Looking for a Chocolate Lab pup updated found dog

[highside74]

New to waterfowling. Looking for a pup to work with and be ready for next year. We cant afford a breeder dog so if anyone know's of an affordable litter coming up please let me know. Thanks

[cem3434]

What's affordable to you?  Everyone's definition of affordable is a little different. 

[highside74]

$300-$500

[Special T]

With that kind of price range i would consider adopting... Check out one of the many rescues and keep an eye out for some one hard up that needs to find a home for a hunting dog. 

[Stilly bay]

With that kind of price range i would consider adopting... Check out one of the many rescues and keep an eye out for some one hard up that needs to find a home for a hunting dog. 

 

my first lab was from the bargain bin. he had horrible hip dysplasia and went blind after his first hunting season. I bought him from a back yard breeder, the type that give all other back yard breeders a bad name. he had no business breeding the dogs he had and no business selling the product. the pup I bought lived a happy ten long years at great financial expense to me and my family.

there is a big reason why they test hips and eyes in labs and I wouldn't purchase pup from a litter that didn't check out.

save your money and put it toward a pup from a responsible breeder, you won't regret it. or give a home to a rescue.

[Special T]

I didn't mean it in a negative way... I looked for a rescue chessie for w while before i go t my pup. There have been some dogs on here with hunting experience that weren't more than a year or 2 old that found new homes here...for FREE... Don't be in a big hurry let people know you are looking, DONT be inflexible on color and you just might land a bad ass  hunting dog because you CAN provide a good home. 

[highside74]

We are in no hurry. That's why I tossed it out here. I figured someone might hear about a dog and let me know. We are a family of 4 on five acres that loves to hunt. Our new friend will have a great when it arrives in the future. My buddy also has 2 large ponds only 1 mile away so getting wet will be easy. I can't wait.

[highside74]

Oh and don't be afraid to tell it how it is when your dealing with me. I appreciate guidance from guys who have been there before.

[Special T]

Have you ever trained a dog before? This is kinda new age and not necessarily hunting related but 2 books i like are "the art of raising a puppy" by the Monks of New Skete, and Mother knows Best; the natural way to train your dog. carol benjemen...   I think for labs they are good, and they mostly work on my Chessie, but mainly because i'm more stubborn than him.    I wouldn't buy them new but would borrow or buy used. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Chocolates are more likely to have health issues than blacks or yellows. Lots of elbow and excercised induced collapse issues. I wouldn't own one unless I had knowledge of the parents health certifications.

Actually, I wouldn't own a dog who didn't have the basic health certifications done on the parents of the breeding. It's just irresponsible.

[cem3434]

Chocolates are more likely to have health issues than blacks or yellows. Lots of elbow and excercised induced collapse issues. I wouldn't own one unless I had knowledge of the parents health certifications.

Actually, I wouldn't own a dog who didn't have the basic health certifications done on the parents of the breeding. It's just irresponsible.

Is there some type of study that supports this or is this just a theory of yours?

We have owned several black and chocolate labs over the years.  I don't think the color has anything to do with their overall health and I have never seen anything that supports your statement.  The key is to get a pup that comes from decent hunting and field trial lines.  Another big part of their overall health is keeping them active and keeping them on a healthy diet. 

In my experience, we have actually had more issues with our black labs.  We had one pup that had a liver shunt and we had to have him put down at 14 months even though he had a health certificate.  Our black female is about 10 now and she became epileptic when she was about 2 years old.  She has been on phenobarbital ever since.  Our chocolate male on the other hand is almost 5 years old and we have never had any health issues with him.  He is very active and seems to be in great health, but that doesn't mean something cant change a year from now.

Any responsible breeder will have basis health checkups done on their dogs, but a piece of paper cant dictate the overall health of a dog or their longevity.  As far as certifications go, I have seen dogs that have hip and eye certifications go blind and get dysplasia. I have also seen labs with health certifications develop cancer at an early age. 

I agree that a basic health certification should be done on any puppy, but I also think the paper is more for for piece of mind and it doesn't guarantee that your dog will live to be a certain age and never have health issues, regardless of their color. 

[Happy Gilmore]

Explain what a "health certificate" is you're talking about.

[JBar]

Highside give me a call.

[Happy Gilmore]

 

 I have seen dogs that have hip and eye certifications go blind and get dysplasia. I have also seen labs with health certifications develop cancer at an early age. 

I agree that a basic health certification should be done on any puppy, but I also think the paper is more for for piece of mind and it doesn't guarantee that your dog will live to be a certain age and never have health issues, regardless of their color. 
[/quote]

Tell me what type of certifications the ones you knew personally had and what their registered name was and I'll look up what tests were done. If you know anything about Chocolate lines, you know you must take care in what you are buying or breeding. (I might take that back because a lot of people just want $300 a pup and don't give a crap if the pups new homes get dogs with bad hips, eyes, elbows, EIC, CNM and die or have severe health isssues. It's all about the ease of selling pups when they are $300 a piece and you get to put $3000 in your back pocket for two months of work) 
PRA testing will guarantee your dog will not go blind. OFA on hips will guarantee your dog does not have displyasia. Your dog CAN get cancer and go blind, your dog "can" be injured and be unable to walk. DNA testing will however, rule out blindness from PRA, exercise induced collapse, CNM and radiology will tell you if a dogs hip sockets are set properly(which will not change for life) and if elbows have issues.

[Stilly bay]

Is there some type of study that supports this or is this just a theory of yours?

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