Is this the right dog for us? Puppy or Adult?

[mamalamb]

Hello!! So glad I found this, because we are planning to add a dog to our family in the next few months, and are trying to decide if a Lab is right for us. We are not totally new to dogs, we have had 2 in the past, but both were small mutts that we adopted when they were 10 and 11, respectively, so they needed zero training, and little more than a warm place to sleep and people to hang out with LOL. We are a young active family, it is me, my husband, and our 2 kids, ages 5 and almost 2. Planning to add at least one more (human!) child down the line. I work mostly from home, with the exception of some appointments (realtor). We are usually home, sometimes in and out for errands/soccer/gymnastics/etc. We also have 2 cats. Currently renting, in the process of buying a home, the home we buy will probably be about 2000 square feet and have a yard, but in this area, they are not huge. This is my first concern. The yards range from .15 acres to maybe .30 acres. Pretty tiny! But we would like a large, somewhat sturdy, dog. Does a Lab need a larger yard than this??

Here are my main questions:

Yard/House size needed?

Amount of exercise needed? (Planning on as much fetch/romping with kids in the yard as possible, probably one walk/jog each day...how long?? ALso very excited to do the dog park thing =)

How tolerant do they tend to be with young kids? (We do teach our kids to be respectful of animals, but the occasional ear or tail pull sometimes is hard to avoid =) )

Will they bark or alert you at all if someone comes to the house? We are NOT looking for some kind of aggressive guard dog, LOL, but I would sort of like the (relative) peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a dog that would bark at least sound (a little) scary if someone came up. My husband works nights, so this would be a bit comforting....again, NOT expecting or wanting a dog that is actually mean, just one that could alert and maybe SOUND a little mean. LOL

Finally, what age would you recommend? Puppy? Teenager? Adult? We have done the geriatric dog thing twice now and definitely want to go younger this time, just not sure how young?

I know this was long, thank you if you made it this far!!!

[Diesel_Dawg]

Hello!! So glad I found this, because we are planning to add a dog to our family in the next few months, and are trying to decide if a Lab is right for us. We are not totally new to dogs, we have had 2 in the past, but both were small mutts that we adopted when they were 10 and 11, respectively, so they needed zero training, and little more than a warm place to sleep and people to hang out with LOL. We are a young active family, it is me, my husband, and our 2 kids, ages 5 and almost 2. Planning to add at least one more (human!) child down the line. I work mostly from home, with the exception of some appointments (realtor). We are usually home, sometimes in and out for errands/soccer/gymnastics/etc. We also have 2 cats. Currently renting, in the process of buying a home, the home we buy will probably be about 2000 square feet and have a yard, but in this area, they are not huge. This is my first concern. The yards range from .15 acres to maybe .30 acres. Pretty tiny! But we would like a large, somewhat sturdy, dog. Does a Lab need a larger yard than this??

Here are my main questions:

Yard/House size needed?

Amount of exercise needed? (Planning on as much fetch/romping with kids in the yard as possible, probably one walk/jog each day...how long?? ALso very excited to do the dog park thing =)

How tolerant do they tend to be with young kids? (We do teach our kids to be respectful of animals, but the occasional ear or tail pull sometimes is hard to avoid =) )

Will they bark or alert you at all if someone comes to the house? We are NOT looking for some kind of aggressive guard dog, LOL, but I would sort of like the (relative) peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a dog that would bark at least sound (a little) scary if someone came up. My husband works nights, so this would be a bit comforting....again, NOT expecting or wanting a dog that is actually mean, just one that could alert and maybe SOUND a little mean. LOL

Finally, what age would you recommend? Puppy? Teenager? Adult? We have done the geriatric dog thing twice now and definitely want to go younger this time, just not sure how young?

I know this was long, thank you if you made it this far!!!

How much research have you done for a Lab? If you are asking if a Lab is an aggressive guard dog, I'd say you have more research to do! Labs are family oriented dogs, some of them bark, others not a peep.

