Choosing a puppy

Question
We are looking at getting a puppy in the future, and we are almost 100% sure about choosing a Labrador, after looking at the breed sites and information, is mostly positive and very encouraging, especially the highly tolerant personality for other animals (especially cats) and with children, but I would love a highly honest answer about the drawbacks on owning a Labrador, some of the negative things commonly encountered particularly with behaviour and temperament, and some tips on introducing a puppy to two young ginger cats :o) Thankyou very much :o)

Answer
Labs are terrible about shedding.  Puppies aren't too bad, but adults are terrible.  In the spring and fall, the only answer is a wire slicker brush.  Some Labs can be strong willed and difficult to manage.  Don't even think about skipping obedience training.  The dogs see all the
people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in
the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members
outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class
or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with
a treat. Start at http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/  They are also chewers.  The solution to that is plenty of attention and a crate.  Other dogs may
not be as bad as the young Labs I am plagued with.  Still your house and dog
will be much safer with the dog in a crate when you are away.  The dog may be
happier in its den than loose in the house.  It relaxes, it feels safe in its
den.  It rests, the body slows down reducing the need for water and relieving
its self.  Dogs that have been crated all along do very well.  Many of them
will rest in their crates even when the door is open.  I think the plastic
ones give the dog more of a safe, enclosed den feeling.  They are harder for
dogs to open too.  Metal ones can be put in a corner or covered with
something the dog can't pull in and chew.  Select a crate just big enough for the full grown dog to stretch out in.

Leave it some toys.  Perhaps a Kong filled with peanut butter.  Don't leave
anything in the crate the dog might chew up.  It will do fine without even any
bedding.  You will come home to a safe dog and a house you can enjoy.

Accidents and damaged possessions are the fault of whoever was watching the puppy.  When you are watching it, immediately correct it as soon as it goes for anything except its own toys.  In a quiet, but firm voice ''Bad dog, its name drop!''.  Gently remove what ever and replace it with one of her toys, or if older, hold eye contact until the puppy drops it.

Young Labs, which I know best, and other puppies tend to very bad about
biting.  You see a litter of them, and all the ones that are awake are biting
another one or themselves.  I am not even sure they realize that when they are
alone, if they quit biting, they would quit being bitten.  At 3 to 4 months
they are getting their adult teeth, and it seems they spend every waking
moment biting or chewing.  I maintain a Lab's favorite chew toy is another
Lab.  Otherwise they settle for any person they can.  They keep hoping to find
one that won't yelp and jerk their hand away, or growl "Bad dog." and clamp
their mouth shut.  Then offer a chew toy.  They keep trying despite hundreds
of corrections.   Another good technique is to quit playing and go away.   Be
sure to praise them when they are playing nice and not biting.

You just have to keep on correcting them, hundreds of times, not dozens.
Provide sturdy, safe toys such as Kongs and Nylabones.  Avoid things they can
chew pieces off and choke on them.  Keep them away from electrical cords.

Choosing a dog is a very personal thing.  You need to actually see a variety.
You could drop in on an obedience class.  Most of the people will be happy to
talk about their dog, and many will give honest answers about grooming and
nature.  Browse the question board.  See the problems people are asking for
help on.  Dogs vary so much within a breed, even among litter mates.  Some
field Labs are as hyper as any pointer.  You want to look for a calm dog.

Maybe ask to visit the breeders home.  Field  and show champions can be bred
in kennels.  Dogs where the mother lives in the house have the best
personalities.  Some kids to fondle the puppies from birth are better yet.  If
the breeder doesn't want the parents in their house, do you want the offspring
in yours?  Spend as much time with the parents as you can.  Nice parents don't
guarantee nice puppies, but don't chance bad parents.  Of course ask about hip
and eye certification  or other genetic problems common to your breed too.

Consider the animal shelter.  There are many nice dogs, Labs and Lab looking crosses, and you can see how they look with little or no grooming.  You can also see how they behave.  Look for dogs that want your attention, but are not going wild. Leave the ones that retreat to the back of their cage.  Look at their teeth.  Look for ones that still show a 3 lobed, clove like pattern on the front ones.  Leave the ones that fight letting you look at their teeth too much.  If the points are worn off the teeth, it is an older dog that may break your heart by dying too soon.   Pinch the web between its toes.  It hurts.  It is OK for the dog to pull away or whine, but it shouldn't growl, snap or show its teeth.  Since the shelter likely will kill most of the dogs, you may as well pick out a nice one.

Finding a good breeder and purchasing a puppy that will make a good pet is very difficult.  Almost nobody is intentionally breeding dogs to be nice pets.  Most of your so called reputable breeders are breeding for show or something.  They may say the puppies they don't keep for their purpose make great pets, but the truth is that the parents were selected for other than health and temperament.  Often they keep the puppies in the kennel too long and they miss the important early socialization puppies need to live in the house with people.  If you expect to socialize it to the cats, insist on having it in hour home by 7-8 weeks.  

Next are the disreputable breeders.  They breed any 2 registered dogs they can lay a hold of looking only at the money they can make selling them to pet stores.  Pet store puppies are easy to find, but difficult to socialize into nice pets, perhaps difficult to even keep alive.  You will not get what you pay for at a pet store.

One of the best sources for dogs with a predictable personality is the rescue
dogs.  These are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home
to be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them.   You may
find a rescue near you starting at http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm  The rescues charge a fee to help cover their expenses, but is much less than the price of a puppy plus all its medical expenses the first year.

Whether you get a puppy, or an older dog, come back when you need help.