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Veteran
Posts: 233
 
| We are picking up our lab puppy in 2 weeks. He will be 7 weeks old. I've always thought you should wait until 8 weeks but I'm not an expert. We get first choice out of the males as we had our deposit in first. Any specific qualities to look for when choosing a puppy? As in size, energy level, etc?
My fiancé is a hunter and had had a lab in the past. We have a home with 10 acres and I have always grown up with dogs, so we decided to add another member to the family :)
Also-I just happen to have an entire week off of work when we first get him which will be nice to be able to spend time with puppy. After that, I am back to work so he will be left alone for a few hours. Any comforting tips for him? He will have access to go outside or into the garage which will either be heated or have a fan blowing on him depending on the weather (there is an attached outdoor kennel connected to the garage one). He will obviously have blankets/a bed and food/water. Any good recommendations on dog food for one so young? I will also ask the owner what she is feeding upon pickup.
Thanks all! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
 
Location: North Dakota | ILuvSnap - 2015-09-01 8:10 PM We are picking up our lab puppy in 2 weeks. He will be 7 weeks old. I've always thought you should wait until 8 weeks but I'm not an expert. We get first choice out of the males as we had our deposit in first. Any specific qualities to look for when choosing a puppy? As in size, energy level, etc? My fiancé is a hunter and had had a lab in the past. We have a home with 10 acres and I have always grown up with dogs, so we decided to add another member to the family :) Also-I just happen to have an entire week off of work when we first get him which will be nice to be able to spend time with puppy. After that, I am back to work so he will be left alone for a few hours. Any comforting tips for him? He will have access to go outside or into the garage which will either be heated or have a fan blowing on him depending on the weather (there is an attached outdoor kennel connected to the garage one). He will obviously have blankets/a bed and food/water. Any good recommendations on dog food for one so young? I will also ask the owner what she is feeding upon pickup. Thanks all!
We brought Maisy home when she was about 7 weeks old.
We had first pick of the litter since my husband sent his deposit first, so we just played with them for a while, and he picked the one that had some spunk. Just kind of depends what you want.
Be prepared for them to CRY overnight. We tried putting a ticking clock next to her and filled a water bottle with warm water (little tricks!) but unfortunately they did not work.
Potty training will be your biggest challenge. If you cannot be with her all day long, you'll need to have her in an area where she can go to the bathroom. When they are that little, they can maybe hold it for 2 hours. Tops. So when you are home, make sure you are at least taking her out every 2 hours to see if she has to go. Start to develop a "cue word". We simply told Maisy to "go potty". She'll literally go to the bathroom on cue even now!
Hubby is in charge of buying food for her, as I don't know much about dogs myself (Except from what I learned from him!) but he usually likes the Science Diet brand. It is expensive but it is good. The vets actually say do NOT buy puppy food. Just buy regular dog food. The vets say they grow fast enough the way it is, so "puppy food" versions are really just a gimmick.
Also make sure you either buy a carpet shampoo'er or be able to rent one, if you've got carpet in the house. No matter how careful you are to watch him or how often you take them outside, they are going to do their business suddenly on the floor! And yes, if he is going to be a hunting dog, he will be in the house. They make better hunting dogs that way! (Seriously.)
Also get yourself a really good vacuum cleaner. We have a Dyson Animal and it does great to get Maisy's yellow lab floor off of my dark laminate floors.
You'll pull your hair out, but the things are so darn cute!!!! Have fun. I expect to see him at barrel races next year!! ;-)
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | We used to raise hunting dogs. My dad always said not to choose your puppy. Let the puppy choose you. We got a lab pup a few month ago. He went to get a chocolate female but when the man let all the females out they all ran and played except for a black one. She came up to dad and started playing with his pants leg he sat down and she crawled in his lap. Sp even though we wanted a chocolate one the black one chose him so we got a black one. |
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 Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| We raise bird dogs actually French Brittanys. Honestly at 7-8weeks if they are well bred dogs you might as well just close your eyes and pick one. If they are the most out going when you are there chances are in two weeks the laid back pup will be the most going. They change so much daily in the first few months of life it's really a crap shoot. Pick the one you think is the cutest and hope the pedigree does the rest :) |
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | TessBelle - 2015-09-01 8:04 PM
We used to raise hunting dogs. My dad always said not to choose your puppy. Let the puppy choose you. We got a lab pup a few month ago. He went to get a chocolate female but when the man let all the females out they all ran and played except for a black one. She came up to dad and started playing with his pants leg he sat down and she crawled in his lap. Sp even though we wanted a chocolate one the black one chose him so we got a black one.
That's what I say to. Let the puppy choose you. Our dog now picked my daughter. He just kept going back to her. He has been a great dog. He's a very big chocolate lab. My daughter was sitting on my dad's lap. One of the other puppies kept coming up to me but we decided to go with the one that picked my daughter. :) |
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | The BREEDER should know their personalities best. Even if you spend a few hours with them, you might not get to see how they truely are over all. Maybe the one that is usually CRAZY acting, is tired from acting like a maniac for the last 2 hours before you got there. Maybe the one that is really the calmest, had a moment of the "zoomies" when you were watching. The breeder should be able to clue you in to things like that.
