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Started By
Message
Question About Lab Puppy
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:30 am
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:30 am
First, let me explain what I want out of a lab. A companion first. Second I would like to teach her to retrieve a dove (I don't do a lot of duck hunting) and trail a deer. Mostly though she would be a dog I could take to camp and have as a hunting buddy. I'm not wanting my dog to be a whistle trained champion retriever. However, I do want the dog to be trainable for basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, retrieve, etc.
Now, with that said, is there any reason to spend 800 dollars from a reputable breeder. Reason I ask is because there is guy I'm familiar with that has unregistered beautiful labs, but the mom (his dog) is not a hunter. He's giving the pups away, and I would love to give a good home to one of these pups, but I do not want a dumb dog that is only good for being in the back yard.
A dog is a long-term commitment so I'm just trying to get information before I pull the trigger on a puppy. I've read unregistered labs are a crap shoot, but it seems to me almost any dog should be trainable for what I expect.
Thoughts?
tl;dr: What are the advantages of an expensive registered lab over an unregistered lab, if any?
Now, with that said, is there any reason to spend 800 dollars from a reputable breeder. Reason I ask is because there is guy I'm familiar with that has unregistered beautiful labs, but the mom (his dog) is not a hunter. He's giving the pups away, and I would love to give a good home to one of these pups, but I do not want a dumb dog that is only good for being in the back yard.
A dog is a long-term commitment so I'm just trying to get information before I pull the trigger on a puppy. I've read unregistered labs are a crap shoot, but it seems to me almost any dog should be trainable for what I expect.
Thoughts?
tl;dr: What are the advantages of an expensive registered lab over an unregistered lab, if any?
This post was edited on 4/22/15 at 11:36 am
12
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:34 am to TigernMS12
We got a black lab from a guy on side of the road for our office. She's about 9 months old now and is a damn good dog. She was easy to train to fetch, sit, stay, etc. Can't keep her arse out of the pond though 
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:36 am to TigernMS12
None. My buddy sent a 100$ pup to a 500$ a month trainer and ended up eith a great dog.
All the simple commands are easily taught, and honestly labs are easy to train.
All the simple commands are easily taught, and honestly labs are easy to train.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:48 am to TigernMS12
quote:
What are the advantages of an expensive registered lab over an unregistered lab, if any?
For what you want? None.
I have a lab that we just got from someone who's dog had puppies. We got him as a companion animal. He has been great. Never chewed up anything. Rides in the truck like a champ. Retrieves anything you throw. I have had people ask who trained him and he basically trained himself.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:53 am to TigernMS12
quote:
What are the advantages of an expensive registered lab over an unregistered lab, if any?
None. You described commands that almost every dog should be able to learn if you're willing to put the time in.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 11:53 am to MarcoRamius
quote:
None. My buddy sent a 100$ pup to a 500$ a month trainer and ended up eith a great dog.
All the simple commands are easily taught, and honestly labs are easy to train.
The only reason to pay obscene money on a Lab is if you are going to get in the field trial game to earn titles that look good when you get ready to have a high powered liter. There are plenty of meat dogs out there that can pick up a duck and do whatever the OP wants his hound to do and they are from backyard breedings.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 12:01 pm to TigernMS12
I got my pure lab from the SPCA, and he is the best dog I have ever seen. Everyone else says the same. People have asked me to breed him multiple times, but he is fixed since he came from a shelter.
He cost me about a buck twenty five
He cost me about a buck twenty five
Posted on 4/22/15 at 12:47 pm to Hammertime
My lab was $100 dollars from a backyard breeder, I can throw a tennis ball 500 yards in the canefield and that sucker wont come back till he has the ball. I also taught him to sit, heel and stay before he was 6 months old. You will get out of him what you put into him/her.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 12:58 pm to JakeMik
Buying a lab from a reputable breeder increases the odds that you will get a healthy dog w/o eye ear hip knee issues down the road, breeders stand behind their dogs w/ a warranty and the select studs and dams that work well together. Its kind of like insurance, by paying up front the breeder has reduced the risk of a problem down the road. Any problem down the road can coast thousands in vet bills too, so in the end its cheaper.
As an example I know lots of people who have pound or rescue dogs and well over 75% of them have serious health issues w/ their dogs, so while the dog was free or $100 at the start they are paying thousands in vet bills. Generally dogs from a good breeder are better adjusted have better temperaments etc – you can go look at the parents and see if they have the traits you want before you buy ..... Im not saying you have to spend $2K on a hot sh** field trial lab but look around for what you want, breeders will help you too.
