Question:

> i hope with this new dog you will go to obeidiance classes with him.  it is > unfortunate to  have him put down because YOU were unable to handle him. > maybe you should get an older dog that is already trained.  would you commit > infanticide if your baby bit you!!!!

I wrote here because I was asking for advice, not unnecessary comments like yours, it’s hard for me enough without it. I will be so free to advise you to think over before you say something like that in the future. It’s easy to be general after a battle. Marko

Response:

Hi, First i’d like to thank all of you for your answers. The reason i was aking this question, is because i heard different info about labs from different sources, mostly described as friendly and intelligent, and then in one book i found a table of various breed behaviour, where most of the stuff for labs were below average. Also, all of the labs i met, were very friendly and peaceful, so i was surprised by what i read in this book. Until month ago i had a black and tan mail english cocker spaniel, we spoiled him, and i don’t know was that a reason why he started to bite all of us at home in last few months. We thought it will pass, we’ve seen a vet, tryed with a professional training, but nothing helped, it was just getting worse, so unfortunatelly in the end we had to give him euthanaised. So i choosen lab, cause i never heard anybody having bad experience with them, besides, they’re beautiful. Thanx again, Marko

Response:

Everydog has the potential for being a spoiled brat, even a dangerous spoiled brat if it is not raised to behave in a civilized manner.  If you don’t understand why your last dog acted the way that it did then it is very very important that you learn as much as you can about dog genetics, socialiation, behavior and training BEFORE getting another dog. It could have been genetic.  If it was genetic then you need to learn how to find a good responsible breeder or rescue and evaluate the temperament of dogs before you get one. If dogs in the background (the pedigree) are not of good temperament then there is a good chance that the puppies will also be of poor temperament.  Breeds DO have characteristics but those characteristics come from the breeding.  It would take no more than three generations to create a line of aggressive labs. It could have been improper socialization.  If it was improper socialization you need to learn how to find a good responsible breeder or rescue and evaluate the temperament of dogs before you get one.  The classic book "Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog" by Scott and Fuller is heavy but very interesting reading.  It is only one collection of many studies done of the importance of proper socialization of the puppy before placement.  If you miss the socialization window you can moderate the adverse influence by good handling, but you can’t make up for what was missed. It could have been unrealistic expectations and failure to teach proper manners.  If it was unrealistic expectations then you need to learn what a dog needs to learn, and how to teach it to the dog, and learn it before you get a dog.  People frequently think that cute dogs or "nice dogs" don’t need "training" well all dogs need what all humans need – at least those that will fit into human society.  They need to learn the rules of behavior.  They need a leader, and most dogs don’t want to live in a democracy.  Strong leadership on the part of the human gives the dog security and confidence. Contrary to popular belief most dogs are not just automatically nice. Thousands of dogs are delivered to shelters when they reach adolescence because their owners did not know enough to know how to teach their dogs to be civilized.  They then blame the dog and kill it.  If you got professional help before deciding to kill the dog you may have gotten enough information to know the degree to which your expectations and dog management skills did or did not play a part in the problem. It is a good idea to select a breed according to your abilities, willingness, and personal circumstances.  However, selecting the breed alone is not enough.  One then must make sure that the dog selected will behave in a manner that one would expect of the breed and that one really understands the breed and the needs for exercise, social interaction, and mental stimulation. There are a number of good books on understanding dog behavior and socialization.  Start with your local library.  You will likely do best to use a book in your native language.  If you need help deciding what is a good book I would skim through a few, choose a couple for possible closer study, then ask knowledgable people what they think of the book or author. In that way you can select a book that is at a level comfortable for you. Diane Blackman   _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _ Life is too short to be fretful.

: The reason i was aking this question, is because i heard different info : about labs from different sources, mostly described as friendly and : intelligent, and then in one book i found a table of various breed : behaviour, where most of the stuff for labs were below average. : Also, all of the labs i met, were very friendly and peaceful, so i was : surprised by what i read in this book. : Until month ago i had a black and tan mail english cocker spaniel, we : spoiled him, and i don’t know was that a reason why he started to bite : all of us at home in last few months. We thought it will pass, we’ve : seen a vet, tryed with a professional training, but nothing helped, it : was just getting worse, so unfortunatelly in the end we had to give him : euthanaised. : So i choosen lab, cause i never heard anybody having bad experience with : them, besides, they’re beautiful. : Thanx again, : Marko

Response:

i hope with this new dog you will go to obeidiance classes with him.  it is unfortunate to  have him put down because YOU were unable to handle him. maybe you should get an older dog that is already trained.  would you commit infanticide if your baby bit you!!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi, >First i’d like to thank all of you for your answers. >The reason i was aking this question, is because i heard different info >about labs from different sources, mostly described as friendly and >intelligent, and then in one book i found a table of various breed >behaviour, where most of the stuff for labs were below average. >Also, all of the labs i met, were very friendly and peaceful, so i was >surprised by what i read in this book. >Until month ago i had a black and tan mail english cocker spaniel, we >spoiled him, and i don’t know was that a reason why he started to bite >all of us at home in last few months. We thought it will pass, we’ve >seen a vet, tryed with a professional training, but nothing helped, it >was just getting worse, so unfortunatelly in the end we had to give him >euthanaised. >So i choosen lab, cause i never heard anybody having bad experience with >them, besides, they’re beautiful. >Thanx again, >Marko

Response: