Fatsofatsoman

I'm still waiting for our dumb choc lab (because the choc one's arent as smart) to destroy our house and yard. he's 11mths old and I've lost a solitary sock - still time I suppose.

Cheers guys, I appreciate all the responses - and I think it has made a decision easier for us. We think we are well suited to take a second pup on and really want one but not to the detriment of Boonie - therefore I think the new pup can wait until he's around 2. I want to get this right not just for the new pup but also our no.1 boy we have now. excellent advice - thanks.

Hi there guys, We are really really contemplating another pup - we'd go Lab again. I really think Boonie would love having a mate around and think that it's best for him in the long run. Our only worries are that Boonie would/might feel a bit neglected and we don't want that as he's our number one boy. But also we're worried about having a 9week old pup with a still boisterous 10mth old. Any tips/advice?

I've found this too - and it really irks me as a lab owner (it gives us bad names) because it's so easy to stop if you had put the effort in at the start. I had one lab the other day kept jumping up on me - I was telling him NO! DOWN! but his owner was standing there laughing, I said "don't think it's that funny mate - what if I was a four year old kid? your dog has just knocked me on my arse! plus it's rude as all hell" being 6ft4in and weighing in at 120kgs with a look of death on my face stopped him smiling pretty damn quick. I'm pretty lenient as well - I go down the park expecting to be jumped on - but not to be laughed at whilst their dog repeatedly does it. Take a hint bozzo I've told him no and down already.

haha - that's awesome, my lab Boonie is the opposite - he'll swim out to me then climb on to my shoulders for a rest.

To me you've just pulled together a list of all the bad habits that occur in the parks - so I doubt anyone would find any acceptable. I don't like when Boonie tries to join in on someone elses game of fetch so will pull him aside and let the other dog go alone (unless the owner of the other dog specifically says not to and it's ok) - funnily enough I don't mind if we are playing and another dog joins in. I cannot stand people who go and sit in their car. I know that we used the park as a place to teach recall with distractions - so I give some people yelling at their dog a bit of leeway. you can tell the genuine 'trainers' and the 'lipservice' callers. So far we've had two threads all negative about dog parks so I'm going to have to defend them - they are great little socialising, exercising areas if used properly (this may mean staking out a few of them to get the right one, may mean going at certain times, may mean ... you get the idea). We have had 99% great experiences down our dog parks and the 1% are used as learning experiences (being a new owner - learn to read dogs and people). Most bad experiences can be avoided by being vigilant yourself - assume everyone else is an idiot and make sure you're in control of your dog. If they turn out not to be idiots it's a nice surprise.

I dislike that Clontarf park - just didn't have the same feel to it as our local one. Possible too big for it's own good.

*properly hahahahaha That's called Kamah!! or is it called Karma ?? Probably hahaha - I thought you'd done in on purpose. or purposely. or to trick us. oh I don't care.

*properly hahahahaha

As the owner of a large boisterous lab pup I'm always on constant surveillance for smaller dogs - if I see a little dog enter I will get Boonie and ask if I can 'introduce' them i.e. I will hold Boon while he sniffs the little dog - this seems to put the little dog at ease and then Boonie has had his 'interest' satisfied I can let him go and he'll run off to play with the bigger boys. I'm fully aware of Boonies size (and that he's still a curious pup). Sometimes owners would say they don't want them introduced, I say I understand and will keep an eye on Boon, I make sure he doesn't go near the little dog and we are ok. It bugs me no end when other dog owners let their dogs all run as a pack to the new dog entering - that can be a daunting sight for the new dog.

sorry to hear - hope things are looking up soon.

Kedron Vet on Lecke Rd are great - Boonie is actually happy to go in there.

Boonie always seems a little down - for a day or two after a visiting pup (who has stayed for a few days) ends up leaving. It's either depression or exhaustion

hahaha - I hate the wrong use of 'to' and 'too' bink - you got top marks from me for your post.

Bull Terrier named Gary down the park - I love it.

surely they are only lower value to show owners though???? why should pet owners get a discount? those pups are of great health, quality pups - they should pay what a 'shower' should. the pups produced just changes the market you advertise to.

So there may be a case of selling 'conforming' pups at a higher price because of their potential earnings through stud or breeding - but then this flies in the face of the majority's view point on here that people breed for a hobby and not potential earnings.

my dad has always owned greyhounds and I have to say they have been the most vocal dogs I've ever know - sound like they are really talking to you.

Exactly - and different people have different requirements. for sure a person who wants to show will want a conforming puppy a pet owner will want a pup for their lifestyle and situation Who is to say which requirement is the right/more important and therefore should cost more. why should pets cost less than show dogs?

This is what I don't understand. Is there big money in winning shows (I always thought no) And if there isn't and all puppies are healthy - what makes the show pup more valuable?

I can honestly count on one hand the amount of times I've heard Boonie bark - but he 'talks' to us heaps. Will also growl away when happily playing.

So a dud to you is a pup that wouldn't win shows? irrelevant of temperament and health?

alright guv! I've got one - $1000,000 and she's yours

Last August.

Our boy cost us $800 - and I was more than happy to pay it. I was expecting to pay over $1,000. We took the drive out to Toowoomba from Brissie to check him and the parents with all intentions of driving back home without him if we weren't happy. We clapped eyes on him and there was no way we were leaving without him. I had done a bit of research on what to ask when buying a lab and the breeder was very helpful and ticked all the boxes - we still keep contact by email and send pics. Embarrassing thing was I'd got the $800 out in the morning and gave it to the wife to hold on to - we arrive and go to pay and we are short by $40 odd - oh bugger says wife I forgot I bought lunch and coffee with the money you gave me. So embarrassing, breeder was top notch we promised to netbank it straight away as soon as we got home and they were great about it. I think I might have given the wife an evil look or two. Boonie was the last of his litter to sell - it was a worry for us before we saw him - "what's wrong with him to be sold last?" sort of stuff. Again once we laid eyes on him we were just thinking "those other buyers were nuts -they left the best one behind"