As my daddy says the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree .... If you don’t get what you want at the start remember the dog will be w/ you for 10+ yrs so its a long time to have something you may not be happy w/
And no I’m not a breeder
As an example I know lots of people who have pound or rescue dogs and well over 75% of them have serious health issues w/ their dogs, so while the dog was free or $100 at the start they are paying thousands in vet bills. Generally dogs from a good breeder are better adjusted have better temperaments etc – you can go look at the parents and see if they have the traits you want before you buy ..... Im not saying you have to spend $2K on a hot sh** field trial lab but look around for what you want, breeders will help you too.
As my daddy says the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree .... If you don’t get what you want at the start remember the dog will be w/ you for 10+ yrs so its a long time to have something you may not be happy w/
And no I’m not a breeder
Posted on 4/22/15 at 1:07 pm to OntarioTiger
The only dog I have ever purchased from a breeder had joint issues from 6 months on, had serious dog aggression, and died last month of an apparent heart defect.
She was extremely sweet, smart (trainable), and was an excellent dog.
She came from stutzholm kennels.
Never again.
I realize this isn't the norm, but even reputable breeders can deliver poor dogs. My backyard registered dogs have all been flawless.
She was extremely sweet, smart (trainable), and was an excellent dog.
She came from stutzholm kennels.
Never again.
I realize this isn't the norm, but even reputable breeders can deliver poor dogs. My backyard registered dogs have all been flawless.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 1:25 pm to MarcoRamius
Thanks for all your replies. It has alleviated a lot of my worries and I think I'm going to pick the puppy up. I'll update with pics if the wife approves. That's another story
Posted on 4/22/15 at 1:33 pm to MarcoRamius
quote:
died last month of an apparent heart defect.
That's what Coot told any of his IRL friends
Posted on 4/22/15 at 1:45 pm to Larry Gooseman
Labs are all about the time you put into them, doesn't matter how much they cost. My dog came from a breeder paid a couple hundred dollars for him. He's a good dog but not great. My buddy has a black lab he paid $50 for and it's one of the best dogs I've ever seen. He had his trained by a professional though.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 1:47 pm to MarcoRamius
quote:
The only dog I have ever purchased from a breeder had joint issues from 6 months on,
I hope you contacted your breeder and told them of the issues with your dog. Any reputable breeder would either give you another dog or pay you back the money that you paid.
That's why I bought mine from a breeder. The guy next to me got their lab from the pound and she had major knee issues. Took 5-6k to fix her knees.
Labs are known to have hip dysplasia.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 2:11 pm to OntarioTiger
quote:
As an example I know lots of people who have pound or rescue dogs and well over 75% of them have serious health issues w/ their dogs, so while the dog was free or $100 at the start they are paying thousands in vet bills. Generally dogs from a good breeder are better adjusted have better temperaments etc – you can go look at the parents and see if they have the traits you want before you buy ..... Im not saying you have to spend $2K on a hot sh** field trial lab but look around for what you want, breeders will help you too.
This may well be true, but personally, between my family and I, we've had 10-12 rescue dogs and none of them had any major health conditions.
My beagle/jack russell mix is the sweetest dog i've ever met, and it just seems like she knows what it's like to live on the streets. So she's very appreciative.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 2:33 pm to OntarioTiger
Actually, muts have a far less chance of having health problems than pure bred dogs. They also live longer
Posted on 4/22/15 at 2:53 pm to Hammertime
Easy now... That living longer thing depends on a lot more than just mutt or not.
Breeds which were bred for function over form tend to live longer.
The dog I posted in the other thread is a giant breed with a life expectancy of 12-15 years.
As for calling the breeder, it's kind of hard to phone people up who are completely and utterly off the grid
Breeds which were bred for function over form tend to live longer.
The dog I posted in the other thread is a giant breed with a life expectancy of 12-15 years.
As for calling the breeder, it's kind of hard to phone people up who are completely and utterly off the grid
This post was edited on 4/22/15 at 2:56 pm
Posted on 4/22/15 at 2:59 pm to TigernMS12
Your guy have any more he's trying to get rid of?
Posted on 4/22/15 at 3:34 pm to OntarioTiger
quote:
As an example I know lots of people who have pound or rescue dogs and well over 75% of them have serious health issues w/ their dogs, so while the dog was free or $100 at the start they are paying thousands in vet bills.
No way. I don't think anyone will agree with you on this.
Posted on 4/22/15 at 5:04 pm to TigernMS12
I paid $200 for my unregistered black lab and I could not ask for a better friend/hunting partner. I have seen him outperform many "champion breed" dogs. Most important thing is to know the parents and their history. Both of his parents were good hunters. I wasn't looking for titles or anything just a bed bud that could get my ducks. Training the pup yourself is a very rewarding experience. At the time (college) I could not afford to send him to school and I'm glad didn't. I will never send a dog to school.
Just stay consistently repetitive and you'll be fine. Good luck
Just stay consistently repetitive and you'll be fine. Good luck
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