Suzi! I've changed my mind re: Labradors

[Carolyn]

The silver labs are gorgeous!!

[magnolia]

Okay, I had time to go in and look at both the silver and the white labs and I must say, they are GORGEOUS! I don't think you'll go wrong with either selection but I'm partial to the silver - they are different and not a color you would see every day so if you're looking for something not many other people will have (especially where you live), then I say go for the silver As for the cost, if I read correctly on their website, they personally train the dogs in fielding, obedience, etc so if that is the case, you will pay more for what some call a "guaranteed" dog - guaranteed to retrieve, track, obey, etc. Sam, when he's ready to get another lab, has already checked into getting a "guaranteed" lab and the price will be anywhere from $1500 and up. So, if your lab will be used by your hubby for retrieving purposes (does he duck hunt? dove hunt? quail?), then the money is worth it. If, however, you are only going to purchase one for pet only, you may can talk to them on getting a lower price since they won't have to "train" the puppy for you. Also, if the dog will be used for hunting, tell your husband this - if you purchase a lab for, say $600, you still have to pay someone else to train him/her for you and that cost can run anywhere from $200-$300 per month....I know because we sent our lab to Arkansas to be trained when he was 9 months old (we waited too late, they need to start their training between 4-6 months, if not sooner) and the cost was $200 (or $250) per month at that time and that was back in 1998!! If he had been "trainable", it would have cost us about another $600 or more to have him trained so you can see, adding the cost of the dog plus training, you're looking at $1500 or more investment so why not go ahead and pay it to get one that will be guaranteed - if that's what you want

Sorry to get so lengthy on the post - just trying to show a cost breakdown for you and your husband. And, depending on the area, guaranteed labs can run as high as $2500 or more. You have some time before you are ready to make the decision and purchase and you are off to a good start with your research. If there's anything I can do to help, you know I will

And if you head to Texas for that special lab, we will definitely get together so Gabby and Gage can meet Hootie and Hobbs and have a little play date Of course, Gabby won't want anything to do with your furbabies (just because she's ornery that way ) but Gage will have a blast!!

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by magnolia

Okay, I had time to go in and look at both the silver and the white labs and I must say, they are GORGEOUS! I don't think you'll go wrong with either selection but I'm partial to the silver - they are different and not a color you would see every day so if you're looking for something not many other people will have (especially where you live), then I say go for the silver As for the cost, if I read correctly on their website, they personally train the dogs in fielding, obedience, etc so if that is the case, you will pay more for what some call a "guaranteed" dog - guaranteed to retrieve, track, obey, etc. Sam, when he's ready to get another lab, has already checked into getting a "guaranteed" lab and the price will be anywhere from $1500 and up. So, if your lab will be used by your hubby for retrieving purposes (does he duck hunt? dove hunt? quail?), then the money is worth it. If, however, you are only going to purchase one for pet only, you may can talk to them on getting a lower price since they won't have to "train" the puppy for you. Also, if the dog will be used for hunting, tell your husband this - if you purchase a lab for, say $600, you still have to pay someone else to train him/her for you and that cost can run anywhere from $200-$300 per month....I know because we sent our lab to Arkansas to be trained when he was 9 months old (we waited too late, they need to start their training between 4-6 months, if not sooner) and the cost was $200 (or $250) per month at that time and that was back in 1998!! If he had been "trainable", it would have cost us about another $600 or more to have him trained so you can see, adding the cost of the dog plus training, you're looking at $1500 or more investment so why not go ahead and pay it to get one that will be guaranteed - if that's what you want

Sorry to get so lengthy on the post - just trying to show a cost breakdown for you and your husband. And, depending on the area, guaranteed labs can run as high as $2500 or more. You have some time before you are ready to make the decision and purchase and you are off to a good start with your research. If there's anything I can do to help, you know I will

And if you head to Texas for that special lab, we will definitely get together so Gabby and Gage can meet Hootie and Hobbs and have a little play date Of course, Gabby won't want anything to do with your furbabies (just because she's ornery that way ) but Gage will have a blast!!

Oh my gosh, Suzi, thank you so much for all this information! It is truly helpful!!!! I know that getting a "guaranteed" lab was expensive. I didn't read the website well (just looked at the pics), so I am happy to know that if we got a silver lab from them then it would be guaranteed. My husband would want it trained for hunting purposes. I'll definately keep you updated on what we decide! My hubby really wants TWO labs, so we'll probably end up getting one of each...a silver AND a white. I don't really care about the "controversy" over the silver labs. They are gorgeous and since they are guaranteed, I think they are worth the money. AND I will have something different! It will probably be at least a year before we get a lab, but I'll definately keep you updated! I would love to drive to Texas to pick it up. I love Texas and I think it would be SO much fun to stop at your place and visit!!! I'll definately keep you updated! Thanks again for all the info! You have truly been helpful! Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do to return the favor in any way!

[magnolia]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

Oh my gosh, Suzi, thank you so much for all this information! It is truly helpful!!!! I know that getting a "guaranteed" lab was expensive. I didn't read the website well (just looked at the pics), so I am happy to know that if we got a silver lab from them then it would be guaranteed. My husband would want it trained for hunting purposes. I'll definately keep you updated on what we decide! My hubby really wants TWO labs, so we'll probably end up getting one of each...a silver AND a white. I don't really care about the "controversy" over the silver labs. They are gorgeous and since they are guaranteed, I think they are worth the money. AND I will have something different! It will probably be at least a year before we get a lab, but I'll definately keep you updated! I would love to drive to Texas to pick it up. I love Texas and I think it would be SO much fun to stop at your place and visit!!! I'll definately keep you updated! Thanks again for all the info! You have truly been helpful! Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do to return the favor in any way!

