My husband and I are looking for 2 labrador puppies (black or chocolate) for the end of March beginning of April when I will have given up work and can look after them full time. They would not be used as shooting dogs or show dogs ... just pets. I would be most grateful if anyone could let me know if they are going to have any litters at that time. We are looking for either brother and sister or two bitches.

I can be contacted on mclloydy@metacrawler.com.

Many thanks
Jane

You will find it hard to convince most breeders to let you have two Puppies at the same time, for many valid reasons. Is there any specific reasonyou want two together? A brother and sister would need to be seperated when the bitch is in season, this will cause difficulties as they would be very reliant on each others company, apart from being anxious to thwart your efforts to not let them mate :D

Years ago we rescued 3 sibling kittens. 2 females 1 male. We had them neutered and spayed on the day we could closest estimate their 6mo birthday. One of the females was pregnant unbeknownst to us. Not very nice, really. We had no idea she had gone into heat.
Quinn

I lost both my cross lab/collie dogs last year through old age - they were brother and sister and we'd had them since pups. We had the bitch fixed so there were no problems with breeding etc. My view is that 2 dogs are very good company for each other and I have always liked having two dogs around rather than just the one.

A better alternatibe would be to get an Adult rescue, and book a Puppy to follow. Once the older dog has settled, you can have the fun of the Puppy, and they will have the company. If the history of the older dog is known, and it is reasonably obedient you will miss out on the problems with trying to bring up two youngsters together.

The other plus point is that hopefully you will not be in the position you are now with losing both close togather. if you had an adult of say 6 now and then the pup, by the time you lost him/her then the pup would be about 6, and a good age to not be too old to bring in a Puppy! Another way of looking at it also is that you will be both giving a needy older dog a good home, and still having the enjoyment of Puppy ownership! I saw a lovely GSP of 8 years in Bristol Dogs home last week. He is Obedient and good with people and Animals, but due to his age will find it hard to find a home (he has been available since October). A dog like that to share a home with a Puppy would be lovely, and the presence of the other dog would soften the blow of losing him in say four years or so. I am sure Lab rescue have dogs like that, who people can't face having as they have less than half their lifespan left. Also you are used to an older dog now, and all this time later will have forgotten just how awfully naughty a pup can be.

Thanks for the advice - I have been contemplating perhaps going for a rescue dog as well. Stil, if you know of anyone that will have black labs available at the end of March beginning of April would still be interested. Many thanks

BTW..... Welcome to the forum mclloydy Leigh

Good Luck stay with us and tell us how you get on! A good place to start is with the nearest Labrador Breed Club, who will usually have a breeder or Puppy list of responsible club members. You can get the details from the KC on Tel 0870 606 6750 :D

If you wish to have some info on rescue please feel free to email me(click on my name for the address) there are some wonderful Labs coming to rescue for no fault of their own maybe you could buy a puppy,then take in a rescue a bit older therefore you will have a slight age gap as its heartbreaking to lose two as oldies,we always have a gap now in our dogs ages as in 1990 I lost all my dogs in one year and the pain was indescribable.I also would not reccomend litter brothers and sisters.

I usually advise those who want two siblings, to have one, and then have the second, a full or part brother/sister a year or 18 months later. The great advantage of this is that one puppy is sooo much easier to train, and then when the new puppy comes along the older one really does help to teach the new one. Its not much fun trying to teach anything to two 4 monthers who are so thrilled with each other, that they completely ignore you 99% of the time!! Although they will surely be affectionate and loving, mostly they will bond with each other more than with you. It can also be very difficult to house train two at once, as you often dont know who did what, where or when!! With ordinary training, they do need individual attention, and it will mean leaving one behind ( probably howling!) while you work with the other.