a possible opportunity

[Mommy of Brandi]

My son texted me today asking if I'd be interested in a
3 1/2 year old male chocolate lab........I think I'd love it.......I think he might be just what I'm looking for........I wanted a "BIG" brother for Brandi.......to protect her more or less......like when I'm walking her......a brother that would not let anyone near her (as in try to take her)

I'm just wondering how it would be to bring a new "larger" dog into the house.......I work and my son works.......and it would be very hard to separate them I'm only in a 2 bedroom apartment........

I'd appreciate any opinions before I make my decision........

[Nomiland]

We have 2 yorkies and an 80 pound chow/lab mix. We've had Jedi (our chow/lab) for 3 years before we brought in our first yorkie and waited 2 more years before we got our second yorkie.
Jedi has been WONDERFUL with both of our girls. He would hold and lick Nomi down each morning for her bath and he gives in to all of Nomi's consistent wants for a playmate. He has now attached on to our little Alexis. They are such a pair! Alexis is about 3 and a half pounds and he follows her everywhere. Amazingly he has accepted having Alexis around more than our first yorkie, Nomi. Our two yorkies will not play together (courtesy of Nomi's type A personality)
I am all for the big/little dog family mix.

[ladybugg74]

I probably would not, but that is just my opinion. I get over protective when any other dogs are in the area of mine, especially bigger dogs. It would just worry me all the time. Has this dog been around other small dogs on a regular basis. You never know what could happen when you are not home. I just would not take any chances.

Heather- Mamma to Gracie and Hallee

[Mommy of Brandi]

does anyone have any other opinions?

[Joeysmom]

I have two labs... and two yorkies.

The labs were here first... I have a 7 yo female black and a 4 year old male chocolate.

My female is amazing with my yorkies and can be trusted with them completely, even when they are obnoxious little babies (teehee). What I mean by this is, Porsha, the black female lab, will allow Carson to romp over her back, chew on her tail, lick her mouth (ick), etc. She actually lays down to play with them and just snorts and wags her tail while they jump around her biting at her... I'll have to video tape her one day and show YT.

Sawyer, on the other hand, gets nervous around their activity. He's not mean at all, but if Carson tries to start touching him, he jumps up really fast, and could easily smash the poor baby... Sawyer is 86 lbs, Porsah is about 70. Also, if they really get rambunctious, he tries to join in, which means jumping and pouncing with his giant paws.

therefore, he doesn't get to be around the yorkies except when we are having quiet time. And never ever unsupervised. He doesn't dislike them, but isn't as calm and quiet as Porsha. I've found that lab personalities can vary GREATLY. So really I think you need to evaluate this particular dog before you make a decision. He might be really calm, maybe not. And you'll have to see how he is with little dogs. Some like them, some don't. Sawyer is pretty mellow on a day to day basis, but he gets nervous around the yorkies when they are hyper (most of the time teehee).

Be Careful! All it would take is one misstep and if your baby got stepped on, his back could get broken. I've heard of it happening.

But I DO love my labbies!

good luck in making a decision.

deb

[pepe mint]

i have had maggie around a lot of bigger dogs and they typically do fine with her. the thing i worry about the most is the younger ones that use their paws to play...one swipe and maggie is done for. but an older one would probably be ok....you would need to see if this dog has been around other dogs before. labs are very good dogs once they are out of the puppy stage...and i think 3 years old is a great age for labs. they are gentle family dogs if they are brought up right. you really would need to look into the dogs history a bit but i think a lab or retriever would be a great addition to a yorkie home. under the right circumstances, that is

the only thing that concerns me is that you live in a small apartment. the only reason i say that is because my experience with labs is that they need a lot of exercise or they are destructive. the one we had, we did not have a fenced yard, and we never really were runners or went on long walks or anything. so she didn't get a lot of exercise. and she tore EVERYTHING up. it was horrible. we would take her outside to play and she would just dig and dig and dig. she stripped the bottom part of our big magnolia tree in the yard. she dug up carpet, she chewed door frames. and i know it was because she had so much pent up energy, she didn't know what to do with herself. other than that...she was a great dog. very easy to train.