Oh, I don't mind and I certainly don't know everything there is to know about labs, what I wrote was just from our personal experience. MD (our lab - and you'll get a kick out of his name - Midnight Dee Ohh Gee - Midnight "Dog") was a beautiful chocolate lab that was given to us by very good friends for Sam's birthday - they were selling the puppies for $500 each. Sam didn't really have the time to devote to training him, and being a new lab owner, didn't realize the training needs to start a lot sooner than what we did - over 9 months old. By the time he took him to Arkansas, it really was too late so MD became our big baby, not worth anything when it came to hunting and retrieving but my gosh, such love and devotion he gave us and we gave it right back to him - he's been gone 2 years now and I miss him so much I think him and Gage would have become best buds - Gabby couldn't stand him!

As for the "guarantee" part, the breeder on the website (unless I read it wrong) says they'll train them and if it's successful, then they "guarantee" him/her to be trained in retrieving, obedience, etc. And they'll give you the commands they've trained him/her with for each action done or what you want the dog to do. I mean, if you're gonna pay that much for one, you expect it to do what you want it to do. I would suggest, if you've settled on the silver, go ahead and contact the breeder - just as if you were searching for a yorkie. Let the breeder answer any of your questions, answer any they have, and go ahead and get on a waiting list. If you won't be ready for one for another year or so, the waiting list may be that long - why get ready for one only to be disappointed because you have to wait another year. And if a pup becomes available for you and you aren't quite ready, the breeder should understand if you've kept up a conversation with them and move you down a couple spots or so on the list (I'm not a breeder so don't know if this is a possibility). So go ahead, send them an email - begin the lines of communication, ask lots of questions of them, do more research on the lab breed in general to prepare in advance - heck, depending on where they are in Texas, take a week-end trip out to see their kennels, visit with them, etc - make sure the silver is what you want. Either way, you are already off to a good start - just keep going down that road

And you don't owe me anything - I'm learning with you while sharing what little I do know of the lab breed

[magnolia]

One other thing to remember: if you look into a "guaranteed" lab, this is not a puppy you will get when he/she is 12 weeks old - you won't get him/her until they are more like 9 months old or so, so be prepared for that - unless you purchase one at 12 weeks of age then find someone else to train - then you're looking at sending your lab to "live" somewhere else for at least 3 months of training. Could you bear to part with him/her for that long, if not longer, after having him/her in your home for a couple months?

Oh, and I called hubby - MD was a year old when we sent him off - way too late for training but we learned and know what to do when we look for our next lab baby - we are getting one guaranteed instead of 10-12 weeks old then sending off to train - life happens and we may "miss" the time frame to send him/her off for training.

[RLC12345678]

Originally Posted by magnolia

One other thing to remember: if you look into a "guaranteed" lab, this is not a puppy you will get when he/she is 12 weeks old - you won't get him/her until they are more like 9 months old or so, so be prepared for that - unless you purchase one at 12 weeks of age then find someone else to train - then you're looking at sending your lab to "live" somewhere else for at least 3 months of training. Could you bear to part with him/her for that long, if not longer, after having him/her in your home for a couple months?

Oh, and I called hubby - MD was a year old when we sent him off - way too late for training but we learned and know what to do when we look for our next lab baby - we are getting one guaranteed instead of 10-12 weeks old then sending off to train - life happens and we may "miss" the time frame to send him/her off for training.

When are you getting another lab, Suzi?! Soon? What color will you get?? I can't wait to see pics!!!!

Thanks again for your help! I agree that it would be SO hard to bring that little bundle or joy home at 10 or 12 weeks and then have to give it up again and ship it off to be trained. I dunno....my hubby is so busy these days that he may not actually care anything about it being "guaranteed." At least it would save us some money! I just like getting puppies when they are young so they will bond to you, you know what I mean?? So, who knows what we'll end up doing! My hubby does hunt a lot, but mostly dear hunting. He rarely goes bird hunting. But he sure does LOVE hunting dogs and he has always said how he wants a dog that could hunt if he ever wanted it to. But I don't see any point in spending all that time and money on a guaranteed dog just to be able to say that it CAN hunt, but never take it hunting. WHO KNOWS! Since we are getting 2 labs, hubby wants 1 boy and 1 girl, we'll probably end up getting the boy guaranteed and have him for hunting, and get the little girl for ME and not have her guaranteed and have her as MY Dog! I would want the silver labrador to be MINE and my hubby can get the WHITE one trained as he wants and have him as his "hunting" dog. Men are so silly, I swear!

[magnolia]

Originally Posted by RLC12345678

When are you getting another lab, Suzi?! Soon? What color will you get?? I can't wait to see pics!!!!

I'm getting one as soon as you get yours and breed them J/K! Seriously though, we are getting one but like you, it won't be for a couple years, if not longer. We have a very active 13 year old on our hands, involved "heavily" in sports - baseball and football. We've done a lot of traveling with him as far as his select tournament team is concerned (been to Panama City the past 2 summers for tournaments) - traveling Mississippi and Louisiana to play - and Florida. We just don't feel it's fair to get a lab that we can't spend any time with from January to August until he finishes playing tournament ball - which next year should be his last year with them, but who knows! We aren't in a big hurry because we want to make sure the timing is right and we can devote the time and energy needed to raise them - they are one big bundle of energy the first 2 years of their life!! I used to wear myself out just letting MD out to exercise!!! But I loved it and sure miss it.