Often the "one that picks you", in reality, picks EVERYONE.
You need to know what kind of personality would work best for your situation. Do you want/need one that is high drive, NEEDS a job and is always "on the go"? (That may very well destroy your house if it doesn't get a LOT of exercise every day.) Or would one that is a bit more mellow, but willing to "work" when necessary be a better fit? (One that is perfectly happy being "active" all day, OR snoozing on the couch on a rainy day watching movies.)
As far as when he is left alone when you are at work, chances are if you leave blankets or a bed in with him, he will eat, and or chew them up! I also wouldn't leave food out.
Free feeding often leads to FAT puppies/dogs. Some will eat themselves into oblivion. It is also best to know when they ate last. As an adult, bloat is a real concern. You want to KNOW when they ate last, so you aren't taking them out for a 5 mile run, 5 minutes after they just ate a big meal.
Edited by RacingQH 2015-09-02 11:06 AM
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Heeler Hoarder
Posts: 2067
| RacingQH - 2015-09-02 9:13 AM
The BREEDER should know their personalities best. Even if you spend a fw hours with them, you might not get to see how they truely are over all. Maybe the one that is usually CRAZY actign is tired from acting like a maiac for the last 2 hours before you got there. Maybe the one that is really the calmest had a moment of the "zoomies" when you were watching. The breeder should be able to clue you in to things like that.
Often the "one that picks you", in reality. picks EVERYONE.
You need to know what kind of personality would work best for your situation. Do you want/need one that is high drive, NEEDS a ob and is always "on the go"? (That may very well destroy your house if it doesn't get a LOT of exercise every day.) Or would one that is a bit more mellow, but willing to "work" when necessary be a better fit? (One that is perfectly happy being "active" all day, OR snoozing on the couch on a rainy day watching movies.)
As far as when he is left alone when you are at work, chances are if you leave blankets or a ved in with him, he will eat, and or chew them up! I also wouldn't leave food out.
Free feeding often leads to FAT puppies/dogs. Some will eat themselves into oblivion. It is also best to know when they ate last. As an adult bloat is a real concern. You want to KNOW when they ate last, so you aren't taking them out for a 5 mile run, 5 minutes after they just ate a big meal.
Couldn't have said it better myself ! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
| Yep. Above post.
my hubby and his friend both picked up new hunting labs this spring. ours (thank GOD) is mellow and lazy and wants to lay around. She will retrieve and such as needed. Hubby's friends is WILD all the time. Never chills, constantly wandering, etc etc.
I think labs are more prone to chewing. So make sure he knows what's his and whats off limits from the get go.
Labs also EAT EVERY scrap of food they can get their paws on. So, don't over feed.
I had ours potty and kennel trained within a couple months. I think she was a bit tougher than my boxer but she's 7 or 8 months right now and totally solid on it. I Just wouldn't leave her free unattended in the house for very long for fear she'd chew something up. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I thought labs were prone to hip clicks or hip problems, I would consult a vet, and possibly vet check if spending a lot of money on a dog.
I would be asking about vaccinations and treatment for heart worm, if they haven't, then I would be consulting my vet to ask about the potential complications of potential heart worm. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Talk to the breeder about individual personalities, as you can walk in and they can suddenly act differently. When we picked out my boy he was the little quiet chubby one that wasn't ripping around the yard coming to visit us every few seconds. There was one puppy that "picked us". But he was so overwhelming I had a feeling he wouldn't have the right home with us. My boy kind of made us work for it the first few minutes, but then he softened up to us immediately and turned into jello in my lap while his litter mates ran around like crazy. I knew he was it. Kind of a lazy bones, and won't give away his love to just anyone, unless you're really good at butt scratches! It just depends on what you want, will your dog need to have lots of energy to run around a farm for 8 hours a day? Or will he need to be the lazier type that can relax while you're at work? Take your time getting the right dog!
He stayed on the food she sent us home with until we could slowly change him. Don't be a sucker like me, let him cry at night and leave him there. Accidents will happen and he'll have to learn that when you put him away for the night no matter how sad he sounds you're not going to go get him. I'm a sucker and my boy cried a little at night, picked him up and put him in bed and he sleeps there every night at my feet! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| Crowned Image - 2015-09-02 2:01 PM
Talk to the breeder about individual personalities, as you can walk in and they can suddenly act differently. When we picked out my boy he was the little quiet chubby one that wasn't ripping around the yard coming to visit us every few seconds. There was one puppy that "picked us". But he was so overwhelming I had a feeling he wouldn't have the right home with us. My boy kind of made us work for it the first few minutes, but then he softened up to us immediately and turned into jello in my lap while his litter mates ran around like crazy. I knew he was it. Kind of a lazy bones, and won't give away his love to just anyone, unless you're really good at butt scratches! It just depends on what you want, will your dog need to have lots of energy to run around a farm for 8 hours a day? Or will he need to be the lazier type that can relax while you're at work? Take your time getting the right dog!
