Same as me. She has already changed my life . My psych team recommended that a lab would help. Yup golden fur everywhere lol I think im now part little yellow dog lol . Teething, farting and eating anythjng she sees. Super energetic and cant wait to be going on our adventures together and as you say I havent stopped laughing or smiling since she arrived a month ago. She is now 13 weeks of hyperactivity , farts and fun x
@Xing He I have the exact same conditions plus ADHD. Im on leave from teaching due to agoraphobia so I got a black lab last month and she's changed my life. She is a constant distraction and really stops the rumination and panic. I havent had a panic attack since the day I got her. I hope you can get a dog soon!
I rescued a lab puppy not even two weeks ago. To be honest I am a VERY lazy person but I have a heart and passion. He went from a scared abused puppy to being fed a raw diet and forcing me to go outside no matter the weather is with my daughter. I am lazy yes…but he has saved me from depression and has helped me gain a deeper bond with my daughter❤️
I put in a comment earlier that my Lab made me a better Dad and Husband. It's hard to articulate just how that is, but your experience is just one of the ways Labs persuade owners through love to improve themselves.
@@zaknaifen193 this comment I left was 2 years ago. He is now two and life is completely different but I still agree with what I’ve said. As he got older we tested for his breed as his behavior was different from any lab I’ve seen and he is a German shepherd/lab mix. I immediately put him in protective training, and you can tell he absolutely LOVES IT. At the time my daughter and I were not in a good situation with her father. One day things got very out of hand and Murphy did what he had to do. That whole situation put into light that staying wasn’t worth me trying so that my daughter had parents who were together and we left that night. I tell people to this day, my dog is the one who save my daughter and I and let us grow and heal.
I’m hoping I can have a story like that one day. My mental health isn’t so hot and I’ve always wanted to be a dog owner. I hope when I can get one I’ll be good at it and it will help me get better.
I lost my 1st Lab (Bob) 20 years ago. It absolutely broke my heart. 2 weeks ago I got my Chase! He is an 11 week old black lab. He is just delicious. I'm retired and I babysit my 7 year old grandson. Watching the 2 of them romp and play is so sweet. I'm glad at this time in my life I have a new best friend!
I'm a huge fan of brandon's tv show so it wasn't surprising that his book th-cam.com/users/postUgkxSw1k29V8f0aNwyGI6qRGYJc3E4Y4Eoxy is also excellent! With treats, my dog has learned most of the seven common commands (sit, stay, come, down, heel, off and no). Brandon's love for all animals is baked into every chapter of the book. If you have a puppy or an older dog, i would highly recommend reading every word of this book as it will be a source of pride for you and your dog.
I love his show and thisjust summarizes and lays out all of the basic methods he uses on the show. What i love about this guide th-cam.com/users/postUgkxKkYeOoCV_w2vPX0CSyVWkhew2c4FYk0d is that you don' need to read the whole book cover to cover ... You can skip to the chapter (lesson) you want to read about. The book is arranged almost as a problem-solving guide ... Here is the problem and here is what you need to know/do to correct it. This man knows his stuff ... But more importantly knows how to teach people how they can work with their pups themselves!
I had a chocolate lab. Her name was Ladyloo. My baby girl. I helped pull her into this world and was with her every single day afterword. I was the one to lay her in her grave in April of 2013. She was 12yrs old. She was my best friend and I miss her so much. She saved me. I still have her collar and her tags.
Let's not forget that they shed 12 months a year. My dog steals food and shakes if she doesn't get your food. Just yesterday she ate my chicken after I fed her.
@@LCx829 They only shed twice a year. And when you know how to groom it only takes 2 months before winter, ... and 3 months after winter! And when you train your dog properly, .... they will never steal food! You should not own a labrador!
Best move i ever made and I was originally on a waiting list for a northern inuit. Lab was never a breed a wanted lol. She came into my life when I needed her most and is the best move I ever made xx
raised with labs on a farm in BC, Canada.They were then and remain the single most important animal on the farm.Protecting,herding,hunting,and real good playmates.Eager to learn.In regards to the gaurding skills.....you can teach them anything.One of the most fearsome and fearless dogs I ever saw was one of our dogs named Rocky.we made a harness for him and he would pull us on a sleigh when we were kids.I saw him take on two coyotes one day.one didnt make it off the property and the other had to be put down.absolutely frightening to watch the violence.it would make you shiver.Rocky was fighting to the death.Dad had a couple springer spaniels for pheasants but the labs were the king of the ranch.we have one now that is trained in search and rescue,agility trained and water recovery.amazing creatures.almost 70 now and i intend to be a lab guy till I die and my doggy will be with me every step of the way.God bless all dogs.I dont think man could have survived with out dogs and horses.Just think about it for a moment.They give of themselves for us and for us alone.
That's interesting about the protection aspect. I had a lab cross collie and he was the only dog of all my different breeds that would fight other male dogs, which surprised me. He was also good protection, did not like people walking too close behind me when he was on the lead. Interesting, we can never totally predict the individual skills and personality of a breed. My 2 Dobermanns, on the other hand, never fought another dog in their lives and when one of them caught a wood pigeon once, he just rested his muzzle on it and waited till I released it totally unharmed!
@@1cjdavidson these stories make me get goose bumps.collies are a great breed and we’re more numerous years ago.my aunt and uncles farm had a collie named Pal.he was the best farm protector I ever saw.nothing moved around there that he didn’t know it and woe betide any interloper.he could be such a fearsome creature but loved us kids,took care of us.Hecwould come out to the road when we left in our bikes and if there was a car coming he would walk out in the road and made sure the car stopped so we could cross and nobody taught him that.
And they are absolute the best packleaders ever! They guide all sorts of animals. Not scared of bigger dogs or agressive dogs. Their nature is to guide. And keep the family tight!
@@polarlab113 When a dog doesn't want people walking to close behind you is certainly you being afraid! My mom had a lab and was ones being stalked. The dog never got over the moment. She was protective against any male person. Me and my dad where tolerated outdoors and inside the house the dog was everybody's friend. I never had any problem with my lab! She was packleader in the neighbourhood. She got between fighting dogs and she did not tolerate any weird dog beheaviour. She never wore a leash and I trusted her from puppy to grown! We met some people being anxious about the behaviour of agressive dogs. I just said let Noa do the work. And most so called agressive dogs, ... where never agressive. Just insecure because of the owner. Noa was in two fights ever. But in those cases there where two other dogs chasing and biting her. And that was only because the other owners never got into raising their dogs. They where giving a citasion not to walk without leash and never on times other owners walk their dogs.
I own a labrador and I'm from India, and I 100% agree with you! Labradors are the most playful, energetic and high maintanence dogs and are extremely loving and emotional at the same time. one point i'd like to add is labs get separation anxiety and traumas very easily which means, you have to be committed to them and never give up on them! Once you have them, there's no going back! ❤️ I'm so grateful that i've met my souldog and he still acts like a puppy although he's 4 years old 😅
My Chocolate Labrador is 16 years old. He is my best friend. We spent almost all day everyday together over the last 16 years. I dread the day that I have to say goodbye.
My black Lab Misty Shadow was the loveliest, gentlest and best behaved dog I have ever known. She lived with me in all of my teaching and field research sites: Guatemala, Nicaragua, Texas, New York state, and California. Due to her calm, quiet, well-behaved nature, all I needed was a portable water bowl and I could bring her with me to my office and field sites. I always chose to live near water so she could swim regularly, and in the hot climates it was so much fun to swim with her. She also adored playing in snow - thank you Ithaca! As you pointed out, congenital hip dysplasia is a common problem of purebred labs. Misty started to show signs of joint pain at around age 5 and the vet recommended Carprofen (Rimadyl). Happily, it worked like a charm and she never had any liver problems or other negative side effects. You are also correct about shedding. Nobody sheds like a labrador! I got used to constantly sweeping/vacuuming and grooming her with a Furminator - an essential tool for the lab undercoat and luckily, she absolutely LOVED it (she would lean into it, lift her legs and rollover to make sure I didn't miss a spot) . Misty knew when I was sad and comforted me. She knew when things were going well and delighted in my happiness. She was beautiful and loyal and I was so very lucky to be her human.
I’m just about to get a 2 yr old black lab, who was a guide dog. She’s my first dog ever, and the idea of having a dog has not sunk in yet, but on a video that lists 5 cons, I see 100s of comments from lab fans. That’s very encouraging.
Fair warning to you, they will probably figure out, if they don't already know, how to open doors. All the retired guide dogs that family members homed seemed to have learned that trick.
Murphy is my constant companion. I am 71 years old, he is now coming up on 7. Agree with pretty much everything in the vid, except the tail thing. Murph seems to have a very keen sense of situational awareness (his body relative to the things around him). We play 4-5 times a day and always play until he says he has had enough. We keep a kiddy pool in the yard for him to cool off in. We never really trained him, per se. Instead we just talked to him like we would a person. He is extremely well mannered around people and just loves folks. He just likes to please us. If he is laying somewhere that we need to walk through, he politely moves a bit out of the way without us saying a word. We never asked him to do that since we are quite able to step over him. I do not think I will ever see a dog like him again. . .
