 | Home > Off Topic > Buying a Labrador bitch - advice! |
 
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| Romadog Member Since: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Powys Posts: 1750  |
Pics please.
I have 2 bitches and have now got a dog, because that was what was left too !! Had great intentions of having pups with the bitches, but the eldest came with no papers, so eventually had her spayed and the younger who was bought on a whim as the last bitch available, we also spayed at a late time of 7. She got an infection. My advice is to decide what your intentions are and if pups are not what you are after then get her spayed as soon as. Just helps save the carpet and hassle from potent males !! Ask to see other offspring if possible and / or owners to ask questions etc. My eldest isn't a large rotund dog. They are generally the ones that are bred with large heads, 'chunky monkeys' I call them. Show breed. Some are generally fed more than they need. Some say that I'm stingey, but mine are fed twice a day and therefore are not constantly begging. Also they have treats as treats and not so often that they are more the norm. |
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3rd Nov 2015 7:03pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013 
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I have no pics and he is not tec enough to take pics of the puppies!!! If they are spayed I presume they don,t make a mess of the carpet, no periods?! I don,t want to breed. thanks for the info, they don,t look "chunky monkeys" they seem to be more field dogs which is fine by me, I would rather have so,etching I can train properly and get into a bit of field sports maybe. I don,t like using treats to trAin, didn,t need to with my collie, if it is expected to do, it it does it. Im not into chock drops
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3rd Nov 2015 7:31pm |
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| Rickydodah Member Since: 14 Jul 2014 Location: East Sussex Posts: 1091 |
There is broadly speaking only one reason dogs get fat....the owner. Diet is extremely important particularly in a breed such as Labradors. Working stock tend to be smaller, leaner dogs than show stock but will still suffer if over fed. There is as much discussion around neutering as there is about feeding but all of my dogs are fed Skinners kibble which is a good as most and better than a lot of the most expensive brands. In my experience there are many views for, and against neutering, what age should it be done, should it be necessary at all. Generally speaking the view is with a bitch, if it's done before the dogs first season then the mammary glands are not developed therefore cancer in that area is greatly reduced. Problem there is until after the first season secondary sexual characteristics are not developed and the dog can end up a perpetual juvenile. Many hormonal changes take place at this time and can lead to disproportionate body growth, generally producing dogs with very long legs. Spaying in bitches can lead to incontinence and some other complications. I never used to spay the bitches routinely but, everyone of them developed Pyometra at some stage of their life often with life threatening consequences and resulted in the uterus being removed anyway, so nowadays following their first season they're off to the vet. So far I've not found that the neutering has led to any loss of drive or the dog's ability to work either. Of course an added benefit is should a dog come into season during the shooting season then the dog can't be worked. I'm not far from you and there are many good trainers in Sussex, some are the old fashioned variety and some follow modern methods, reward based training, treats can be used or clicker training again using rewards is very effective. I'm pretty much in the treating camp now as its astonishing how fast it can work done correctly, although many traditional trainers have yet to realise this. Good luck with your dog what ever way you prefer to go.
 I started with nothing and still have most of it left! |
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3rd Nov 2015 9:11pm |
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| Oakseywick Member Since: 20 Dec 2014 Location: Cirencester Posts: 1000 
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Hi zagato, Labradors are great dogs I have a chocolate bitch from a working line and she weighs 29 kg and is 10yrs old so not a heavy rotund animal like you are worrying about. As Ricky said the only reason you see so many fat labs is down to the owners over feeding, poor diets and too many treats. As I work for a global leader in premium pets foods and work in the vet industry I see a lot of these poor overweight dogs. Getting her spayed is the best thing for her if you don't intend to breed for the reasons Ricky mentioned like risk of pyrometra and mammary cancer. It is important to keep the weight correct aswell to prevent excessive strain on the joints which can increase risk of arthritis. Plenty of exercise and the right diet will control weight and can help reduce risk of joint disease if you want me to recommend a good diet if you get her let me know as pet nutrition is my job and a job I love.
Good luck with your decision but you can't go far wrong with a lab as a family pet which will be loyal and loving!
Andy |
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3rd Nov 2015 9:30pm |
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| Happyoldgit Member Since: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3471 
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Zag, as mentioned in another thread I've had, trained and worked Labs for many years.
