Found a puppy!

[Mr. 16 gauge]

I've been looking for a puppy now for a while....last night my daughter and I came home with a little female Labrador retriever pup (black). Looking at her pedigree, I'm hoping she will make us a good hunting dog, as well as companion.

This is our first lab....in the past, I've had chessies and American Water spaniels. She seems like a smart pup; we're working on 'sit' and housebreaking. Probably a coincidence, but she scratched at the back door this morning and I let her out and she did her buisiness.

We'll post a pic or two when we get a good one....right now, every one we take is just a black blur!

[Jack]

Congratulations !

[bigbrother]

Sounds like you're off to a great start in one of the greatest things in life. Congrats on the new puppy man.

[Nulle]

Have fun and put your boots up till its a year old lol

[Larryjk]

I am green with envy. Stay with the obedience training right away. Labs will do anything you ask if you reward them with food. The first 6 months are critical in establishing who is in command. Trained to voice and hand signals during this period will give you a dog that will always remember the commands. Give her the love she will give you. Remember;when a lab dies, it takes with it part of your heart, but you are a better person for the experience. Labs aren't dogs; they are another child.

[skeet]

I also have Labs. They can be good working dogs. I had one that retrieved well over 15000 birds etc etc. They are one of the easiest and tractable dogs you can have..most of the time. I had a 2x4 dog once(Chesapeake) and once she was trained was a really good dog for waterfowl..not much on doves...well not as good as the labs. Had a chocolate that was a great dog..NOBODY..and I mean nobody could hurt my daughter or wife when he was around...and he loved fetching..anything from doves to skunks...and if it didn't want to come..he killed it and brung it anyway. When we bought the place here in Wyoming we kinda inherited a dog..lab mix and while the dog was somewhat loud noise shy..she took care of the place..and my wife. Even killed a rattler when it kinda scared my wife. Less than a month ago she was an older robust dog..in 3 weeks she looked like a person out of Buchenwald. Bleeding etc. Had to do her in. So scared of going to the vets I did it myself..still feel guilty after 2 days....I hate doing that stuff.... but couldn't watch her suffer.... As has been said though..obedience for the 1st 6 months is necessary. That puppy will be happier and so will you. Now a "friend" has asked up to care for their dog for a few months..they are going to be working out of state for 3 or 4 months..He is a black lab and does retrieve..but needs a bit of manners...and the ducks have all of a sudden shown up.. We'll see how he works

By the way..congrats..you're gonna love that dog..specially when it weighs 100 pounds and wants to still be a lap dog..LOL!!

[fabsroman]

Originally Posted by skeet

By the way..congrats..you're gonna love that dog..specially when it weighs 100 pounds and wants to still be a lap dog..LOL!!

My sentiments exactly. Nitro is 105 pounds and still wants to sit on top of me. Freaking insane. I also think labs are some of the best hunting dogs around. Hunted with Golden Retrievers prior to getting Nitro and they do not even come close to Nitro. Nitro has been pretty easy to train, but I never got around to doing hand signals very much. Life just got in the way of the rest of his training.

I don't even want to think about Nitro passing on.

Just in case I haven't already said it, congrats on the new puppy and make sure you continue with updates and pics. Best time to get them is when the puppy is sleeping.

Here are some pics. The first one is 5 days after I got Nitro.

The second one is about a month after I had him. That was his first day in the field hunting and he was pooped. He actually ran right to the dove I shot that day with my brand new 20 gauge. I'll probably never forget that.

Third pic is my dad and Nitro about 45 days after I got him. Both of them were tired from hunting that day. You can already see how much bigger Nitro is after just 45 days. Lucky for me, the only thing he chewed up was my laptop cord and I was able to splice it together.

[rainydays]

Congrats on your new Lab pup. Mine girl lab is 75 lbs and is still my lap dog, besides being an excellent bird dog. Enjoy! They grow up a whole lot faster than kids.

[wrenchman]

here is the golden we got after we put down our lab last month

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Here are a few pics, as promised. The pink collar was my wife and daughter's idea; it will be hunter orange soon enough!

[Jack]

She's cute!

[wrenchman]

I love labs the wife chose the golden and he is working out real good.