dog?

Well step on me and call me a toad. . . . it's that handle of yours.

I have thought about rescueing a dog, but I have heard of some cases where the dog just never comes around. For some reason it feels like buying a used car, you never know what you're getting into.

From your comment, I think you're assuming there was something "wrong" with the dog in the first place, hence the owner giving it up to a rescue agency.

First, I can only tell you that I have two Golden Retrievers and the rescue (at one year of age) is a lot better behaved than the little hellion we raised as a puppy.

People give up dogs for strange reasons. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, roughly 50% of dogs acquired as puppies are eventually given up or euthanized because the owners didn't know or understand all the responsibility they were taking on.

But I wouldn't assume dogs are given up for adoption simply because of behavioural problems. Usually its an owner problem. (I wouldn't take a rescue that hadn't been well socialized though.)

Some Calgary and general resources.

http://www.calgarylabrescue.com/home.htm

http://www.dogresources.com/labs/

http://adopt-a-labrador-retriever.1-800-save-a-pet.com/

Dog budget . . . but probably more than this:

http://www.calgaryhumane.ca

Anyway, consider a rescue. We have two dogs and four cats. Five of the six were rescued from one circumstance or another.

Keeper and Polly are rescues:



Cowperson

[FurnaceFace]

I don't know if there is a similar agency for dogs (imagine there is) but the Meow Foundation, a cat adoption agency, has an excellent approach. After a big screening process they will match you up with a cat who fits your lifestyle. You get to foster the cat for about a two week period before you do the final "adoption". It's a good approach as it lets you confirm the cat and you work together. (I believe Iginla's cats are from here)

Another angle is to try PAWS, which is an assist dog agency. Not all of their dogs make it through all phases of the program and I believe they will look to find good homes for the ones who don't become assist dogs. I know the initial training the dogs go through and you'd end up with a very well trained dog...you'd need to go to training more than the dog would.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

I don't know if there is a similar agency for dogs (imagine there is) but the Meow Foundation, a cat adoption agency, has an excellent approach. After a big screening process they will match you up with a cat who fits your lifestyle. You get to foster the cat for about a two week period before you do the final "adoption". It's a good approach as it lets you confirm the cat and you work together. (I believe Iginla's cats are from here)

Our cat is from Meow.

A week after we had it, he was rubbing his ear. We called meow, they sent us to one of their vets, and it turned out the cat had an ear infection. A couple weeks on ear drops, and the cat was (and still is) fine. MEOW paid for the vet and the medicine. Fine organization.

The dod equivalent I believe is ARF. Lots of dogs there.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Kobatuzzied

any thoughts on Labradoodles? my wife wants to get one.

Haha, never heard of them. I am not a poodle fan so I probably wouldn't be a fan.

How do I post a picture of my dog?

[jolinar of malkshor]

How do I post a picture of my dog?[/quote]

This is my dog.

[White Doors]

I have two Olde English Bulldogges. GREAT dogs. Love 'em.
I grew up with a yellow Lab, great dog too. Definately recommend the breeder route over a newspaper ad. A reputable breeder should never have to advertise in a paper. Note that there are two blood lines of Labs now. Quite different behaviour between the two. Check it out and ask.
A good book to read is 'Marley and me'

[jolinar of malkshor]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by White Doors

I have two Olde English Bulldogges. GREAT dogs. Love 'em.
A reputable breeder should never have to advertise in a paper.

Thats right. My parents always have a waiting list of usually 15-20 people.

[browna]

I know everyone takes Kobatuzzied word as gospel around here...Petland, does, however, take in rescue puppies and dogs...and sells them at half the price of regular puppies.

That's where we got our pup Gelli two years+ ago.

[doozwimp]

Cowperson, how do your dogs and cats get along? I have had dogs with cats before. Theres something really neat about the two of them in one home.

I have a black lab border collie cross. (rescued from Athabasca) He is a great dog.

Last summer a cat adopted us. (camped in our backyard) As we were going vacationing in a day and couldnt find this cat a place to stay we decided to take him with us. (I'm allergic) Once the dog got used to the cat, (the cat liked the dog right from the begginning) they were great buds. Every morning they would greet eachother with a touch of the nose.

We ended up finding a home at our vacation destination.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Well step on me and call me a toad. . . . it's that handle of yours.

I have thought about rescueing a dog, but I have heard of some cases where the dog just never comes around. For some reason it feels like buying a used car, you never know what you're getting into.

From your comment, I think you're assuming there was something "wrong" with the dog in the first place, hence the owner giving it up to a rescue agency.

First, I can only tell you that I have two Golden Retrievers and the rescue (at one year of age) is a lot better behaved than the little hellion we raised as a puppy.

People give up dogs for strange reasons. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, roughly 50% of dogs acquired as puppies are eventually given up or euthanized because the owners didn't know or understand all the responsibility they were taking on.

But I wouldn't assume dogs are given up for adoption simply because of behavioural problems. Usually its an owner problem. (I wouldn't take a rescue that hadn't been well socialized though.)

Some Calgary and general resources.

http://www.calgarylabrescue.com/home.htm

http://www.dogresources.com/labs/

http://adopt-a-labrador-retriever.1-800-save-a-pet.com/

Dog budget . . . but probably more than this:

http://www.calgaryhumane.ca

Anyway, consider a rescue. We have two dogs and four cats. Five of the six were rescued from one circumstance or another.

Keeper and Polly are rescues:



Cowperson

Thank you someone for posting about rescue animals... I am a foster parent for rescue animals and I can assure you that most rescued dogs need no special care or training. In fact, I do the training then let the dog go to people I trust. I have a finnish spitz mix that was a rescue and you will not find a better behaved or more intelligent dog I guarantee. I can seriously train him to do some stupid stunt in like 30 mins. I have fostered everything from Pits to labs. I generally foster bigger dogs so my dog can play with them. I've never had a problem with any of them. Why support a system that breeds animals who are no better than the ones at the pounds, no matter what a piece of paper says, when you can get a perfect one for close to free and save a life?