First Dog

[Ryan24365c]

How is nika mate, you still got her out stalking

 

[woody]

This is mainly what i want a second opinion on.

I imagine my day to be walking in the morning going off to work coming back and spending some time training and exercising in the evening. I hope this will keep the dog chill and happy during the day. we have a cat that acts more like a dog so it won't be fully alone during the day but getting two dogs isn't suitable.

from what i have read labs get separation anxiety but can be trained to feel safe on there own by leaving them on there own in increasing segments . i don't intend to neglect the dog just don't want it to be stressed at home.

How many hours will it be left on its own, will it be inside or a kennel?

 

[ShaneS]

How many hours will it be left on its own, will it be inside or a kennel?

Will be inside, have no plans of building a kennel outside.

for work i'm out of the house for 8-9 hours, i have been looking into this more and isn't fair on the dog.

I was planning on extending my lunch break since my work is local. Come home to let out for toilet breaks and maybe give something like a kong toy before heading back.

 

[Stalker62]

for work i'm out of the house for 8-9 hours, i have been looking into this more and isn't fair on the dog.

No, I agree it is not fair on a dog.

Once-upon-a-time, I went to adopt a rescue dog.
I went to the centre and was asked two questions.

"Do you work full time?"

"Do you live alone?"

The responses "Yes and Yes", gave me an immediate fail as a dog owner.

"OK. Then what about a cat?"

Long short.

I eventually went home with "Ted". He was a big black bugger and had been at the centre the longest. He wailed all the way home. All the way.

When I let him out of his carrying cage, he looked around the house and settled right in.

We had a few happy years together. When I used to walk to the postbox, he would walk along with me. Funny character and much loved.

 

[woody]

Will be inside, have no plans of building a kennel outside.

for work i'm out of the house for 8-9 hours, i have been looking into this more and isn't fair on the dog.

I was planning on extending my lunch break since my work is local. Come home to let out for toilet breaks and maybe give something like a kong toy before heading back.

As long as you can get home in that time it's not too bad, even better if you had a kennel though.

 

[Jagare]

The OP hasn’t said how old he is, I am 63 and had Spaniels all my life. I don’t consider myself old enough for a lab yet! I reckon when you get to about 75 is the time for a Lab.

A good ESS all day long, and could not give a rats arse about its pedigree/trials/KC etc, as long as I know, for sure, the parents are good honest working dogs, that’s good enough for me. My current lad, coming up to 4, no pedigree, not worth the paper it’s written on, but such a hard driving, honest and lovable dog. He is bloody huge for an ESS, so will retrieve anything that a Lab will, and more..........He ain’t afraid of the rough stuff. I pick up on a big shoot with him, and beat on a small syndicate shoot, he is equally at home on both.

I have lost count the amount of times I have heard “can you get your Spaniel in there mate” when the Labs are pussyfooting around in the grass, afraid of getting a little scratch.

So, if your under 75, get a Spaniel mate, Labs are for the oldies...............OK, bring it on. View attachment 212926

Get a real dog mate......You know it makes sense.

I went out for a walk round the forest with my spaniel yesterday before it got to warm. The dog disappeared into a small plantation and when I whistled he reappeared carrying a full grown cock capercaillie that was still alive. That's a first for him

 

[Doric]

I am starting to plan getting my first dog and wanted to start a conversation with more knowledgeable people to get opinions. Currently i am looking at getting a Labrador retriever.

Firstly i want it to be a family dog with the possibility of working it now and then. I have never been, nor do i have the connections to take it retrieving or tracking i would however like to train it to do one, or both. Mainly to provide enrichment and if i get those connections later in life, all the better.

I am currently working from home, but i suspect i will be going back to working in the office most the week soon. I plan on training for the dog to feel safe on its own and work on any separation anxiety it will have.

I have never owned a dog so any criticism or advice would be greatly appreciated. I would love a dog but not at the cost of its well being.

You have made a good choice will a Lab. One breed to rule them all.
Seriously you cant go wrong with a WORKING bred labrador. Jack of all trades and master of many of them.
With a lab you have a retriever supreme, wildfowling dog supreme, hide dog supreme.They will hunt and flush for walking up and can find deer with the best of them. They are great family dogs and generaly have few health problem's compared to a lot of breeds. Add to this they are so easy to train and mature earlyer than many other gundog breeds.
Get yourself a good training book or if you live in Aberdeenshire enroll in a Meadowbank gundog training class.
Best of luck and dont be misled in to getting one of the fancy breeds.

 

[Doric]

Thanks for the info, i'll keep this in mind when talking to breeders. Is there a typical difference in temperaments between bitches and dogs?

I have been training and teaching others to train gundogs for forty years.
I have found that a good bitch is as good as a good dog and vice versa.
Bitches come in to season, often at inconvenient times so can not be worked with other dogs until the season has passed.
Go for the best breading you can find ,check they are from pure working lines and the parents have been checked and free from genetic disorders.
Tread carfully as with the escalating price of pups many poor quality bitches are being bread from for financial reasons.
My advice is to check out the best kenels and book a pup. Stay well clear of pupy farms.
Dont take the wife and family to see a litter or you may be presurised in to taking a pup because they are so cute.
And finaly price is not an indication of quality. I see poorly bread litters with astronomical price tags that I wouldn't have in my kennel if they were free to a good home.
A dog is for life so chose the right one.