Have a one year old black lab and have two other labs in the past and this is spot on. I would add that if you don’t have a high tolerance for frustration, you shouldn’t get an untrained Labrador, whether puppy or adult with behavioral issues. They are very trainable, but they are also a bit hard headed in some instances and will push your buttons just to find out what the boundaries are and will do things on purpose just because they know they’ll get a rise out of you. Think grabbing the hand towel off the counter, just because they know you’ll chase them around the room trying to get it back. (Edit: this is a good reason not to keep knives on the counter. No joke my parent’s had a 8 month old male lab running around the house with a chef’s knife ripping up couches and what not, thankfully no shins where harmed.). You’ll have to learn not to play the games they want to play until they’ve learned what they are and are not allowed to do. That includes play biting, so if you aren’t ok with bruises for a few months between 6months and year, you might want to get a calmer breed. They’ll also decide when they have had enough exercise and fight you on it. For example I’ll take ours out for an hour long walk, come back and toss the ball for awhile and when it’s time to go in, you’ll get their lead on, but when they realize you are headed home they’ll throw a hissy fit which quite possibly will include ankle nipping or trying to play tug of war on the lead. You’ll need to learn how to redirect their attention because as soon as you introduce a new stimulant their ADHD kicks in and they forget about the thing they were complaining about. One final bit is that for all the dogs I’ve had, including mutts, shepherds and rotties, labs are by far the most stubborn, but also the most rewarding when you finally make that break through in training. They’ll do almost anything for a small bit of food, which you’ll need in droves because they are such high strung dogs and require quite a lot of it in the first few months of training, but will eventually do just about anything you ask of them, including getting you a beer from the fridge when you can’t be bothered to get off the couch. Great companions, great personalities, but it doesn’t come cheap financially or in time and effort.
My first lab was born 47 years ago same day as i was , I’m getting another one in a weeks time. Had other breeds mastiff,bull,shepherds but you can’t beat a lab 🤟🏻
We just got a lab mix a couple weeks ago from the pound and I love watching videos like this, so I know what to except and do to prevent certain behavior issues. I would like to say that so far, she is doing amazing! She already follows commands like sit, working on lay down, and she is going to the door when she needs to go outside to potty. We think she is part hound also. She loves to cuddle, and she love to fetch! My family and I love her!
My lab passed away at 14 from cancer. She was the perfect dog. I will never have a dog half as amazing as she was almost 5 years later I still miss her everyday
Whilst I agree... We've had a lab for 4 months now and they are the most incredible dog. He adores being round us and is an intelligent so and so. He's wiped the coffee table clear, shed his coat and licked everyone to death. Wouldn't change him one bit.
My 3 yrs old golden Labrador retriever. Named Budders. We get morning kisses, plays fetch till we are tired, mid morning kisses, more fetching, noon kisses, 75ld lap dog in the evening with more kisses, fur brushed, a nice swim in the creek, cries when a crawdede snaps her toes, night time kisses. Helps with cleaning our coffee table before bed. Then before bed kisses before she sleeps. Love her so much. When her time comes I will cry.
@@timesthree5757 awesome to hear. Ours is 19 months now, so funny, so good with the family and now has a network if doggy friends. Best investment we've made.
I raised 2 Lab pups. I did this knowing someone would be with them for 6 full months 24/7. They both made fine dogs and learned quick. The 2 labs had totally different personalities so no 2 dogs are the same. If you dont have the time or yard for this dog, you need to look for a smaller breed. The dogs are classic your gonna get out of them the work you put in.
Have our second lab. Had Newfoundlands and a Malamute in between. Just love our Lab. Both labs. at different ends of my life have been the best dogs ever. You are right about shedding. Our current Lab. sheds twice a year; January to June and July to December. Biggest mistake I have made- feeding him from the table. The drool is lethal. We adore him and he is just so loving. Goes to sleep on my wife’s lap in front of the television every night. Would not be without him.
I "rescued" a yellow American lab from some people in the neighborhood who neglected her. They weren't happy, but too bad. 9 and a half years later, and I couldn't ask for a finer friend. She was a wild child when I met her, but she was so smart and attentive that she was easy to train. I believe she thinks she's a human. I think exercise is key to keeping labs mentally and physically healthy. 2-3 times a week we go for a 5-6 mile hike, and we also camp a lot, especially in fall/winter and early spring. Here in the south, it's too damn hot in the summer for extended activity, which makes it a challenge to keep her weight down, but we've figured it out, and she stays right around 75 lbs year-round. She does fine on a leash, but these dogs are bred to run. If they aren't able to do that, it makes for an unhappy dog and behaviors that will reflect that. She goes just about everywhere with me, and I have lost count of how many times I have heard folks say, "That's the most well-behaved dog I've ever seen". Very gentle, easy-going, always happy. LOVES road trips...LOVES staying in hotels. BUT...if you come to my house, you will see a different side of her. Nasty bark, hackles up, very intimidating...until I say to you, "Hey, how's to going?" That's the verbal cue she waits for, that signals no threat. Then it's back to being herself. The one recommendation I would make for dog parents of any breed...would be getting health insurance. My dog has had cancer (4 yrs free this November). CT scan...$$$$. Cost of each chemo treatment was equal to what I paid for one year of coverage. She had 6 treatments. In the middle of her chemo, she tore her left cranial cruciate ligament (the canine equivalent of human ACL). $4000.00 for just the surgery. MRI, follow-up visits post-op, a 6-hr trip to Ohio State University for arthroscopic work on the knee...another 5K added on. Insurance covered 95% of it. Add on all kinds of miscellaneous procedures, tests, X-rays, medication, etc....and her vet bills are in the 25k range. Getting insurance was the smartest thing I've ever done for her. It's no different than having a kid (the human kind). I have never been in the position of having to make decisions about finances vs quality of care for her. She has always had the best care. Today she runs around like nothing ever happened. Please consider getting health insurance for your dog.
My yellow American field lab kept me in amazing shape, he swam everyday unless the lake was frozen. Gave him 10hrs a day exercise till he was 8yrs old he finally calmed down at 9yrs old. Amazing animal made it till 13yrs old, best 13yrs of my life. Broke my heart in half.
Its truly awful when you loose one, I got my first labrador when was 18, I am now retired and have a black one 2 got to 14 and a half, they were all wonderful and none ever forgotten
@Dawson Davis American labradors, Canadian labradors and English labs are all different. Stop generalizing an entire country's population, That's xenophobic.
I have a large American Chocolate Lab, she is an ex blind dog whose owner passed and she was depressed. She now has children who love her and she gets lots of exercise and love. She is now a very happy girl and gives so much love in return. You mentioned about fur shedding, I don’t find it a problem. she only sheds twice a year, for the first six months and the last six months. The vacuum gets a good workout. I think she is best friend that anyone could have!!!
This was some great advice and I wish more people would consider these things when looking for any dog to bring in to their home. As a hunter who has hunting labs we are very active with them and I still find I have to run them on the treadmill 45 min a day or so outside of hunting season to keep them conditioned and relaxed. That does not include the play, socialization time and training. These are big commitment dogs but are absolutely fantastic for the right people.
We love our Labrador. At times, his size can be an issue like you say. One time, he got so excited to see everyone during a party, he knocked a few cups of coffee off the coffee table with his enormous wagging tail.
Good honest advice. Working Labs have serious stamina, energy and drive. They might be easy to train because they are clever but they will test and push every boundary and remain boisterous youngsters until they finally mature at aged 3-4.
Retired with two labs, together 24/7. love them to pieces. 3 hours of active exercise per day keeps them and me in excellent shape, patient positive reinforcement have turned them into being able to be off leash most of the time when we are outside, and being very obedient without ever raising my voice. They are excellent with grandkids and my labs have been very gentle around the small kids with few incidents, none involving tears or injuries. Having a Labrador retriever once means forever after!
Angel was 14 when she passed and she was my best friend. I miss her every day!❤️🐾🐾 She loved frisbee and knew where it was and got a new one every year and I still have her very first one.🥰🐾🐾
My Labrador, Buzz, was my best friend for 13 years. Labs are amazing family dogs. My sons grew up with Buzz's watchful eyes right there (especially near or in the pool). Buzz strived for harmony over everything and did his best to keep the family harmonious. He's been gone now for 3 months. We are all devastated with his passing, but I wouldn't give up one day of cleaning up his messes or sweeping his hair or sleeping on the corner of the bed (because he took up most of it), for anything. Buzz was a lot of work but he made me a better Dad, husband and person. Labs are amazing.
loved this video. my childhood lab mix jessica passed away last month and may i say, these points are spot on. (except for the fact mine hated water, don’t know why) the shedding and exercise bit is no joke. even tho their hair isn’t too long, it gets everywhere and becomes excessively worse when they shed twice for the year. you literally couldn’t stop pulling hair off my dog. lab’s definitely love the outdoors and running around in it. jessica and i used to love relaxing in the grass, even to the end. she was healthy all her life (god bless) until about a year ago. we could tell her hip mobility was going down, and even tho she still played a little bit, slept a lot more and was more hesitant to go outside for walkies. it wasn’t until the month before we put her down where she really had difficulty walking, and 3 days before, couldn’t at all. luckily but unluckily, the house we stay at recently had a ramp installed due to someone needing a wheelchair, but it really helped our dog out. the stairs would make her limp. so i definitely suggest something like that if you’re able to as they age. lab’s are incredibly intelligent and loving dogs. they really depend on human connections. from constantly laying on our legs and feet, to comforting us when we were angry or cried, jessica was an incredible dog, and i know anyone who gets a labrador retriever will love them. EDIT: here’s my baby if anyone would like to see her :) i like letting her memory live on. embk.me/jessicasche?