As for a yard, not all dogs need a yard at all. There are many happy Labs here that live in apartments - I believe Tanya (Rocky's mom) can attest to that. BUT they do need lots of exercise. Labs can be very high energy dogs if they don't get the appropriate amount of exercise daily. Puppies should not be jogging partners - again, do some research on the amount of exercise & type of exercise at what age. Do a few searches on this site & you will find a ton of good info.

As for age that depends on how much work you are willing to do to raise a healthy, happy, well adjusted dog. Puppies are a lot of work with house training, etc & puppies nip a lot but that is a habit that positive reinforcement training can change.

DO RESEARCH for a breeder if you decide you want a puppy. But, also consider a rescue, there are tons of wonderful Labs that require a loving home.

There is a ton of info on this site - use the search engine as a lot of questions you are asking have been asked many times before. And please do research on the breed to ensure a Lab is what you are looking for. I'm sure others will chime in with advice, there are many knowledgable people here that know a lot more than I do. Labs are wonderful dogs!!!

[mamalamb]

How much research have you done for a Lab? If you are asking if a Lab is an aggressive guard dog, I'd say you have more research to do!

Thank you for all the info! No, I am not asking if a lab is an aggressive guard dog, I thought I made that clear, but maybe I didn't? We do not want an aggressive guard dog AT ALL, i just wondered if in general, a Lab would bark if someone new came to the house. I have several friends with Labs that do this (that are friendly as can be!) and I just wondered if this was typical of the breed or not.

Thanks again!!

[Sophiesmama]

Hi and welcome to the forum! So, I will try to help you with your questions.

Yard/House size needed? ...That depends on what you are willing to do to provide excerise for your dog. Labs need lots of excercise. I know people that live in apartments that do fine with labs, but remember, you have to be willing to do walks at least a couple times a day, and even in bad weather. Dog parks are good too. A small yard is fine as long as your dog gets to go where he can rip loose and run sometimes.

Amount of exercise needed? (Planning on as much fetch/romping with kids in the yard as possible, probably one walk/jog each day...how long?? ALso very excited to do the dog park thing =).... Labs can't seem to get enough of playing fetch!! They love to romp in the yard and are great family dogs and love children.

How tolerant do they tend to be with young kids? (We do teach our kids to be respectful of animals, but the occasional ear or tail pull sometimes is hard to avoid =) ) ....They love everybody! Including kids. Just remember, puppies have needle sharp teeth and love to nibble on you! With small children, you will have to be especially astute to keeping the biting in check. Members here can help you with the "Don't Bite" training.

Will they bark or alert you at all if someone comes to the house? We are NOT looking for some kind of aggressive guard dog, LOL, but I would sort of like the (relative) peace of mind that comes with knowing you have a dog that would bark at least sound (a little) scary if someone came up. My husband works nights, so this would be a bit comforting....again, NOT expecting or wanting a dog that is actually mean, just one that could alert and maybe SOUND a little mean. LOL ..... Our Sophie will bark at cats when she sees them outside, or other dogs. She has not shown us that she will bark when people come to the door. She is only 9 months, but when someone comes over, our main problem is keeping her from jumping on them. She thinks everyone is here to see her! I have not heard of labs being watch dogs, not really.

Finally, what age would you recommend? Puppy? Teenager? Adult? We have done the geriatric dog thing twice now and definitely want to go younger this time, just not sure how young? ....It depends on what you want and how much time you have for training. A puppy is like having another baby in the house. They require lots of time and patience. Labs are smart and easy to train. By 9 or 10 weeks, Sophie knew several commands. She knew her name, to sit, shake, speak, and lay down. By 3 months she learned what Don't Bite! meant. By 4 months she was totally house trained. Since you work from home, I assume you would be there for the training and potty breaks, so a puppy might fit in really well in your household.

Remember, when you decide to look for a breeder, do the research! Make sure they have all the health clearances. Check them out thoroughly.
Good luck and happy doggie hunting!!

[Diesel_Dawg]

Thank you for all the info! No, I am not asking if a lab is an aggressive guard dog, I thought I made that clear, but maybe I didn't? We do not want an aggressive guard dog AT ALL, i just wondered if in general, a Lab would bark if someone new came to the house. I have several friends with Labs that do this (that are friendly as can be!) and I just wondered if this was typical of the breed or not.

