Training a dog??? And some general questions

[Gumby]

My Dane pup LOVES the squeeky Kong football.

After that, it's the stick from the yard and a sock with a knot tied in it.

Unless the other dog has something, then that's the best thing ever.

 

[concretejungle]

I paid $350 for him. HIs father weighed 110 lbs and his mother 80 lbs. He's about 95 lbs right now. He'll trim down to about 90-92 lbs. in the summer.

He is the same way with toys. Usually the more expensive stuff he just ignores.

And, that's my little sister in the pic.

 

[Zack1978]

I paid $350 for him. HIs father weighed 110 lbs and his mother 80 lbs. He's about 95 lbs right now. He'll trim down to about 90-92 lbs. in the summer.

He is the same way with toys. Usually the more expensive stuff he just ignores.

And, that's my little sister in the pic.

WOW that's a great deal for the dog! I hope that in the future when I am ready to get a lab I can pay the same price.

Zack

 

[Gumby]

'Bout what labs go for around here.

 

[ca55idy]

Labs Drool! I mean rule!

 

[concretejungle]

Heck yea. I want a black lab for my yellow to play with.

 

[PHBeerman]

Same with mine. He likes plastic take-out bowls, old cardboard tubes, empty ribbon reels etc.

It think it has to do with the odd shape and they keep sliding around on the floor.

Hey that is the same behavior that my son's pet rats show. Must be a small pet thing.

 

[saint60]

zack-where in the country are you? i got my chocolate for $200 and he kicks ass. he is a good looking, smart, and very loving dog. he just needs a byotch so he quits jumping our fence to hump our neigbors dog. oh and i second the water dog book. freddy is very obedient and never seems confused when i tell him to do something. it works well.

 

[ca55idy]

Beautiful Choco Saint.

Concrete, You gotta getta another. Our girl Althea is a year older than our boy Wickford. Total best friends. Will entertain each other forever. Take care of each other too. We were camping on the river 2 summers ago, and Althea started to drown about a half mile down the river--Wick came and got us-- he kept barking and nudging us until we followed him. He saved her life.

We are in Bozeman, and it sounds like the prices are the same ~$200. Althea was actually 75$ [in 2001] cause the owners were going on vacation the next day. Wick was free [one hell of a present from some friends]. Wicks sister now lives in CA and has had 2 litters --pups selling for between $500-750.

 

[kevinmrowland]

Pound puppies.

Lots of great dogs need to be rescued, and mutts rock.

 

[flintknapper]

.

The one common fact that you can produce from this thread is,

Patience, Consistancy, excersie, Socialize and practice with no matter what breed you get will produce a nice well rounded dog.

No surprise I am "Lab fan" too, so I'll offer my .02

IMHO, everything you have offered here about labs is as wrong... as your last sentence is right. I can't remember when I've heard such absurd generalizations..relating color to character or ability. I don't care how many "California dogs" you have helped to train, you have misread the breed if you're really serious about your statements.

There are no AKC/UKC recognized Red or Silver labs, I don't know what you guys are speaking about when you say "competition"...but, if you're talking field trials of any sort, then blacks more often are at the top. Yellows follow, then Chocolates. It has nothing to do with color, and everything to do with the fact that blacks and yellows have been more selectively bred and trained in the past than Chocolates, although that is fast changing.

Some observations of mine about labs: Don't expect your Lab puppy to fully settle down and mature until he/she is about 3 yrs. old.

Females tend to train a little easier than males of the breed.

Most males want to be around you all of the time, while females are more apt to just check on you once in a while (this excludes puppies).

A bored Lab puppy WILL chew and be destructive... period!

And finally, when your Lab "passes on".. he/she will leave a hole in your heart that will not heal for many years.

But, I'm just a big dumb Lab lover!

 

[offroadkid]

A simple learning tool my parents always used with their dogs was to tie to a long string around the doorknob of the back door, and tie a bell at the other end about nose level of a puppy. This way whenever the puppy hits the bell with it's nose, you open the door and put it outside!! It works everytime, and they learn when they need to go outside to pee, poop, etc, all they have to do is go ring the bell. It's simple, but effective!!

 

[wesintl]

It's the damndest thing I ever saw. If it cost more than a couple of bucks, the dog will have NOTHING to do with it. As far as the Kongs, we'll fill it with peanut butter, she'll use her long-assed tongue to get it all out in about 2 minutes, and then leave it where it lays for weeks on end.

Mine are the same way. They don't touch a kong unless it has peanut butter or some sort of treat in it. Kongs are useless if you ask me.

 

[lacruiser]

favorite breed.

Labs seem to rule here.

My favorite breed is Golden Retriever. Also my best dog ever was a golden.