One of the tips I can give as someone who's been through all labrador life stages - make sure that there's someone that can physically pick him up. When they get older and hip problems start showing themselves, or god forbid, they were dealt the cancer card too, you'd want to help your buddy as much as you can when he no longer is able to walk for more than a few minutes at a time.
Im so heartbroken. I had to put my yellow lab down today. She was 13 and had CHF. I was so blessed to have her. I can never replace her but I do have room to love another yellow lab. R.I.P. Pasqualie .....I love you
Ive never been alone since I rescued my girl, Maggie. Not even in the bathroom! She can be an active dog but she's a couch potato with me. She hates rain and snow, tolerates a bath sheds buckets of fur, loves to eat and sleeps with me every night.
We bought our Labrador to become a new member to the family. Little did I know he was going to inspire me to become a waterfowl hunter which has taken on a journey becoming a sportsman which has been incredibly rewarding. I will now own Labradors for the rest of my life.
He's defiantly right about the shedding. My missus is constantly vacuuming up fur. I joke with her that it would be much more time efficient to vacuum the dog rather than the floor. It's especially bad after the dog has had a bath, no matter how much brushing we do, the fur comes off in clumps. Still, Sissy's an awesome dog.
He forgot to mention they are tremendously brilliant dogs, and love to please, but until they are about 18 months, it's all work and training. They need a lot of structure. If you want a more mellow retriever, go with a Golden. I've had both Labs and Goldens. Goldens are softer, but Labs are more velcro dogs who will love you and lay at (and on) your feet as long as you exercise, hike, stimulate, engage, and run them enough each day so they can focus. They are AWESOME dogs--have always heard it said that "once you go Lab, you'll never go back"! Love this!
We lost Stella, our yellow lab almost a year ago. Cancer sucks! I'd give my right arm to deal with all 5 of those "issues" again to get her back. She was such an awesome dog, dealt with 2 newborns without any issue. She also knew when I wasn't exactly happy and found a way to snap me out of it. We're going to get another yellow lab pup soon and I can't wait.
Hey all. I have severe anxiety and OCD. I am so close to getting a lab puppy. I'm actually visiting a breeder this weekend but my anxiety makes me scared that I might pick the "wrong one". Anyone else felt like this before? I feel like my anxiety is trying to get in the way of something wonderful
I have a chocolate female she is adorable, I've never had a dog that everywhere we go in public people ask to pet her. She's very sweet but loves doing anything with us it'll break my heart the day we have to put her down.
Great thank you for your video 👍 but too late I had one yellow Labrador 6 months old and he becomes my therapist dog 🐕 greeting everyone who walk through the door. Such a lovely and joyful of our family.
This is our first chocolate lab, I was never a dog person, but she as made me understand why a dog is your best friend.; we love her. Ps Your information is so informative.thank you.
After my 15 yr old Weimaraner passed away, my health went downhill. My blood pressure went through the roof and I was very close to having a heart attack at the age of 59. When my dog died, my heart actually hurt (physically). My cardiologist told me that I needed to get another dog. We got 2 labradoodles! These 2 pups were outliers since they're almost a year old and have no curls. They both look like lab puppies and have shown lab behavior consistently. Well, my cardiologist was amazed. My blood pressure went way down, along with my weight (yes, labs are very active). These 2 puppies literally saved my life! I still miss my Weimaraner, but I know she would loved these two pups. Thank you for this video. It was helpful and quite accurate 🐶
My silver Labrador passed away on 8/16/21. She was a year & a half. Her name was Skye and she passed away from parvo complications. She was a great family member and loved everyone. I'm happy I found your channel, I hope some of your other videos can help me cope.
@@willathertonlabradorshow2225 thank you. I do have another silver Labrador puppy at home. He's 4 months old and even though he's doing usual puppy behavior like running, and wanting to play with everyone, he cries in his sleep and I think Skye's passing has him depressed. They were very close. Do you have any advice for puppy depression and what to do if it doesn't get better in a few months?
My Skye is a Chocolate Laborador Retriever and she best doggo!! I don't usually like dogs but she stole my heart!! She loves to fetch, run, water and is very stubborn! Much training was needed!!!
My labrador broke my heart a year ago. You're right on all counts, but I have a lab print on my heart now. Hopefully next year we can get another one and the fun will start again.
I absolutely love the idea behind this video. Well done! I hope this video will prevent some Labs living a crappy life or even being forced to find a new home because of peoples ignorance
Honestly yes I absolutely agree with all these facts every single trait mentioned is exactly how my dog acts, which is why we try as much as possible to get him tired so when he comes inside he is nice and relaxed.
I got mine 5 months ago. They will eat literally anything outside from leaves to wood from sticks which mine adores. It took a while to train him not to eat anything off the ground, and low even when I accidentally drop a treat on the ground he will not e at it till I pick it up or tell him that he can. It's something you have to pay attention constantly since people here often throws poison which is sad...
I am thinking of getting my first own dog, and am considering a labrador. No worry though, I have been surrounded by dogs all my life, just never had my own. Some of the dogs around me have been labradors and sometimes cross breeds (Schabradors). I truly love them and I do not need a guard dog. It was a good reminder in how active they want to be, there I would need to change my life style. Thank you for posting this!
My black Lab never ceases to amaze me. He’s my third and the first we’re awesome but my Cruiser goes out me to 4 steps further. Last Sunday we were at a inlet and after doing a bunch ot retrieves in the surf and his trying to bury my truck I saw a seal. So we went to the back side of the inlet that the tide was coming in pretty fast he did about 7 or 8 retrieves to get the seals to come up close while he was on the retrieve. The last throw he wanted no part of it. It took a minute or so and he went to try and find but the current took it so I called him off. Instead of coming in he turned and saw a seal within 10 feet and it was one two big ones. There was big ones and a boy one got closer we so far figure a pair. Cruiser swam right up to the seal just as three little ones popped up and came right up to him and they appeared to be playing. He decided he had enough of swimming against the current and came in. The best thing that I didn’t do with my first two is take him to obedience training. People have to realize they aren’t dog trainers and dogs are much smarter than they realize. The training wasn’t for the dog it was for me so he could get him to not have bay be obedient but for hunting and thing else we want to. Dogs need to be told what to do and people need to know how to do it. That goes for any breed. Great video!
pretty spot on with those tips i have a senior Labrador and has been my sole companion his whole life and will continue to be until the end I've been lucky with mine so far not many heath issues besides arthritis in both back legs something for people to think about is care through out when it comes to exercise nothing to straining on the joints
Great video, sensible discussion. Lost my yellow lab 2 years ago after having him 14 years, still hurts today, miss him terribly. Unfortunately I work away from home now and it wouldn't be fair or practical to get another furr baby. Keep the vids coming, great content.
I really respect that you are willing to speak from different perspective even tho you are so close to labradors. That is something most TH-camrs lack of. Thank you for your great advice!
I have a chocolate lab right now and I want to get a golden retriever when I’m older. Labradors are the best dogs in the world and I’ll have no regrets if I get one in the future
Agree with all you said. I’m a Labrador lover, my lab poppy was the best dog ever, we had her for 17 glorious years. Sadly she passed away last year from old age and our home isn’t the same without her. Now a year later, we are ready to share our home with another lab so just doing some research at the moment, thank you. I look forward to more videos from you!
I have lab now and he is one of the best breed. He is active but not extremely challenging like malinois, border collie. He adjusted with my energy level. While it s heavy raining or i was sick, he is happy just sit next to me or play indoor. He doesn't demanding for vigorous exercise. He is happy for Tug n war and fetch ball. He is clever, clumsy and funny at the same time. I love him
my mother is a strict asian mother, and she really really hates fur, so she wasn't the happiest camper when my dad brought home a white labrador retriever home one day. but it's been 8 years since that day and my mom won't ever let molly (my lab's name) go :)
BEST LAB VIDEO EVER! His points are spot on! I believe the Lab Retriever to be the very BEST breed, but these points are ALL impeccably true. Be ready for some work, BUT the most Love and Loyalty returned… EVER!
