Ellinnet

I disagree - you should have control of your dog by now with recall but labs are hyper excited etc for longer than 17 months... I don't know, while they retain their puppy-like playfulness and enthusiasm, this is not the same as actually being a puppy and having the learning capacity and self control of a puppy. I think at this age, most labs are mature enough to contain themselves and respond to commands. They must have pretty decent self control and focus for orgs such as guide dogs, assist dogs and customs to be expecting them to be working in public at this age... that's true but not all labs have the qualities to become assistance/guide/customs dogs This was my thought as well. I doubt my Lab would have been suitable.

I turned my real first name back-to-front!

I was waiting for someone to come and suggest Lappies! I was tempted, but seeing as I don't have one, I thought I would wait for someone who does.

Why the difference in price for the sale of pups, between those sold on main and limited register... I'm not a breeder. but to me the difference makes sense. Happy to be corrected if I'm not right though, or for someone to expand on what I'm saying. I think many breeders only sell top quality pups on the main register. Those which are well within the breed specification, They are the ones which are best to be bred to maintain or improve breed standards. You pay that bit more for the extra quality of what you are getting.

So true! I am pleased to see the "usually" in the first part of the quote. :D I would not dream of paying what is asked for in pet shops. Do the breeders of those animals get a large cut of the price? Or is it all profit for the pet shop involved? Putting the profit aside, I want to know what I am getting. My dog while growing up taught me some valuable lessons, and I don't want to make the mistakes which may parents made. I want to know the history of the parents, I want to know the background health, I want to make sure I am getting the right dog for my family. I feel like the only way to go for us is through a registered breeder. As for the initial price query. I would not hesitate to spend the money if I felt that the breeder was ethical and responsible.

I understand where you are coming from, wanting a puppy to grow up with your kids, but a very important point to remember is - a Labrador puppy is far from easy!!!! They are extremely boisterous, bowl little kids over in their excitement (or just walking past), they are quite mouthy and can nip the kids hands, feet, ankles, clothes, etc, so therefore need a LOT of training to mould them into the perfect well behaved family member that sometimes the media can portray them as. Don't discard an adult rescue entirely as they can easily blend into the family as if they had always been there ;) Labs just want to be with their people and to please, so an older Lab will be more placid and should cope really well with your kids wanting to smother them with hugs And they will be well and truly out of the nipping stage and knocking the littlies over! +1 as you say RS the work level involved in developing a lab puppy into the "perfect well behaved family member" is huge. I'm currently doing it for the 2nd time 'round. I spent this morning working on Wilbur's heel out in the street. Yesterday afternoon was spent getting him used to the smells of the grounds of the obedience club so that tomorrow he will hopefully be a little more acclimatised to it and tomorrow morning will be spent at obedience. We try and work in daily controlled socialisation out in the community or by having someone come over for a visit. +2 We had a lab when I was in my early teens. And it seemed like he matured very late. We did not have the skills or the available help to train him to be a well behaved family member. As a result he was never the "perfect well behaved family member". I am now looking for a dog for my daughter to grow up with. But as much as I loved my Lab, I would not get a pup again.

I saw that these were on Scoopon today, and wondered what they are like. Has anyone else used them?

I hope your housemate's girl is home with you again soon. It is a horrible feeling not knowing where they are. I hope that your housemate then listens to you and has her desexed. Or you find a way to keep her safe when she is in season. As someone has already mentioned, if she can get out, dogs can get in.

I had just finished reading this thread, and checked the News website, to find the following article on vet costs and insurance. My link No dog here at the moment, but I'm thinking insurance is something we will definitely look at when we do get one.