Someone mentioned Pound dogs. they can be excellent sources of dogs, but you do have to be picky as a lot of them have been abused as puppies and will have psychological scars from that. I have a small purebred Husky that we rescued about 4-5 years ago, she's great, but she was traumatized as a puppy because she will cringe when someone walks by with a broom. She was obviously beaten in her previous life, and she'll never get over that. Despite this, we love her. I've rescued quite a few dogs from the pound and they can be wonderful pets, check it out.

I prefer intelligent dogs, look at what the Guide Dogs for the Blind use: Labs and Golden Retrievers are the two main breeds, and there's good reason. They tend to be smart animals and are extremely trainable. They are personable, good around children, friendly, and make wonderful companions.

Dana

 

[lunyou]

well i think i would go with an olde english mastiff.

As far as the lab is concerned they get hip dysplasia really bad and it can shorten their life considerably(especially if you cannot afford medicine)

I would also consider a mutt. I have Great Pyranees/White lab mix and he is 12 years old and besides being fat and overweight he show very little signs of slowing down.

he is incredilbly smart too.

Quick Story....

A friend was bringing over some salsa con queso dip for a party and dropped the glass lid, which had cheese on it, out side int he driveway. Of course my dog being a garbage disposal went over to check it out. My dad yelled at him and said "bubba don't you bother that glass it will hurt you" And we looked out the window about 30 minutes later and bubba was setting there staring down at the glass and then he would look up as the window hoping to get permision to eat the cheesy glass.

lunyou

 

[lunyou]

Same with mine. He likes plastic take-out bowls, old cardboard tubes, empty ribbon reels etc.

It think it has to do with the odd shape and they keep sliding around on the floor.

i have you all beat on odd things you dogs eat.

When my min pin/chihuahua mix would catch us not looking in the bathroom she would run in there, turn over the trash can, and eat all the used toilet paper and used femine products. You know the mess she left behind was fun to clean up


lunyou

 

[PHBeerman]

No surprise I am "Lab fan" too, so I'll offer my .02

IMHO, everything you have offered here about labs is as wrong... as your last sentence is right. I can't remember when I've heard such absurd generalizations..relating color to character or ability. I don't care how many "California dogs" you have helped to train, you have misread the breed if you're really serious about your statements.

There are no AKC/UKC recognized Red or Silver labs, I don't know what you guys are speaking about when you say "competition"...but, if you're talking field trials of any sort, then blacks more often are at the top. Yellows follow, then Chocolates. It has nothing to do with color, and everything to do with the fact that blacks and yellows have been more selectively bred and trained in the past than Chocolates, although that is fast changing.

Some observations of mine about labs: Don't expect your Lab puppy to fully settle down and mature until he/she is about 3 yrs. old.

Females tend to train a little easier than males of the breed.

Most males want to be around you all of the time, while females are more apt to just check on you once in a while (this excludes puppies).

A bored Lab puppy WILL chew and be destructive... period!

And finally, when your Lab "passes on".. he/she will leave a hole in your heart that will not heal for many years.

But, I'm just a big dumb Lab lover!

Great post Flint as I have a 13 year old Female that is on the down hill slide and I know I am going to really miss that bitch when she is gone.

However, to further build upon your post I think it is good to further explain the breeding of champion field trial pups.

Right now almost every field trial dog that I have ran across has one of 2 lines (And usually both) in it.

2xNFC AFC Ebonstar Lean Mac - (Black) This dog is long dead, but his his "seed" is still available via AI for around $10,000 per shot. He has produced more Field trail champions than any other dog in history.

AFC Rebel With a Cause - (Yellow) Fantastic dog that has produced a ton of great field trial pups.

There is also a very large contingent of field trial breeders who believe that a black should always be included in any breeding.

 

[PHBeerman]

well i think i would go with an olde english mastiff.

As far as the lab is concerned they get hip dysplasia really bad and it can shorten their life considerably(especially if you cannot afford medicine)

I would also consider a mutt. I have Great Pyranees/White lab mix and he is 12 years old and besides being fat and overweight he show very little signs of slowing down.

he is incredilbly smart too.

Quick Story....

A friend was bringing over some salsa con queso dip for a party and dropped the glass lid, which had cheese on it, out side int he driveway. Of course my dog being a garbage disposal went over to check it out. My dad yelled at him and said "bubba don't you bother that glass it will hurt you" And we looked out the window about 30 minutes later and bubba was setting there staring down at the glass and then he would look up as the window hoping to get permision to eat the cheesy glass.

lunyou

All large breeds suffer from hip dysplasia.

 

[Zack1978]

I am sure that this might be out in left field, but what about the Bull Mastiff breed? Any pros and cons? THe yellow LAb is still on the top of my list I think, but just asking.

Zack

 

[PHBeerman]

I am sure that this might be out in left field, but what about the Bull Mastiff breed? Any pros and cons? THe yellow LAb is still on the top of my list I think, but just asking.

Zack

I had a friend who has a Mastiff. It was a great dog, however, their life span is pretty short (<10 years)