Best most practical advice I have see online, I had a wonderful lab once and he definitely fit into every category you explained, including the damn cancer at age 10, he was the best damn dog tho and still miss him dearly, RIP Lefty Boy ! Great Video !
1. Be as committed to them as they are to you. Most people aren't. Daily exercise, three or more sessions per day. Most people won't. 3. Shedding fur. 4. Barking. 5. Large poop. They chew! If you love them enough to deal with their needs, you are one lucky person!
My husband and I are retired and we adopted a 2 yr old lab a month ago and a she is just wonderful. She is very docile and friendly to everyone but yeah she gets aggressive if she thinks we’re in danger. We have had 3 other labadors in the past and I do agree that they are high maintenance and no one needs one if it is not going to get the exercise and attention they need. They aren’t for everyone but it’s the best dog for us.😀
He is on point! I have a labrador, no kids in the house ... checked - have an alarm system, checked... my house is cleaner than ever since vacuuming and mopping are a must... checked, I am willing to work overtime to provide medical care if necessary because she is the reason I'm healthy - physically (since I have to keep up with her) and mentally cause she has giving me unconditional love! I will do ANYTHING for my fur baby!
Not guard dogs but very protective of their family. My friend and I were mucking around she smacked my arm and my doggo pushed in between us and pushed her away. We thought maybe Tots wanted attention, so we took turns ‘smacking’ each other’s arms, the result my friend couldn’t hit me more then twice, I could hit my friend about five times before Tots pushed me away. Labs are the protective type, as a kid my family’s labs would not let us swim out past her (even my parents) and would try make us go back to shore. One was trained for that but apparently was bad at it so was ‘fired’ and we got her.
Took our lab in three times for hip pain and trouble walking. Turned out he had a slipped disk in his back and was suffering from paresis. Make sure they check your pup for delayed reaction in the hind legs/feet, and don't just assume it's hip dysplasia.
i can definitely attest to #5. i grew up with 2 labs and they were the sweetest, but they had some very unfortunate health conditions that made aging difficult for them.
Lol most of these made me laugh. I’ve had my Chocolate lab Theodore (Theo) for 5 months and he has quickly changed and made me laugh. He has brought so much positive change for me! I’m an introvert by nature and he is an absolute extrovert! He loves to stop and meet every dog/person we see while playing or on walks. Which has helped me makes new friends I else wise never would have made! His energy needs have made me more active as well. We play every single day outside multiple times. As I work from home we are always together and he constantly reminds me to take breaks too! Hes loving sweet and such a cuddler! He is the most brilliant dog I’ve ever met, he was potty trained in a WEEK! My neighbor who got her pup the same time is still struggling 5months in. Our bond really took off when my cat of 9 years passed away a few weeks ago. Theo was beyond in tune with my grieving and emotions and allowed me time to take it slow and be sad and in bed for a couple days. It blew my mind. Needless to say I’m glad I took a chance on a Labrador as my first adult dog at 30 lol. Side note: I live in an apartment and he does great! I do live on a park with trails and it’s a very dog friendly community so he has tons of pup friends. So don’t let a bigger breed scare you, just remember if you take it on your taking on adjusting your lifestyle to fit their needs! I’d argue not having a house and private yard allows for a better bond with your lab too as you get very good at learning their needs through body language whether it be potty breaks or they need to go outside and blow some steam! ❤️💕
He made a great point labs are great watch dogs but not guard dogs which is true I remember with my lab I had I can imagine him kind of just watching as u got jumped lol but u can count on him to let u kno when someone in around or is front of the house
I just got my Labrador ad I’m loving it. They sure do have a lot of energy. I have a puppy and he does need a lot of play time. Lucky I can take the time off to be with him 😊😀🐶
Lost our first black lab 11 years ago we now have 2 more black labs Maggie us 3 and Mabel is 1 on the 4th of July we have an autistic grandson having the dogs helps our grandson learn to play. They are the most beautiful and funny kind and caring dogs.
I am looking into getting a lab in the way future. My boyfriend had a Lab he absolutely adored growing up. Unfortunately she passed away and I have my heart set on getting him a lab in the future when we are more financially stable
Had a yellow for 14 1/2 years. He was more human and loving than most humans I've known. He was my constant companion and was gentle, kind and loving. When he died of cancer a huge part of me died too. My husband loves and is with me but I feel so lost inside. We still grieve even though it was 2019.
My Lab only has two shedding seasons : winter-spring and summer-fall!! We pray when winter comes that it gets cold early so she'll hang on to the fur....
Labs are the best, max was my best friend from my age 13 till he had to be put out of his pain. He was aged 11. I will get another one, but only when I can give the dog the attention it needs.
My yellow lab was the absolute BEST dog ever. She was super athletic (bred from champion gmhr bloodlines),she was calm when she needed to be but had tons of energy too. She wasn't aggressive ever and definitely wouldn't scare anyone away trying to rob us. But she loved water. She would swim forever if you let her. She loved to run and fly into the water, which damaged her elbows. She also got frequent ear infections which wasnt fun. She loved to jump, which led to straining her acl. She was never a destructive chewer even with her own toys. She would run for hours and then run some more, and then when you thought she was good,she'd want to fetch for another 90mins. She was over 100lbs of love and floof. She was the best most well behaved ppl pleasing dog I have ever owned and would get embarrassed about things. Our black lab (bred from pedigreed labs but not hunting dogs) is...wild. like Marley and me wild at times. She is destructive and loves to eat rocks and sticks. She barks and whines and pulls and chews and...man. she's a handful but we love her and work with her to help her be a good girl. She loves her ppl and will follow you all over the place,sit behind you silently so you almost fall over her. She's under 50lbs but it feels like she's 200lbs at times. Our son is 6 and goes between thinking she's awesome and thinking she "needs to go away". She is scary and definitely would scare someone away. She doesn't give any f's what anyone thinks. Labs are amazing dogs for the right ppl. Most ppl would have gotten rid of our black lab but we chose her and it's our job to give her an amazing life filled with patience and love (and lots of chimken)
I have two yellow labs that each have their own type of prescription food due to allergies and urinary issues......With that being said, there is nothing better than a “Lab Blanket” when you are laying on the couch on a cold Winter’s night.
Best dogs ever. Got one to help with my depression. Absolute life saver, found my best friend and haven't stopped smiling since.
How sweet ❤️
Same as me. She has already changed my life . My psych team recommended that a lab would help. Yup golden fur everywhere lol I think im now part little yellow dog lol . Teething, farting and eating anythjng she sees. Super energetic and cant wait to be going on our adventures together and as you say I havent stopped laughing or smiling since she arrived a month ago. She is now 13 weeks of hyperactivity , farts and fun x
This sounds great! I always went through depression. Got help from a "cavalier king charles"-angel!
@Xing He Same here man Infantry with 4 deployments. Labs are a great fit.
@Xing He I have the exact same conditions plus ADHD. Im on leave from teaching due to agoraphobia so I got a black lab last month and she's changed my life. She is a constant distraction and really stops the rumination and panic. I havent had a panic attack since the day I got her. I hope you can get a dog soon!
I rescued a lab puppy not even two weeks ago. To be honest I am a VERY lazy person but I have a heart and passion. He went from a scared abused puppy to being fed a raw diet and forcing me to go outside no matter the weather is with my daughter. I am lazy yes…but he has saved me from depression and has helped me gain a deeper bond with my daughter❤️
That's an amazing lab. Most labs absolutely hate rain! They love to swim and stamp in puddels but they don't like rain!
@@barrymantz6026 yep that’s what I was going to say, had several labs in our family for generations and only one would go out when it rained 😂
I put in a comment earlier that my Lab made me a better Dad and Husband. It's hard to articulate just how that is, but your experience is just one of the ways Labs persuade owners through love to improve themselves.
@@zaknaifen193 this comment I left was 2 years ago. He is now two and life is completely different but I still agree with what I’ve said. As he got older we tested for his breed as his behavior was different from any lab I’ve seen and he is a German shepherd/lab mix. I immediately put him in protective training, and you can tell he absolutely LOVES IT. At the time my daughter and I were not in a good situation with her father. One day things got very out of hand and Murphy did what he had to do. That whole situation put into light that staying wasn’t worth me trying so that my daughter had parents who were together and we left that night. I tell people to this day, my dog is the one who save my daughter and I and let us grow and heal.
I’m hoping I can have a story like that one day. My mental health isn’t so hot and I’ve always wanted to be a dog owner. I hope when I can get one I’ll be good at it and it will help me get better.
I lost my 1st Lab (Bob) 20 years ago. It absolutely broke my heart.
2 weeks ago I got my Chase! He is an 11 week old black lab. He is just delicious. I'm retired and I babysit my 7 year old grandson.
Watching the 2 of them romp and play is so sweet. I'm glad at this time in my life I have a new best friend!
The best friend you will ever have
@@yesitsmecatelynn6062 mmm
Tf do you mean by delicious buddy
@@yesitsmecatelynn6062 hmm yes she ate her dog.
