Labrador Retriever Breeder Recommendations

[Salukifan]

My honest advice?

WAIT. A Lab may be ideal for this family but I'd be suggesting that they wait until their youngest is about 4. Lab pups are mouthy and Lab adolescents knock toddlers around. Older kids can be better trained to behave appropriately around a pup and I think they'd all find the experience more enjoyable.

Option B is a mature Lab from a known background that's been socialised with kids. There are Lab rescues around who would have suitable dogs from time to time.

[Kavik]

Thanks HW, I agree.

I will suggest they wait or an older Lab but he may not listen (you know what family is like! Harder to deal with than the public sometimes! You can only suggest and hope they listen!) - I just want some ideas so if they decide to go ahead sooner rather than later I can send them to a good breeder.

[megan_]

I think Nekhbet is rehoming a lab that has been around kids and dogs.

[dancinbcs]

Labrador Retreiver Club of NSW

This is a good guide to buying a puppy. Contact the club as well about members with puppies avalailable. A lot of Lab breeders also run on several puppies and place those they decide not to keep, as young partly trained adults because a lot of repeat buyers want another Lab but don't want the puppy stage again.

Have these peopel seen "Marley and Me"? That is a pretty typical Lab with clueless owners.

They may have a problem getting anyone to sell them a baby puppy with kids that young. I wouldn't place a BC puppy in a home like that.

[Kavik]

I wouldn't send them a Kelpie either, but a Lab is more sturdy and I think could cope OK with their situation. Our oldest and youngest kids are about the same age (my oldest is 3 months older than her oldest, and my youngest is one month older than hers) but she has one in between.

[RubyStar]

Have these peopel seen "Marley and Me"? That is a pretty typical Lab with clueless owners.

Hardly a typical Lab!!! With or without clueless owners

[SparkyTansy]

actually, with really clueless owners who do all the wrong things, I can see many breeds of dog becoming a bit "Marley"...

[Parkeyre]

If I was to ever get a Labrador; I would be going to Copperkee Kennels in QLD. I love their boy Moose!

http://www.copperkee.com/

[temperamentfirst]

My sister's husband is keen to get a dog for the family - my sister still needs a little convincing (at least with the timing :laugh: ). I agreed to help them if/when they decide to get one. He is a fairly loud and boisterous personality and they have 3 kids between the ages of 1 and 4 1/2 (who are also quite boisterous! More than my kids!).

As a breeder, I NEVER sell to a home where the mum is not keen! Golden rule for me, and have even said that to my kids' friends' mums when they were being pressured by their OH or the kids.

It's just too big an ask of someone who is probable feeling like she already has her hands more than full. With kids that age, I think it is unfair for her to be pressured this way.

JMHO

[skelp2]

Labrador Retreiver Club of NSW

This is a good guide to buying a puppy. Contact the club as well about members with puppies avalailable. A lot of Lab breeders also run on several puppies and place those they decide not to keep, as young partly trained adults because a lot of repeat buyers want another Lab but don't want the puppy stage again.

Have these peopel seen "Marley and Me"? That is a pretty typical Lab with clueless owners.

They may have a problem getting anyone to sell them a baby puppy with kids that young. I wouldn't place a BC puppy in a home like that.

They have sensible advice on their website. Many thanks. I will forward the site to my friend.

[MontyMonster]

I would also suggest to your friends they research the breeder, I bought a lab pup from someone who told me they were a responsible breeder, we even had to go on a list and be interviewed, bought him on supposed limited register after thoroughly talking to the breeder about his hips, elbows and pedigree. I beleived what she told me. Took him home but never sighted the paperwork and as soon as there were problems with his front legs, and I requested the paperwork I was told too bad and that no paperwork would be provided. I wish I had insisted on seeing this from the start and that I had bought from a DOL recommendation - as I obviously have been done by a BYB. I love my boy to bits, he is like our 3rd child , i wouldnt swap him for anything,and he has the great lab temperament I desired, but due to his health complications it has made for a stressful time for all our family. So my advice is make sure you see the paperwork and proof that you are buying what you are told, it's heart breaking for kids to have to go through the stress of an unwell pup that they love.

[CJS]

We got our beautiful girl 4 weeks ago from Faye at Brakendale labradors. Faye invited us to bring our girls (6 and 8) out a couple of times before Bella could come home at 8 weeks and we met our puppies mum and dad. All paperwork was provided 'up front' and hips and DNA results too. Our Bella is the most chilled out puppy and the star at puppy preschool. Overall, we would recommend Faye and in fact have to friends.

I'm glad we didn't get her earlier. She is not a mouthy puppy at all, but when she does it it is with our youngest. She is old enough not to freak out and to follow instructions on how to behave, but if she was not quite up to that stage I think there would be some challenges.

[Liebhunde]

I would also agree that it is not a good idea to get a puppy or older dog when both partners are not in full,agreement about getting one and the very young ages of the children' may be another factor that could prove difficult especially when the father in this case has some pretty uninformed ideas about what breed would be most suitable even if Mum was enthusiastic and the children a little older. The ages of the Kidlets shouldn't be a significant problem though if the parents were sensibly dog savvy and able to effectively teach both puppy and children to live happily together. However if all these things were in play I can highly recommend Mannabred Labradors. have a look at their site and some of their dogs are listed on the breed profiles here on DOL My sister has a black Mannabred boy..and I can honestly say he is one of the best dogs I've ever had the pleasure to know. He is beautifully bred from impressive stock..he has an absolutely bomb proof temperament and is always friendly and gentle with everyone. Simply can't fault him...if I were to put a dog in a family like your sisters..a dog like Nelson would be the way to go. Give Mannabred some thought.

[RubyBlue]

What about getting an older lab first then a second as a puppy in several years time. I don't know that my 11 month old would be a good match for young kids. He is clumsy and exuberant and regularly sends furniture flying and I can see him doing the same to small kids. One of my housemates is also smaller, more excitable and not as assertive with him and he really just walks all over her. Not in a nasty way but if he is going to try something on that he knows is not allowed (stealing socks, jumping on the couch, jumping up, etc) then it will be with her. I can imagine a lot of boundaries will be pushed with a young kid and exhausted mother.

We were 8 and 10 when we got our first lab puppy. My mum found it difficult but manageable. Mainly because at that age we had already been responsible for many of our own pets and so were all able to be very clear and consistent on the house rules with the puppy.

[Kavik]

My sister is going to try to convince her husband to wait til the kids are a little older. For now they have gotten some hermit crabs :) They also have the 2 family cats that are inside/outside (they are living in the family home - my parents moved overseas and they got the house!)