Adopting a puppy

[Nathans_Dad]

Well, the wife and I have talked about it and we are seriously considering adopting a puppy in the next few weeks. We are looking at local shelters and pounds, but are only going to accept a young (4 months or less) labrador retriever mix female. Luckily there are about 8 gazillion of them around...

Anyhow, we used to have two chocolate labs, but we had to put the older one down about 6 weeks ago. We still have the younger one, but she is 10 now and has severe hip dysplasia and arthritis. Her hind legs are really starting to atrophy from the arthritis and she is starting to slow down. I will be surprised if she makes it another year.

So, we think perhaps it's time to choose our next dog. We really want something with a lab in it, we love the labs temperament and how good they are with kids. I absolutely do not want any aggressive dogs in the mix, I know they can be great dogs, but I just personally don't want anything with rottie, pit bull, doberman, etc in there. Just my preference, not saying anything about those breeds. I have the list narrowed down to a couple candidates, at least from the ones listed on the internet. Here are the candidates:

Black lab mix pups. These look almost the same as purebred labs but the shelter has no clue who the father is. The mother looks like a purebred lab according to the shelter. They have 6 females, all black.


This one is supposedly a lab/german shepard mix. Her brother looks more like a shepard, I'm not sure about it, but her head just looks a little different than I would expect. Anyone else see some staffordshire terrier? Maybe I'm nuts. Anyhow, she is cute and interesting looking.


These are full on mutts, no clue what mix is in there.


Anyone have an opinion or have previous experience with shelter dogs? I think the black lab mix pups are my #1 choice so far with the llab/shepard mix a close second.

[craigster59]

I like the one on the right in the bottom picture. All my dogs have come from the pound or found on the street and the mutts were always the best.

[Nathans_Dad]

Yeah, the lighter colored one caught my eye too...the only thing is I'm not a huge fan of hairy dogs like collies or shelties and those look like they might turn out to be hairy...

[wrecktech]

Not shelted dogs but I have had 3 rescue Old English Sheepdogs. All have been great dogs. They seem to be very loving and know that you rescued them for a better life.

[Les Paul]

Last May the neighbors across the street had a 4 month old Blue Healer someone had dumped off on them. They were going to take it to the pound until my wife said wait we'll take her. We've had a Blue Healer for 10 years. She is a mix and a great dog. We knew this new one was a mix too.






But not mixed with a Moose. Lizzy is probably close to a year old now but weighs 80 pounds. She is the most loving laid back dog in the world. Her mentor is our older dog which is great. I think mixed dogs are great but I don't know how we ended up with a so called 80lb Healer.

I like the darker one in the bottom picture. Don't Labs destroy everything for 2 years?

[widgeon13]

Their all very cute. I'd take one of each, I'm a push over for pups.

Our son just got a chocolate lab, we cared for him (Remington) the second weekend of housebreaking and I was exhausted by the time son returned. Between trying to save the rugs and keep our 5 year old golden from tearing off Remy's head, it was very amusing.

[stomachmonkey]

Have never bought a companion. Even the purebreads that I have owned have been rescues.

The 2 most notable/lovable, both show quality, a Schnauzer and an English Mastiff. Both papered and registered but oddly "abandoned".

Every one of my cats is either from the shelter or picked up off the street.

Would not have it any other way.

I'd have trouble picking from your choices. They all look excellent.

Good luck. Tis a good thing you are doing.

Scott

[Grady Clay]

Rick,

There are Lab (and other breed) rescue missions everywhere.

I agree with a Lab. Our two, a black Lab “Midnight” lived to 16
and the yellow lab “Sonny” is now 12. We thought Midnight
was on his last legs at about 13, the yellow puppy invigorated
him and he carried on for another three happy years. My son
Chris helped with a “handicap dog ramp” Cub Scout project off
the back porch so Midnight didn’t have to deal with stairs.

Not long after Midnight had to go, we got an Airedale “Targa”
(now 10) who is a real character. (I have had several other
Airedales but this one’s nickname is “nut case”.)

We too are about to get another puppy. It will be another Lab.
We prefer to get a male (they piddle all around the yard and
not kill the grass in single spots.) All are neutered. Getting a
just weaned puppy will be better accepted by older animals
and easily learn their good habits (if you trained properly in
the first place).

