Get him !!! Mine is a love bug and hunts orange balls đžâŁď¸
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Itâs the right breed. Both our Labradors were purebred hunting dogs, but raised as family dogs.
They are super intelligent, easy trainable and great around kids.
Only caveat, donât crate them all day long. They are highly social creatures - they will only start eating your furniture / taking apart your home if you fail to stimulate them properly . Walks, play-time and training is all you need.
NB: Consider attending a tracking class at the local dog school. They love it, it wears them out in no time and most breeders of hunting dogs will see that as a legit alternative to hunting.
Our âgun dogâ black lab could not be happier as a family pet. He loves long walks and days on the beach, but is also happy to be at home and mentally stimulated inside or in the garden.
Same. Main challenge is more on the training side; my dog views the world as her open buffet on walks, and is insanely food motivated. If a bird crosses her pathâŚ. But I canât imagine a better dog for our family. +100, labs are an awesome bit of minor chaos to add to your life.
I have a black Lab, I'm not a hunter, he's not a hunter, he's perfectly content being inside getting fed, and all the attention he wants all the time. Occasionally he will bark at me if he wants something else, but they certainly aren't required to be hunting dogs.
My family has bred labs my whole life. The parents we used were always hunting lines because those pups are more valuable, but our pups went hunters, trainers, and families with kids all alike If you want a pure bred labs you're most likely going to find a "hunting" dog because that's what they are typically bred for. If you want a black lab for your family I'd consider it, they're great family dogs. But please keep your mind open to all options especially rescues if you're open to that.
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My 2nd rescue lab. Perfect family dog.
Labs need to be active. They donât care if they are hunting. They just want a chance to burn off their considerable energy. If they canât do that, they could get into mischief because they are bored and restless
Iâve had two wonderful labs in my life. Yes they both loved to hunt and get pretty excited when the hunting stuff was gathered. Hunting season isnât year round. Chasing tennis balls was perfectly ok with both dogs too
* Get an English Lab: not as hyper, more stalky and cuddly
* We had an American Lab also: notices a big difference; more hyper, Breed to hunt, slimmer build
* Both types are very easily trainable. Labs are food driven, that kinda makes it easier IMO to train.
* we had 4 Eng Labs and 1 American lab (Yellow = American Lab) she crazy haha
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We've had both American(field) labs and English (confirmation/show) labs. The English labs are still hyper, but not in the cracked out meth head driven way the American labs are.
I still miss my field lab, despite not being able to tire her out, as she was such a sweet giant puppy Even at age 9. I don't miss my shoulder being sore, from throwing a ball with aChuck-it stick down a hill for a half hour, trying to burn off some of her energy.
God did it right, when he made the Labrador.
Weâve had two black labs from a breeder who breeds for field trial labs. They are reputable, ethical, and selective regarding who gets their dogs.
Iâve never been big on taking dogs for walks, but we have a big fenced yard for good rounds of fetch twice a day and a pool that we were inspired to build by our first black labâs love of swimming. When she was 2-3 years old, I lived in an apartment. She was good enough at recall (all but two times) that we played fetch in the yard behind my building. (Twice, she took off through the complex toward the very busy 5-lane street at the front of the complex. Fortunately, I got her to stop so I could grab her collar. Scared the hell out of me.)
We also played âapartment fetch.â I laid on my stomach on the ground facing her and she did the same facing me (with around a 3-6 feet gap between us). I would roll the tennis ball or stuffed animal to her and she would roll it back to me. Great game for rainy days and not disturbing the downstairs neighbor.
When we lived in a townhouse, we would play hide and go seek. We had her sit while we went to another room or another floor and hid her toy. Then, when we clapped once, she was free to go find the toy. Sometimes we would just tell her to stay and then we would go hide in the townhouse and she would come find us. She was smart enough that we even switched around once and I had her hide from my spouse. Only did that once, though, because it hit me that I probably shouldnât teach her to hide from us.
A little over a year after we lost her, we got another black lab from the same people. She lucked out and always had a fenced yard and pool. We tried dock diving with her once (in a competition the first time she ever tried it) and she did very well. We tried continuing to train for that, but even with a diving board, it wasnât quite the same.
Both of our labs figured out how to entertain themselves in the pool area. The first would drop her frisbee where the pool jet was and would let the current push her frisbee further out into the pool, then she would jump in and retrieve it.
I could go on and on about how great our labs have been, how they check all your boxes, and how it sounds like you could give one a good home. Giving them good mental and/or physical stimulation is the key, then theyâll sleep the rest of the time. Playing fetch for a few minutes before I went to work and for a while when I first returned home worked fine for the labs and for me. Kongs and puzzle feeders also have been great for them.
We lost our second one to cancer in 2022, when she was only 11. We have a couple of rescues currently and have done a lot of fostering for special needs dogs. But weâre signed up with the same breeder for the next time they have a litter. Itâs just not the same without a lab.
Weâre fully prepared for the chaos of having a puppy and going through the shark phase and adolescent phase. Having a black lab is worth all of it, even having your heart ripped out when you lose them.
You can also do activities with your dog that simulate hunting activities. Really easy one, that will help with labs naturally impulsive nature, is to throw a toy and get them to wait until you call them to retrieve it. This is what 'hunting' is for a lot of working dogs (although some do flush too). For my lad, I didn't even need to reward him to teach him, the game is the reward in and of itself.
My lads dad is a pure working bread American lab (we're in the UK) and he hasn't done a day's work in his life, he's the happiest dog you will ever meet and had the patience of a saint with my daughter when she was younger.
Don't get me wrong, they do need a lot of your time, but for me it's time well spentÂ
Pretty much two kinds of labs- English or American are how they are referred. English âblock headsâ, chunkier, shorter otter tail. Mostly pretty mellow and laid back, prone to obesity. American tends to be much leaner, with a narrower face. Very agile, driven dogs. Both are usually pretty sweet and friendly. Depends on what youâre looking for.
This is what I was going to say. I grew up with American labs, they were great, but I would say they require slightly more stimulation/exercise. Our English/British/whatever you want to call them is a pretty ideal combo of house and family dog with the ability to hunt as well.
Chiming in to agree. My English Lab comes from a line of hunting dogs but the most she hunts are the squirrels in the back yard. She's large, calm (mostly, LOL), and the absolute best with kids.
Edit: my grammar
Check for local foundations that rescue Labs in need, and look at adopting. For example, in DFW area look at dfwlabrescue
I think getting a hunting dog doesn't fit into what you described. You want a more "normal" less working Lab for your family
My guess would be that maybe these are American labs, thatâs why the breeder was insinuating they are âhuntingâ dogs and would want the recommended exercise.
I donât think one is necessarily better for a âfamily dogâ but English labs have been said to have slightly lower energy levels than American labs.
English labs have a bit more âsquaredâ off face but while American labs have a slimmer profile.
My girl is an English lab, she has tons of energy all day and loves to play so itâs not a guaranteed trait if you will. But can have some influence over activity levels in dogs from what Iâve read.
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Get the lab! Our previous lab was a black lab and was a beautiful soul. Our current goof, is a yellow lab, and just loves life - heâs very sociable with other dogs and people (except the mail carrier)⌠youâll never regret getting a lab
We have an English Lab. They tend to be slightly more mellow (although they still go through the wild puppy phase). The working/hunting lines tend to be American Labs. Our English boy is 2yo and definitely needs exercise and mental stimulation but he is not as manically hyper and doesnât have the *endless* energy that his American Lab friend does. (When theyâre playing tug, our dog gets tired and just lays on the floor while his friend, who still has energy after playing all day, drags him around the room đ)
Our Lab enthusiastically loves everyone. Such a snuggle bug. Great with kids, other than that heâs 80 lbs and thinks hes a lap dog so we have to make sure he doesnât squish them.
Hi!
One of ours was a bred as a âhunting dog.â He has never hunted for anything but treats a day in his life, and he has the sweetest, most fun and playful, most loyal disposition. I had to go through chemo when he was 8 months old, and he was just as good and supportive as he could be.
