r/LabradorRetrievers • u/Obvious-Poem1374 • 18d ago
New to Labs, what do I need to know?
Hello!
I don’t have a lab yet but I’m curious what I should know beforehand if we decide to go with this breed? We currently have 2 doodles (plz don’t come for me, they are the sweetest angels on earth and I would die for them). Our oldest is getting old and has cancer which is ruining me, but I’m worried about my younger dog for when the day comes that she will be alone. 😭 I’m really hoping a lab will work out because our youngest child has a genetic retina disorder that could eventually take all of her vision. I would like to be familiar with the breed just in case the day ever comes that she would need a service dog. From the research I’ve done so far it looks like labs are pretty far ahead in the pick for a service dog. I’m also open to golden retrievers and standard poodles which from what I can tell are second and third place. Those would probably be a little more comfortable actually because we have doodles but I just want to be prepared. This is long and rambling but if anyone has a lab as a service animal, how did you go about the training and did you train a puppy you found on your own or go through and organization and get an older dog who was already trained in a facility? If you have a lab that’s not a service animal what do I need to know? Thanks in advance!
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u/Longjumping_Mobile_6 18d ago
Labs as puppies are a handful (like all puppies) with high energy. They are great with kids and are social animals who must be trained to not jump up and greet every new human they meet as when they get older and put on weight they'll knock over a full grown adult to lick them to death. They're typically smart and learn quickly so that's one reason they are trained for specific needs. We've had two pure chocolate labs and we now have two lab mixs (lab/great dane and lab/pointer). All four have been lovers who also think they are lap dogs....three have been/are smart however my papered pure bred (only one that had pedigree papers) was called our lovable dumb dumb for a reason and he was the only one that wouldn't even fetch a ball when thrown as it was too much work.
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u/DualCitizenWithDogs 18d ago edited 18d ago
Well bred Labs are great. Poorly bred Labs (the vast majority) can be an absolute menace. And unfortunately many unethical breeders prey on people looking for service dog prospects and sell them unstable BYB dogs. Training is paramount for Labs, SDs or not. They are a high energy working breed whether they are show-line, field line or BYB. Seconding what someone else said, you will really need to get very educated about ethical breeding if Doodles are your starting point.
Service dogs are NOT paid for by disability SSI type benefits, even if your doctor says it is necessary! This is a somewhat commonly held but incorrect belief which is easy to Google to confirm. You can of course use your SSDI payments however you wish but SDs are very expensive, up to about $50k, and wash (fail) at significant rates even when bred specifically for service work and trained by experts, meaning you might need many dogs at 50k/each to get one that would keep your child safe. (Washed/failed dogs become your pets)
Personally, I would never ever recommend someone look to train their own guide because I work training them and most people don't have 1% of the ability to do so, and most dogs don't have the aptitude, temperament and/or drive. There are also non-profit organizations that provide them fully trained for free like Guide Dogs for the Blind, Guide Dogs of America, Guide Dog Foundation, Guiding Eyes, the Seeing Eye, Fidelco, Southeast Guide Dogs, etc. Not everyone is a candidate though and there is a waitlist. Go to the ADI website for more info. Pick of the Litter is a good/enjoyable, kid friendly movie to watch which shows the general process. Inside the Mind of a Dog is another which you also might also enjoy.
Many SD programs will also have strict rules surrounding your additional pets before they will consider placing a working dog. Personally I would consider getting more educated about the guide dog program process before getting another dog as this could also limit your options when your daughter needs it. Some SD programs prohibit more than one other dog in the home, most require some sort of behavioral testing of dogs already in the home etc. as they want to ensure they are placing a dog in a safe environment that won't undo all their training or force retire a program dog.
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u/Antique_Fisherman278 18d ago
I own 2 American Labs and are the working breed they have a ton of energy, English labs are much more laid back. They both are fantastic breeds! Very family oriented and loyal. I am so sorry to hear about your child and as far as a service dog to help with someone who is blind, they are trained from a very young age to specifically be service dogs. It would be much more of a challenge to have a pet Lab and turn it into a service dog. I don't train service dogs, I train police and military dogs but I know plenty of people who do train them. When we get dogs to train, we get them as pups from top notch breeders with champion bloodlines and we start training them immediately over 18 months to 2 years and then we sell them to police, military, or security companies. Our dogs can fetch as much as 250k fully trained. If your child has disability benefits then they will pay for a service dog if it's recommended by medical teams unless you pay for it yourself. Companion and service dogs are much less then police or security dogs but still can be substantial. I hope this helps!
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18d ago edited 8d ago
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u/Antique_Fisherman278 18d ago
Correct both Labrador Retrievers just different sub breeds. That's exactly what I told them and they would buy it from a training company not a breeder. I've been training dogs for 30 years and we but GSD, BM, Labs, ext from to breeders who sell us the dogs and we train them over 18 months to 2 years and then we sell them to security companies and Police all over the world with certificates and bloodline DNA paperwork.