We also have “Garfield.” We found him (age a few weeks) in
a cornfield in rural Indiana four years ago. Clearly someone
had dumped him as coyote food. He is a wonderful cat with
the big dogs (and vice versa) and a welcome part of the family.

A menagerie of animals is a wonderful environment for kids
(and adults). I cannot imagine being without them.

This isn’t too far from our household.
"
"

and
"
"
© 2004-5 Lynn Johnson with my apologies. Thank you - right on.

Best,
Grady

[Rikao4]

Love the black ones, had 'Max' for 10 years /she was Lab/rottie mix's, even had a docked tail..one of the best dogs ever..You've owned lab's..so you know what to expect. Recent Lab. rescue is 'SAM' reminds me of Odie in the Garfield strip. A complete loon..at 8 months he has gone past 90 lbs, no fat /all muscle..2 miles plus before work..3 after work. A tired Lab,is a good Lab.
He has eaten one couch,part of the bathroom wall,numerous x-mas ornaments, does landscaping, will trim trees & bushes.
Read the book 'marley and me' a must for all Lab owners. sorry about your loss..someday on the rainbow bridge, you will meet again.
Rika

[widgeon13]

"Marley and Me" great read, if you have had a dog you can associate with all the experiences.

[Nathans_Dad]

Well, we found our new puppy today. I went and looked at one of the black puppies in the first pic in the thread, she was a sweet and nice dog, but for some reason I just didn't bond with her. Never got that feeling of "this is the dog". So, I decided to swing by our local SPCA shelter this afternoon after work. I went over to their puppy area and looked at their puppies. They had a few which I thought were cute, I played with two different ones, but again nothing really caught my eye. So, I decided to wait, maybe until after Christmas. I walked out of the SPCA and got into my car. As I start up the car, I notice a woman either loading or unloading two puppies out of her car. They looked like labrador pups. I figured "She must have already adopted those two and is taking them home." Just in case, I got out of my car and walked over to her. I asked her if the dogs were hers and she said no, she had found them near a dumpster by her house yesterday. She was bringing them in for adoption. One was a black male and the other was a yellow female. They looked all the world like purebred labs. They did have a touch of black on their tongues way at the back which the woman said she thought might mean they had some Chow in them. I played with the yellow one for a bit and just fell in love with her. She took the dogs in to get checked out and I went home to talk with my wife, a little concerned about the black on the tongue. A quick google search revealed that it is not uncommon for purebred labs to have some small black spots on their tongues and does not mean that the dog has Chow in the mix. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Chows, I just really want to stay away from any remotely aggressive breed.

So, I talked to the wife and we decided to go look at the pup again. I went to the SPCA and she came out ready for adoption about 45 minutes after I got there. I had told the workers to save her for me when I got there because I knew she would go fast. They did and I played with her for another 30 minutes or so until my wife showed up with the kids. Another 15 minutes with the wife and kids and we decided to adopt her. The kids named her Lucy. She is getting spayed tomorrow at the SPCA and we can pick her up at 5:00. Of course we then went to Petsmart and spent $100 on a new kennel, food, toys, leash, brushes, etc. Pics of the new pup below:

[pwd72s]

Bravo! I love abandoned animal success stories. A pox on whoever dumped Lucy and her sibling in the dumpster.

[widgeon13]

She's a beauty, sounds like she's found a great home. Merry Christmas to all.

[CRH911S]

Good looking pup Rick. Here's my Palmer at about 7 months:

[LakeCleElum]

Rick: You picked a damm good looking pup. You're my hero. I want a dog in the worst way, but my wife don't like them.....I end up playing with my neighbor dogs, but it's not the same.....Call if you ever need someone to watch her for a weekend or more.....

[obrut]

Miles approves your message:

[VenezianBlau 87]

You made a great choice. Lucy's a cutie.
I found Sammie 13 years ago tomorrow. Here she's waiting for the trick-or-treaters.
(My parents take her when I travel and this sort of thing is often the result!)

[KFC911]

Great choice! She looks a lot like my "Layla" 13 years ago

[Hurra912]

Griffin and Chester also approve. She is a sweetheart.

[Jims5543]

Kokomo wanted to contribute to this thread....




I am 6 hours from getting into my FJ Cruiser and heading to North Carolina with the family and Kokomo in the back. I noticed last night she is laying her mustard gas farts again, it could be a long trip.