I have a 4 month old silver Labrador puppy. His name is Chase too. He is a ball of energy but great with my 3 kids.
I'm a huge fan of brandon's tv show so it wasn't surprising that his book th-cam.com/users/postUgkxSw1k29V8f0aNwyGI6qRGYJc3E4Y4Eoxy is also excellent! With treats, my dog has learned most of the seven common commands (sit, stay, come, down, heel, off and no). Brandon's love for all animals is baked into every chapter of the book. If you have a puppy or an older dog, i would highly recommend reading every word of this book as it will be a source of pride for you and your dog.
What a great video! He's not trying to stop labs going to great homes, he's trying to stop great labs going to wrong homes by giving brilliant advice
Very very good point
Brilliant advice?
Yeah😊
Well put Rhys.
I had no idea they loved being active; the ones I've seen , seem so chill and mellow. very informative video fam . God bless 🙏
getting smacked in the face with a dog tail builds character
Cant agree more
My labrador has a carrot tail and she slaps us when she looks back
i guess im just used to it.
I love his show and thisjust summarizes and lays out all of the basic methods he uses on the show. What i love about this guide th-cam.com/users/postUgkxKkYeOoCV_w2vPX0CSyVWkhew2c4FYk0d is that you don' need to read the whole book cover to cover ... You can skip to the chapter (lesson) you want to read about. The book is arranged almost as a problem-solving guide ... Here is the problem and here is what you need to know/do to correct it. This man knows his stuff ... But more importantly knows how to teach people how they can work with their pups themselves!
I had a lab for 14/15 years when I was a kid I remember he used to always knock me over with his tail 😂 the greatest dog I will ever have
They are brilliant dogs ❤️
Must get one
@@willathertonlabradorshow2225 so why would you make a video telling not to get A LABRADOR
@@stanloonaorflop2529 Because people need to know the facts in order to know the dog they want. It doesn’t matter if it’s bad or good.
@@ireallywantagoldenretrieve7997 oh ok
You just gave me enough reasons to get a labrador
I got one and he’s great
I had a chocolate lab. Her name was Ladyloo. My baby girl. I helped pull her into this world and was with her every single day afterword. I was the one to lay her in her grave in April of 2013. She was 12yrs old. She was my best friend and I miss her so much. She saved me. I still have her collar and her tags.
Only things u need to know about labradors
. Greedy always hungry
. Loves walks
. Loves sleep
. Loves attention
The absolute TRUTH!!!!!
Let's not forget that they shed 12 months a year.
My dog steals food and shakes if she doesn't get your food. Just yesterday she ate my chicken after I fed her.
Hungry is what fucks me up
And swimming , majority love swimming
@@LCx829 They only shed twice a year. And when you know how to groom it only takes 2 months before winter, ... and 3 months after winter! And when you train your dog properly, .... they will never steal food! You should not own a labrador!
Labs are THE EASIEST dogs to train bar none because their desire to please is off the charts!
"why you SHOULD NOT get a Labrador puppy." Me:okay okay :gets one anyway
BAHAHA i’m gonna get one soon
Noice
EXACTLY.
Best move i ever made and I was originally on a waiting list for a northern inuit. Lab was never a breed a wanted lol. She came into my life when I needed her most and is the best move I ever made xx
Me too
raised with labs on a farm in BC, Canada.They were then and remain the single most important animal on the farm.Protecting,herding,hunting,and real good playmates.Eager to learn.In regards to the gaurding skills.....you can teach them anything.One of the most fearsome and fearless dogs I ever saw was one of our dogs named Rocky.we made a harness for him and he would pull us on a sleigh when we were kids.I saw him take on two coyotes one day.one didnt make it off the property and the other had to be put down.absolutely frightening to watch the violence.it would make you shiver.Rocky was fighting to the death.Dad had a couple springer spaniels for pheasants but the labs were the king of the ranch.we have one now that is trained in search and rescue,agility trained and water recovery.amazing creatures.almost 70 now and i intend to be a lab guy till I die and my doggy will be with me every step of the way.God bless all dogs.I dont think man could have survived with out dogs and horses.Just think about it for a moment.They give of themselves for us and for us alone.
That’s very true 👍
That's interesting about the protection aspect. I had a lab cross collie and he was the only dog of all my different breeds that would fight other male dogs, which surprised me. He was also good protection, did not like people walking too close behind me when he was on the lead. Interesting, we can never totally predict the individual skills and personality of a breed. My 2 Dobermanns, on the other hand, never fought another dog in their lives and when one of them caught a wood pigeon once, he just rested his muzzle on it and waited till I released it totally unharmed!
@@1cjdavidson these stories make me get goose bumps.collies are a great breed and we’re more numerous years ago.my aunt and uncles farm had a collie named Pal.he was the best farm protector I ever saw.nothing moved around there that he didn’t know it and woe betide any interloper.he could be such a fearsome creature but loved us kids,took care of us.Hecwould come out to the road when we left in our bikes and if there was a car coming he would walk out in the road and made sure the car stopped so we could cross and nobody taught him that.
And they are absolute the best packleaders ever! They guide all sorts of animals. Not scared of bigger dogs or agressive dogs. Their nature is to guide. And keep the family tight!
@@polarlab113 When a dog doesn't want people walking to close behind you is certainly you being afraid! My mom had a lab and was ones being stalked. The dog never got over the moment. She was protective against any male person. Me and my dad where tolerated outdoors and inside the house the dog was everybody's friend.
I never had any problem with my lab! She was packleader in the neighbourhood. She got between fighting dogs and she did not tolerate any weird dog beheaviour. She never wore a leash and I trusted her from puppy to grown! We met some people being anxious about the behaviour of agressive dogs. I just said let Noa do the work. And most so called agressive dogs, ... where never agressive. Just insecure because of the owner.
Noa was in two fights ever. But in those cases there where two other dogs chasing and biting her. And that was only because the other owners never got into raising their dogs. They where giving a citasion not to walk without leash and never on times other owners walk their dogs.
I own a labrador and I'm from India, and I 100% agree with you! Labradors are the most playful, energetic and high maintanence dogs and are extremely loving and emotional at the same time. one point i'd like to add is labs get separation anxiety and traumas very easily which means, you have to be committed to them and never give up on them! Once you have them, there's no going back! ❤️ I'm so grateful that i've met my souldog and he still acts like a puppy although he's 4 years old 😅
My Chocolate Labrador is 16 years old. He is my best friend. We spent almost all day everyday together over the last 16 years. I dread the day that I have to say goodbye.
16 years! Wow you are so blessed. I have a 10-month-old black lab & can only hope he lives that long.
@@Abby-js8ch It took lots of prayers, hugs, and kisses.
I had a red lab for 13 years. She just passed away 4 months ago. She, too, used to be with me all day long. She was the definition of happiness.
My black Lab Misty Shadow was the loveliest, gentlest and best behaved dog I have ever known. She lived with me in all of my teaching and field research sites: Guatemala, Nicaragua, Texas, New York state, and California. Due to her calm, quiet, well-behaved nature, all I needed was a portable water bowl and I could bring her with me to my office and field sites. I always chose to live near water so she could swim regularly, and in the hot climates it was so much fun to swim with her. She also adored playing in snow - thank you Ithaca! As you pointed out, congenital hip dysplasia is a common problem of purebred labs. Misty started to show signs of joint pain at around age 5 and the vet recommended Carprofen (Rimadyl). Happily, it worked like a charm and she never had any liver problems or other negative side effects. You are also correct about shedding. Nobody sheds like a labrador! I got used to constantly sweeping/vacuuming and grooming her with a Furminator - an essential tool for the lab undercoat and luckily, she absolutely LOVED it (she would lean into it, lift her legs and rollover to make sure I didn't miss a spot) . Misty knew when I was sad and comforted me. She knew when things were going well and delighted in my happiness. She was beautiful and loyal and I was so very lucky to be her human.
I’m just about to get a 2 yr old black lab, who was a guide dog. She’s my first dog ever, and the idea of having a dog has not sunk in yet, but on a video that lists 5 cons, I see 100s of comments from lab fans. That’s very encouraging.
Fair warning to you, they will probably figure out, if they don't already know, how to open doors.
All the retired guide dogs that family members homed seemed to have learned that trick.
I bet he's a thief.
He must have stolen your ❤
Murphy is my constant companion. I am 71 years old, he is now coming up on 7. Agree with pretty much everything in the vid, except the tail thing. Murph seems to have a very keen sense of situational awareness (his body relative to the things around him). We play 4-5 times a day and always play until he says he has had enough. We keep a kiddy pool in the yard for him to cool off in. We never really trained him, per se. Instead we just talked to him like we would a person. He is extremely well mannered around people and just loves folks. He just likes to please us. If he is laying somewhere that we need to walk through, he politely moves a bit out of the way without us saying a word. We never asked him to do that since we are quite able to step over him. I do not think I will ever see a dog like him again. . .
Have a one year old black lab and have two other labs in the past and this is spot on. I would add that if you don’t have a high tolerance for frustration, you shouldn’t get an untrained Labrador, whether puppy or adult with behavioral issues.
