Lab Puppies

I just wondered if they're as hard work as it says they are?

All puppies are hard work, Labs, I've been told are usually intent on eating houses, one wall at a time.

Thats what I thought.

Yes LOL Our 2 were nightmares - ate the walls, the garden, their toys etc but crates are a Godsend as are Kongs etc and when they mature they are so worth it

2 of my three were terrible, both the yellow ones. They can be hard work but they do love to learn and please so does make training good.

Its true about the wall, I have posted a pic on here before where my old lab chewed it, it was fixed only for the youngest to sart on the same bit.

And when they decide to act grown up(its there choice imo) They are brilliant dogs and I wouldnt be without one.

Not just labs:? Our Ben has chewed three dining chairs...the corner of a wall.....the lattice work on the radiator cabinet....umpeen shoes, slippers....two slats off the blinds. Border Collie?devil dog cross

Consider yourself lucky, thats small time compared to what my old boy got through

I'd say Lab pups (food issues aside) are pretty good compared to some breeds.

If you think that lab pups are bad, dont get an English Setter. Thalice will be 11 in January and I still wouldnt wish her on my worst enemy - raiding the bin, pinching the cats dinner trying to get her daughter Delyth to hand over her new puppies, ripping the fence apart and letting everyone else out, wall of death round the furniture - at least labs grow up !!

Thalice's mum

I think lots of people think they are excellent family pets but i don't think they are easy as that. They can make great dogs but are prone to being very bouncy and boisterous, large, strong, food obsessed etc.

As with all dogs they can be wonderful in the right hands!

Fully agree with that, English setters are mad and growing up is only an option once they get to seven... all my three English setters from pups (have had 4...but remy came to us an oldie!) have been destrustive especially if let alone for oooh 5 mins....
So far skirting boards, doors, carpets, telephone hub, telephone, mobile phone, plugs, radiator, remote controls, chairs, kitchen cabinets all chewed or ruined, plus digging the garden, thieving food, bin raiding and counter surfing. but the love they give back is immense and why I am still an addict
As others have said, all puppies can be self willed and naughty, but you just learn to channel their energies... Labs are great dogs, we have 2 brothers living near us and they are so well behaved.... a credit to their owners

Oh yes, i forgot to say that i think labs can be late to mature.

They are fantastic dogs. Our youngest was naughty. He ate room corners but they grow out of it and anyone who has them know they can be chewers.

My last lab was a fab dog but a devil when it came to chewing but the one I have just now has been the easiest dog I have ever owned. She is 18 months and has never chewed anything that she wasn't supposed to. I would agree that they are food obsessed (just makes them all the easier to train imo ) and can be bouncy but I think they are just about the perfect companion and I can't imagine ever being without one

I have a lab x dally and although she is the calmest, easiest pup I have had she does like a bit of plaster wall.

Very hard work as pups. When people ring up to enquire we always tell them how they chew, bark and pee EVERYWHERE even when you think you've got them trained If that puts them off they're probably not suited to having one as they are even worse sometimes!

Riley was by far the worst we've had. He quite literally ate the doors and doorframes in about half of the house. He was a nightmare. He was also a terrible barker til about 12 months of age.

Beau was the easiest. Never barked (still doesnt unless someone comes to the door), never chewed (destroys his toys but doesnt just wreck things!!) and toilet trained himself!!

We also tell people that they really must do LOTS of training with them as pups, and we request that they do some kind of classes - obedience, ringcraft, whatever they like. It just helps to socialise the pup really well for later life as well as teaching basic manners like walking nicely on a lead around others and just being polite in public! An un-socialised lab is a nightmare!!!

Our two were hooligans when younger lol, but worth it when they do eventually grow up

It was useful to read the threads. I have a 5 month old black lab bitch. I love her to bits, but she has to be watched. She has lot's of excercise but is always ready to play. From my short experiance of labs I would say they are very clever dogs. when Sasha is alone and at night she sleeps in a crate. She is happy to go in their anytime. It's very big and inside in a kingsize downie. The crate also keeps my house safe.

Melanie

Hiya, My bitch had a litter of 9, not hard work as such as the mother looks after them all really well for the 1st few weeks.
I cleaned them out every 3hours.. clean bedding=vet bed
When they got alittle older I bought a puppy pen from ebay my best buy LOL.
I didnt find it hard at all I loved it, the hardest part was my kids bringing home all there friends too look at the puppies LOL Labs do chew the black labs are the worst and i have 5... new walls,doors, kitchen cupboards sofas and my car.. but they do stop about a 1yr old..

My lab has many faults but I have to say chewing is definitely not one of them! He didn't even chew much when he was a puppy. His worst crime of the chewing variety was when he ate through the hose of the powerwasher.... Apart from that he's great!