Looking for chocolate lab pups

[coraline79]

Puppies? There are obviously full grown dogs at the lab rescue places because nobody wants a full grown dog.

I got my coon hound at 10 months, she will tree a racoon, and is comfortable around guns.. And you don't have refer to them as if they were a bag of hand me down clothing. Their real live animals forced into a situation due to our communities disregard for life.

[Kyle46N]

I've looked at the local lab rescues. I know this may not be a popular thought....but I have a problem with paying 250 bucks for a rescued dog. I know there are costs to taking care of the dogs....heart worm meds, training, etc. The other issue, similar to what was already mentioned. I love to fish and be in the outdoors. I want my lab to be able to enjoy that with me. So I do need the lab to be young so I can teach it the proper obedience necessary for me to take it with me on these trips. I also understand the thought behind getting a rescued dog as opposed to buying from a breeder. Is the breeder at fault though? Or are the people that get rid of the dogs for stupid reasons at fault? In any case thanks for all the input. I'll definitely put a lot of thought into it.

[Joshua]

I got my coon hound at 10 months, she will tree a racoon, and is comfortable around guns.. And you don't have refer to them as if they were a bag of hand me down clothing. Their real live animals forced into a situation due to our communities disregard for life.

Congratulations you got lucky and I'm happy for you. I can't tell you how many horror stories I've heard from people just wishing their rescued dogs would just hurry up and die because they don't fit in with their family. It's probably fine for a random backyard Fido, but most working dogs do a lot better with a solid childhood and adolescent upbringing. I can't have that with a Lab that's going to be very close to the family and whom I expect to be a solid well-trained working dog for the next 10+ years. Animals forced into a situation are not my concern, how an animal fits in with my family and work duties is a concern. Having said all that, we will be rescuing a mixed breed here in the next few weeks from the shelter over off 151 that will be just a general family house dog, just waiting on the right one to show up.

[Dee]

They don't just take in adults. For instance, my friend right now has two litters of purebred Rottweiler pups...one dumped at the shelter and the other born to a mom tied to a rope in north Texas. She told me about another litter in Mansfield that has no place to go. Rotts are overbred, but not nearly as much as Labs. So I just find it hard to believe that there are no Lab pups out there in shelters...esp. when I've walked shelters in the past twice a week.

What shelters are you checking? Unfortunately puppy and kitty season is just around the corner. Before we know it people will be dumping off litters left and right. The sad part is that our shelter (Austin) doesn't usually adopt out anything younger than 8weeks and often litters are put to death before the public has a chance to find out about them. They try hard to find rescuers to take in moms AND pups, but space is limited.

Apparently the work it would take to search for a rescued puppy isn't on your agenda. Have you even contacted Lab rescue to ask them what they have or if there are any other Lab rescuers that have pups? The one thing that Lab rescue is particular about is trying not to take in mixes, but all rescues get puppies and adults in.

Dee

[Dee]

BTW, why not consider a young adult? I would take ten adults over a pup any day LOL. You can train them just as easy, if not easier. You can bond with them just as easily. They've been abandoned once so most are eternally grateful to get a good home

Dee

[Joshua]

I'll be heading up to Austin on Saturday, are the shelters open that have the Rottie pups and do you have the contact info for them?

As for the shelters, yeah I didn't think about animals born in the shelters. I can't see why anyone would drop off purebred pups though when they can get good money for them. Years ago my neighbor's lab decided to bust through a fence and take my lab out on a date when she was willing, she had 11 pups. 7 of those pups went for premium $$ and the last 4 I dropped to $50 when they hit 10 weeks because I wanted them to go to their final owner's homes while they still had a chance to bond. I had people beating down my door to get those last 4 pups and I got calls for them for weeks after they were gone.

Apparently the work it would take to search for a rescued puppy isn't on your agenda.

I've already stated that we're rescuing a house dog soon, but sub-par rescue dogs (allow me to rephrase, rescue dogs with sub-par childhood/upbringing at a young age) are not going to fly for a working dog that will have so much expected of it and I am still seriously doubtful that I could find a 7 week old lab puppy at a shelter, so no I have put no time into looking for a Lab pup at a shelter.

[Joshua]

BTW, why not consider a young adult? I would take ten adults over a pup any day LOL. You can train them just as easy, if not easier. You can bond with them just as easily. They've been abandoned once so most are eternally grateful to get a good home

Dee

Not for a working dog, it won't work, maybe for a family dog but even then I can't see them developing the same strong bond and protective instincts as a pup raised with the family. Not to mention many grown dogs tend to eat cats if they're not raised with them and I like my cat.

