Help, I am currently looking for a labrador puppy.  I have wanted one for some time now due to their good temperament.  My old dog who sadly died this year was a heinz 57 rescue dog from the RSPCA and was very anti-social around humans and other dogs.  We now feel ready to get another dog and have decided on a labrador pup due to their nature.  I have two daughters and was always anxious with my old dog growling etc.  I thought this would be an easy task.  I now find myself totally confused after speaking to friends who have labradors and breeders etc.  My children want a yellow dog, I'm not to bothered.  Everyone I have spoken to obviously has their own agenda but I would welcome some independant/unbiased advice.  People are telling me that Chocolate and Black labs are easier to train and mature quicker, yellow ones are more highly strung and take longer to calm down, often remaining in the puppy stage for longer.  Also that chocolate dogs are more prone to weight gain.  Also I'm confused about working labs or show labs some people are telling me that working dogs are thinner and easier to train, but are often interbred at some point to make them leaner?  Some breeders I have spoken to have said that due to having children I should stick with show dog breeders as these dogs will be calmer but more chunkier.  I have got my heart set on a bitch, and someone has told me that bitches are more independant and less friendly.  I'm also finding a big variation in cost, with prices starting at £250 and going up to £600.  I do not wish to show the dog we want it to be a family pet so a high pedigree is not important so I am really looking at the cheaper end, though some breeders are telling me this is a big mistake and the more I pay the better the dog (obviously having their own interests in mind)  However, cost is a major issue so near to Christmas and I don't want to pay £600 when a cheaper puppy will hopefully provide all that we need.  I was also told that the chocolate ones are most rare, however at the moment every breeder I have contacted has either got chocolate or black, I'm really struggling to find a good breeder in my local area (Doncaster, South Yorks).  I would appreciate any guidance or advice.

Hi Guest, you are clearly in the process of doing some very detailed research, which is a very good thing, and well done to you. There will undoubtedly be someone here who can offer sound advice, but unless you leave contact details as per the terms of service, you'll find that your post could disappear. You see we are not allowed to advertise so contact may have to be made privately.

Good Luck,

Dawn R.

Hi, you're certainly doing your homework, which is marvellous! :) There certainly seems to be a slight difference in temperament between the three colours of labrador, with the chocolates having the reputation of being the slowest to mature. They are also the colour that needs the most research into their background because they are the 'fashionable' colour, and as such many breeders (not all, by any means) have jumped onto the bandwagon to churn out brown puppies regardless of health. Good chocolates are certainly quite rare - poorer quality ones aren't. They also seem to be commanding the highest prices simply because of this.

I personally prefer the leaner look of the working-bred labrador over the heavier-set show-type, but the working type can be so eager to be 'doing' that they can be too 'hot' for the average pet owner. Gender-wise I prefer the bitches because they seem to be more homeloving and family-orientated, whereas the dogs (at least the ones I know) seem to be more boisterous and independent, while still being very loving.

Price-wise, the thing to go for is health. There are several hereditary conditions that labradors can suffer from. Breeders whose stock has been successfully health-checked tend to ask a bit more than the 'pet' breeder down the road. Make sure that both parents have been hip-scored (see the certificates), ideally elbow-scored, and have passed their annual eye-checks. For many of these tests the dogs have to be Kennel Club registered, so don't go for either unregistered pups, or pups with any other registration. The slightly higher cost of a healthy puppy from healthy parents can save you many hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds in vet bills.

Another point to mention is that very many reputable breeders simply don't breed puppies to be ready at Christmastime. You may have to wait until the New Year. But what's a few months when you'll be getting a dog who will hopefully be a loved family member for about 15 years?

Good luck.

Hello.
Have you tried Three ridings Labrador club or North west lab ret club they both hold registers for puppies from reputable breeders also they provide info on what to look for etc.. I believe you can buy a puppy back with all the help re: training etc..

I cant put phone numbers on here but you may email me  labrador.rescue@btinternet.com and I will gladly give the numbers to you

forgot to say I would recommend blacks as the easiest to train and chocs in my humble opinion are not noted for being easy to train and the ones I have met are definitly loopy :)

We find, of the three colours, there is no difference between yellows and blacks but chocolates tend to be around a year behind in training. The proof of the pudding is that there are plenty of black and yellow Field Trials Champions but after all these years there has never yet been a Chocolate FT Ch in the UK!

Unless you are prepared for plenty of work I would steer clear of working lines. They tend to be permanently on the go. My Anna never EVER sleeps during the day. Working dogs are bred from lines who spend all day every day out in the field working and tend to inherit that trait. They are also very clever and really need their brain stimulated. You know the old saying, "The devil makes work for idle paws!"

All Labradors are prone to weight gain. It comes from being the canine dustbins of the world. A Gannet on four legs! It falls to the owner to limit that food intake or a short life followed by heart failure will follow.

Labradors do have a tendency to chew when young. Few Labrador owners who have been around a while have not had at least one who has eaten their kitchen. I personally have had two!

Virtually all Labradors dig! Holes in the lawn are the norm!

Labradors love to jump. My old Bethany cleared a four foot fence, picked up a hedgehog on me neighbours lawn and took it into their kitchen. Anna regularly clears four foot fences whilst carrying a pheasant.

An untrained Labrador is a nightmare to take for a walk. Certainly if it decides to turn left the owner has no alternative to turn left too!

As to dog or bitch. That is a personal thing. I prefer bitches but plenty of other people prefer dogs.

£600 is rather high! £300 to £400 is nearer the mark. Look for a puppy from hip scored parents. The scores should be no worse that 13 to 14 total. Unfortunately few elbow score at the moment. Both sire and dam should have been eye tested within the last year.

Labradors are not an easy dog. That's the reason the rescues are full of them, but if you are prepared to put the work into training they are the most wonderful of dogs.

Regards, John