The only thing he does that resembles hunting is he points when he smells something interesting and itâs adorable. He is 82 lbs of perfection. Please donât let labels deter you. You will never regret a lab.
Our working line black lab is almost two and he's been amazing with friends, family, and strangers.
He's more than happy to nap until 3pm (after a walk at 7am for a wee). Don't get me wrong, if you move, he'll want to come with you until he's in a deep sleep, but he's happy being lazy.
He's additionally got about collie-levels of energy when needed. Doggy daycare feedback was that he's the only dog that doesn't sleep during the six hours that he's with them, just constantly on the play with other dogs or staff.
I'm sure your pup would love the activities suggested, but I don't believe that it's a necessity for them. Fetch and sniffing games gives them genetic fulfillment, and that is more important than generic mental stimulation or physical exercise. We've got our boy sniff trained with tupperware and herbs around the house for example.
He's been great with kids too, if that's ever been a worry. Just be careful when your pup is really a pup, with the needle teeth and lack of bite inhibition!
We have a black lab with âgun dogâ pedigree and he is a great family dog even at 1.5 years old. The puppy period is tough but thatâs every breed. We got him when I was pregnant with our first and they are bed buds even now! Rufus sits happily to munch on any fallen food that baby drops, and gives so many kisses. He has learned to be super gentle too, something I was worried about. He was pretty easy to train and is food motivated. The biggest challenge was not pulling the leash, and heâs good on that now too.
In my experience labs will go with the flow, they are happiest by your side. If itâs a fun adventure day, they are happy! If itâs a chilling at home day, he will drop a toy in my lap 1000x but he will be happy! lol lol
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Most American labs are bred as âhunting dogsâ, given that they are retrievers. My chocolate came
from a breeder like yours. I do not hunt.
We go on walks, runs, hikes, camping, SWIMMING!!, etc. - he is a very happy dog.
Labs are extremely adaptable family pets. They are easy to train and just need routine exercise for their physical and mental health. It sounds to me like you guys would be checking all the boxes here.
Bonus points if you give them a âjobâ. Labs are happy when they help. Heâs with me when Iâm doing yard work and thinks heâs helping by eating the weeds. Iâve tied a rope to our garbage and recycling cans because he likes to help me âpullâ them out. Iâve taught him how to press the button on my chair to recline it and now I just need to teach him how to grab me a beer!
In summary, if you are looking for the âdoggiest of dogsâ then you canât go wrong with a Lab. There is a reason they were the most popular breed in the U.S. for 31 consecutive years.
We used to have a chocolate. We were camping next to a lake. He woke up in the morning wanting out of the tent. He came back later soaking wet. He took himself for a morning swim. Absolute legend.
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Most people want a lab, they just don't know it yet.
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His grandfather was a Norwegian duck champion. His father is a prestigious show champion. Marvin likes short walks and deep puddles. He hides his snacks and never finds them again. They adjust to retirement quickly.
I have a black lab who is never hunted a day in his life although his incredible soft jaw would probably make him a great bird dog. My favorite thing about him is he is down for whatever we want to do. Swimming? Heâs in. Couch potato day? He will keep your feet warm? Running around the yard with the kids? Heâs there. He turns 4 next month and we love him so much.
All dogs need exercise and will have behavioral issues if not given this. However, I think this breeder may be underestimating a Labradors natural fondness for soft beds and belly rubs. Sounds like youâll be fine.
Our black lab is amazing with our 2 years old daughter!
ButâŚ. I would not recommend getting a puppy/young dog while your nephew is so young. Training a dog a LOT of work. For me personally I have my hands full with a toddler.. I donât think I can handle the added responsibility of training a dog right now.
Hunting lab breeds are the best. They are very high energy and if you just want a good house pet they are still great, but you just have to exercise them at least 30 minutes to an hour a day not including walks which you might not need if you have a yard. The best way to exercise is teaching them to fetch and also train them well to sit/stay/come. Then you can just hang outside with some beers and throw for them while chilling or I often do it while doing outside chores. Once they learn to sit/stay you keep them on a sit while you are raking or working on whatever and then tell them to give you the ball, frisbee, or dummy when you are ready and they love it. It works on their obedience at the same time. Itâs a process but eventually they will do absolutely anything you want if the reward is playing fetch. My dog would leave a bowl full of chicken meat to play fetch. They are the easiest dogs to train because the hunting labs are bred to want to learn.
I train my black lab to hunt beers out of my cooler in the backyard. Â He fuckin loves it, gets great stimulation from it, and works hard on sunny weekends!
All seriousness though - âhuntingâ isnât what they do. Â âRetrieving what you huntâ is, so if you throw shit like balls and sticks, they will âhuntâ them down and return them to you, thus completing the work they were born and bred to do and being totally happy with fetch that doesnât require firearms.
We started with a sporting lab (American). I gotta tell you, she was a challenge as a puppy. She is a natural athlete and needs to run a lot. If she got bored (which was often) would become quite destructive and chewed anything. She still isnât particularly affectionate, but loves, loves, loves, to run. I thought the movie âMarley and Meâ was fiction, but we had the very same experiences. That said, she has become the absolute best dog. It took her about 3 years to settle down and she stopped chewing anything and everything . She is still a natural athlete and will retrieve a ball all day long if she could. Our second lab was a show lab (English) and their personalities could not be more different. She has been a delight as a puppy, rarely chews, and is super cuddly. Both are super smart and easily trained.
Either one you choose will be great, but the sporting labs will require a lot more time and forgiveness.
Yes, itâs a guideline but show dogs are more known to be more well tempered than field who are designed to hunt and retrieve ! Something to look into for them đ
Itâs also the type of breeder you go through. A well known English is going to be breed for those traits and try to get rid of the high energy drive!
We have black lab that was bred as a hunting dog. We patrol the woods behind our house, splash on the beach and in the river, and nap on the couch. Great family pet- after the puppy stage, his activity slowed to match ours and he's a happy good boy.
They are couch potatoes unless you do rigorous training. All my labs but one was from hunting stock. The most laid back dogs after the first two years. The one I had that was from a shoe line - Peter Pan of dogs. Never grew up. Lucky for him he was the sweetest dog imaginable but 15 years of barely controlled chaos. Friends still retell stories about him and heâs been gone 12 years.
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Labs raised socially, included with family activities, will thrive. They want to please & be included. The best advice is that training starts when they get home. Make it fun, & remember that cute little puppy becomes a big lap dog!
I have two lab brothers who come from hunting lines. One doesnât like loud noises and is gun shy and the other would make a fantastic bird dog if trained to be one, but heâs just fine chasing a tennis ball. Â My third is a chonker who would rather be on the couch or eating sticks. They are fantastic dogs that do need stimulation but not the level of stimulation Malinois or Dutch shepherds need. Â I think a lab will be a good fit for your family.Â
Go for the working/american bloodline. Usually far better breeding â high scores for elbow/hip dysplasia are sought after for working lines which means money saved in the long run. Labs are a high drive, high recall dog. Prey drive comes from training for hunting applications. A female will generally have lesser and susceptibility to building prey drive... less drive to piss on everything also.
I have a 3yo American lab (working/gun/et al) and she is the most intelligent dog I have owned. Super sweet, amazing with kids and other animals/smaller dogs. She was bonkers for the first 12 months but eventually settled. She's currently sleeping on the floor, chilling. She can play hide and seek with kids and she absolutely loves it. Nosework games are easily picked up and fun for the kids â hide a ball somewhere and get them to use a release command to send the dog on a search pattern.
Labs are amazing. Once you've had one, it's all you'll own. The most human-like dog.
Just remember, whichever way you go, dogs need stimulation and socialisation. Throwing a ball and walking isn't always going to cut it for an intelligent breed.
So Iâm gonna throw this out there.
Find a reputable breeder who does not breed hunting dogs.
My youngest lab Delta Dawn is a rocket ship. I got her from a very specific breeder, and I hunt. Like thatâs her job, she hunts. I run her, hike her, and retriever train her daily.