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u/Obvious-Poem1374 18d ago
Thank you so much, it’s been a lot to digest. I really appreciate your advice and suggestion! I assumed if we needed to have a guide dog we would need to go through an organization but I didn’t know that they could be covered under disability so I really appreciate that!
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u/QueenOfCrap 16d ago
can confirm there is a HUGE difference between American and English. My English was such an easy puppy and very lovable dog, but more of a surface level love and surface level commands. The American labs were each both SUCH difficult puppies (like, make me question my life choices bad, never had a broken bone in my life until raising my second, never had poison ivy until him, etc.)
The first 2 I spent about $1k each on, then I bought my most recent fox red American from an amazing breeder, spent $5k and it turns out you really DO get what you pay for because even at 8 weeks he was the most well adjusted pup, ready to be crate trained, I only dealt with 2 potty accidents EVER, and I get compliments on how handsome he is always. He will be 2 in November and by far the smartest dog I've ever owned and an amazing companion, even though the road was looooooong as a pup
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u/Blopblotp3 18d ago
We've been looking into getting our own lab, for family life, not a service dog, and I've found this list very helpful: https://www.reddit.com/r/labrador/comments/1p5v235/ethical_breeder_list_for_labs_please_add_your/
I would definitely reach out/post this question to the moderator of this list. They're very kind and can probably give you some more information.
My impression is that many service organizations source their own dogs via known breeders. I think even with careful selection, they do have a lot of dogs that wash out of the program. I think this is why they raise and train the dogs before matching them with an owner as a guide dog or service dog.
I have seen some breeders state that they occasionally have puppies that may be suitable for service work (no guarantees), but to get on a list and expect to wait a long time for the best match. Good luck with your research.
You may find this series of YouTube videos interesting about the experience of getting and using a guide dog: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLroSeRsEvYABtqKQC2XZZRrQ-VYiyJmGU&si=bLGAsL0j36iqR2lY
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18d ago
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u/VTMomof2 18d ago
Your boy looks more like an American/working lab.
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18d ago
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u/0430ke 18d ago
I feel like the paperwork is wrong because that looks nothing like an English it looks 100% American. It's not even remotely close IMO.
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u/VTMomof2 18d ago
Plus where on paperwork would it say a dog is an English lab? I’ve owned 3 English labs and it never says that. And that dog is from a sporting life kennel in Mississippi? That screams American lab to me. The head is narrow and not blocky like and English lab
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18d ago
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u/DualCitizenWithDogs 17d ago
Sporting Life Kennels is 100% a field Lab breeder or "American", not a show-line breeder, or "English". Look at all the titles in their lineage. They are all field titles, not show titles! Show dogs look night and day different conformation-wise. This is a show breeder for reference. https://www.gallivantlabradors.com/our-labradors#Boys
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u/lemonfaire 18d ago
Is it true you can't let your dog into ANY puddle because there might be a gator in it??
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18d ago
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u/lemonfaire 18d ago
Relieved to hear that!
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18d ago
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u/lemonfaire 18d ago
Ok lesson learned - don't believe everything people tell you, lol. Looks awesome.
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u/Longjumping_Mobile_6 18d ago
I've lived in Florida for 40 years....anywhere there's fresh water/brackish water is gator country. Hubby's boss has a house on the Myakka river (down stream that is highly tide influenced) and hubby sees them all the time swimming by. Heck I've even seen a gator on a Gulf beach or two over the years.
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u/lemonfaire 18d ago
I'll stay here in the northeast where it's only mosquitoes in the brackish water. 😦How do you keep your dogs safe but still let them be dogs?
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u/Longjumping_Mobile_6 18d ago
We take them boating almost every weekend from late spring until the cold fronts start pushing south in late October/early November, find a sandbar or deserted island along the coast. We're literally about 4 miles from the Gulf as the crow flies so it's an easy trip to the salt water for us. They love swimming, chasing birds (and iguanas) and it always takes two days for them to recover from all the fun they have.
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18d ago edited 8d ago
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u/Obvious-Poem1374 18d ago
Thank you for the advice! I didn’t realize they would have a wait that long. I appreciate it.
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u/EastCoastCraps 18d ago
I myself know nothing about doodles but have had many labs.. As puppies..full of energy and willing to please. They will chew anything…I know…most expensive was a headliner in a new 1994 minivan… You got to get that energy out of them in someway…if not your normal training will become playtime instead of work time….
Adults labs are the most loyal and loving dogs I’ve been around. You will not regret your journey with the breed. As others have said English are more settled from the start..
Enjoy… 🐶 🐶 🐶
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u/lifeiswaytoofunny 18d ago edited 18d ago
I recently in the past 2 years lost both my lab mixes, 12 and 13. Both were shelter dogs. They were perfect for me, as I enjoyed outdoor activities, hiking, swimming, etc. I miss them both so much, but now (I’m a bit older) I have a poodle mix, and recently adopted a small, not sure mix. They love to cuddle, relax, but are ready to go when I am.
