I am looking for two black lab pups which will be ready at the end of April.  I live in Aberdeenshire, but would travel to most parts of Scotland for the right dogs.  Our last lab was a big chap and weighed in at 32 kg and could big quite a handful!  We would therefore prefer the smaller working strain of labs, the type that gamekeepers tend to use.

We have not had two labs before and would appreciated some advice on whether we should go for a dog and bitch, two dogs or two bitches.  They are just going to be pets and will be neutered.

Please either post your response or e-mail james.steele@ppe-limited.com

Thanks

I think you would be best to get in touch with your breed club. Size of the dogs is usually to do with which lines they have been bred from. I think you may need to do some research to find which lines you like the look of. To be quite honest I can't see any reputable breeder selling you 2 pups from the same litter. It would be better to have some time between the 2, mine are 11 months apart in age and that was hard work (although a different breed) If you get 2 puppies of any breed at the same time, you will find them hard to train as they will want to focus on each other rather than on you!! If and when you do get 2 dogs, I would get a bitch and a dog to be together and yes it would be a very good idea to get them done. If you have time between getting the pups, this will allow more time for them to mature before you get them neutered/speyed. Not sure of your breed clubs numbers, but i am sure someone on here will have them and the contact name. Hope this has helped you...

Have you had two puppies before? Unless you're used to multiple dogs and have the facilities to separate them a lot of the time it's more sensioble to get one pup and train it to the standard you're happy with (usually about 2 years or so) before getting a second. Otherwise there's the risk that they'll bond with each other (being the same species and speaking the same language!) rather than you. If you do decide to get two at once, for every 5 minutes they spend together they need to spend 15 minutes apart and with you - two is much more work than one!

Thanks,

My wife thought I was mad wanting to get two puppies at the same time and it sounds like she was right!  Thanks for the advice!

Hi Jame,

I don't suppose  you would be interested in rescue. It is full of labs some really good and brilliant temperament.

Just a thought as they are crying out for good homes. 1000s in rescue.

Thanks,

If you know of any puppies in rescue in this area (Aberdeenshire) we could go and have a look.  We really want to start with a puppy rather than an adult dog.  Labs are prone to many problems and they need lots of TLC when they are puppies to avoid problems when they are older.

James

I am not sure if you are experienced with the differences other than size between the working smaller finer type to the chuckier more showy types but there are a number of difference. Some labrador people on here wil hopefully give you their take on it.

Blue's right (I have a show bred rescue Labrador bitch who weighs 35 kgs and she's the most sedate dog you could imagine) -the working strains of ANY breed are usually a LOT more hard work than the show lines, so bear this in mind. Smaller isn't necessarily easier.

thing is a lot of the animals that need rehomed are not poorly raised etc but rather circumstance have changed- owners working hours are longer, moving overseas etc...it might be worth looking into, for example http://www.labrador-lifeline.co.uk, or theres a couple of quite young ones on this site (i.e. under one) who have been forstered etc- lol, means past the toilet training phase while still young enough to overcome any issues quite easily, http://labrescue.homestead.com/adoptees.html

all dogs of any kind are prone to problems and need plenty tlc especially ones with no home.

are you set on a lab? again lots of rescues out there for similar breeds (flatcoats, goldens etc)

James

We have both show types and working types going through rescue.( I am in Oxon but a bit too far to help ) Not all rescue dogs have problems as often they are from good homes but due to marriage break ups or change of work situations people do have to unfortunately give the dogs up.

Perhaps an idea would be to see about getting a rescue first , one that is a couple of years old then wait for about six months to a year so once you have settled them in and established the dog in the family then get a pup. That way you will have the best of both worlds

Miss V. Salmon, Cupar, Fife. Tel: 01337 858363

http://www.helpalabrador.co.uk/

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Lucy
xx

If you couldn't cope with some aspects of the more show type you would find it extremely hard to cope with two from working lines.

Good luck in your search and sorry but I'm no help as Lab's aren't my breed!

Thank you everyone for your input and excellent advice.  This is the first time I have tried using a message board and I have been pleasantly surprised by the response.
We have decided to go for one normal sized labrador for now and we will perhaps look for a second after a year or two.  We are in discussions with a Champdog breeder who will have a litter ready in May, which fits in with our requirements.  Our last lab died of cancer of the pancreas (a relatively rare insulinoma) in January, aged nearly 9 and we look forward to having a new friend soon.

Thanks again,

James

Hi James,

I know quite a few really good breeders in Scotland . I will PM you the details.  

Please note that regardless where breeders are listed YOU have to be careful to check them out, get references and find out their involvement in the dogs, I would recommend personally only buying from breed club members also.

Any breeder really can be listed on internet sites. It is hard for site owners to do any real vetting , that is the buyers job   I HATE the terminology a Champdogs breeder as I can assure you then go from one end of the spectrum to the other.

One of the members of this forum is a reputable, respectable breeder who lives in Scotland- hopefully she may see your post and be able to offer you some great advice