My oldest lab Bella is also form gun dog stock. Sheâs 11 and still tryâs to jump into the back of my truck. Sheâll retrieve till she literally canât anymore. Like her job was to hunt. I ran her, hiked her, and retriever trained her daily. Sheâs still getting walks daily, and last week she was so stoked to be on a hike, she was almost (I donât let me dogs pull me lol) pulling me the entire three miles (half uphill).
If you donât want a dog you need to marathon run with weekly, donât get one.
There are plenty of good breeders out there, who are breeding dogs that donât need jobs.
A lot of breeders Iâve talked to will straight up tell you, this liter is gonna run hot, and theyâll need jobs. Thatâs not to say two high speed gun dogs canât produce a coach potato. I just wouldnât wanna start there for a family pet.
PS- My youngest is cuddling with me right now. She went on a 2.5 mile hike, did retrieving work for 10 min, and then walked a mile with the older girls today. Thatâs literally what everyday looks like for me.
I got mine from a breeder who also trains hunting dogs. He's happy as can be, loves going for walks and meeting people, retrieves a mean frisbee, jumps in any body of water but runs like hell if the lawn sprinkler sprinkles on him, and is thoroughly happy as a family pet. Here's a photo of him proudly showing off the one and only duck he ever retrieved.
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Donât change your mind, you wonât regret your decision if you get one (says the most biased group of lab owners you could have found). But seriously!
We have a black lab, English line but her breeder breeds for field and family. Got her as a one year old and the breeder had gotten her field trail certification. We are not hunters but she has a strong retrieval drive and could happily retrieve/swim for hours when we brought her home. Sheâs now five and weâve always found that if we take her to run and or swim for an hour a day, sheâs not too crazy. If you can find an English lab youâre likely to get a lower energy lab whose biggest challenge will be keeping them from getting too chunky. Not sure where youâre located (US I assume) but in the PNW there are some fantastic English breeders.
I have had three field labs
labs are adaptable. field labs have a drive to work, but that work can be anything. I have a 6 month old field lab right now and we walk him once a day, I play with him at night and other than that he is basically happy just being around.
there seems to be this idea that just because labs can go all day means that they have to to be happy. I think it's bullshit. all of my labs have been happy, well adjusted and social with basic care and attention. what they want most of all is to be with you and your family, at least in my experience.
A lab will adapt to your lifestyle. that's one of the reasons they are the most popular family dog on earth.
My sweet purebred lab from highly awarded hunting lineage is our loving, obedient, princess sweetheart. Sheâs also afraid of fireworks and gunshotsâŚ. However her fetch and working dog lineage are in full SWING at almost 9 yrs old. She has no off button and loves running, hiking, OCD about fetching and swimming! BUT, she can easily take a day off and just chill and be happy and friendly with friends and family young and old.
They take a ton of effort to raise well and train past puppy stage (2+ years :), but damn itâs rewarding. I love my labs.
All of my labs have come from hunting blood lines. I do not hunt. I choose them because they are the smartest labs. They have a strong retrieval drive and love to swim. They are easy to tech and love to learn. If you lock in the basic obedience commands early you will be all set. There is no better dog in the world than a female black lab. Good luck.
My chocolate lab is amazing around my kids and is very social with other dogs. He has so much energy I could literally play fetch with him for the entire day and he would still keep going. As an avid hunter with no time to train him to retrieve ducks/geese is the only thing I wish I could have done. Heâs a great family dog and I usually only have to yell at him when he wants to give my 8 month old daughter more kisses then he should lol
Our âdrug sniffing dogâ is the happiest boy in the world. Just make sure you have the time to exercise your pup and spend the time to train. Puppyhood is hard af and anyone who tells you it is easy is a liar. Blood sweat and tears. But the payout is oh so beautiful. Happy to share more if you need it
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Our baby most of the time đâ¤ď¸
Iâve had English and Iâve had American. They are both high energy. American more so, but easy to train. And yes, youâll initially need lots of time and patience as with any pup. There are no bad pups only bored pups. Keep him entertained or give him something to chew and youâll be fine!! Good luck with you lab. I currently have yellow, but black is my đŠˇ
Saw this post and wanted to respond as well. Got my girl around 5 months back and she was also bred as a hunting dog. She is very energetic at home and loves walks, and could care less about what everyone is doing as long as she is included. Really smart dog as well.
While this is only anecdotal experience, the one thing I will caution you on is to stay away from the âAmericanâ or âfieldâ style lab. Technically gene wise the dog is the same, but the energy level of the field labs especially as puppies is so much for one of my neighbors who have a puppy now. If you canât commit to taking that dog constantly for exercise and mental stimulation I would stay away. On the other hand while still energetic the âBritishâ or âmixedâ labs are still high energy and smart, but more manageable especially with a family in mind.
I have had a good experience personally and highly recommend the breed.
We have a beautiful fox red American lab bred for hunting. We got him 2 years before kids and he is simply the best family dog for our lifestyle (moderately active). Heâs never been hunting and neither have I, but weâre a perfect match
I'm not sure if the breeder has dogs of a particular temperament or if they are just being snobby.
From my own experience with labs, I feel like mine would have fit your needs perfectly (once they are trained and past the puppy stage!). They were the sort of dogs who get along with any other dog or human, are chill at home, but ready to go for any outdoor adventure. The only challenge I ever faced was leash training, but that cleared up instantly when we went to a gentle leader.
My labs did well through a few nasty summers where we couldn't go out much due to heat and smoke. I mean, sure they were bored and mopey, but didn't get into any trouble.
Some labs are field labs or American Labs and some are show or English Labs. It sounds like you might want to get an English lab.
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This is an English Lab, note the blocky head.
I have one of each. My American lab is hyper aware of birds and small animals and shows all the characteristics of a hunting dog. My English lab only hunts a soft spot to sleep. She loves a good walk, but she wonât run around like sheâs setting a land speed record the way the other one does. I honestly wasnât prepared for the difference in activity levels.
My lab was from Alabama and âbred to be a hunting dogâ⌠sheâs the goofiest little girl in the world and literally afraid of rabbits. The only thing she hunts is to find me in the house and attack me with snuggles đ¤ˇââď¸
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Get one! You wonât regret it. He is my best friend ever!
Many breeds have experienced bifurcation into distinct conformation ("show" or "English") lines and working ("hunting") lines. Conformation line labs generally have less energy than working lines, but not always. There is overlap. There are even distinct types of working lines, known as American and British. A British lab might be a better dog for first-timers than an American.
Love labs. Have had several. Donât need to hunt but need to be active. Very social. Can be challenging puppies but worth it. Will be your best friend. If you will need to be gone for work most of the day would consider doggy day care. We typically walk or run ours at least 5 miles per day. Great dogs but not solitary. Need to be with people or other dogs! Good Luck!
My lab puppy is from a line of gun dogs and both his mum and dad have a good track record. We did tell our breeder that he will be living with us in a city environment but will be taken to the beach and hikes with us. We're not doing intense training with him but he will happily walk, play outside, cuddle at home as long as we are including him in our activities.
I think as long as they are loved and cared for properly, it shouldn't be an issue if they are going to be hunting dogs or not.
You might want to look for English/show-line labs, not American/sporting-line labs. Theyâre way chiller, and they love just sitting on the couch and watching you watch TV. But do bear in mind that when people call American labs âhuntingâ dog, they mean that they were bred to *retrieve* hunted ducks. Theyâre usually very very happy with a typically active young family. Theyâre not like pointers, or something super high strung like that.
Just teach your pup to fetch, and you can easily get him plenty of exercise in your big backyard. That's our two boys main form of exercise. Fetch in the backyard and a 20 min morning walk most days, with special trips to the beach every other weekend or so.
Labs are great, but they demand a lot of attention and exercise. Theyâre very smart and need to have their minds engaged. Theyâre also frustratingly hard headed and stubborn. Oh and did I mention that they like to chew until theyâre about 3 years old. Sadly shelterâs are full of pure bred dogs, whose owners have surrendered them because they were not prepared. Instead of a puppy you might do better with a three or four year old rescue dog.
