If you are wanting a puppy then you can contact The Kennel club and they can put you in touch with all the Lab owners who have puppies for sale. They are pedigree though so will set you back approx £300 minimum. However going for pedigree insures that there are less problems with your new purchase. All pups from the kennel club have to have had eye tests and hip scores as labs can have problems with their hips. So always worth to go for pups who's parents have had good scores!
I was brought up with labradors and our girl had one litter of puppies.
They are a huge commitment but well worth the walks in the rain!
They are the most loyal of companions. Labs are ok for London, so long as you have space for them! A garden is ideal and obviously walks every day.
Would not recommend wooden floors as they are very slippery for them.

Disadvantage of rescue dogs is they may not always be suitable for children.

Hope this helps. Happy to give more info.

I am in a similar position, and looking for a cocker spaniel puppy (later in the year when we don't have any holidays planned for a good few months). I have checked most of the local rescues and very few dogs seem to be suitable for families with young children. I also really want a puppy to grow up with my family. I have found the Kennel club website to be very helpful in identifying good breeders. They also give good advice about finding a puppy. There is also a website called champdogs.co.uk which seems very useful but you need to check the breeders' credentials VERY carefully. Labs are prone to health problems and a good breeder will give you the best chance of getting a healthy, long lived dog.

Word of mouth is obviously very helpful so if you see a nice Lab out in the park you might want to stop the owner and ask where they came from. I think Labs are amazing and if I lived outside London I would really consider one but do keep in mind that they shed like crazy, are very greedy with food and can reach the kitchen counters easily as adults!! As others have mentioned they need LOTS of exercise. But you will have a friend for life!!

Hi. I'm a fully qualified dog behaviourist and trainer living in the area. More than happy for you to PM me to discuss where to source a puppy (this is not as straightforward as you might think) and other things that you should know before you go ahead.

deborah@thedognanny.co.uk

Best,
Deborah

I believe Battersea gets puppies and kittens too. You might find a cross with a poodle better in London (Labradoodle). You can get a smaller one (smaller poodle mix) and they tend not to shed as much (but they do shed).

Large working dogs (like a lab) need a few walks a day... rain or shine... I think the best thing to do is to visit the Battersea home and ask your questions. i am sure they see lots of families wanting a dog / puppy. And, of course, there seems to be loads around so its not impossible to keep one!

Good Luck.

I have a friend that used to have 2 lab/english setter cross dogs and lived in a 2 bed flat in Battersea. She had a dog walker every day for 2 hours and walked the dogs herself twice a day for 30 mins. She has since moved out of London and the dogs are more than happy with a farm to run about on. From what I remember, they took a lot of walking and entertaining, but if you are committed then I guess it works.

Responding to another comment, rehoming a pet is a wonderful gift for the animal and the family alike, Battersea do such amazing work for cats and dogs and can match a dog to your family, which might be the perfect solution.

Good luck with it all, and hope you find the perfect pet!

Thank you for your responses. We will definitely look at the Labrador rescue. We would still love any advice on the practicalities of having a large dog in London and also if we still want a puppy where to start looking. Huge thanks.

Friends of ours got a lab from the Labrador Rescue. While I agree with the suggestion of Battersea Dogs and Cats, if you're set on a lab perhaps this is a good place to get one.

Battersea Dogs Home??

Local and more importantly you will give a neglected animal a new chance in life...quite honestly there are so many dogs and cats around here dumped at or collected by BDH/Cats Protection League, etc, I'm not sure why anyone would want to pay top dollar for a "pedigree"...and a grateful stray will make a wonderful pet.

We are desperate to get a labrador and was wondering if anybody has any advice on the practicalities of having such a dog in Clapham and also where to start in getting one...

We know its a huge responsibility and also will need lots of walking. (There is a 1 1/2 hr walk everyday across the common for school drop offs so this should help a bit )...but any advice would be very welcome..

Many thanks