They are very trainable, but they are also a bit hard headed in some instances and will push your buttons just to find out what the boundaries are and will do things on purpose just because they know they’ll get a rise out of you. Think grabbing the hand towel off the counter, just because they know you’ll chase them around the room trying to get it back. (Edit: this is a good reason not to keep knives on the counter. No joke my parent’s had a 8 month old male lab running around the house with a chef’s knife ripping up couches and what not, thankfully no shins where harmed.).
You’ll have to learn not to play the games they want to play until they’ve learned what they are and are not allowed to do. That includes play biting, so if you aren’t ok with bruises for a few months between 6months and year, you might want to get a calmer breed.
They’ll also decide when they have had enough exercise and fight you on it. For example I’ll take ours out for an hour long walk, come back and toss the ball for awhile and when it’s time to go in, you’ll get their lead on, but when they realize you are headed home they’ll throw a hissy fit which quite possibly will include ankle nipping or trying to play tug of war on the lead.
You’ll need to learn how to redirect their attention because as soon as you introduce a new stimulant their ADHD kicks in and they forget about the thing they were complaining about.
One final bit is that for all the dogs I’ve had, including mutts, shepherds and rotties, labs are by far the most stubborn, but also the most rewarding when you finally make that break through in training.
They’ll do almost anything for a small bit of food, which you’ll need in droves because they are such high strung dogs and require quite a lot of it in the first few months of training, but will eventually do just about anything you ask of them, including getting you a beer from the fridge when you can’t be bothered to get off the couch.
Great companions, great personalities, but it doesn’t come cheap financially or in time and effort.
My first lab was born 47 years ago same day as i was , I’m getting another one in a weeks time. Had other breeds mastiff,bull,shepherds but you can’t beat a lab 🤟🏻
one more reason: they are the ultimate goofballs. your face muscles will cramp from smiling
TRUUE LMAO
We just got a lab mix a couple weeks ago from the pound and I love watching videos like this, so I know what to except and do to prevent certain behavior issues. I would like to say that so far, she is doing amazing! She already follows commands like sit, working on lay down, and she is going to the door when she needs to go outside to potty. We think she is part hound also.
She loves to cuddle, and she love to fetch!
My family and I love her!
My lab passed away at 14 from cancer. She was the perfect dog. I will never have a dog half as amazing as she was almost 5 years later I still miss her everyday
❤❤😢
I am on my 4th Lab, best Dogs ever!
I'm on 3rd - cant imagine owning anything else now 😂
I agree best dog breed ever
I just got my 2nd (the one in my profile pic) labs are just awesome
@@snorden3447 hello i have a question, do they shed a lot?
@@christelleandloryplays2639 no
Whilst I agree... We've had a lab for 4 months now and they are the most incredible dog. He adores being round us and is an intelligent so and so. He's wiped the coffee table clear, shed his coat and licked everyone to death.
Wouldn't change him one bit.
My 3 yrs old golden Labrador retriever. Named Budders. We get morning kisses, plays fetch till we are tired, mid morning kisses, more fetching, noon kisses, 75ld lap dog in the evening with more kisses, fur brushed, a nice swim in the creek, cries when a crawdede snaps her toes, night time kisses. Helps with cleaning our coffee table before bed. Then before bed kisses before she sleeps. Love her so much. When her time comes I will cry.
@@timesthree5757 awesome to hear. Ours is 19 months now, so funny, so good with the family and now has a network if doggy friends. Best investment we've made.
@@The1979spike ours is kept away from strangers to enhance her maternal protective instincts.
Labs can be good gaurd dogs if there trained.
I raised 2 Lab pups. I did this knowing someone would be with them for 6 full months 24/7. They both made fine dogs and learned quick. The 2 labs had totally different personalities so no 2 dogs are the same. If you dont have the time or yard for this dog, you need to look for a smaller breed. The dogs are classic your gonna get out of them the work you put in.
You forgot to mention that they tend to run away if unchecked while not on a leash. Especially in forest areas.
Just got a yellow puppy lab, most relaxed and kind hearted dog ever
Have our second lab. Had Newfoundlands and a Malamute in between. Just love our Lab. Both labs. at different ends of my life have been the best dogs ever. You are right about shedding. Our current Lab. sheds twice a year; January to June and July to December. Biggest mistake I have made- feeding him from the table. The drool is lethal.
We adore him and he is just so loving. Goes to sleep on my wife’s lap in front of the television every night. Would not be without him.
I "rescued" a yellow American lab from some people in the neighborhood who neglected her. They weren't happy, but too bad. 9 and a half years later, and I couldn't ask for a finer friend. She was a wild child when I met her, but she was so smart and attentive that she was easy to train. I believe she thinks she's a human.
I think exercise is key to keeping labs mentally and physically healthy. 2-3 times a week we go for a 5-6 mile hike, and we also camp a lot, especially in fall/winter and early spring. Here in the south, it's too damn hot in the summer for extended activity, which makes it a challenge to keep her weight down, but we've figured it out, and she stays right around 75 lbs year-round. She does fine on a leash, but these dogs are bred to run. If they aren't able to do that, it makes for an unhappy dog and behaviors that will reflect that.
She goes just about everywhere with me, and I have lost count of how many times I have heard folks say, "That's the most well-behaved dog I've ever seen". Very gentle, easy-going, always happy. LOVES road trips...LOVES staying in hotels. BUT...if you come to my house, you will see a different side of her. Nasty bark, hackles up, very intimidating...until I say to you, "Hey, how's to going?" That's the verbal cue she waits for, that signals no threat. Then it's back to being herself.
The one recommendation I would make for dog parents of any breed...would be getting health insurance. My dog has had cancer (4 yrs free this November). CT scan...$$$$. Cost of each chemo treatment was equal to what I paid for one year of coverage. She had 6 treatments. In the middle of her chemo, she tore her left cranial cruciate ligament (the canine equivalent of human ACL). $4000.00 for just the surgery. MRI, follow-up visits post-op, a 6-hr trip to Ohio State University for arthroscopic work on the knee...another 5K added on. Insurance covered 95% of it. Add on all kinds of miscellaneous procedures, tests, X-rays, medication, etc....and her vet bills are in the 25k range. Getting insurance was the smartest thing I've ever done for her. It's no different than having a kid (the human kind). I have never been in the position of having to make decisions about finances vs quality of care for her. She has always had the best care. Today she runs around like nothing ever happened. Please consider getting health insurance for your dog.
My yellow American field lab kept me in amazing shape, he swam everyday unless the lake was frozen. Gave him 10hrs a day exercise till he was 8yrs old he finally calmed down at 9yrs old. Amazing animal made it till 13yrs old, best 13yrs of my life. Broke my heart in half.
Its truly wonder love for a unique breed 😊
Its truly awful when you loose one, I got my first labrador when was 18, I am now retired and have a black one 2 got to 14 and a half, they were all wonderful and none ever forgotten
I have an American yellow lab as well. She’s 2 and she keeps me plenty busy hahaha
@Dawson Davis American labradors, Canadian labradors and English labs are all different. Stop generalizing an entire country's population, That's xenophobic.
I have a large American Chocolate Lab, she is an ex blind dog whose owner passed and she was depressed. She now has children who love her and she gets lots of exercise and love. She is now a very happy girl and gives so much love in return. You mentioned about fur shedding, I don’t find it a problem. she only sheds twice a year, for the first six months and the last six months. The vacuum gets a good workout. I think she is best friend that anyone could have!!!
This was some great advice and I wish more people would consider these things when looking for any dog to bring in to their home. As a hunter who has hunting labs we are very active with them and I still find I have to run them on the treadmill 45 min a day or so outside of hunting season to keep them conditioned and relaxed. That does not include the play, socialization time and training. These are big commitment dogs but are absolutely fantastic for the right people.
We love our Labrador. At times, his size can be an issue like you say. One time, he got so excited to see everyone during a party, he knocked a few cups of coffee off the coffee table with his enormous wagging tail.
Good honest advice. Working Labs have serious stamina, energy and drive. They might be easy to train because they are clever but they will test and push every boundary and remain boisterous youngsters until they finally mature at aged 3-4.
Retired with two labs, together 24/7. love them to pieces. 3 hours of active exercise per day keeps them and me in excellent shape, patient positive reinforcement have turned them into being able to be off leash most of the time when we are outside, and being very obedient without ever raising my voice. They are excellent with grandkids and my labs have been very gentle around the small kids with few incidents, none involving tears or injuries.
Having a Labrador retriever once means forever after!
My Grandmother had a golden lab when I was young.Perfect dog for a child to be around.