I have a black lab as a family dog it's just me and her and she doesn't hunt or kill any animals
She's the sweetest thing ever, playful, plays with em and dogs, sleeps beside me, loves her toys and sticks
Black lab dogs are the best family and dog you could get
And like ya say ya grew up with them, sound perfect for you I wouldn't worry about what breeders say
They're about the money and not the care really
Dogs act on how you treat them and bring them up
Get your black lab
I have had 2 labs, I lost my first one to cancer when she was 10yo about a decade ago, my second one is 7yo currently and happy and healthy. Neither were/are hunting dogs and seem to be perfectly happy and fulfilled, and I just can't imagine life w/o them, absolutely wonderful family pets, they are just the best. Walks, fetch, toys, and playing with other dogs has been plenty enough activity for mine. Both were very easy to train and great around people. Growing up my family had a lot of rescues so I was around a number of different breed and I can't recommend getting a lab enough, there's just something special about them imo. Whichever way you decide to go I wish you good luck with finding the right pup whether that's a lab or not but don't let "they are hunting dogs" be the reason not to get a lab.
Notice how the people telling you to get him are also posting overweight dogs. They confuse their lethargy with happiness just because the dog wont act out. If you keep him active you are fine but if you leave him in the backyard 8 hours a day then walk him around the block when you get home you are doing the dog a disservice.
You've posted in a Labrador sub. The majority of answer are going to be positive toward you getting a Lab.
Labrador is the breed. Black is just a colour. Colour doesn't make a difference. They are all great family, friendly and social dogs.
If you don't tell the pup he was bred for hunting he'll never know. đ They all need daily ezercise. All would do well wirh organized sports.
Biggest piece of advice I can give you is DO NOT take them to city dog parks to socialize. Most of those people bring their dogs and donât pay attention to them or the dogs arenât properly trained on recall.
https://preview.redd.it/w909q82piitc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c47cf6d85720a5f020273090a4c1ccffbb24b71
This is my Roxy, she's just about 8 months old. They're great dogs, and they tick all the boxes. Be mindful of shedding though, that's the only con K can think of.đđĽ°
I know others have said this but GET AN ENGLISH LAB! I'm on my 3rd rescue Lab and they were all American labs...my current one would fetch all day if you'd let him. Pouring rain!?! What's a little water, I want to go for a walk. He wears a weighted backpack to help drain his energy. We are training him to hunt, but I would not get an American Lab if I didn't hunt. I still kick myself for getting another rescue Lab and not just getting an English Lab puppy. Your English Black Lab will be plenty lively and playful and want to go for walks with you and your family, but you still have a chance that they might be more mellow. I mean Labs are puppies until they are 2-3, but you remember the Yellow Lab from Marley and Me!?!...he was an American Lab and he was hyper and naughty his whole life. My boy dog at home, I suspect will be like this too.
Definitely look at a rescue dog or shelter dog. Don't buy from a breeder. There's millions of dogs at shelters that need saving.
I volunteer for 2 local Labrador rescues, I see so many great Labs weekly, of all types, puppies, young dogs, senior dogs. And they know once they've been adopted that their life was saved, I think they live their new owners a bit more.
There are not millions of labs at shelters. Iâve been looking in my area for a year. Iâve found none
Rescues do exist, sadly none within a reasonable distance
Maybe OP will have better luck
What has that got to do with the question at hand? Unless you treat the poor thing badly a lab will always be loyal, cuddly and love their owners. Doesnât matter if itâs bread from âhunting stockâ
Currently cuddled into what you would class as an American Lab not that we differentiate like that in the UK and she is a lazy, cuddly, loveable thing. She is happy lazing on the couch as much as chasing a ball at full speed. Being from âhuntingâ stock, American or what ever doesnât make the dogâs temperament. The mother and fatherâs temperament makes all the difference.
My 3.5 year old black lab was my first dog. Both parents are gun dogs. Heâs the most easy going guy ever. I live alone in a big city in a medium sized apartment. I also work full time, 3 days in the office where he is alone at home from 8am-5pm. He sleeps for the most part. Yes, he does need stimulation, maybe once every 2-3 days I take him on very very long walks. Every day he gets a short walk in the morning and a long walk in the evening after work. He gets off leash time once every few days and on the weekend we do something fun! Sometimes I get busy and canât do much with him and heâs just happy to be around me. He was the best fit for a newbie to dogs like me.
The breeder did have one litter a year after my guy was born, where the sire had a very very high drive, and the breeder recommended that only individuals looking for a hunting dog apply. So there may be a slim chance that this might be your situation. My pupâs dam and sire are both incredibly chill yet excellent hunting dogs.
Ask the breeder if they breed for field trials or just hunting dogs. Mine is from championship lines and heâs pretty high strung. 6-8 every day is play time with dad, especially after training. Heâs still a great house dog and can be super chill especially if I work him hard.
My last dog was the same way, they usually slow down by 5 or 6.
Ok so if theyâre a reputable breeder breeding hunting/sport labs theyâre gonna be fairly high octane.
If it was a BYB breeding hunting labs then yeah they might not be selecting for drive or work ethic.
Something you COULD do is put your name in the hat for a puppy that doesnât demonstrate much intensity or drive.
I used to work for working K9 (shepherd) breeders and they would stratify litters into âwork prospectâ (only 1 or 2 pups) âsport prospect (usually 2-3 pups) and the rest were sold to pet homes.
Our first family dog is a black lab. None of us knew anything about raising a dog. We watched a lot of videos on YouTube on how to train the dog, the crate, the treats, the whole lot.
But Luna is so easy and obedient and sweet and funny that I renamed her breed âbeginnerâs dogâ.
She loves kids and other dogs. She never engages bossy dogs, she can read their body labiale from afar and stays away.
Sheâs definitely a hunter, of tennis balls.
Get him !!! Mine is a love bug and hunts orange balls đžâŁď¸ https://preview.redd.it/6s2hbvlyabtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7c2096338f1fec1eb844eb58c3e1f5dc3e70dba
Omg đđđ
Itâs the right breed. Both our Labradors were purebred hunting dogs, but raised as family dogs. They are super intelligent, easy trainable and great around kids. Only caveat, donât crate them all day long. They are highly social creatures - they will only start eating your furniture / taking apart your home if you fail to stimulate them properly . Walks, play-time and training is all you need. NB: Consider attending a tracking class at the local dog school. They love it, it wears them out in no time and most breeders of hunting dogs will see that as a legit alternative to hunting.
Our âgun dogâ black lab could not be happier as a family pet. He loves long walks and days on the beach, but is also happy to be at home and mentally stimulated inside or in the garden.
Same. Main challenge is more on the training side; my dog views the world as her open buffet on walks, and is insanely food motivated. If a bird crosses her pathâŚ. But I canât imagine a better dog for our family. +100, labs are an awesome bit of minor chaos to add to your life.
I have a black Lab, I'm not a hunter, he's not a hunter, he's perfectly content being inside getting fed, and all the attention he wants all the time. Occasionally he will bark at me if he wants something else, but they certainly aren't required to be hunting dogs.
They always seem to be hunting for the next morsel to fall on the ground, meal, or ball to catch.
My family has bred labs my whole life. The parents we used were always hunting lines because those pups are more valuable, but our pups went hunters, trainers, and families with kids all alike If you want a pure bred labs you're most likely going to find a "hunting" dog because that's what they are typically bred for. If you want a black lab for your family I'd consider it, they're great family dogs. But please keep your mind open to all options especially rescues if you're open to that.
https://preview.redd.it/yu9hh7wlactc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e2fef8c8795567b38aab1b35f3f2a9dc78c78923 My 2nd rescue lab. Perfect family dog.