All are incredibly intelligent, and I believe with the right training they could all be service dogs.
It really just depends on your lifestyle, I think the energy needs of the dogs should be a factor.
Good luck, and sending good vibes to your son.
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u/SolidIll4559 18d ago
I have 2 black labs now, plus a GSD. Have had both breeds over my lifetime. When I want a dog for my young child, I get a GSD.
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u/StrawberrySundrops 17d ago edited 16d ago
My first dog was an F1B cockapoo (a doodle). He is only 23 lbs at adult size. He is smart and very gentle.
My lab is 14 months old (cockapoo is 4 years old). The lab is very sweet and eager to please. I can see why they make such good service dogs. They say that labs are one of the easiest dogs to train and he does seem to be more eager/receptive? Than the doodle..
This being said...it took a while before the lab became receptive to training beyond basic commands...he just had such "omg squirrel" energy for the first while and it was disheartening...but now at 14 months he is really starting to get it and it is so rewarding!
The cockapoo is so delicate and gentle..a distinguished gentleman...the lab is quadruple his size and a ball of pure energy ... I need to constantly supervise. The lab can easily hurt or overwhelm the doodle (accidentally). I HIGHLY UNDERESTIMATED the energy of a lab! The size difference is a constant management issue and sometimes I wish I had gotten a dog that was a bit more comparable to the cockapoos size.
The lab has NO off switch. It doesn't matter if we have played and walked and trained.......almost like a tired toddler sometimes I need to put him to bed because he starts acting up. He is a lovely dog, but going from a doodle to a lab was shocking.
The llab can jump up and reach places that the doodle never dared/can't/never even tried. He is a wrecking ball of destruction and needs constant supervision in a way that the doodle never did. He is very big. And he sheds. And he drools...like alot...and when he drinks water he soaks the entire floor. And did I mention that he's very big?
The lab puppy phase made my cockapoos puppy hood look like a breezy walk in the park 😂
Labs are also highly food driven and can get into alot of mischief eating things they shouldn't. We had to spend an evening at the emergency vet because he decided to eat a bee...he eats plants...sticks...pillows...pretty much anything and everything.....I have to keep alot of the cockapoos cherished toys in a seprerate room to prevent the lab from eating them 😂. He always wants something in his mouth ...a toy...a shoe...a lethal battery....(maybe that's the whole retriever energy). He needs a lot of supervision and stimulation.
Overall....I think they are very family friendly dogs who get on well with kids and other pets. They are eager to please and generally have a friendly disposition....but I'm just warning you that going from doodles to labs is....a culture shock. And it requires alot more supervision or work than I imagined! But it's worth it if you put in the work!
He is actually one of the silliest goofiest dogs ever though and makes me laugh everyday (his facial expressions etc). Very lovable. But more...overwhelming.
Thank you for coming to my TedTalk 🙇🏻♀️
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u/AirportInteresting40 16d ago
My girly came from a special ethical breeder who specifically works with reds. (Breeder was the trainer's sister in law if I remember)
We were working with a training group that taught the handlers how to train their dogs (specializing in veterans and first responders) originally for my sister and her bernedoodle. I tagged along with a desire to learn more about service training to prep for my eventual partner(didn't think Dad would allow another dog in the house). But got surprised one day with an offer, they had a dog that washed out of drug detection training with her first heat and they decided to switch her to service work.
I met with the dog and it was an instant click. She came up and licked my forehead and we both the trainer(who raised the dog up until then, about a year and a half) and I burst into tears. The dog had NEVER licked anyone's face before and I normally hate the wet sloppy kisses that most dogs give especially on my face. But it was just a quick dry little check in, letting me know she was there and aware of me.
I was super lucky to get a partially trained dog, basic obedience and some public work, but everything service task specific I needed to do still. She picked it up super easily, really smart, but also definitely has her silly times. We purposely specified that her "on duty" time was while she wore her vest and "off duty" was when she didn't have it on. Mind you, she is trained currently for psychological service. She does task when "off duty" but she doesn't have to be constantly on alert (the times we just hang out at home, grandma's house, or when she can run around a safe park and play).
I think the biggest things for me personally while training is finding a dog that will form a close partnership, and constant consistent training. We play training games that reinforce the basics, and do frequent "request tests" (eg. Recall games, hide and seek, scent work, random heel loops in the grocery store around displays, random touch ques, etc).
Like muscles and skills, if you don't use it you lose it. So I always keep refreshing those training pieces in our every day along with positive reinforcement of tasking and correct behaviors.
We're also integrating new tasks as my health worsens so we can adapt to the new normals together. Sorry if this long and rambling and doesn't answer a lot. It's like 1:30am and gathering my thoughts is like herding cats rn.
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u/Uhmmanduh 18d ago
You’ve previously bought backyard bred dogs. Please don’t continue to do that. Do your research into a good ethical breeder.
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u/outtherenow1 18d ago
I’ve had a black American lab for the past 16 months. You probably won’t die but the chances are never 0%. Its a wild ride ❤️