"I Hate Labs"

[sillysally]

While I tend to get more negative pittie comments from the general public, I hear far more negative lab comments from dog people. I get that the temperament isn't for everyone, but some of the comments I read makes me wonder if these people have even spent any time with the breed. I hear "stupid," "no personality," and "mindlessly obedient" a lot. I haven't seen this in any of the labs I've met, and certainly not in Jack (he DEFINITELY didn't get the "mindlessly obedient" memo--lol).

I've actually seen a lot of people who have both labs and herding breeds. There are a couple of herding breeds that I could see myself owning alongside of labs.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

lol. Its just that I dont care for the whole "OMG HAIIIIII, I have not seen you forever, here is my tennis ball, lets place, OMG I miss you, Im in your face, OMG I lvoe you" attitude. I like a more out of your face and strangers face dog. Blaze is perfect for that, he ignores all strangers, doesnt even try to approach them. while I know most labs would just die for the attention lol.

Huh lol Sawyers not like that at all. I mean he is with me and my family who visits. But strangers he is more reserved with. He says hello and then comes back to my side. He is definately not a dog to get in other people or dogs faces. Neither is Morrison. Though again I worked hard with Sawyer as a puppy on manners and how to greet people properly.

But I want a dog who :yikes: actually wants to be with me. I want a dog who loves me and shows it. I want them to be excited when I come home. If my dogs had little interest in being around me or being affectionate I wouldn't be happy. But thats just me. Independent dogs are great. And im not saying Sawyer or Morrison isn't to a point. But I wouldn't be happy just living along side a dog who could care less if I was by their side or not.

While I tend to get more negative pittie comments from the general public, I hear far more negative lab comments from dog people. I get that the temperament isn't for everyone, but some of the comments I read makes me wonder if these people have even spent any time with the breed. I hear "stupid," "no personality," and "mindlessly obedient" a lot. I haven't seen this in any of the labs I've met, and certainly not in Jack (he DEFINITELY didn't get the "mindlessly obedient" memo--lol).

I've actually seen a lot of people who have both labs and herding breeds. There are a couple of herding breeds that I could see myself owning alongside of labs.

I honestly think that Labs airn't unique or pretty enough for most people in the dog world. Right now it is the fad to have a rare breed or herding breed. Labs are just Labs to most people. Nothing special because they are so popular because you see them everywhere.

I have heard stupid, no personality, and mindlessly obedient more times than I like as well.

Sawyer and Morrison don't fall under any of those catagories

Actually I often joke that Sawyer is like a genius. Really smart when it comes to commands and problem solving. I have seen him do some amazing things to entertain himself.But common sense eh he's alittle lacking in that sometimes lol.

Sawyer does thrive on learning. His eyes get so big and bright when we work on a new trick. And he puffs up so proud when he gets it.

The general public I am constantly explaining that alot of time, patience, and work was put into making my dogs the well behaved Labs they are. Morrison needed work when he first got here. But he has made leaps and bounds and is a forever family member. These dogs are not born perfect by any means.

Little land sharks they are as pups lol.

I actually get more positive comments on the dogs by non dog people.

 

[Lizmo]

I've actually seen a lot of people who have both labs and herding breeds. There are a couple of herding breeds that I could see myself owning alongside of labs.

After having my lab mix foster puppy, I could see myself owning a Lab one day. They are fun, energetic, loving, and plus they make great dock diving dogs.

Right now it is the fad to have a rare breed or herding breed. Labs are just Labs to most people. Nothing special because they are so popular because you see them everywhere.
.

IMO, I think it's just Chaz that is like this. Atleast about the herding breeds. I don't think the 'rare' breed fad will ever end, the breed will just change over time. For most people (that I have come in contact with), Labs are a hand full. Most all the people I know, when they found out I had a Border Collie, the response is "oh those are dogs that herd sheep?". That's about it, lol. Which is fine, I would rather people not know much, most of the time. haha

 

[Southpaw]

I used to be of the thought that labs were just "naturally" obedient, easy dogs. Just because they're so popular and you always see families with them and they seem perfectly behaved. Now that I spend lots of time with labs/lab mixes? HOLY CRAP NO. I have to keep in mind that these are all shelter dogs that probably wouldn't even be at a shelter if they had received any training. Most of them are very boisterous, nipping at your hands and jumping at you and trying to haul you down by going nuts on the leash. All they need is training but it certainly opened my eyes to the fact that yes, even "family dogs" like labs take work.

