Hi everyone,

I am wanting to get a lab puppy as a companion for my other dog also a lab (male,3yrs) can someone please let me know how true it is about them being really naughty as pups chewing etc. We got our lab from a rescue centre so we dont know about very young puppy stage. Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Michelle:)

Hi Michelle,
From what I can remember of Max' puppy hood ( it's 11 yrs ago) he wasn't too bad in the chewing department- the main object of his chewing used to be always my shoes, very partial to them he was.
Mind you he did get plenty of exercise as the kids were all at that stage where they wanted to walk him. From my experience all dogs will chew to some extent you just have to use a good deal of common sense whilst they are puppies, ie work on damage limitation, I'm gettin a new puppy in about 8 weeks ( another Dobe) but this time around I have invested in a large crate and intend to start from there, as I've just repalced the stair carpet after my last Dobe got through his chewing stage! Best of Luck if you decide to go ahead, P.S I had more of a problem introducing a new puppy to the household in the beginning as Max had been the centre of our attention for quite a long time and wasn't keen on sharing it it with a new arrival.
She
She

Hi She

Thanks for that:) its nice to hear from people who have been there. Jazz was also very partial to shoes and wallpaper when we first got him, but whether this was because he hadn't been trained properly or because of his bad start in life we don't know. He is alot better now, but he still hates the window cleaner!!.

Is your puppy male or female and have you thought of a name for it?
Speak to you soon

Michelle:)

Hi Michelle,
The forth coming puppy is a bitch, so I am expecting some fun and games come the time she comes into season having two other entire dogs but it's not un-managable, I've got a friend who has two Dobes of either sex and she manages quite easily, so I will be pulling on her for advice. I am a real Dobe addict and was desperate for another but from asking around the majority of people I spoke to did not recommend having two dogs together, so this is going to be the first bitch I have ever owned. As for names? Well i've got a few in mind but I tend to fluctuate daily, so far the one that keeps coming back to the fore is "Angel". Mind you Zac tend to get called "stumpy" quite alot for obvious reasons. Lab's are lovely though, very affectionate and never seem to ever really grow up, my old boy loves water and collecting large stones, over the years the number of stones he has brought back from the river would have made an extermely big rockery. Let me know if you are going to get a puppy, there is one plus about two dogs, they make exercise much easier ie galloping about with each other. Another reason I'm looking forward to the new arrival as a playmate for Zac.
She

hello jazzywoo me again

Is your current lab a working type or a show type lab becasue their personalities and behaviours can be quite different. If you work then definitely go for a show type as they are far more suited to periods on their own than working types are.

again if you work then... actually do you work????? knowing that will make my anser a lot easier to give

Hi Rachael

Thanks for the info on show/work lab I do work 4 hrs in the morning so do you think a show lab would be best?

Michelle:)

Hi

Having a show Lab compared to a working Lab will unfortunately not have any effect on the chewing phase ! :)

I have a show type Lab who has chewed more than my working type Lab ! It all depends on the individual dog !

It is a thing that I am afraid unless you are with them 24/7 you are going to have to put up with it ! Part of Lab puppy ownership ! There are things to do to lessen the chance by leaving in a place where there are less inviting things and stimulating toys etc but it will happen !! The chewing can last upto anything around 18 months of age !

HTH

Lucy

I will bow to Lucys wisdom on this one as I only have a show type, she beats me hands down with 4 labs (how she does it is beyond me :))

I had heard though that show types were more suited to being leftthan working types but she's right it is pure luck as to whether they'll chew or not!!

Darcy as been fairly good and I work full time

When picking a puppy I went for a slightly quieter one because even at 6 weeks old their personalities are starting to come through
so a good idea is not to pick the puppy that immediately comes up and starts chewing your shoe :D

But again like Lucy recommended if you have stuff you dont want to lose to puppies, take it out of their way, and dont ever underestimate what they can get to or what they're prepared to try and chew.

I never would have guessed Darcy could have got in a zipped up bag and get out a bottle of liquid shoe polish and at only 12 weeks old!!!!!!!!!!!!

I learnt the hard way :D

I cant imagine theres a single person out there who hsant lost something to a lab, you just have to be vigilant!! and be prepared to do a lot of shopping to replace stuff
We're on our third sky remote now :D

hi having read this reminded me of looking after my friends lab, a chocolate lab called Rio, he was lovely but such a handful. When she used to go into town she left him in kennel/run but if it rained she liked him brought in. It started raining so off I went to let him in the utility room and as I approached his run I saw this slimy black thing in the kennel that resembled a rat.... well dog or no dog I wasn't going in there and it was obviously dead. So there am I crouched under a brolly in the pouring rain not daring to go any closer but making sure Rio was ok......which he was! I decided damn it he can stay out (he had cover). When my friend came home I told her there was a dead rat in his kennel and she rushed out there only to return with a black sock he had eaten earlier and regurgitated! Gross but I'll never forget the dead rat story! That fella ate anything that wasn't nailed down and if it was he'd still try and eat it!

I have a golden lab who is just coming up to 2yrs and a golden retriever who is 17 months. We got the retriever when the lab was 7months because I'd taken on full time employment and leaving her on her own for 7hours a day wasn't a good thing. She only lived in the kitchen and on the landing because when we gave her free run, many a thing got chewed including carpet, telephone wire, slippers and even wallpaper. However I will say she not been has bad as the retriever, who even though their is the two of them decided she would strip the kitchen walls for us.

Ours is a working lab so maybe working labs do need a bit more attention.

Their not as bad now, however only yesterday they managed to get in one of the bedrooms and rip the carpets. Although their lovely dogs and I wouldn't swop them they need plenty of toys whilst your out at work and a good energetic run or two, plus certainly the companship which having two provides.

They both like pinching small items of clothing too.