He stayed on the food she sent us home with until we could slowly change him. Don't be a sucker like me, let him cry at night and leave him there. Accidents will happen and he'll have to learn that when you put him away for the night no matter how sad he sounds you're not going to go get him. I'm a sucker and my boy cried a little at night, picked him up and put him in bed and he sleeps there every night at my feet!
LOL @ the last part. My friend had a litter of Australian Shepherd/lab mixes, and he had one left in the litter that no one wanted, so he brought it to the barn, and OF COURSE, I couldn't say no to his little face because he was just the sweetest puppy. I talked my dad into taking him since they had lost their dog a few months prior, and he gave into me and his little face. The first night we had him, I stayed at their house and he was crying all night. About 3am, my dad came into my room and dropped Teddy in my lap, and he happily slept all night with me. That's where he slept for the rest of his short life, with me or at least in my bed. Sadly, we only had him a month before he started having seizures and got very sick and had to be put down. We sent him off to be studied and they couldn't pin point an exact cause, so it remains a mystery. None of the other litter mates have gotten sick.
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | I picked my last one by the guy throwing a dummy and all the other dogs ignored it and mine went after it. That sold me right there. I'm waiting for my new puppy to be made and he'll will be a hunter again. We lost our choc. back in June which was heartbreaking. If you are going to be gone for longer periods make sure the pup has a kennel instead of just a whole yard....less chance of losing him while you are at work. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | I've only had 1st pick once. I had 8 to choose from. I went in with 2 tests in mind. We got them all in a bunch and I dropped a heavy book flat on the floor, making a loud bang. Only 3 didn't cower. From those 3 I did the food under a cup-test. Only one bothered to look for it until she found it. That was mine. Smartest dog I ever owned. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 824
Location: Duvall, WA | I have bred Labradors for nearly 30 years and agree with those that say either let the breeder pick for you or just close your eyes and pick. I never let people pick their own puppies, too much pressure on them and I know the litter best. Indeed, if it is a well bred litter they have so many generations of solid temperaments behind them they rarely vary much for litter to litter. If it isn't a well-bred litter or you don't really know, just look at mom, babies are likely to be similar. Your breeder should give you lots of information to get your puppy off on the right foot. Good luck!
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | My family got a new golden retriever pupply last November (in college so live at home). We brought Jake home around 7 weeks I think. We had met the puppies a couple weeks prior and played with them. We just were looking for a friendly, happy puppy. They kinda choose you, you know? Both the males were pretty friendly and after sitting on the ground playing with them for a while, my dad looked at Jake and said "do you want to come home with us?" Jake barked the cutest little puppy bark and we took that as a yes (they'd been silent before and after that, it was just the cutest thing ever). Then he fell asleep in my dad's coat.
I know everyone uses crates and leashes and is super strict with training but my family has never believed in any of that and every dog we've had (6 in my lifetime) have been obedient, happy, absolutely no health or weight issues, no bad habits or destructive behaviors, etc. From the day we brought Jake home he slept with me. He would sleep right on my chest or curled up by my head. The first week he woke me up to go outside every hour. I'm an EXTREMELY heavy sleeper so I guess my "mothering" instincts kicked in because the tiniest cry from him would wake me up. Of course it was winter in North Dakota so I had to run down two flights of stairs to take him out into the yard. He started being able to go longer and longer with fewer accidents. Now he sleeps on the floor usually because he's so big! The dogs are always welcome on the beds, couch, etc. though. We did crate him for a short time when we had to leave him alone but once he was fully potty trained he never went in again. Your puppy should be good for a few hours with the kennel setup you mentioned. Like I said we never use leashes (unless absolutely necessary) and make use of every opportunity for training. Even as little babies when we take them outside they're little legs can't carry them very fast so we start getting them to come when called, sit, etc. so by the time they CAN run fast and far, they already have it ingrained to be obedient and further training is easy. I would start your puppy with whatever the breeders have been feeding and slowly transition to whatever you want. I'm sure somebody on here can recommend something. Here's Jake and his "sister" Leisha. He was a few months old at the time.
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 Party Girl
Posts: 12293
Location: Buffalo, Wyoming | I just took the last of our puppies to their new home 2 weeks ago. The only puppies that got chosen by their new family are the one we kept and the puppies daddy's family. We live on their ranch so they were around him everyday. The other 5 I chose who they went to and it couldn't have been done better. Half of one family wanted one puppy and the other half wanted another. I chose the one that I felt would fit them the best and she sure as heck fit in very well.
I would tell the breeder what you are looking for and let them pick the one that might best suite you. Now this puppy may change once they get away from their siblings. I know the puppy we were going to keep did but I still think we kept the right one for us.
This is my Minnie Moo.... Same exact marking as her dad, hence the name Minnie. She is the runt and about half the size of most of her siblings.
Edited by UTAHCANCHASER 2015-09-03 12:53 PM
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