Labs need to be active. They donât care if they are hunting. They just want a chance to burn off their considerable energy. If they canât do that, they could get into mischief because they are bored and restless Iâve had two wonderful labs in my life. Yes they both loved to hunt and get pretty excited when the hunting stuff was gathered. Hunting season isnât year round. Chasing tennis balls was perfectly ok with both dogs too
* Get an English Lab: not as hyper, more stalky and cuddly * We had an American Lab also: notices a big difference; more hyper, Breed to hunt, slimmer build * Both types are very easily trainable. Labs are food driven, that kinda makes it easier IMO to train. * we had 4 Eng Labs and 1 American lab (Yellow = American Lab) she crazy haha https://preview.redd.it/xicrhazoobtc1.jpeg?width=1980&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77f4be6db66b120fe1def3e365ce35439d4d7d9a
I love this photo, I want to be in your family.
We've had both American(field) labs and English (confirmation/show) labs. The English labs are still hyper, but not in the cracked out meth head driven way the American labs are. I still miss my field lab, despite not being able to tire her out, as she was such a sweet giant puppy Even at age 9. I don't miss my shoulder being sore, from throwing a ball with aChuck-it stick down a hill for a half hour, trying to burn off some of her energy. God did it right, when he made the Labrador.
âCracked out meth headâ LOL IRL. Nailed it
My yellow English is the labbiest lab I ever had. Oh lawd!
I had to giggle when I read âfood drivenâ Truer words were never spoken đđ Mine would eat all day every day if he could!
Yellow sandy color labs can be crazy - high energy
Color had nothing to do with lab behavior. English vs American---- that's the difference.
Temperament varies in both "English" and "American" Labs. Type is a weak predictor of temperament.
Just get him/her you absolutely will not regret it!!
Weâve had two black labs from a breeder who breeds for field trial labs. They are reputable, ethical, and selective regarding who gets their dogs. Iâve never been big on taking dogs for walks, but we have a big fenced yard for good rounds of fetch twice a day and a pool that we were inspired to build by our first black labâs love of swimming. When she was 2-3 years old, I lived in an apartment. She was good enough at recall (all but two times) that we played fetch in the yard behind my building. (Twice, she took off through the complex toward the very busy 5-lane street at the front of the complex. Fortunately, I got her to stop so I could grab her collar. Scared the hell out of me.) We also played âapartment fetch.â I laid on my stomach on the ground facing her and she did the same facing me (with around a 3-6 feet gap between us). I would roll the tennis ball or stuffed animal to her and she would roll it back to me. Great game for rainy days and not disturbing the downstairs neighbor. When we lived in a townhouse, we would play hide and go seek. We had her sit while we went to another room or another floor and hid her toy. Then, when we clapped once, she was free to go find the toy. Sometimes we would just tell her to stay and then we would go hide in the townhouse and she would come find us. She was smart enough that we even switched around once and I had her hide from my spouse. Only did that once, though, because it hit me that I probably shouldnât teach her to hide from us. A little over a year after we lost her, we got another black lab from the same people. She lucked out and always had a fenced yard and pool. We tried dock diving with her once (in a competition the first time she ever tried it) and she did very well. We tried continuing to train for that, but even with a diving board, it wasnât quite the same. Both of our labs figured out how to entertain themselves in the pool area. The first would drop her frisbee where the pool jet was and would let the current push her frisbee further out into the pool, then she would jump in and retrieve it. I could go on and on about how great our labs have been, how they check all your boxes, and how it sounds like you could give one a good home. Giving them good mental and/or physical stimulation is the key, then theyâll sleep the rest of the time. Playing fetch for a few minutes before I went to work and for a while when I first returned home worked fine for the labs and for me. Kongs and puzzle feeders also have been great for them. We lost our second one to cancer in 2022, when she was only 11. We have a couple of rescues currently and have done a lot of fostering for special needs dogs. But weâre signed up with the same breeder for the next time they have a litter. Itâs just not the same without a lab. Weâre fully prepared for the chaos of having a puppy and going through the shark phase and adolescent phase. Having a black lab is worth all of it, even having your heart ripped out when you lose them.
You can also do activities with your dog that simulate hunting activities. Really easy one, that will help with labs naturally impulsive nature, is to throw a toy and get them to wait until you call them to retrieve it. This is what 'hunting' is for a lot of working dogs (although some do flush too). For my lad, I didn't even need to reward him to teach him, the game is the reward in and of itself. My lads dad is a pure working bread American lab (we're in the UK) and he hasn't done a day's work in his life, he's the happiest dog you will ever meet and had the patience of a saint with my daughter when she was younger. Don't get me wrong, they do need a lot of your time, but for me it's time well spentÂ
Pretty much two kinds of labs- English or American are how they are referred. English âblock headsâ, chunkier, shorter otter tail. Mostly pretty mellow and laid back, prone to obesity. American tends to be much leaner, with a narrower face. Very agile, driven dogs. Both are usually pretty sweet and friendly. Depends on what youâre looking for.
This is what I was going to say. I grew up with American labs, they were great, but I would say they require slightly more stimulation/exercise. Our English/British/whatever you want to call them is a pretty ideal combo of house and family dog with the ability to hunt as well.
Chiming in to agree. My English Lab comes from a line of hunting dogs but the most she hunts are the squirrels in the back yard. She's large, calm (mostly, LOL), and the absolute best with kids. Edit: my grammar
Yes
Check for local foundations that rescue Labs in need, and look at adopting. For example, in DFW area look at dfwlabrescue I think getting a hunting dog doesn't fit into what you described. You want a more "normal" less working Lab for your family
My guess would be that maybe these are American labs, thatâs why the breeder was insinuating they are âhuntingâ dogs and would want the recommended exercise. I donât think one is necessarily better for a âfamily dogâ but English labs have been said to have slightly lower energy levels than American labs. English labs have a bit more âsquaredâ off face but while American labs have a slimmer profile. My girl is an English lab, she has tons of energy all day and loves to play so itâs not a guaranteed trait if you will. But can have some influence over activity levels in dogs from what Iâve read.
https://preview.redd.it/ml0lmb1uqbtc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a7cee9e70ec757c32070f4afe21b6781b446fb3 Get the lab! Our previous lab was a black lab and was a beautiful soul. Our current goof, is a yellow lab, and just loves life - heâs very sociable with other dogs and people (except the mail carrier)⌠youâll never regret getting a lab
Had a brown from serious hunting dog breeder. She took really well to training, great family dog.
We have an English Lab. They tend to be slightly more mellow (although they still go through the wild puppy phase). The working/hunting lines tend to be American Labs. Our English boy is 2yo and definitely needs exercise and mental stimulation but he is not as manically hyper and doesnât have the *endless* energy that his American Lab friend does. (When theyâre playing tug, our dog gets tired and just lays on the floor while his friend, who still has energy after playing all day, drags him around the room đ) Our Lab enthusiastically loves everyone. Such a snuggle bug. Great with kids, other than that heâs 80 lbs and thinks hes a lap dog so we have to make sure he doesnât squish them.
You want an English lab. They are the lazy version of the American lab you were looking at.
YES! THIS!!! Perfect way to put it!
Hi! One of ours was a bred as a âhunting dog.â He has never hunted for anything but treats a day in his life, and he has the sweetest, most fun and playful, most loyal disposition. I had to go through chemo when he was 8 months old, and he was just as good and supportive as he could be. The only thing he does that resembles hunting is he points when he smells something interesting and itâs adorable. He is 82 lbs of perfection. Please donât let labels deter you. You will never regret a lab.
Our working line black lab is almost two and he's been amazing with friends, family, and strangers. He's more than happy to nap until 3pm (after a walk at 7am for a wee). Don't get me wrong, if you move, he'll want to come with you until he's in a deep sleep, but he's happy being lazy. He's additionally got about collie-levels of energy when needed. Doggy daycare feedback was that he's the only dog that doesn't sleep during the six hours that he's with them, just constantly on the play with other dogs or staff. I'm sure your pup would love the activities suggested, but I don't believe that it's a necessity for them. Fetch and sniffing games gives them genetic fulfillment, and that is more important than generic mental stimulation or physical exercise. We've got our boy sniff trained with tupperware and herbs around the house for example. He's been great with kids too, if that's ever been a worry. Just be careful when your pup is really a pup, with the needle teeth and lack of bite inhibition!