[Dee]

Also, one last thing and I'll shut up. I just thought about the AKC site. They usually list breeder information there. Not all breeders are good, not even ones that register on the AKC site, but that could be a place to start if finding a rescue doesn't work.

Things to look for in a breeder...go to the site and make sure the dogs are inside and they don't have litters galore.

See the parents to check their temperament.

Make sure they are vaccinated and dewormed according to their age.

Never take a pup from someone that wants to sell them before they are 8weeks old. That is the bare minimum a dog should leave it's mom and litter. No GOOD breeder would let it go earlier and some even keep them until 12 weeks to ensure proper socialization.

Responsible breeders usually have applications. If not, they will ask you a LOT of questions. And they won't be bothered by you asking questions of them.

Parents of larger breeds usually have OFA certifications...definitely of the hips. Some do elbows also...and other certifications. You'll want to see that so that you know your pup has a lower chance of having hip issues.

ALL good breeders have a contract and REQUIRE that the dog be returned to them if you can no longer keep it. This prevents their dogs from entering the shelters, which is being responsible for the over pet population issues. This is one of the biggest things that people that breed dogs, that shouldn't be breeding, don't do. They push the dogs out the door and don't want to be contacted again. Good breeders want to know about their pups and often have get togethers with the litters.

Good luck!

Dena

[Dee]

If you want specific traits for your new dog, you definitely need to consider a good breeder that breeds for those traits. We have Rott/Catahoula Mixes in our group and people want them for what Catahoula's are know to do and how they enjoy the outside. Ours...nope...they don't have any of those traits because they also have a different breed in them, plus their parents weren't selected specifically to carry on traits of that breed.

Adults do bond and have those same traits if they were born with them. They aren't learned traits, they are hereditary traits. I took in a 7 year old Rottie that had some issues...was kept outside and knew no english. He would growl and lower his head when you would put your face close to his. He never had rules and never had that close connection with people. We had him two months...a friend came over while we were upstairs and we told her to come in. She came up, he saw her and didn't know where she came from or who she was. He pinned her in the corner growling and barking at her. He never tried to bite her though. We worked with him and he kept that protective trait, but learned how to manage it by watching us. Before he passed away he was one of the best dogs ever that even let kids hug him and get in his face. I have to say that I've had dogs in my homes since they were pups and I never felt that safe with any of them like I did that boy. Even now...my female that I've had since a baby, she wouldn't protect me for anything. Yet my girl I got at a year old, she's more apprehensive of strangers...she'd bite them in the butt and run, but she'd do something if I were in danger.

Most rescuers keep dogs in their homes or in foster homes so that they can be socialized around cats (if available), other dogs, learn about noises in the home, etc. Some people won't foster a dog unless it likes cats. I have two Rotts, Riley and Kip, on my site (www.rottilove.com) that live with a cat and Kip was 2yrs old when he went to the foster home, Riley just got there at the age of 3yrs old.

Just because you get a pup and raise it with a cat doesn't mean it will like the cat. I took in a 10mth old last year from an older lady that swore she could handle a puppy and wanted a pup. I wouldn't adopt to her because I knew different, so she found a litter nearby. I found him posted on Craig's List, contacted her, and she said she couldn't get him to stop chasing the cats. I also have seven dogs in my home and not one of them would eat my cat (passed away a few months ago from Addison's Disease). Even that big boy I mentioned above...he'd bark at the cat one minute, then slobber him until I told him to stop. I've got photos of my cat soak and wet from his tongue. LOL.

The Town Lake Animal Center is open on weekdays from 11:30-7p.m. and weekends until 5p.m. I believe. It's hit or miss though. They get new dogs in daily so they may not have what you are looking for right off the bat. My friend and I get called about most of them, but people tend to get applications in on the pups from 3-6mths old quick. Those under 8 weeks, we are called right away. And the adults...we're their only hope and right now neither of us are accepting new dogs.

I'm going to bed, but I wanted to share some photos :o)

Dena

Not for a working dog, it won't work, maybe for a family dog but even then I can't see them developing the same strong bond and protective instincts as a pup raised with the family. Not to mention many grown dogs tend to eat cats if they're not raised with them and I like my cat.

[Dee]

Just saw this on Craig's List: http://austin.craigslist.org/pet/1011897639.html