Labradors - one or two ?

Question

Next year we are thinking of getting a labrador but we heard that if you get two they are usually a bit more behaved? We understand that theyare often quite naughty puppies and we have done the research into the breed. But has anyone here had one or two labradors? your advice would be great

Wow thanks for answering ! We are definately going to get a black male but the thing that worries me is that we both work from 8-5 so the reason why we wanted two was so it wouldnt get lonely... Has anyone had a Lab by itself ?

Answer 1

I have two---so that means twice as much mischief. Seriously, I never believed all the stuff about the different colored labs being different in personality, but now having a black and a chocolate, I must say the chocolate is by far the most likely to get into trouble! Our black lab was an "only" for a short time and he really has always been a very well behaved dog (he's 17 now). I think it's more about how much time you spend with them, the training you put into them, etc. We got the chocolate from friends who were divorcing. He also was an "only" but he had never had any training and as a result was "naughty" (and that's putting it mildly). An only lab can be the most perfect family dog!! They love people and live to please their people!!

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

I have two yellow labs and one is 2 1/2 years old, and the other is 6 1/2. I don't know if having one or two has any effect on their behaviors. However, it is true that they are naughty puppies. My younger lab still acts as if she is 8 months old! She has killed birds, rabbits, and even a bat. She is always hyper but is the sweetest thing in the world. My older dog, on the other hand, is much more mellow and wouldn't kill a fly. So labs can be different, just like people. Labs are great dogs, and they're very friendly and loyal. I would definitely recommend getting a lab, especially yellow.

Answer 4

We have one male that is almost 2 years old. They like to chew and I can not imagine having 2 that are going through this at the same time. He chewed on my kids wood play set, he chewed the wood frame around my back door, he would destroy any toy left in the backyard, LOL get the idea?

When he was about a year old we bought a shock collar ( I know there are many people that do not believe in this) it was the best thing we could have done. We had it on a medium setting (he has a ton of fur) within a week he would just hear the beep and stop the naughty behavior.

I am not a dog lover, my husband is. I love our dog!! He is so well behaved and smart. He is great with my 8 year old and my 4 year old.

Good luck!!!

Answer 5

Getting two would be a great idea. Just make sure that you can afford the training, shots, food etc. Training is a must when you have more than one because they will get each other into trouble.
Like people, dogs love company.
Just make sure you get one from a reputable, registered breeder that screens their dogs for hip and elbow dysplasia and PRA (eye disease)

EDIT: Like everybody has said, don't get two at the same time. You should wait atleast a year, maybe a little bit less, before you get the other one. Unless you want to adopt an older dog (doesn't have to mean 6 or 7 years old, maybe 2-3 years old) and then wait until he/she has settled in and understands the schedule, then get another puppy or adopt another older one. Atleast you won't have to go through obedience (unless not already trained) and you don't need shots every 4 weeks, you don't need to housebreak (unless not already housebroken) etc.

Answer 6

Definitely 2, dogs are pack animals by nature. An animal in a single dog household will often become depressed if all the people in the house work. Having 2 dogs makes potty training easier, as if one goes the other will want to as well. It gives the puppy a constant playmate. They are also easier to train in 2's because if one puppy learns to sit and gets a treat the other will want to do the same and over and over . And pretty soon out of jealousy they have learned to sit , stay, lay, shake, and beg. lol Its like giving your dog an emotional companion that can be there for him in a way you can't. I have a St. Bernard and a Mastiffs that grew up together. They learned things very quickly. Good Luck. Labs are great dogs!!

Answer 7

I own a yellow lab and hes about 8 mths old now. As a puppy, he was very naughty and we would always come home and find something destroyed. Now that hes grown a bit, hes become more loving and less mischievous. It just takes a bit of training and they're alright.

Labs are definitely the most caring dogs. Be sure to give them as much of attention as possible, as they'll be happiest that way. But disciplining them as soon as possible is a must.

Hope I helped. =)

Answer 8

Erm.. I've trained a lab for a wedding present ... whilst labs are super smart and they're very trainable, they're super naughty. Yellow males are the naughtiest. It's always harder to train more than one dog at a time as well. If you want it to work out, I recommend only getting one at a time, and making sure the first one is settled down and well behaved before you go for the next one.

Training two pups at once is really hard. They're always competing for food so they tend to not behave as well as they try to jostle with each other.

Labradors also take about 18 months to 2 years to really settle down and start behaving like civilised doggies!! :)

Goldies are generally better behaved and they pretty similar to labs.

They also shed like crazy, so you'd better be prepared to go over them with a slicker brush daily.

The lab I trained used to like eating rocks from the backyard!! haha. They will eat anything and everything so you really have to watch them.

I wouldn't get two labs at once if you paid me!! :)

Answer 9

It is always better to get one dog at a time especially if you have not owned a dog before. Dogs learn by example so when one does something bad the other will follow and you will just end up with double the work. If you want two wait until the first is at least a year.

Answer 10

I have a Lab puppy and I can say, with 2 you would definately have your hands full!!! They are VERY high energy as puppies and require a lot of attention because they are such social dogs. They are wonderful and very easily trained great companions. But unless you have a lot of time to devote to having 2 Lab puppies, I wouldn't suggest it. I can't imagine having a second Kya - though it would be adorable, she's enough to handle on her own with all of the walks and running and fetch playing to help her burn energy off. 2 would wear me out beyond repair! lol