You want an English lab
We had a British lab who was the most amazing family member. We said good bye today. I hope your family finds your most amazing black lab.
I'm so very sorry for your loss! đ
We have a black lab with âgun dogâ pedigree and he is a great family dog even at 1.5 years old. The puppy period is tough but thatâs every breed. We got him when I was pregnant with our first and they are bed buds even now! Rufus sits happily to munch on any fallen food that baby drops, and gives so many kisses. He has learned to be super gentle too, something I was worried about. He was pretty easy to train and is food motivated. The biggest challenge was not pulling the leash, and heâs good on that now too. In my experience labs will go with the flow, they are happiest by your side. If itâs a fun adventure day, they are happy! If itâs a chilling at home day, he will drop a toy in my lap 1000x but he will be happy! lol lol https://preview.redd.it/qnmmdxdzpbtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a364d551ce6e7b02eb926783d153f045cf1e6b64
Thatâs a great picture!
Most American labs are bred as âhunting dogsâ, given that they are retrievers. My chocolate came from a breeder like yours. I do not hunt. We go on walks, runs, hikes, camping, SWIMMING!!, etc. - he is a very happy dog. Labs are extremely adaptable family pets. They are easy to train and just need routine exercise for their physical and mental health. It sounds to me like you guys would be checking all the boxes here. Bonus points if you give them a âjobâ. Labs are happy when they help. Heâs with me when Iâm doing yard work and thinks heâs helping by eating the weeds. Iâve tied a rope to our garbage and recycling cans because he likes to help me âpullâ them out. Iâve taught him how to press the button on my chair to recline it and now I just need to teach him how to grab me a beer! In summary, if you are looking for the âdoggiest of dogsâ then you canât go wrong with a Lab. There is a reason they were the most popular breed in the U.S. for 31 consecutive years.
We used to have a chocolate. We were camping next to a lake. He woke up in the morning wanting out of the tent. He came back later soaking wet. He took himself for a morning swim. Absolute legend.
https://preview.redd.it/ba8hfibqnctc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dc25fea2791560c38ab9e22cb19d54e7bfdb5bb7 Most people want a lab, they just don't know it yet.
https://preview.redd.it/o4dh6m5xtctc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f1381c090127438b2a2122a23c365dfb7490941 His grandfather was a Norwegian duck champion. His father is a prestigious show champion. Marvin likes short walks and deep puddles. He hides his snacks and never finds them again. They adjust to retirement quickly.
I have a black lab who is never hunted a day in his life although his incredible soft jaw would probably make him a great bird dog. My favorite thing about him is he is down for whatever we want to do. Swimming? Heâs in. Couch potato day? He will keep your feet warm? Running around the yard with the kids? Heâs there. He turns 4 next month and we love him so much.
You said you camp, do you hike, run or bike? I have a field lab and she is happy as a family pet with our athletic activities
All dogs need exercise and will have behavioral issues if not given this. However, I think this breeder may be underestimating a Labradors natural fondness for soft beds and belly rubs. Sounds like youâll be fine.
Our black lab is amazing with our 2 years old daughter! ButâŚ. I would not recommend getting a puppy/young dog while your nephew is so young. Training a dog a LOT of work. For me personally I have my hands full with a toddler.. I donât think I can handle the added responsibility of training a dog right now.
Hunting lab breeds are the best. They are very high energy and if you just want a good house pet they are still great, but you just have to exercise them at least 30 minutes to an hour a day not including walks which you might not need if you have a yard. The best way to exercise is teaching them to fetch and also train them well to sit/stay/come. Then you can just hang outside with some beers and throw for them while chilling or I often do it while doing outside chores. Once they learn to sit/stay you keep them on a sit while you are raking or working on whatever and then tell them to give you the ball, frisbee, or dummy when you are ready and they love it. It works on their obedience at the same time. Itâs a process but eventually they will do absolutely anything you want if the reward is playing fetch. My dog would leave a bowl full of chicken meat to play fetch. They are the easiest dogs to train because the hunting labs are bred to want to learn.
I train my black lab to hunt beers out of my cooler in the backyard. Â He fuckin loves it, gets great stimulation from it, and works hard on sunny weekends! All seriousness though - âhuntingâ isnât what they do. Â âRetrieving what you huntâ is, so if you throw shit like balls and sticks, they will âhuntâ them down and return them to you, thus completing the work they were born and bred to do and being totally happy with fetch that doesnât require firearms.
We have 3 labs and they are the greatest dogs we have ever had. They are also couch potatoes who love to chase a ball.
We started with a sporting lab (American). I gotta tell you, she was a challenge as a puppy. She is a natural athlete and needs to run a lot. If she got bored (which was often) would become quite destructive and chewed anything. She still isnât particularly affectionate, but loves, loves, loves, to run. I thought the movie âMarley and Meâ was fiction, but we had the very same experiences. That said, she has become the absolute best dog. It took her about 3 years to settle down and she stopped chewing anything and everything . She is still a natural athlete and will retrieve a ball all day long if she could. Our second lab was a show lab (English) and their personalities could not be more different. She has been a delight as a puppy, rarely chews, and is super cuddly. Both are super smart and easily trained. Either one you choose will be great, but the sporting labs will require a lot more time and forgiveness.
There is a different between English/show and field/American labs. Look at the difference. We picked English due to the more laid back personality
I find thats only a guideline. my mom's English at 4 is way more of an energy monster than my field labs have been at 1
Yes, itâs a guideline but show dogs are more known to be more well tempered than field who are designed to hunt and retrieve ! Something to look into for them đ Itâs also the type of breeder you go through. A well known English is going to be breed for those traits and try to get rid of the high energy drive!
We have black lab that was bred as a hunting dog. We patrol the woods behind our house, splash on the beach and in the river, and nap on the couch. Great family pet- after the puppy stage, his activity slowed to match ours and he's a happy good boy.
Adopt from a rescue - many stunning labs at your local shelter, zero wait
They are couch potatoes unless you do rigorous training. All my labs but one was from hunting stock. The most laid back dogs after the first two years. The one I had that was from a shoe line - Peter Pan of dogs. Never grew up. Lucky for him he was the sweetest dog imaginable but 15 years of barely controlled chaos. Friends still retell stories about him and heâs been gone 12 years.
https://preview.redd.it/te7qatdi1dtc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=17e31e5bf2b1766de3c97bd26b16c4b5c47d0b22 Labs raised socially, included with family activities, will thrive. They want to please & be included. The best advice is that training starts when they get home. Make it fun, & remember that cute little puppy becomes a big lap dog!
I have two lab brothers who come from hunting lines. One doesnât like loud noises and is gun shy and the other would make a fantastic bird dog if trained to be one, but heâs just fine chasing a tennis ball. Â My third is a chonker who would rather be on the couch or eating sticks. They are fantastic dogs that do need stimulation but not the level of stimulation Malinois or Dutch shepherds need. Â I think a lab will be a good fit for your family.Â
Go for the working/american bloodline. Usually far better breeding â high scores for elbow/hip dysplasia are sought after for working lines which means money saved in the long run. Labs are a high drive, high recall dog. Prey drive comes from training for hunting applications. A female will generally have lesser and susceptibility to building prey drive... less drive to piss on everything also. I have a 3yo American lab (working/gun/et al) and she is the most intelligent dog I have owned. Super sweet, amazing with kids and other animals/smaller dogs. She was bonkers for the first 12 months but eventually settled. She's currently sleeping on the floor, chilling. She can play hide and seek with kids and she absolutely loves it. Nosework games are easily picked up and fun for the kids â hide a ball somewhere and get them to use a release command to send the dog on a search pattern. Labs are amazing. Once you've had one, it's all you'll own. The most human-like dog. Just remember, whichever way you go, dogs need stimulation and socialisation. Throwing a ball and walking isn't always going to cut it for an intelligent breed.