It's the same with Goldens though. I have yet to see an out of control Golden.

 

[lizzybeth727]

I've actually seen a lot of people who have both labs and herding breeds. There are a couple of herding breeds that I could see myself owning alongside of labs.

Personally, I LOVE labs... probably because my first dog was a lab. It is one reason why I love working with service dogs. I don't see myself owning a lab anytime soon, though; I guess I see them enough at work that I don't want to come home to yet another one.

While I love labs, I personally don't like goldens at all. I honestly don't understand how the two breeds can be SO different, but they are.

That said, I hope my next dog will be a collie. So I don't know if I fall under the "herding dog" or "lab" category.

As a trainer, I feel like it's kind of cliche for trainers to get border collies/aussies. In the right hands, those dogs can do pretty much anything, so about 2/3 of the professional trainers I know have them. It almost seems like a cop-out. Now, if you can take a breed that's not known for being so smart (like a chihuahua, perhaps?) and do amazing training with that dog, there's something to be impressed about.

 

[AGonzalez]

I am not a fan of Labs. My husband suggested a lab buddy for Lacey but no, no thank you. Granted, we call these guys German Shedders but, that short hair is a bigger pain than their long hair is.

There are a lot of breeds I don't particularly care for or won't own, but that doesn't mean I'm going to bash them.

 

[Laurelin]

You'd love it here! EVERYONE has labs (and a lot of nice ones too!). There's lots of hunters that go to my park and practice water retrieving. I really love watching them jump in the water and I'm a tad jealous I must admit. None of mine will do a water retrieve. If it's not a lab, it's a herding breed here. No one has papillons ('cept me lol). No one likes little dogs it seems. Oh well, more for me.

Some people are just jerks. I've had a lot of people tell me while I'm walking my dogs that they hate small dogs. I can't imagine saying that to someone's face who

I mean seriously? Who walks up to someone just to tell them they don't like their dog?

 

[Pops2]

Labs rock! A lot of people just like drinking the Haterade. Sometimes it is lonely at the top (although if every Pittie was registered I think they might actually be the most popular breed)

Labs are on the top of the popularity list for a good reason. It hasn't helped the breed in a lot of ways but a very high percentage of labs are good dogs even when raised by dipsticks.

this is even more true of bullbreeds. think about how many bullbreeds are INTENTINALLY maltreated (at least w/ labs it's mostly just ignorance when they are handled wrong or untrained) and how few actually bite compared to that number.

 

[smkie]

I wouldn't be here if it wasnt' for a lab named Charlie. He saved my life, not once but twice. I never needed a leash for him either, and had a dozen silver goblets and trays from his field trials. He was hands down the most incredible animal i have ever been around.


We had a lab at the kennels that went fishing for pigeons. She would take her nose and flip out a few pieces of her kibble and then lay as still as a stone until the pigeons came too close.

As far as intuitive about what a family needed, there was none better than Mary.

The labs I got to work with were crazy smart and their desire to please is one of the reasons they have been a favorite of mine. There was nothing mindless about it at all.

 

[Zoom]

I got into an argument the other week with someone who fancied themselves all sorts of awesome when it came to training and the like. I was relating some escapade of Virgo's and they came back with "Of course you think you're good at training, she was a Lab right, they're easy dogs! And you own an Aussie, which are pretty smart."

After I stopped laughing, I managed to write something back about how yes, Sawyer is pretty easy but the only "easy" part about Virgo was getting her to swim.

 

[sillysally]

In most ways Sally is actually much easier to train than Jack-and much less stubborn too, interestingly enough. While Jack is easier to take to places where there are lots of dogs because he is much more social with them and is less of an escape artist than Sally, she is the dog that easiest to live with overall.

