Dogs

TOM M · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Karma :

Right our dog smudge has gone to live with me brother as he lives in a bungalow and as shes getting old struggles to make the stairs in our house.

So im thinking about getting a new dog, well puppy.
The ones im thinking of are either labrador or a st bernard, anyone have any experiance of these breeds??
And know where i can get hold of one??

Cheers
Tom
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Now owner of a 1200 Bandit

MRX Steve · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Karma :

Labradors are really nice dogs, if you get one i would recommend getting a bitch as the males are often very bolshy when they are younger and can be a bit difficult.
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Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Getting hold of one, have a look at your local vets at their notice board and ask them about reputable breeders nearby. www.the-kennel-club.org.uk has lots on it apart from it seems to be broke right now.

Could look at rescue dogs rather than a puppy....

Johnny GSX-R · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

I've got 2 Labs, i've had 2 previously.

I've had 3 yellow and 1 black, the black one is a nutter, she will not stop acting like a puppy despite being 6yrs.
Very loyal dog, very clever, active and make a good house dog.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Unless you are really committed to getting a giant breed dog, steer clear of something like a St Bernard.

They are big, messy, expensive to keep and don't live very long. It will take over your life and house.

Labs are ok. Usually pretty sociable but thick as two short planks. Don't let it get too fat, they are a dog that always tells you it is hungry.; Most of the medical problems I see in Labs are directly or indirectly related to overfeeding and obesity (I say overfeeding because they don't get fat all by themselves. I have lost count the number of times I've had tell people "No, you're not starving him. If you were starving him, he would be thin.").

Why not get a labradoodle? They are becoming increasingly popular as pet dogs. Scruffy looking dogs, very friendly, don't shed hair and without many of the inbreeding related problems you get with pedigree dogs.

Johnny GSX-R · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Karma :

Stink,
How can you say Labs are thick Confused

...
Customs use them, RNIB use them, they make excellent gun dogs and believe me, they are NOT daft,,, crafty maybe but not daft.

As for food, we use 'James Welbeloved' dry adult maintainance and senior light, they love it and its easy to maintain their weight at 30-32 kgs.
The only physical issues we encountered have been hip problems and cruciate (sp) ligament..
I wouldn't be without my Labs.

Misc · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Karma :

Labs are very nice dogs but very hyper, my mates one used to run around until we left hes house, would never lay down, or let us stroke him because he was too excited, i've heard it's common with them.

I'm getting a Husky next i think. Smile

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

You can train them, but they are pretty slow on the uptake in my experience. Not in a nasty way, more in an amiable and slightly forgetful way. In some ways this makes them easier to train, they don't think for themselves too much and are happy to go along with what you want them to do.

For that matter, I find most pedigree breeds to be pretty dimwitted compared with some of the scruffy mongrel dogs I come across.

The labs used as gun dogs are very different to the ones bred for showing/pets.

Misc · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Karma :

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

Our Staffie is the same, she just wont calm down long enough to be stroked or welcomed, she just jumps up and licks for England Rolling Eyes

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Misc · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Karma :

Gotta love staffs, although i do see alot of young people with them now.

My dog hates men, she won't stop growling if they come in the house maybe it's a smell. She doesn't mind woman tho, she barks when people knock & won't let people stroke her outside. Thinking of getting a male dog to calm her down a bit.

Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

Misc · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Aug 2005 Karma :

That probably is the problom.

McGee · O RLY? Joined: 24 Jun 2005 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Very common for dogs to get overexcited when greeting someone. You can train it out of them though.

You need to ignore them totally (even if they are bouncing about round your waist) until they have all four feet on the ground and are calm, also greet any people in the vicinity first.

They soon get the idea that they get no attention until they are calm. A friend of mine has a rough collie that bounces off the walls when it is greeting people, except me, when it says hello to me it walks up to me and sits. Took about four visits for it to catch on.