Question: Why are you going for one with so much field trial blood - do you intend to work it? A Lab, especially if from highly bred field trial stock, still requires excersise and stimulation - same applies to a WCS. If you don't bother with the "miles" it WILL get fat. Bitches tend to generally be softer and more biddable but if you do not intend to breed from her - and as already has been mentioned - Pyometra is a very real risk in the unspayed bitch. I currently have two black Labs, one dog, one bitch. The bitch suddenly went down with Pyro earlier this year at age 4, it was only the fact of getting her to my vet PDQ and her operating quickly that saved the animal, shame as I had hpes of breeding from her. 900 notes is quite enough, if you are not looking for a peg or rough shooting pup to bring on yourself then maybe consider taking on a rescue. Whatever, I hope your interest in the breed lasts. Steve. Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades. Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW. [Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc] http://forums.lr4x4.com I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic. |
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3rd Nov 2015 11:24pm |
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328
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As much as I love our Quanta (Sarah's Guide Lab) the breed just does not do it for me
Best Working dog (well Bitch) is a Weimie true utility dog in the field
Weimie to Lab ratio in our house 8 to 1 That said if a working dog is not required then a rescue dog is totally the way forward and why not a Lab a they are loyal and a true friend (just to fluffy for me)  Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge |
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4th Nov 2015 5:53am |
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| Rudski Member Since: 13 Jul 2014 Location: Lake District Posts: 141 |
Try this link, I found it very useful, with a lot of strong characters on there but you also have the likes of Vicky Payne who is a vet that writes for BASC and give very sound advice, and when you're pulling your hair out with training you can tap in to lots of knowledge from people who's been there, just like on here.
http://www.gundogtrainingforum.co.uk/phpbb/ |
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4th Nov 2015 7:13am |
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| ken Member Since: 18 Aug 2009 Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !! Posts: 4328
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I've avoided that forum and the WCGB for years self opinionated pricks the lot of them
I speak as I find |
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4th Nov 2015 8:42am |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013
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Thanks for the replies folks, I slept on it last night and thoughts once again came back to a Border Collie, as it has done for the last few years. I suppose once you are used to a breed you get hooked. I had a dog Border Collie who was easy to train, (none of this choccy drop business!) I worked on farms whilst at University and got him pretty well trained on sheep and very good with cows but that is not hard is it
He came down the pub with me, to discos, lectures, sailing, everywhere.
It,s been a long wait but the kids are now 8 & 11, we have moved to a place with half an acre and have some chickens with ducks coming in spring! the dog will be with me all the time at home or on gardening jobs as I still do a few clients with big gardens. Now at 50 I need to get out more and go back to walking a few hours a day and we have some great walks in the country on the doorstep! It will make me live longer that's for sure, I,m too old and fat to go down the gym 
Having identified a good breeder, done the all the checks, gone back through the generations etc I have put my name down for a dog. The parents are being mated tomorrow so will see what happens!! |
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4th Nov 2015 10:24am |
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| jpj nutt Member Since: 03 Nov 2015 Location: bristol Posts: 58 
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I sat back and thought as a x collie owner im not going to get mixed up in this one but I have too, I had a small holding with max, percy, holly, benson, barney, not forgetting boris and they all loved my/our landys over the years and you are right if they can not jump in they can be lifted in easy and theres something about a landy with a fit dog in the back or sat on the middle seat in the front had a few of those lots of good memories of that
collies everytime |
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4th Nov 2015 11:24am |
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| mse Member Since: 06 Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 5054 
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Like most people in the kennel club and actually many dog club people - i know this as my mom is a Welsh Springer Sp breeder. We had 2 collies and when my oldest dies, ive got a working english springer and a bitch, always had dogs. Now ignoring the fact she is the love of my life   it is true - girl dogs are exactly the same as girl humans. All dogs are different, as with people so i wouldnt worry too much.
As for getting her spayed - ive already decided i wont be doing that. Mike |
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4th Nov 2015 5:04pm |
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| Rudski Member Since: 13 Jul 2014 Location: Lake District Posts: 141 |
I did say there were some some strong characters on there, I tend not to ask questions because most have already been asked, just like here if you search it brings up pretty much all the info you want.  |
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4th Nov 2015 7:59pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610 
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Hi Zagato,
A few more questions, a few months of ownership and based on historical experience you'll be knocking out Labrador puppies by the bucket load as the new forum Labrador aficionado. Trouble is there'll be no colour choice but black as they'll already be suitably dinitrolled, waxoyled or treated against corrosion by the latest product no doubt.   If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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6th Nov 2015 11:12pm |
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| Zagato Site Supporter Member Since: 08 Jan 2011 Location: Billingshurst West Sussex Posts: 5013
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LOL, hello mate
Yes I need a kind of ACF-50 for dogs, that resists water, kills parasites and makes the coat all shiny  |
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7th Nov 2015 7:44am |
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