Serious advice needed.

We are first time dog owners to be. We have two young children - 4 and 5. Normal family - live in a 3 bedroomed semi.

We know we want a puppy - I realise it's hard work but we want a dog we can "mould" within our family and who can grow up with the children.

We originally looked at labradoodles due to their allergy friendliness and we love labs (plus, the fact they (apparently??) smell less "doggish" was just an added bonus).

Were amazed at the £500+ price and the breeder we like that lives nearby has quoted us £750 or £850 depending on whether F1 or F1B.

We are left with three choices:

1. Cheaper £500ish labradoodle from breeders further afield.
2. £750-£850 breeder nearby
3. Dogs Trust Lab "cross" for £75.

I always worry with lab crosses as to "what" are they crossed with and you are unsure of temperament. However, with a puppy, would the temperament just be a result of how we bring them up!?

Just need some straight, honest opinions please!? The money we are using to get the dog is some (if £850, nearly all) of our savings and obviously we have the usual cage, stairgate, bed etc etc etc things to buy too which I can see costing £200 plus (we've already paid £100 to get the back gate replaced!)

What are your thoughts??

if thats the breed you like if i where you id just visit different people/litters. I would sugest you PM Colsy on here, she has experience with this breed of dog and will happily advise you.

I think ladradoodles are fantastic dogs and a good choice but obviously you would need to find out what health tests are reccomended for both parents and ensure they have been done. As far as buying near to you, I would search the country till I found a pup with the correct health test who was a sensible price. If you do choose to get a lab cross from rescue I would say that its how the dog is brought up and trained that is more important than the breed, I have a gsd who is excellent with kids and other dogs because he was well socialised as a pup. Good luck with your choice and looking forward to hearing your decision.

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If it were me, bearing in mind i have no children! I would go for a pup. That way it will be brought up around your children, they can learn all about the pup and how it grows, and your pup will also learn which is most important, how to behave with children.

I have 2 dogs,one i got as a pup, made sure she was socialised with everything and just loves it when my nieces/nephews comes to visit cos its someone to play with.
My other dog, we got him when he was 3 as a rescue. We only discovered after him being with us for a few weeks that he had not been socialised with anything!! and its not nice finding out he doesnt like kids when he snarls at them and the kids end up in tears!! So we are having to work at correcting his behaviour before we can teach him new things.

If you are going for a rescue- try to get as much historic info about the dog as you can. How he reacts around different people/things. Dont get me wrong - you will have to keep an eye on a pup around your kids, but you will have to keep a stronger eye on a rescue. Hope that makes sense.

Good luck

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Welcome to the forum!

The Labradoodles I know still smell 'doggish', but then they lead a happy doggy life... swimming, rolling, running in fields and woods and generally enjoying life! I'm no expert, but I don't think you can be guaranteed alergy free either, but someone else can probably advise you better on that.

Personally, I would choose a rescue everytime! There are tens of thousands of dogs looking for new homes. Spend a little bit of time looking at different rescue organisations and if necessary wait for a puppy or young dog to come along. Some of the smaller rescues (not the big nationals like Dogs Trust or RSPCA) will be more understanding towards rehoming a dog to a family with children and do their best to find the right match for your circumstances

Just out of curiosity, have you totted up all the other expenses you'll incure with a dog? Such as neutering, insurance, replacement bedding, toys, leads, harnesses, treats, training classes, possible boarding fees etc

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Some days you're the dog: some days you're the lampost

When I feel blue, I start breathing again

This is just a guess on my part cos I don't know much about labradoodle breeding - but I would be questioning why the cheaper labradoodles are cheaper. It could be because the more expensive ones are from breeders doing health testing and the cheaper ones aren't - just something to think about.

Re a cross from Dogs Trust - usually organisations like these have some idea of the temperament of the dogs they rehome, so whilst you may not know exactly what the cross is, you will have some idea of what kind of temperament you will be getting.

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Bergies and borders - what more could anyone want? Siamese and maine coons, of course!

From the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam:
The Moving Finger writes, and, having writ,
Moves on, nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.
(But you can always edit your post, of course )

Labradors are pretty much one of the perfect family pets. I'd consider a Labrador.

Are you 100% only choosing from a Labrador and a Labradoodle? Or are you open to other breeds?

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- Zeus a 4 year old Boxer cross.
- Milo a 2 year old Labrador.

Firstly welcome and good luck oin finding the right dog/pup for you.

A lot of labradoodles shed as much as any lab so if your worried about allergies I personally would go for a different breed.

Otherwise if you really want a pup and want to go the breeder route you need to ask lots of questions of the breeders, labs can suffer from bad hips so I would hope the breeder had the hip scores of both sire and dam to give you.
More expensive doesn't necessarily mean better bred - further away might be more difficult to visit and check out though.

Dogs Trust sounds a great route to go, they get pups in on a regular basis, but also could match a really good dog to your family that has been temperment tested etc.
I would definately talk to dogs trust first before going down the other routes

Utimately you need to find the right dog for your family.

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A dog Possesses Beauty without Vanity,Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.

This is the most important thing you have said. NO dog is worth leaving you with no savings, especially as you have young children.

I would advise getting a lovely "child friendly" tested dog from rescue. There are some lovely dogs waiting for homes, so it would do them a favour as well as not raiding your bank account. Puppies are really, really hard work for the first year and as you have young children then it will be far easier to integrate a rescue dog into your family.

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Lauren

Don't Shop Adopt! - Stop Puppy Farming

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

I've got both kinds, one we had from pup and the other from rescue. Both are equally watched regarding children I have a 5yr grandmonster, altho both good. If you decide to go with a dog from dogs trust they are very sensible with the factor of children. To start with all the family must be present when you walk the dog in the first instance. After your home check you are then asked to go back to the kennels enmass for at least another dog walking session before you can take the dog home. At least this is how evesham dogs trust do it. I dont believe a certain breed is any better or worse with kids, its how they are treated/trained that counts.

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