We are still on the hunt for that elusive 2nd dog for our family as a friend for our labradoodle. We have been speaking to a family a couple of hours away, who have a 5 month old chocolate male labrador, he is kc registered and has a mix of show and working lines. He is fully jabbed, and house trained, with the odd night time accident. Not crate trained. Spends the day in the kitchen with the back door open all day and goes in the living room when the children have gone to bed.

So what could I expect, if we got him? How at that age, would a pup expect to spend his day? Bearing in mind we have 4 children aged almost 3, 2 x 9yr olds, and a 12 yr old. He has been taught not to nip as the current family have 2 children aged 2 and 5 yrs old. He has also been taught that jumping at the children isnt acceptable behaviour. He has been walking on a lead, but not off the lead.

All advice welcome ........ please. xxx

That depends entirely on the home really, if they've put in basic training, you can expect a boisterous pup that pushes the boundaries a bit, but does as they're told. If he's pretty much been allowed to get away with stuff, then he'll expect that with you, so you'll need to put in a bit of training for him to catch up, but at 5 months old, he is still a baby really, so lots of time to get things right.

The only thing I'd be concerned about is what socialisation they'd done, crate training and house training can be *completed* with you, but socialisation can be a bit more difficult if that hasn't been done properly.

The other thing to consider is what health tests the parents had if any?

How would I find out about health tests? This is a private rehome so they can tell me the parents were health tested, but would they have any proof of that? They have the pups family tree, and registration papers.

He hasnt been crate trained. That is something we would have to introduce, if needed. Would we need to? We wouldnt want to have him stay in the kitchen really through the day unless there was some benefit to us doing that, training wise? He has been out and about with them, on the lead and they said they have been road training him getting him used to the traffic and loud town noises. He has had basic training such as sit, down and paw. He has been taught not to jump at the children, and taught not to nip. She said he picks up things really quickly. He sleeps downstairs at night until 8am without a peep. xx

Why are they rehoming him ??

Having spent the day with the most beautiful 12 week old black lab puppy i have ever seen i would snap him up in a heartbeat

I can only draw a comparison between my brothers new pup and our Oscar when he was a pup (who was a cocker) and Charlie (the lab) was much less mouthy, more chilled, responsive and a naughty bundle of yummyness, charming the pants off everyone at the party today. he has left me SERIOUSLY puppy broody

Labs are generally very food motivated (he managed a bag of crisps straight out my 8 year olds hands at just 12 weeks ) and they are a bouncy breed but no more than a doodle i would have thought.

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https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

Thank you. They are rehoming him as the husband is going to afghanistan for 7 months and the lady cant deal with 2 young children, a puppy and the worry for her hubby which I can totally understand.

All pups are hard work especially with young kids. My youngest was 2 when we got Oscar and with hindsight i wish i had waited a couple more years. o bring a puppy on succesfully (especially a smart puppy like a Lab or Spaniel) really does take time and graft and obviously when kids are little they still need lots of time and attention so be oprepared for being totally frazzled.

My brothers girls are a bit older so both my Brother and his wife could watch the pup today and he needed pretty much 100% focus because he was into everything but by being able to watch him they could let him free range and socialise which was really good for his training.

I wouldn't be in a hurry to repeat the stress of having a new pup and very young children It nearly fried my brain for a while but my kids are 4 and 8 now so i am thinking maybe next year i might fancy a new challenge

If this Lab is being re homed it really needs to be 100% because if you have it for a couple of months and cant cope so have to rehome again it could be devastating for the poor thing. (not saying you would but its such a huge commitment )

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

didnt someone put a link up to a gsd puppy in exactly the same senario a few days ago??????

I have to agree with sleeping lion and the others, seems a lot of the hard work has been done, at five months I'd just be thinking about starting 'Proper training so you've plenty of time to begin setting your own ground rules.

Thank you all for your comments - am still undecided but I think until we meet him for ourselves, we cant really judge. Would have to change his name as the one he has now is really not for us lol. Wont post it on here as dont want to offend anyone.

At 5 months old, when you say "proper" training, what do you mean? What would you be looking for a pup at that age to be doing? xxx

It sounds like a very similar situation to how we came about Jasper. Dad worked full time and Mum was going back into full time education when when the younger of the two children started school. They had already rehomed an older dog that they had had for 7 years and they had only taken on Jasper because he was an unwanted pup from their sisters litter. The older dog was also related.

We found that at 6 months old Jasper had some basic training but was very excitable (lack of exercise + Bakers). He was used to other dogs and to children after living with both, so it was just a case of getting him into a new routine. I still think we were very lucky with him.

In your case I would be a little more suspicious, obviously they got this dog knowing that the husband would be going away and they don't appear to have done anything with him so far, apart from letting him have the run of the kitchen with free access to the garden. The first six months of a dogs life very much set the tone for the rest of it and any problems that are allowed to develop during that time can take years to put right. Jaspers only real vice for example is pulling on the lead, and although we have worked very hard at it for two years, it is still there, it has got a lot better and he has responded well to training, but it is not cured by any means.

The big unknown is what socialisation the dog has had with other dogs, if this has been limited then you could have your work cut out with him in the future.

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