Thanks again!!

I realize you would not want an aggressive guard dog, especially with kids! My dog never made a peep when we lived in an apartment, now that we are in a house if someone parks their car down the street & walks into their own house he barks like a madman; a strong wind knocks branches against the window & he barks; if someone comes to the house he barks very deep from the pit of his gut, but my neighbour says if I am not home & someone knocks on my door he doesn't make a peep! I have not taught him any of this & from what I have heard from others here, some Labs are & other are not barkers. But you could certainly train them to be - they are VERY intelligent!!

They do make excellent companions, but again I am totally biased! Good luck in your search!

[mamalamb]

Thank you guys so much!!!!!!!!! Very helpful information!!!

[honeybadger]

I probably don't know much about this- I got Jack as a rescue and did very little research on labs before I got him. Luckily it worked out for us.

As long as the dog gets plenty of exercise, the size of the yard is probably not much of a concern. However, exercise is going to be a big thing in your routine unless you get a much older dog... most labs really like their exercise. (Mine is happy with two walks a day, adding up to somewhere over 1 hour a day of a running/walking on leash/playing off leash combination.)

I think labs in particular tend to really enjoy being around their people, so you being home a lot would suit a lab.

I think as a breed they're typically very patient, which is important with small handed ear-pullers around.

As far as barking and security, I know some bark. My friend's lab barks whenever someone comes near the house. Mine doesn't. I could be wrong, but as they're retrievers I suspect it's not really in the breed to be vocal. I feel more safe with a dog at the house than no dog at the house... but if someone came in the window, I think Jack would greet them enthusiastically. Or sleep through it.

As for cats, some breeds can tend to be impossible to have around small fluffies, but I think most labs tend to be good. (Mine is good with our cat.)

I'd recommend looking into rescues... but I'm biased.
To summarize, labs are great. I'm glad my dog is a lab.

[dek]

I would also sugges looking at a rescue and considering a lab that is still young, but out of the puppy stage. Many rescues foster their labs in homes, so you can find out a bit about their personalities, how they are with kids, and their energy level beforehand.
As mentioned before, puppies are a LOT of work and the teething stage can be extra challenging with small kids around. It is fun, but it adds a whole extra level of crazy to a house.
My lab does bark when people come near the house, but he has little interest in playing fetch. They're all different
Good luck and keep us posted!

[Jan]

Corby was very high-energy till he was about two, and although he still gets exercise, he is a real couch potato. He has a deep, loud bark if people pull into our driveway or come to the door, but they don't see his wagging tail! My Mom (who is afraid of dogs) came by once recently when we weren't home, and said he was a very good guard dog. So I get you on that one, I don't need an alarm system or a doorbell!

Have you considered an older dog? I don't mean elderly, but maybe 1-6 years of age. Puppyhood can be a very trying time, and it's important IMO to do dog obedience classes for the first couple of years. All this to say, there is a greater time and effort committment in the first year or two, that pays off later! On bitterly cold days here (it's been -30c windchill recently) Corby gets outside to play with Maggie for short periods in our back yard, but does not get a walk. That would NOT work with a younger dog.

Labs are usually great family dogs, good with kids. Corby doesn't play favourites and would leave with anyone who has a treat for him. Maggie (our pit-x) is a devoted family dog, but is wary of others and more intense. There is a big difference in breeds, and for a young family, a lab would be great!!

[tammyhuffman]

I am not an expert, by any strech of the imagination, but I have had Labs most of my life. Your situation sounds ideal for a young rescue from a Lab rescue group. Getting past that early, bitting and teething stage is extremely helpful and would probably be much less stressful for your family situation. The biting/teething stage is usually over by 6 mos and having a dog that you have some info from a foster, maybe potty trained and have some basic obedience is a huge plus. There are tons of wonderful Labs waiting for loving homes and if you can provide this God bless you for doing so. Labs are normally wonderful with families and children and every one of mine have been very tolerant of children but all dogs have their limit! Best of luck in your search!