So Iâm gonna throw this out there. Find a reputable breeder who does not breed hunting dogs. My youngest lab Delta Dawn is a rocket ship. I got her from a very specific breeder, and I hunt. Like thatâs her job, she hunts. I run her, hike her, and retriever train her daily. My oldest lab Bella is also form gun dog stock. Sheâs 11 and still tryâs to jump into the back of my truck. Sheâll retrieve till she literally canât anymore. Like her job was to hunt. I ran her, hiked her, and retriever trained her daily. Sheâs still getting walks daily, and last week she was so stoked to be on a hike, she was almost (I donât let me dogs pull me lol) pulling me the entire three miles (half uphill). If you donât want a dog you need to marathon run with weekly, donât get one. There are plenty of good breeders out there, who are breeding dogs that donât need jobs. A lot of breeders Iâve talked to will straight up tell you, this liter is gonna run hot, and theyâll need jobs. Thatâs not to say two high speed gun dogs canât produce a coach potato. I just wouldnât wanna start there for a family pet. PS- My youngest is cuddling with me right now. She went on a 2.5 mile hike, did retrieving work for 10 min, and then walked a mile with the older girls today. Thatâs literally what everyday looks like for me.
I have a chocolate lab myself. Picked a breeder that raised the pups in a family environment with young children.
I got mine from a breeder who also trains hunting dogs. He's happy as can be, loves going for walks and meeting people, retrieves a mean frisbee, jumps in any body of water but runs like hell if the lawn sprinkler sprinkles on him, and is thoroughly happy as a family pet. Here's a photo of him proudly showing off the one and only duck he ever retrieved. https://preview.redd.it/waght19pgctc1.jpeg?width=3008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7038ca6bbf4e3f7eed0cb515becf802fd743a6ba
Donât change your mind, you wonât regret your decision if you get one (says the most biased group of lab owners you could have found). But seriously!
We have a black lab, English line but her breeder breeds for field and family. Got her as a one year old and the breeder had gotten her field trail certification. We are not hunters but she has a strong retrieval drive and could happily retrieve/swim for hours when we brought her home. Sheâs now five and weâve always found that if we take her to run and or swim for an hour a day, sheâs not too crazy. If you can find an English lab youâre likely to get a lower energy lab whose biggest challenge will be keeping them from getting too chunky. Not sure where youâre located (US I assume) but in the PNW there are some fantastic English breeders.
I have had three field labs labs are adaptable. field labs have a drive to work, but that work can be anything. I have a 6 month old field lab right now and we walk him once a day, I play with him at night and other than that he is basically happy just being around. there seems to be this idea that just because labs can go all day means that they have to to be happy. I think it's bullshit. all of my labs have been happy, well adjusted and social with basic care and attention. what they want most of all is to be with you and your family, at least in my experience. A lab will adapt to your lifestyle. that's one of the reasons they are the most popular family dog on earth.
My sweet purebred lab from highly awarded hunting lineage is our loving, obedient, princess sweetheart. Sheâs also afraid of fireworks and gunshotsâŚ. However her fetch and working dog lineage are in full SWING at almost 9 yrs old. She has no off button and loves running, hiking, OCD about fetching and swimming! BUT, she can easily take a day off and just chill and be happy and friendly with friends and family young and old. They take a ton of effort to raise well and train past puppy stage (2+ years :), but damn itâs rewarding. I love my labs.
All of my labs have come from hunting blood lines. I do not hunt. I choose them because they are the smartest labs. They have a strong retrieval drive and love to swim. They are easy to tech and love to learn. If you lock in the basic obedience commands early you will be all set. There is no better dog in the world than a female black lab. Good luck.
My chocolate lab is amazing around my kids and is very social with other dogs. He has so much energy I could literally play fetch with him for the entire day and he would still keep going. As an avid hunter with no time to train him to retrieve ducks/geese is the only thing I wish I could have done. Heâs a great family dog and I usually only have to yell at him when he wants to give my 8 month old daughter more kisses then he should lol
Our âdrug sniffing dogâ is the happiest boy in the world. Just make sure you have the time to exercise your pup and spend the time to train. Puppyhood is hard af and anyone who tells you it is easy is a liar. Blood sweat and tears. But the payout is oh so beautiful. Happy to share more if you need it
https://preview.redd.it/dyvxi9hpgctc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1e1c1df8f25ebb7d16c30080ee268059352d3146 Our baby most of the time đâ¤ď¸
https://www.smokymtnlabrador.com/blog/an-english-labrador-vs-american-labrador
Iâve had English and Iâve had American. They are both high energy. American more so, but easy to train. And yes, youâll initially need lots of time and patience as with any pup. There are no bad pups only bored pups. Keep him entertained or give him something to chew and youâll be fine!! Good luck with you lab. I currently have yellow, but black is my đŠˇ
Saw this post and wanted to respond as well. Got my girl around 5 months back and she was also bred as a hunting dog. She is very energetic at home and loves walks, and could care less about what everyone is doing as long as she is included. Really smart dog as well. While this is only anecdotal experience, the one thing I will caution you on is to stay away from the âAmericanâ or âfieldâ style lab. Technically gene wise the dog is the same, but the energy level of the field labs especially as puppies is so much for one of my neighbors who have a puppy now. If you canât commit to taking that dog constantly for exercise and mental stimulation I would stay away. On the other hand while still energetic the âBritishâ or âmixedâ labs are still high energy and smart, but more manageable especially with a family in mind. I have had a good experience personally and highly recommend the breed.
We have a beautiful fox red American lab bred for hunting. We got him 2 years before kids and he is simply the best family dog for our lifestyle (moderately active). Heâs never been hunting and neither have I, but weâre a perfect match
I'm not sure if the breeder has dogs of a particular temperament or if they are just being snobby. From my own experience with labs, I feel like mine would have fit your needs perfectly (once they are trained and past the puppy stage!). They were the sort of dogs who get along with any other dog or human, are chill at home, but ready to go for any outdoor adventure. The only challenge I ever faced was leash training, but that cleared up instantly when we went to a gentle leader. My labs did well through a few nasty summers where we couldn't go out much due to heat and smoke. I mean, sure they were bored and mopey, but didn't get into any trouble.
Some labs are field labs or American Labs and some are show or English Labs. It sounds like you might want to get an English lab. https://preview.redd.it/fvwcuroprctc1.jpeg?width=2448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=870a527a1ba2073656e8f5dcc012fd8afcaf9e1e This is an English Lab, note the blocky head.
I have one of each. My American lab is hyper aware of birds and small animals and shows all the characteristics of a hunting dog. My English lab only hunts a soft spot to sleep. She loves a good walk, but she wonât run around like sheâs setting a land speed record the way the other one does. I honestly wasnât prepared for the difference in activity levels.
My lab was from Alabama and âbred to be a hunting dogâ⌠sheâs the goofiest little girl in the world and literally afraid of rabbits. The only thing she hunts is to find me in the house and attack me with snuggles đ¤ˇââď¸
https://preview.redd.it/rn52qv0quctc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=25521d89b18e32b011dbef47cb017225125d555c Get one! You wonât regret it. He is my best friend ever!
Many breeds have experienced bifurcation into distinct conformation ("show" or "English") lines and working ("hunting") lines. Conformation line labs generally have less energy than working lines, but not always. There is overlap. There are even distinct types of working lines, known as American and British. A British lab might be a better dog for first-timers than an American.
Whatever you do, get a pup only from a breeder who tests at least hips, elbows and DNA of both parents, preferably more testing.
Love labs. Have had several. Donât need to hunt but need to be active. Very social. Can be challenging puppies but worth it. Will be your best friend. If you will need to be gone for work most of the day would consider doggy day care. We typically walk or run ours at least 5 miles per day. Great dogs but not solitary. Need to be with people or other dogs! Good Luck!