Angel was 14 when she passed and she was my best friend. I miss her every day!❤️🐾🐾 She loved frisbee and knew where it was and got a new one every year and I still have her very first one.🥰🐾🐾
Con: no matter how many beds you provide them they will 100% try to sleep on top of you
My Labrador, Buzz, was my best friend for 13 years. Labs are amazing family dogs. My sons grew up with Buzz's watchful eyes right there (especially near or in the pool). Buzz strived for harmony over everything and did his best to keep the family harmonious. He's been gone now for 3 months. We are all devastated with his passing, but I wouldn't give up one day of cleaning up his messes or sweeping his hair or sleeping on the corner of the bed (because he took up most of it), for anything. Buzz was a lot of work but he made me a better Dad, husband and person. Labs are amazing.
loved this video. my childhood lab mix jessica passed away last month and may i say, these points are spot on. (except for the fact mine hated water, don’t know why) the shedding and exercise bit is no joke. even tho their hair isn’t too long, it gets everywhere and becomes excessively worse when they shed twice for the year. you literally couldn’t stop pulling hair off my dog. lab’s definitely love the outdoors and running around in it. jessica and i used to love relaxing in the grass, even to the end. she was healthy all her life (god bless) until about a year ago. we could tell her hip mobility was going down, and even tho she still played a little bit, slept a lot more and was more hesitant to go outside for walkies. it wasn’t until the month before we put her down where she really had difficulty walking, and 3 days before, couldn’t at all. luckily but unluckily, the house we stay at recently had a ramp installed due to someone needing a wheelchair, but it really helped our dog out. the stairs would make her limp. so i definitely suggest something like that if you’re able to as they age. lab’s are incredibly intelligent and loving dogs. they really depend on human connections. from constantly laying on our legs and feet, to comforting us when we were angry or cried, jessica was an incredible dog, and i know anyone who gets a labrador retriever will love them.
EDIT: here’s my baby if anyone would like to see her :) i like letting her memory live on.
embk.me/jessicasche?
One of the tips I can give as someone who's been through all labrador life stages - make sure that there's someone that can physically pick him up. When they get older and hip problems start showing themselves, or god forbid, they were dealt the cancer card too, you'd want to help your buddy as much as you can when he no longer is able to walk for more than a few minutes at a time.
Yup, carrying around a 75lb dog that just had knee surgery ($$$$) isn’t easy
I'm 70. I lost my 85 pound golden three years ago. My senior boys have a ramp and are good with using it to load up.
I agree... train them to ramps early! It also helps to start them early with supplements for joint health.
LABS ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST DOGS EVER!!!
Im so heartbroken. I had to put my yellow lab down today. She was 13 and had CHF. I was so blessed to have her. I can never replace her but I do have room to love another yellow lab. R.I.P. Pasqualie .....I love you
So sorry to hear this Kim ❤️
Ive never been alone since I rescued my girl, Maggie. Not even in the bathroom! She can be an active dog but she's a couch potato with me. She hates rain and snow, tolerates a bath sheds buckets of fur, loves to eat and sleeps with me every night.
We bought our Labrador to become a new member to the family. Little did I know he was going to inspire me to become a waterfowl hunter which has taken on a journey becoming a sportsman which has been incredibly rewarding. I will now own Labradors for the rest of my life.
I have have had Labs my whole life and I agree with everything you have said they are a great dog with the right training
He's defiantly right about the shedding. My missus is constantly vacuuming up fur. I joke with her that it would be much more time efficient to vacuum the dog rather than the floor. It's especially bad after the dog has had a bath, no matter how much brushing we do, the fur comes off in clumps. Still, Sissy's an awesome dog.
He forgot to mention they are tremendously brilliant dogs, and love to please, but until they are about 18 months, it's all work and training. They need a lot of structure. If you want a more mellow retriever, go with a Golden. I've had both Labs and Goldens. Goldens are softer, but Labs are more velcro dogs who will love you and lay at (and on) your feet as long as you exercise, hike, stimulate, engage, and run them enough each day so they can focus. They are AWESOME dogs--have always heard it said that "once you go Lab, you'll never go back"! Love this!
We lost Stella, our yellow lab almost a year ago. Cancer sucks! I'd give my right arm to deal with all 5 of those "issues" again to get her back. She was such an awesome dog, dealt with 2 newborns without any issue. She also knew when I wasn't exactly happy and found a way to snap me out of it. We're going to get another yellow lab pup soon and I can't wait.
Labs are proof that God doesn't make mistakes.
Hey all. I have severe anxiety and OCD. I am so close to getting a lab puppy. I'm actually visiting a breeder this weekend but my anxiety makes me scared that I might pick the "wrong one".
Anyone else felt like this before? I feel like my anxiety is trying to get in the way of something wonderful
One of the best dogs ever. I have had labs all my life. I Just lost my Sandy in June, she was 14. Miss her every day,RIP Sandy girl.
I absolutely love my chocolate lab. He is my favorite companion. He hikes , he swims, he is funny and he is super sweet and he is so easy to teach.
I got a 9 month old girl who is yellow.
I have a chocolate female she is adorable, I've never had a dog that everywhere we go in public people ask to pet her. She's very sweet but loves doing anything with us it'll break my heart the day we have to put her down.
Great thank you for your video 👍 but too late I had one yellow Labrador 6 months old and he becomes my therapist dog 🐕 greeting everyone who walk through the door. Such a lovely and joyful of our family.
This is our first chocolate lab, I was never a dog person, but she as made me understand why a dog is your best friend.; we love her. Ps Your information is so informative.thank you.
That is awesome! Thanks so much for watch, hopefully our videos continue to be helpful and informative as your lab grows!
After my 15 yr old Weimaraner passed away, my health went downhill. My blood pressure went through the roof and I was very close to having a heart attack at the age of 59. When my dog died, my heart actually hurt (physically). My cardiologist told me that I needed to get another dog. We got 2 labradoodles! These 2 pups were outliers since they're almost a year old and have no curls. They both look like lab puppies and have shown lab behavior consistently. Well, my cardiologist was amazed. My blood pressure went way down, along with my weight (yes, labs are very active). These 2 puppies literally saved my life! I still miss my Weimaraner, but I know she would loved these two pups. Thank you for this video. It was helpful and quite accurate 🐶
My silver Labrador passed away on 8/16/21. She was a year & a half. Her name was Skye and she passed away from parvo complications. She was a great family member and loved everyone. I'm happy I found your channel, I hope some of your other videos can help me cope.
So sorry to heat about Skye ❤️
@@willathertonlabradorshow2225 thank you. I do have another silver Labrador puppy at home. He's 4 months old and even though he's doing usual puppy behavior like running, and wanting to play with everyone, he cries in his sleep and I think Skye's passing has him depressed. They were very close. Do you have any advice for puppy depression and what to do if it doesn't get better in a few months?
My Skye is a Chocolate Laborador Retriever and she best doggo!! I don't usually like dogs but she stole my heart!! She loves to fetch, run, water and is very stubborn! Much training was needed!!!
My labrador broke my heart a year ago. You're right on all counts, but I have a lab print on my heart now. Hopefully next year we can get another one and the fun will start again.
Aww😭😭💗💗⭐️⭐️🌟🌟✨✨
that musta hurt a lot!!
I absolutely love the idea behind this video. Well done! I hope this video will prevent some Labs living a crappy life or even being forced to find a new home because of peoples ignorance
Honestly yes I absolutely agree with all these facts every single trait mentioned is exactly how my dog acts, which is why we try as much as possible to get him tired so when he comes inside he is nice and relaxed.
Labs know something we don’t. They’re always smiling and happy ❤❤❤
I got mine 5 months ago. They will eat literally anything outside from leaves to wood from sticks which mine adores. It took a while to train him not to eat anything off the ground, and low even when I accidentally drop a treat on the ground he will not e at it till I pick it up or tell him that he can. It's something you have to pay attention constantly since people here often throws poison which is sad...
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience, it's such valuable knowledge
Mine is a bug catcher.
I am thinking of getting my first own dog, and am considering a labrador. No worry though, I have been surrounded by dogs all my life, just never had my own. Some of the dogs around me have been labradors and sometimes cross breeds (Schabradors). I truly love them and I do not need a guard dog. It was a good reminder in how active they want to be, there I would need to change my life style. Thank you for posting this!
My black Lab never ceases to amaze me. He’s my third and the first we’re awesome but my Cruiser goes out me to 4 steps further. Last Sunday we were at a inlet and after doing a bunch ot retrieves in the surf and his trying to bury my truck I saw a seal. So we went to the back side of the inlet that the tide was coming in pretty fast he did about 7 or 8 retrieves to get the seals to come up close while he was on the retrieve. The last throw he wanted no part of it. It took a minute or so and he went to try and find but the current took it so I called him off. Instead of coming in he turned and saw a seal within 10 feet and it was one two big ones. There was big ones and a boy one got closer we so far figure a pair. Cruiser swam right up to the seal just as three little ones popped up and came right up to him and they appeared to be playing. He decided he had enough of swimming against the current and came in. The best thing that I didn’t do with my first two is take him to obedience training. People have to realize they aren’t dog trainers and dogs are much smarter than they realize. The training wasn’t for the dog it was for me so he could get him to not have bay be obedient but for hunting and thing else we want to. Dogs need to be told what to do and people need to know how to do it. That goes for any breed. Great video!
pretty spot on with those tips i have a senior Labrador and has been my sole companion his whole life and will continue to be until the end I've been lucky with mine so far not many heath issues besides arthritis in both back legs something for people to think about is care through out when it comes to exercise nothing to straining on the joints
Extremely good video, gets even better at 1:27
ikr
I love labs!I have one and he does not like water.But he makes a good guard dog because whenever someone or something comes by he barks
Great video, sensible discussion. Lost my yellow lab 2 years ago after having him 14 years, still hurts today, miss him terribly. Unfortunately I work away from home now and it wouldn't be fair or practical to get another furr baby. Keep the vids coming, great content.
