Homeriver

I purchased a labrador pup on the main register from a registered breeder with the intent of showing and breeding if he turned out to be suitable. The pup is about 7 months old now (purchased as a three month old), and has hip dysplasia. The pup was fed and exercised as recommend and hasn't had any sort of injury that I am aware of, though he does play with my other dog and kids. Am I entitled to any refund etc from the breeder or is this just my bad luck?

Does anyone know if there is a difference with a bitch having a medical abortion on her first heat compared to one later on. Obviously not an ideal situation, and purely hypothetical after having a discussion with a friend of mine and I hadn't heard this before.

There are usually good websites on pet friendly caravan parks all across Australia. Don't know of any personally but I'd google it.

If you are really set on getting a dog you could try finding a retired show dog. The breeder would be able to tell you if your situation would work out and the dog would be old enough for a run and probably well trained.

Good idea of yours to "lend" them your dog. Sounds like he did a wonderful job. If they do end up with a pup in the future you can at least try to convince them to get a rescue or a pup from a decent breeder that will provide them with lots of breed info and ongoing support. Also you might be able to get them interested in obedience or agility or another doggy activity suited to their dog. If you can get them while they are still in the puppy love mode they may get hooked and end up spending a lot of time with it. You can only hope anyway :)

There is no problem now. Just the first time the dog were fed together there was a bit of growling from the older dog. Pretty normal for sorting out their pecking order, but still not on. Bit of training (yes including taking her food for a little while) has helped to fix this and they are now getting on fine.

This is not something I do regularly, maybe once every couple of months, so I really don't think they find it annoying. I haven't had a problem with resource guarding and I know plenty of people that don't and have never touched their dogs food. I feel it just adds another level to the relationship. Everyone has their own theories I guess :)

Why should you not be able to take your dogs food? I believe they should be accepting of everything I throw at them (but they also need to be conditioned to this). If I am the "leader" and they trust me they should be calm and willing to follow my lead. I think that food guarding, while beginning with the belief that someone may take their food, is made worse if by getting upset or aggressive they are left alone. When the dog realises the only way to get their food is to stay calm and submit the guarding issues are dealt with not ignored.

I think it is very important that you can take food, bones or treats etc away from your dog at anytime. They always get it back and I only do it occasionally. My dogs and kids are supervised but if my toddler happened to touch my dogs food I would expect the dog to move away and show no signs of aggression. Also if the dogs were to pick up a bait or other poisonous or dangerous object I would be able to go straight in and take it from them with no arguments. I have done this with all my dogs and none ever gets distressed. They know if they wait calmly for a minute they will get back their dinner.

My lab chases the cat in the day and then they sleep cuddled up together at night. I think it's all a big game and the cat comes to stir up the dog to get the chasing started. Then the cat climbs a tree and the lab goes back to sleep

Think we have sorted it out. Pup has learnt his manners and the older dog has learnt that she will not starve and there is enough food for both of them. I even scatter feed them this morning together and they were fine . I'm still supervising meal times to make sure everyone gets their share but both dogs seemed to have settled into the new routine fine. The older dog is and always has been very well behaved and friendly with other dogs and i often take her food away halfway through eating so she understands who really is the boss. I think she's happy with being in charge of the pup but knowing that I say he gets to eat/play with whatever I give him.

Hi everyone. Firstly I have to say that I have only had labs for just over a year now but am absolutely loving them. What a great family pet, especially with my kids. So far we have had no major dramas, a few things chewed, but probably less than when I had my working dog pups. Have found them very easy to train and they love to be involved in whatever's going on. I have recently bought a beautiful black male pup. He's about 3 months old. He gets along with my one year old bitch very well. Except when it's dinner time. She will growl at him and he gets very intimidated and stops eating. I seperate them at feeding time now but they both eat so fast knowing the other one is waiting somewhere, that sometimes they make themselves sick. Has anyone else had similar problems and will I have to always have them seperated to eat or is it something they might work out as they get older?

Mum and I both love big dogs too, but her village only allows medium to small breeds. I think if you owned an old larger dog when you moved in they assessed it to see if it was well behaved etc, so there are a couple of larger dogs around, but buying a new pup they would expect you to get a smaller one. Her village is an over 55's and is quite spread out with larger houses etc so it is quite dog friendly, but I know not all places like this welcome dogs. Think we are leaning towards a CKCS so we might go and meet a few. There are no worries about mum tripping and falling etc as she is no where near elderly yet and hopefully in 10 years time when it might start getting that way, he and her dog will have each other worked out. She comes to visit at our farm and would bring her dog and goes to the beach etc so she would be wanting something that she could let off the lead.

