Cross Breeds

labrador/collie puppy?

i am thinking of getting a labrador/collie cross breed puppy its about 6-7 weeks old and i am just wondering what are they like when they are older? and what are puppies lik ive never had one before ive been around older dogs but not a younger dogs ive got 5 weeks where i can train it and look after it is that enough time? Any other information you have would be great as well thanks after these 5 weeks if i have taught it to sit and come would a dog walking/sitting service take the puppy?

Public Comments

1. Im still training my puppy now and she is 7 months old training is a constant responsibility
2. 5 weeks is 2 less he should be at least 9 mths old
3. No one can tell you what they are going to look like when it gets older because no one knows what the gene mix is going to be. Puppies are like babies they get up in the middle of the night and they cry when they don't want to do things and they mouth you because they have baby teeth that are turning in to adult teeth. They get in to everything if not watched. They sleep a lot usually more during the day then at night. They are so cute and so funny when they encounter coming they have never experienced! Petsmart has a puppy training class as well as obedience classes if your looking for formal training class (which are also good for socialization). If you want though you can just get a book and read it and train your dog that way. Good Luck and enjoy your new puppy, but remember it's a LOT of work.
4. All puppies are hard work, they make a mess and need vaccinating, heartworming and desexing to name a few things- so they can also be very expensive, especially if they then develop and illness or have an accident and need surgery or medication. You need to make sure that you will look after this dog for it's whole life, not just whilst it's a few months old and then decide that you don't like it much. There are millions of pets that end up in animals shelters all over the world that need loving homes - have you considered going to a dog shelter ? why have you only five weeks to train a puppy ? I wouldn't be putting a time limit on the puppy's behaviour - what will you do if the puppy is not trained in 5 weeks? It takes a while for a puppy to develop and so it will be very playful and boistrous for atleast the first year of it's life. It may also take you around a year to train it properly. If you are ready to care for a puppy a labrador/ collie is a mixture of two lovely breeds of dogs, so as long as you're ready for the expense and responsibility of caring for a dog into it's old age, i'd say this breed is a good pick, but they are a very energetic breed & will need alot of activity to stop them from getting bored. *I see you've just added a question about getting a dog sitter- i don't think you are ready to have a puppy as you need to spend as much time as possible with it in order for it to be a well behaved dog when it gets older - this is why there are so many pets in animal shelters, because alot of the time people lose interest with their pet and decide it's all too hard. Or the pet gets annoying because the owner hasn't trained it properly. 5 weeks is too shorter time to train a puppy and expect it to be well behaved from then on and then give it to a dog sitter to look after - it will probably become confused at who it's owner is also, if you can't spend quality time with it. If you get an adult dog from a shelter the benefit is that you can see it's personality and behaviour already, but you don't really know how a puppy will turn out - especially with not much training..
5. Extremely hard work. The lab trait is constantly chewing and into serious mischief, and will eat anything!!! not necessary food, I mean "anything". Collies are extremely energetic (as is labrador) and both breeds need constant exercise of body and mind. I have a lab x hound who went to puppy classes for 10 weeks and 2 years on is still a massive handful, so suggest you have a good think about the breed before you commit yourself. 5 weeks training is not enough.
6. I think that mixed breed dogs sometimes make the best pets and with the 2 breeds that you mentioned I think chances are that your dog will be highly intelligent and trainable and also high energy. Puppies are soo much fun, but do take alot of time, just like bringing a new baby home. You can expect a couple of sleepless nights as your baby will be missing her family and will cry alot when left alone.. You should probably be able to get a good start on house breaking with the 5 weeks you have, but don't expect the dog to be completely housebroken in that length of time. It took me a full year before I could completely trust my dog not to make mistakes. Your puppy will need lots of exercise as it is a large breed and especially with the lab will be high energy. I am no expert on dog training, but the one thing that I do know is that a dog is worth all of the time and trouble because it will love you unconditionally and be your best buddy. Have fun!!
7. Labs and Collies are working dogs and have a lot of energy. Had a few labs before and it is a myth that they are very chilled out when they get older. Fantastic dogs, very social but need lots of excersise and attention. In regards to training them, they are very smart but it depends if you know how to train them and if you have the right authority. You never need violence to train them but authorithy and tone of voice are key. Dogs are pack animals and you need to establish that you are the pack leader. First focus on toilet training then on things like walking and sitting to command. Never used a dog walking service so not sure of their requirements though. If you need any advice on training, feel free to drop me a line.
8. All dogs are different and basic training can take 10-12 weeks. We have a 3 year old lab/collie cross that we have had since he was 6 weeks old. To be honest he is still a devil(thats the good old lab in him!) but he is the most loyal and loving dog you could wish for. He is really receptive to learning new things - giving paws, rolling over etc but it is very hard work. From a young age, his siblings have been involved in flyball which their owners have found very rewarding responding to the owners command is key. This is also a great way of intergrating with other dogs and their owners. The important things to remember is to be patient and consistent but to enjoy every moment with your dog. The hard work is worth it!