I would really appreciate opinions on this. I fell in love with a beautiful labrador last autumn and she had puppies yesterday (I have an option on one of them). I've been reading up on questions to ask the breeder and she passed them all with flying colours (hip scores etc etc). However when I asked about temperament and mentioned a problem I'd had with my previous rescue, she said the dad had a wonderful temperament, and the mother was perfect except she had a dislike of the breeder's grown up son - she said something like "after an unfortunate incident," and the lab hadn't ever really forgiven the son since. Then she said the only other time she hadn't been friendly was to another doctor (the son is one too). Should this be ringing alarm bells for me? When I met her she was wonderful - really friendly, calm, etc. The breeders are very nice people. I mentioned them to my vet and he knows them and said the same - this is only the second litter they've had. They said they'd kept in touch with all the previous puppy owners and there were no complaints - in fact they kept one of the dogs and I met him too and he was a real sweetie. Am I being over-paranoid?

Dogs are more intelligent than we often think, and have very long memories for both good and bad experiences. How friendly is she with you? Although genes undoubtedly play a part in determining temperament, puppies are often taught their attitudes by their mother - if she is friendly and outgoing, chances are the pups will be too - unless they have a bad experience which can colour their ideas!

I'm sure that, like me, there are both people and dogs who you don't get on with - dogs are just the same. :)

She wasn't over the top friendly like my golden used to be (by this I mean she didn't put her arms around me and kiss me), but we had a long chat together and I spent quite a while stroking her etc and she was keen for me to carry on. Her son brought me a large rotten apple as a present : ) The owners run a business from their home which involves people going in and out of their garden the whole time and so she is pretty laid back about people

Why dont you ask what the unfortunate accident involved - then you can judge for yourself if hers is a justified response. Nature or Nuture... if its in her nature to be stroppy then avoid...but if its nurture then you can decide :)

HTH

If she's pretty good with strangers like that I'd say she's got a lot going for her, temperament-wise! And her son sounds a character! :D That's always a good sign!

The dam of my dog wasn't at all friendly to me on our first meeting, but subsequently she was very accepting and very happy to allow me to see her 24 hour old pups! I also knew the sire was of excellent temperament.

I would suggest that the pup would be fine, but in the end, do go with your gut instinct.

I must say, well done for thinking so much about all this, I am sure it bodes well for your future pup :)

Lindsay

just wanted to say thank you for all the advice. I have decided to go with my gut feeling and phoned this evening to ask her to keep a girl for me. Now we have to think of a name ... : )

Congratulations!! & Good Luck :D :D
Love
Kelly

Gut feelings are always right ;)

Lindsay