I really respect that you are willing to speak from different perspective even tho you are so close to labradors. That is something most TH-camrs lack of. Thank you for your great advice!
I have a chocolate lab right now and I want to get a golden retriever when I’m older. Labradors are the best dogs in the world and I’ll have no regrets if I get one in the future
Labrador retrievers don’t shed they just spread fibers of love, joy and happiness…
Agree with all you said. I’m a Labrador lover, my lab poppy was the best dog ever, we had her for 17 glorious years. Sadly she passed away last year from old age and our home isn’t the same without her. Now a year later, we are ready to share our home with another lab so just doing some research at the moment, thank you. I look forward to more videos from you!
I had several labs thru the years. Each one had their own personality and all will steal your heart. The sheding well, that's just lab confettie.
A lot of these reasons are easy to work around. Give the lab plenty of space, get a good air purifier, brush them, and wear them out in hikes.
I have lab now and he is one of the best breed. He is active but not extremely challenging like malinois, border collie. He adjusted with my energy level. While it s heavy raining or i was sick, he is happy just sit next to me or play indoor. He doesn't demanding for vigorous exercise. He is happy for Tug n war and fetch ball.
He is clever, clumsy and funny at the same time. I love him
my mother is a strict asian mother, and she really really hates fur, so she wasn't the happiest camper when my dad brought home a white labrador retriever home one day. but it's been 8 years since that day and my mom won't ever let molly (my lab's name) go :)
BEST LAB VIDEO EVER! His points are spot on! I believe the Lab Retriever to be the very BEST breed, but these points are ALL impeccably true. Be ready for some work, BUT the most Love and Loyalty returned… EVER!
Best most practical advice I have see online, I had a wonderful lab once and he definitely fit into every category you explained, including the damn cancer at age 10, he was the best damn dog tho and still miss him dearly, RIP Lefty Boy ! Great Video !
1. Be as committed to them as they are to you. Most people aren't. Daily exercise, three or more sessions per day. Most people won't. 3. Shedding fur. 4. Barking. 5. Large poop. They chew! If you love them enough to deal with their needs, you are one lucky person!
My husband and I are retired and we adopted a 2 yr old lab a month ago and a she is just wonderful. She is very docile and friendly to everyone but yeah she gets aggressive if she thinks we’re in danger. We have had 3 other labadors in the past and I do agree that they are high maintenance and no one needs one if it is not going to get the exercise and attention they need. They aren’t for everyone but it’s the best dog for us.😀
He is on point! I have a labrador, no kids in the house ... checked - have an alarm system, checked... my house is cleaner than ever since vacuuming and mopping are a must... checked, I am willing to work overtime to provide medical care if necessary because she is the reason I'm healthy - physically (since I have to keep up with her) and mentally cause she has giving me unconditional love!
I will do ANYTHING for my fur baby!
To late, i got like 3
Not guard dogs but very protective of their family. My friend and I were mucking around she smacked my arm and my doggo pushed in between us and pushed her away.
We thought maybe Tots wanted attention, so we took turns ‘smacking’ each other’s arms, the result my friend couldn’t hit me more then twice, I could hit my friend about five times before Tots pushed me away.
Labs are the protective type, as a kid my family’s labs would not let us swim out past her (even my parents) and would try make us go back to shore. One was trained for that but apparently was bad at it so was ‘fired’ and we got her.
Took our lab in three times for hip pain and trouble walking. Turned out he had a slipped disk in his back and was suffering from paresis. Make sure they check your pup for delayed reaction in the hind legs/feet, and don't just assume it's hip dysplasia.
I use an animal chiropractor...
i can definitely attest to #5. i grew up with 2 labs and they were the sweetest, but they had some very unfortunate health conditions that made aging difficult for them.
Lol most of these made me laugh. I’ve had my Chocolate lab Theodore (Theo) for 5 months and he has quickly changed and made me laugh. He has brought so much positive change for me! I’m an introvert by nature and he is an absolute extrovert! He loves to stop and meet every dog/person we see while playing or on walks. Which has helped me makes new friends I else wise never would have made! His energy needs have made me more active as well. We play every single day outside multiple times. As I work from home we are always together and he constantly reminds me to take breaks too! Hes loving sweet and such a cuddler! He is the most brilliant dog I’ve ever met, he was potty trained in a WEEK! My neighbor who got her pup the same time is still struggling 5months in. Our bond really took off when my cat of 9 years passed away a few weeks ago. Theo was beyond in tune with my grieving and emotions and allowed me time to take it slow and be sad and in bed for a couple days. It blew my mind. Needless to say I’m glad I took a chance on a Labrador as my first adult dog at 30 lol. Side note: I live in an apartment and he does great! I do live on a park with trails and it’s a very dog friendly community so he has tons of pup friends. So don’t let a bigger breed scare you, just remember if you take it on your taking on adjusting your lifestyle to fit their needs! I’d argue not having a house and private yard allows for a better bond with your lab too as you get very good at learning their needs through body language whether it be potty breaks or they need to go outside and blow some steam! ❤️💕
Beautiful!
The main reason I see is...They are too hard to let go of. Wonderful breed!!!!
He made a great point labs are great watch dogs but not guard dogs which is true I remember with my lab I had I can imagine him kind of just watching as u got jumped lol but u can count on him to let u kno when someone in around or is front of the house
I just got my Labrador ad I’m loving it. They sure do have a lot of energy. I have a puppy and he does need a lot of play time. Lucky I can take the time off to be with him 😊😀🐶
Lost our first black lab 11 years ago we now have 2 more black labs Maggie us 3 and Mabel is 1 on the 4th of July we have an autistic grandson having the dogs helps our grandson learn to play. They are the most beautiful and funny kind and caring dogs.
I am looking into getting a lab in the way future. My boyfriend had a Lab he absolutely adored growing up. Unfortunately she passed away and I have my heart set on getting him a lab in the future when we are more financially stable
The lab is a true working dog, if you can't keep them busy, leave them to those who can. 👍
Haha that tail 😂 the whip crack of joy
Had a yellow for 14 1/2 years. He was more human and loving than most humans I've known. He was my constant companion and was gentle, kind and loving. When he died of cancer a huge part of me died too. My husband loves and is with me but I feel so lost inside. We still grieve even though it was 2019.
My Lab only has two shedding seasons : winter-spring and summer-fall!! We pray when winter comes that it gets cold early so she'll hang on to the fur....
I thank God my yellow lab is half Chihuahua. Perfect mix of both worlds at 35 lbs!
We are on lab #4 and #5. All great advice here. We have a very active lifestyle and our dogs are a big part of that.
Labs are the best, max was my best friend from my age 13 till he had to be put out of his pain. He was aged 11.
I will get another one, but only when I can give the dog the attention it needs.
My yellow lab was the absolute BEST dog ever. She was super athletic (bred from champion gmhr bloodlines),she was calm when she needed to be but had tons of energy too. She wasn't aggressive ever and definitely wouldn't scare anyone away trying to rob us. But she loved water. She would swim forever if you let her. She loved to run and fly into the water, which damaged her elbows. She also got frequent ear infections which wasnt fun. She loved to jump, which led to straining her acl. She was never a destructive chewer even with her own toys. She would run for hours and then run some more, and then when you thought she was good,she'd want to fetch for another 90mins. She was over 100lbs of love and floof. She was the best most well behaved ppl pleasing dog I have ever owned and would get embarrassed about things.
Our black lab (bred from pedigreed labs but not hunting dogs) is...wild. like Marley and me wild at times. She is destructive and loves to eat rocks and sticks. She barks and whines and pulls and chews and...man. she's a handful but we love her and work with her to help her be a good girl. She loves her ppl and will follow you all over the place,sit behind you silently so you almost fall over her. She's under 50lbs but it feels like she's 200lbs at times. Our son is 6 and goes between thinking she's awesome and thinking she "needs to go away". She is scary and definitely would scare someone away. She doesn't give any f's what anyone thinks. Labs are amazing dogs for the right ppl. Most ppl would have gotten rid of our black lab but we chose her and it's our job to give her an amazing life filled with patience and love (and lots of chimken)
I have two yellow labs that each have their own type of prescription food due to allergies and urinary issues......With that being said, there is nothing better than a “Lab Blanket” when you are laying on the couch on a cold Winter’s night.