and wouldn'y most reputable breeders want to know this also?? try lab rescue loads of them here

http://www.bing.com/search?q=lab+res...ox&Form=IE8SRC

. Garden sure comes in handy for toilet training the size doesnt really matter a dog can be trained to go to an actual spot in the garden to do its business. If you did not have one life could be difficult from that side.

. I agree you should get it in writting that you can have a dog, get it all official then start planning the other stuff

. You don't have to get a rescue! Iif you want a puppy go with your choice though its a good idea to check out rescues as they have often have young dogs/puppies which you could get at a much cheaper price. Its a good feeling to adopt!

. the downside to owning a rescue pup is that it is likely to have had no training and will probably be more hard work depending on its age. If you got an older dog you may not be sure of its background and how it was treated, rescue dogs can have serious behavior problems that might not be known till the dog has settled. It should also be known that Rescues can also take a long time to settle.

. The good side to getting a rescue is you pay half as much, you feel good for giving a dog a second home and you could have a rescue that has no behavior problems at all! This is why its important to get rescue dogs from well known recomended centres that go to the trouble of assessing the dog before it goes up for adoption.

I'm afraid you won't find a puppy that comes toilet trained. Labs are pretty easy to toilet train in my experience and as you are home all of the time, it shouldn't be much of a hardship to get a pup clean. Just stock up on paper towels and a good disinfectant and you will be fine.

Grooming is minimal for the breed. A good brush with a slicker type comb every week or so is enough to keep their coat looking good. As you already know, they are heavy shedders and shed 24/7. A couple of times a year they also 'blow' their coat, where they shed excessively and the hair literally falls out as you touch it (this is normal!). You'll have to have the hoover on stand-by when they blow their coats.

With regard to exercise needs, you'd be looking at roughly an hour and a half of walking per day for an adult Labrador.

This is all a great help, thank you everyone. Training classes hadn't even crossed my mind, so another area to look in to.

Although my other half has doggy experience I'm trying to avoid discussing it with her so as to not get her hopes up. With her being disabled she would have very little involvement so I need to be comfortable with everything that needs doing.

Some one already said that you will need to fence off your pond, I saw you also keep turtles and these will need to be kept where the dog can not get to them as the dog will think they are walking chew toys!

I've just had a word with the other half and she's not dead set on a labrador. She was actually thinking of something smaller but "not yappy".

To be honest then, go to your nearest reputable rescue, and prepare to fall in love, make sure that the dogs been assesed properly and you probably won't go far wrong, if you can find one that fosters rather than has kennels all the better, there are loads of dogs out there that probably fit this bill perfectly

maybe have a stroll around the rescue centers and see if one takes your fancy?? usually you'll see the dog and know it's the one

If we did the see what takes our fancy route at a rescue then we'd have to have some basics in place at home ready in case something really did take our fancy. What would those basics need to be?

Are dogs like cats where they need to be gradually weaned onto different food over a few days?

Some say yes, I've never done it, and my dogs dont get sick. but then I feed several different brands and canned, dehydrated, raw, and kibble, something different every meal, so my dogs dont ever get an upset tummy