 

[smkie]

I think Virgo would have been a much more giving dog if her trust hadn't been broken so many times before you got her, and by the people that you trusted. i am sure glad her story ended the way it did.

 

[PlottMom]

As a trainer, I feel like it's kind of cliche for trainers to get border collies/aussies. In the right hands, those dogs can do pretty much anything, so about 2/3 of the professional trainers I know have them. It almost seems like a cop-out. Now, if you can take a breed that's not known for being so smart (like a chihuahua, perhaps?) and do amazing training with that dog, there's something to be impressed about.

while most of my trainers have had aussies/shelties/border collies and the occasional lab, Daisy's rally instructor did obe with a Siberian husky I thought THAT was cool!

 

[Catsi]

People are rude and think before they speak. Or in some cases, just rude.

I have my breed preferences as well, but I at least can look at breed attributes and understand why a particular breed may appeal to people even when they don't appeal so much to me.

For the record... I do like labs, especially the black ones!

 

[Catsi]

steve HATES black labs. he's bitten three dogs now, and all three have been black labs and all three were dogs who flew up in his face with no warning or invitation.

Ali Brown (in a book I read, or it may have been a DVD) said that her Belgian Shepherd had a very strong disliking of black labs which she put down to a combination of the darker features being more difficult to read for facial expression/calming signals and for the reason you mention.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

While Jack is easier to take to places where there are lots of dogs because he is much more social with them.

That is anouther thing I love about Labs. Of course properly socialized Labs. My boys LOVE other dogs. Not in a "OMG HAI I LOVE YOUUUUUUU!!!" way lol they just enjoy meeting new dogs.

I do prefer breeds that airn't really prone to be DA (by breed standard ect). I like that I can take the boys just about anywhere I want because they are so good with other dogs.

I think that Labs are so popular that most people in the dog world thinks of them as carbon copies. But in my experience no two Labs are alike in personality. I think some people forget that. They are extremely smart dogs who love their people with their whole heart. I couldn't ask for a better dog.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

Daisy's rally instructor did obe with a Siberian husky I thought THAT was cool!

That would be cool!

 

[smeagle]

I feel your pain with breed stereotyping!

I do obedience with my Beagle, so you can imagine how many times I've been told not to bother; been asked why I would waste my time training a Beagle; been told not to expect much or that my dog would never be any good blah blah blah.

Or my recent favourite at a trial under a trainee judge, when we were asked to bring the Beagle over as they were a dog short in the Novice ring, a group of judges outside the ring said not to bother bringing 'the beagle over' as they only wanted 'good dogs for the trainee judge to judge'.

The upside being that when people have low expectations it is even more fun when you blow them away LOL!

 

[elegy]

this is even more true of bullbreeds. think about how many bullbreeds are INTENTINALLY maltreated (at least w/ labs it's mostly just ignorance when they are handled wrong or untrained) and how few actually bite compared to that number.

it's hard being a responsible owner of bulldogs in a world where so many are owned by idiots at best and truly awful people at worst. honestly, if the worst i heard from people about my dogs was that they're dumb, i'd die of joy.

 

[Tankstar]

Huh lol Sawyers not like that at all. I mean he is with me and my family who visits. But strangers he is more reserved with. He says hello and then comes back to my side. He is definately not a dog to get in other people or dogs faces. Neither is Morrison. Though again I worked hard with Sawyer as a puppy on manners and how to greet people properly.

But I want a dog who :yikes: actually wants to be with me. I want a dog who loves me and shows it. I want them to be excited when I come home. If my dogs had little interest in being around me or being affectionate I wouldn't be happy. But thats just me. Independent dogs are great. And im not saying Sawyer or Morrison isn't to a point. But I wouldn't be happy just living along side a dog who could care less if I was by their side or not.

.

Pretty much every lab (and golden for that matter) just loves to meet every one is bouncing around their feet excitied to see a new friend. bringing stuff to me ect. Maybe they just know that I will fully pick up what ever they bring and make a game of retrive with it lol. becuase 98% of the time I do. maybe they can just read me well lmao.

Oh Blaze has 110% intrest in family that comes in the door he knows, he is a happy go lucky goof when you walk in the door. he is just reserved with strangers.