Thanks everyone. We have been busy researching and having a great time learning about some dog breeds I had never even heard of. I know late fifties is not old. My mum is very active, fit and healthy and probably works harder than I do. I was just trying to communicate her situation, moved past having her own kids at home, single and loves having a dog for company etc. The size of the dog is more due to her living situation. She only has a small yard and the lifestyle village prefers you to have a smaller dog (also the reason for not wanting a yappy breed as the neighbours are very close). She definately wants a puppy, as she is more than capable of doing the basic training and really enjoys that stage. That is why we were thinking of going to a breeder as I want to make sure the parents have had all their health tests etc done.

I think she would like a big dog nature in a little dog body if possible :laugh: I don't think min pins would suit. My sister has two and they don't like my children or strangers much at all. Something that wouldn't mind a little bit of rough and tumble play. Cavalier KC spaniel may be an option.

I'm helping my mum research suitable dog breeds as she will soon be looking for a new pup. She is an active single lady in her late 50's. She has had dogs all her life and is confident with training and care but has always had larger dogs and stock working breeds. She has just moved to a lifestyle village and only has a small backyard. She is looking for a small to medium dog. It would be walked twice a day and be allowed in the yard and the house. Some grooming would be OK but nothing too extensive. Must have a calm temperament and be good with kids as her grandkids are always visiting. She still works part time so the dog would sometimes have to be left home alone (working hours 2-3 days a week). Ideally looking for a dog that is social with people and other dogs and not inclined to be yappy. I realise much of this comes down to training, but we are interested in hearing what breeds you may think suitable and we can research further from there.

That's a bit rough. My first instinct was that the red ribbon breeders were not up to scratch somehow.

What do the blue and red ribbons stand for in the corner of the box of the breeders advertisement?

One more question, are children welcome at shows? Wondering whether to take my kids while I'm just at the looking stage as I think they'd find it interesting or is it a sit very still and quiet sort of thing?

Thanks everyone. I can't seem to load any pics. I think they are too big? Sounds like I'm off to have a look at some clubs and shows. I'll go in open minded and maybe even take my girl and see what happens. I'm fine with copping a bit of critasism if she doesn't make the grade. We'll always love her as our pet anyway and it will help me to know what to look for next time. Who knows she might even surprise me, I am just assuming because I didn't specify wanting a show dog, that I probably didn't get one. Also I think I'll have to work on this standing business. Trying to take photos to put on here and she kept sitting (which has been her training so far).

Oh, and I'll try to put up some pics tomorrow. I'm not too good at the old computers!! Hopefully I can get your opinions on whether to try with my girl or start looking for something new.

I have been hesitant about showing because I've heard it can be pretty full on. I would love to be more involved in the breed and would like to know what to look for as far as conformation goes. I know what I like, but would like to know I am doing the right thing by the breed in selecting dogs I may want to use for breeding. Showing would be great fun I think, I just wasn't sure if it was acceptable to go if you weren't really sure on what you're doing. I think I will go along to a couple and see for myself what the "welcome" is like. Temperament has always been the major priority for me as my dog is a family pet and I think if your dog is enjoyable to be around you will naturally spend more time with them. Thanks to all willing to give me advice. Some handy tips. I'll have a look on FB and maybe try to find a lab club too.

Thanks to you both. I'll get back to the breeder of my bitch and see if they can assess her for me (they live on the other side of the country so I hope photos will be ok). If it is a case of working my way up, I am quite happy to do so as I think this would be a rewarding experience. Hopefully I can get along to a couple of shows and meet some people and see what it's all about. If I was to show my girl, who I think is lovely and from what I've read to me she fits within all the breed standards, and not do well, would this make other breeders less likely to sell to me?

I have had working kelpies all my life, but since having kids 6, 4 and 2, we got a labrador. She has been amazing. I did basic training with her, sit, come, stay etc right from the sart and she had it down within a couple of weeks. We walk her about 1km to the bus stop morning and arvo and being on a farm somedays she gets to run with the motorbike and swim in the dam. She has a beautiful calm nature and if we are not outside with her she just lays on the verandah. She does shed a bit though and chewed a bit as a pup. Fantastic with the kids after a short period of teaching her not to jump up or mouth. Love her and we will always have a lab from now on. Temprement and early training is vital.

I have owned a labrador for a couple of years now and absolutely love her. She is on the main register but I have been doing some research and thinking that she may not be up to show quality (i have never shown dogs before). I would love to one day show and breed a lab but I am finding it hard to find a breeder willing to even give me some advice let alone sell me a show quality pup. How do you go about obtaining top quality dogs as I wouldn't want to breed or show anything not up to breed standards? Hopefully there is someone out there willing to give a new guy a hand? I am keen to learn and willing to listen to all constructive critisism.