Right.

After careful consideration have chosen my breed and am going for a lab.

I plan to do flyball or agility with him/her but am keener to have the calmer of the two sexes.

Does anyone know if there are noticeable differences between labs in puppy and adulthood

I've found lab bitches to be calmer than dogs (but I'm sureothers will have found the opposite!). However, I would think if you want to flyball or agility you'll want a dog that's a LOT faster than a lab!!(Unless you always want to come last, that is!) They're not designed for speed, rather to cover ground at a steady pace so as to not overrun the game.

All the dogs I've seen doing these sports are REALLY hyper and over-excited. If you want a calm dog, I can forsee problems.

Oh its not to be competitive

Just an activity for us to do together.

I know they're not the best breed but I thought it would be fun. my mums lab wont jump anything not even into the car.

You have to pick him up every timne!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a lab bitch and she is completely mad but admitably is only 11 weeks old!!!

My fiance had two labs before, both bitches and I believe they were moderately calm.

Good luck with your choice

I have a Lab bitch & a Lab dog both 11wks old and they're both completely mad !!! :D :D

Fablab, the only reason your puppies are mad is because they are Libees Niece and nephew!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, back to the question. I have had both dogs and bitches and at the moment, my bitch is MENTAL and my dog is calm wonderful and is never in Trouble. However, my bitches parents are crazy and my dogs parents are both calm. So i think it is just ca case of what lines are behind the puppy. Both Labrador dogs and bitches can be hyper but some can also be quiet (Like my boy Turbo :-)

True. :rolleyes:

My lab bitches are mad whereas the dogs are very relaxed and laid back, infact sometimes I have to check they're still breathing :D

I must say i have a 2 1/2 year old yellow lab dog and he is still as mad as a hatter despite his manhood being removed! I have also recently aquired a 6 mth old black lab dog of who is as calm as anything. What might be a good point is the colour of the lab also reflects their attitude and behaviour, - yellows being the best all rounder, - blacks being easier to train but can sometimes be a little aggressive, and chocolate who are mixed!
This probably wont help but nuff said!

Regards
Mark

P.s whatever, bitches do tend to be the quiter out of the two but a dog can sometimes be more exciting and quicker than bitches for your agility shows/courses etc
P.p.s It is nice to see a Lab thread finally appear!

I wouldn't have thought colour would make a dog a little aggressive. I have 6 black labs and none have ever shown any aggression. I would have thought that was down to breeding and how the dog is raised.
I have met aggressive labradors but normally they are accompanied by owners who can't control them and the dog thinks it can do what it likes.

Hi There Mark,
After reading your message and the replies, i felt i would have my say about colours and agression (I know this is going off topic but i had to send a message).
You said that dark dogs (Black and chocolates) can some times be agressave and other people said that colour does not affect agression. I have to agree with you to some degree. I have a black Labrador dog who, as a youngster, used to get into a bit of bother. it was not him showing the agression, but the otherdogs were agressive towards him. I have since come to the conclusion, and i have heard many other owners saying that other dogs can not see the expression on dark dogs faces. The whole face is so dark that other dogs may not be able to see if the dog is showing a "Happy" or "agressive" expression. What are your thoughts on this, or do you all think im talking rubbish?????

Ben, To be honest i have yellow and a black dog ( of which i only aquired 2 weeks since ) so havent really explored his full personality but he has had a couple of run ins with some dogs whilst on walks but to be fair to him i think it is mostly to do with his fear of others as apposed to his aggression. So so far so good! But yes you are right about not really being able to see their expression - i can rarley see him in the boot of our car let alone him sitting outside in the pitch black!

Regards

Mark

Not exactly Mark, I've had Labs now for well over 30 years. I have worked them in obedience in my younger years but now as a doddering old fool work them at gundog work and pick up on a shoot. Mattie is the Labrador Rescue person on the board (Amongst others I might add)

If I can help at all I will, just post on here or if you prefer, click on my name and you will get my email address.

Regards, John

If you haven't got a preference why not find a breeder and choose when you view the litter? I believe it is all down to the dogs indivdual personality.

In the litter that we had Bailey (lab) from there was one dog who was a lot more laid back than the rest and one bitch who was into everything! :D

And I don't believe colour has a lot to do with it either. Afterall only one gene decides colour and a lot more make a whole dog.:)

Tracy

Ok i stand corrected!

Regards

mark

There is really nothing to choose between Black and Yellow Labradors although obviously there are good and bad in any breed or any colour. Chocolates are inclined to be later maturing then the other colours hence the reason for so few choc's in the working field. (And also the reason for so many choc’s in rescue!!!)

This could be more to do with the use people put them to rather than anything else. Working people tend be rather conservative and as the bulk in the field are black or yellow that is what they get consequently there is not the gene pool of choc's with the inherited knowledge of working. A lot of show people go for something which stands out in a crowd so choc's are rather better thought of there.

Regards, John

John, Am i right in saying you are the chap that has dealt with labs for over 20 years in rescue or am i thinking of someone else, because i have read a lot of your replys in threads and have quite often shown a lot of interest and would like to hear your opinions with some of my issues i have with my yellow and black lab dogs if it wouldnt be too much hassel.

Many Thanks

mark

John is an experienced Lab Man, but I think you may mean Mattie who is the coordinator for Lab Rescue. :)