I have always heard that labs are very gentle. Taylor was very gentle with people and most animals, she was very good with my bff's pet rabbit...but she was NOT good with cats. she actually shook one of our kittens to death. that was the breaking point for me. when my ex and i split up, he had to take her. i just couldn't bond with her after that. i was so upset...i had this kitten since it was born (the momma cat was a wild cat that we fed and cared for, as much as she would let me, and i realized she was pregnant..took her and the babies in). i LOVED this kitten and Taylor shook it to death. it was the most heartbreaking thing. but everyone told me that they couldn't believe a lab would do that and it was probably because she didn't get enough exercise. so i kinda blame myself for it. my ex wanted a lab sooooooo bad and i finally agreed to get one without researching what they required in regards to exercise.

anyway....i honestly think that for the most part, a lab would be a great addition, especially an adult lab. but it will depend on you and your living condition. he/she would need lots of exercise.

[Meggie]

I have 3 yorkies & 2 Skye terriers, big dogs on short legs.

One of the Skyes is SO laid back that she more or less ignores the yorkies' antics, the other is more boistertous & will join in, so I have to keep an eye out.
They are both in complete awe of my old Yorkie & grovel to her constantly. When they came as puppies they were desperate for her to be mum, but she was having none of it & puts them in their place.

I just have to watch that the boisterous one doesn't hurt my smallest 4 month Yorkie puppy when things get a bit frantic, though she's never aggressive & wouldn't hurt her on purpose.
Mind you, with the speed the Yorkies shift she'd be pushed to catch them

I've no experience of Labs, but we had Old English Sheepdogs with Yorkies & they got along fine.

[MaxwellHouse]

You'd have to get to know the lab really well before leaving them alone, but a lab is one of the best big dogs to have around, I've heard. I love them, but never had one.

[Mommy of Brandi]

The owner is a cop in my son's pct......he said the dog has a great temperment and is excellent with children........he's just giving her away with the agreement that she has a solid loving caring home.....his wife is allergic to him........I do live in a relatively small apartment though.....and it would be impossible to separate them........I did tell my son I would like a trial period before making a decision......so I could have them around each other while I'm there......I'm really nervous......but this dog is sooooooooo beautiful........my son brought home a picture last night........if I didn't have Brandi........I'd have had this dog in my home already.....but I do have Brandi to consider I love her more than most everything and if anything ever happened to her I'd NEVER forgive myself......(and I know what a little brat she can be sometimes) LOL with the nipping and licking and jumping.......

[daisy mae06]

we have to Yorkies and a Golden Retiever. We got her at 2 years old She Is now just like the yorkies. I call her my 93 pound wanna be. you can see her in my avatar. also I only have a 2 bed room house.
and my dogs all get along even with the Cat LOL

Good luck.

[JRo]

I don't have any experience in this but Tucker loves labs and they love him so I could see it being a nice transition for you and your little one.

I love labs but I'm allergic, too

Good luck! I hope it works out well for you!

[Joeysmom]

Originally Posted by Mommy of Brandi

The owner is a cop in my son's pct......he said the dog has a great temperment and is excellent with children........he's just giving her away with the agreement that she has a solid loving caring home.....his wife is allergic to him........I do live in a relatively small apartment though.....and it would be impossible to separate them........I did tell my son I would like a trial period before making a decision......so I could have them around each other while I'm there......I'm really nervous......but this dog is sooooooooo beautiful........my son brought home a picture last night........if I didn't have Brandi........I'd have had this dog in my home already.....but I do have Brandi to consider I love her more than most everything and if anything ever happened to her I'd NEVER forgive myself......(and I know what a little brat she can be sometimes) LOL with the nipping and licking and jumping.......

It sounds like you have a great plan, going through a trial period. As long as you are right there, you will be able to tell how she will be with your yorkie. Has she ever been around smaller dogs? Labs tend to be pretty sedentary, most of the time, but I've seen hyper ones too... it just depends. I hope it works out!

deb

[Joeysmom]

Here are a couple of photos of my labbies with Phoebe...

[Mommy of Brandi]

my daughter has a lab mix...Brandi loves him....he doesn't love Brandi....he's been afraid of her from the first time I had her over there and she weighed 1 lb at the time LOL go figure....my son is working tonight so hopefully he'll be able to find out more info....I'll keep ya'll posted