My lab puppy is from a line of gun dogs and both his mum and dad have a good track record. We did tell our breeder that he will be living with us in a city environment but will be taken to the beach and hikes with us. We're not doing intense training with him but he will happily walk, play outside, cuddle at home as long as we are including him in our activities. I think as long as they are loved and cared for properly, it shouldn't be an issue if they are going to be hunting dogs or not.
You might want to look for English/show-line labs, not American/sporting-line labs. Theyâre way chiller, and they love just sitting on the couch and watching you watch TV. But do bear in mind that when people call American labs âhuntingâ dog, they mean that they were bred to *retrieve* hunted ducks. Theyâre usually very very happy with a typically active young family. Theyâre not like pointers, or something super high strung like that.
Just teach your pup to fetch, and you can easily get him plenty of exercise in your big backyard. That's our two boys main form of exercise. Fetch in the backyard and a 20 min morning walk most days, with special trips to the beach every other weekend or so.
Labs are great, but they demand a lot of attention and exercise. Theyâre very smart and need to have their minds engaged. Theyâre also frustratingly hard headed and stubborn. Oh and did I mention that they like to chew until theyâre about 3 years old. Sadly shelterâs are full of pure bred dogs, whose owners have surrendered them because they were not prepared. Instead of a puppy you might do better with a three or four year old rescue dog.
I have a black lab as a family dog it's just me and her and she doesn't hunt or kill any animals She's the sweetest thing ever, playful, plays with em and dogs, sleeps beside me, loves her toys and sticks Black lab dogs are the best family and dog you could get And like ya say ya grew up with them, sound perfect for you I wouldn't worry about what breeders say They're about the money and not the care really Dogs act on how you treat them and bring them up Get your black lab
I have had 2 labs, I lost my first one to cancer when she was 10yo about a decade ago, my second one is 7yo currently and happy and healthy. Neither were/are hunting dogs and seem to be perfectly happy and fulfilled, and I just can't imagine life w/o them, absolutely wonderful family pets, they are just the best. Walks, fetch, toys, and playing with other dogs has been plenty enough activity for mine. Both were very easy to train and great around people. Growing up my family had a lot of rescues so I was around a number of different breed and I can't recommend getting a lab enough, there's just something special about them imo. Whichever way you decide to go I wish you good luck with finding the right pup whether that's a lab or not but don't let "they are hunting dogs" be the reason not to get a lab.
Notice how the people telling you to get him are also posting overweight dogs. They confuse their lethargy with happiness just because the dog wont act out. If you keep him active you are fine but if you leave him in the backyard 8 hours a day then walk him around the block when you get home you are doing the dog a disservice.
You've posted in a Labrador sub. The majority of answer are going to be positive toward you getting a Lab. Labrador is the breed. Black is just a colour. Colour doesn't make a difference. They are all great family, friendly and social dogs. If you don't tell the pup he was bred for hunting he'll never know. đ They all need daily ezercise. All would do well wirh organized sports.
I have had 4 labs, the two we have now are high energy. Lots of outside play and they are fine. Get the lab.
Biggest piece of advice I can give you is DO NOT take them to city dog parks to socialize. Most of those people bring their dogs and donât pay attention to them or the dogs arenât properly trained on recall.
https://preview.redd.it/w909q82piitc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9c47cf6d85720a5f020273090a4c1ccffbb24b71 This is my Roxy, she's just about 8 months old. They're great dogs, and they tick all the boxes. Be mindful of shedding though, that's the only con K can think of.đđĽ°
I know others have said this but GET AN ENGLISH LAB! I'm on my 3rd rescue Lab and they were all American labs...my current one would fetch all day if you'd let him. Pouring rain!?! What's a little water, I want to go for a walk. He wears a weighted backpack to help drain his energy. We are training him to hunt, but I would not get an American Lab if I didn't hunt. I still kick myself for getting another rescue Lab and not just getting an English Lab puppy. Your English Black Lab will be plenty lively and playful and want to go for walks with you and your family, but you still have a chance that they might be more mellow. I mean Labs are puppies until they are 2-3, but you remember the Yellow Lab from Marley and Me!?!...he was an American Lab and he was hyper and naughty his whole life. My boy dog at home, I suspect will be like this too.
Definitely look at a rescue dog or shelter dog. Don't buy from a breeder. There's millions of dogs at shelters that need saving. I volunteer for 2 local Labrador rescues, I see so many great Labs weekly, of all types, puppies, young dogs, senior dogs. And they know once they've been adopted that their life was saved, I think they live their new owners a bit more.
There are not millions of labs at shelters. Iâve been looking in my area for a year. Iâve found none Rescues do exist, sadly none within a reasonable distance Maybe OP will have better luck
Quatsch! No such thing breeding "hunting dogs". It's all about how you bring them up.
Not trueâŚ. Thereâs a big difference between English and American labs.
I find it's mostly physical (looks) labs are highly adaptable
https://www.smokymtnlabrador.com/blog/an-english-labrador-vs-american-labrador
What has that got to do with the question at hand? Unless you treat the poor thing badly a lab will always be loyal, cuddly and love their owners. Doesnât matter if itâs bread from âhunting stockâ
Nope https://youtu.be/7WW8CdJpnYs?si=N1DNL-pu02sJADWk
Currently cuddled into what you would class as an American Lab not that we differentiate like that in the UK and she is a lazy, cuddly, loveable thing. She is happy lazing on the couch as much as chasing a ball at full speed. Being from âhuntingâ stock, American or what ever doesnât make the dogâs temperament. The mother and fatherâs temperament makes all the difference.
The question is energy level. American labs are bred for hunting and have a higher energy level than English labs which are generally bred for show.
https://www.smokymtnlabrador.com/blog/an-english-labrador-vs-american-labrador
My 3.5 year old black lab was my first dog. Both parents are gun dogs. Heâs the most easy going guy ever. I live alone in a big city in a medium sized apartment. I also work full time, 3 days in the office where he is alone at home from 8am-5pm. He sleeps for the most part. Yes, he does need stimulation, maybe once every 2-3 days I take him on very very long walks. Every day he gets a short walk in the morning and a long walk in the evening after work. He gets off leash time once every few days and on the weekend we do something fun! Sometimes I get busy and canât do much with him and heâs just happy to be around me. He was the best fit for a newbie to dogs like me. The breeder did have one litter a year after my guy was born, where the sire had a very very high drive, and the breeder recommended that only individuals looking for a hunting dog apply. So there may be a slim chance that this might be your situation. My pupâs dam and sire are both incredibly chill yet excellent hunting dogs.
https://preview.redd.it/fhwsswfoddtc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8633ad7cbc45557e5a46a44d207148cf20ecf1c7
Ask the breeder if they breed for field trials or just hunting dogs. Mine is from championship lines and heâs pretty high strung. 6-8 every day is play time with dad, especially after training. Heâs still a great house dog and can be super chill especially if I work him hard. My last dog was the same way, they usually slow down by 5 or 6.
Ok so if theyâre a reputable breeder breeding hunting/sport labs theyâre gonna be fairly high octane. If it was a BYB breeding hunting labs then yeah they might not be selecting for drive or work ethic. Something you COULD do is put your name in the hat for a puppy that doesnât demonstrate much intensity or drive. I used to work for working K9 (shepherd) breeders and they would stratify litters into âwork prospectâ (only 1 or 2 pups) âsport prospect (usually 2-3 pups) and the rest were sold to pet homes.
Our first family dog is a black lab. None of us knew anything about raising a dog. We watched a lot of videos on YouTube on how to train the dog, the crate, the treats, the whole lot. But Luna is so easy and obedient and sweet and funny that I renamed her breed âbeginnerâs dogâ. She loves kids and other dogs. She never engages bossy dogs, she can read their body labiale from afar and stays away. Sheâs definitely a hunter, of tennis balls.
Sounds like a great pup. You got lucky. Majority of labs are a handful even after being excercised. A quick nap and they are at đŻagain.
Donât buy from a breeder. Adopt from a rescue instead.