Hi Kimmie, we had a a gorgeous labrador , but my mum made us wait until I was 11(I am the youngest of 3) so that we could all help exercise him.
He was very loyal, very loving and great fun.....but on occassions he chewed things, vet bills cost a lot when he got older as he got joint problems-as many large breeds do, he needed dog training classes because he was so playful and he needed a dod-sitter when we went away(luckily we always had someone at home as my brothers had stopped coming on holiday with us).
I want a chocolate labby more than anything in the world, but what stops me is that our house is open plan downstairs, so am scared of leather suite being chewed when out. Also Master T may not be up for the long walks/runs it would require(fine when he's at school, just weekends and hols) and we like our weekends away so would have to leave dog in kennels as too big for Mr T's folks....would cost and would feel mean on dog.
Mr T says I can have a small dog, but for me it's labby or nothing and for now, until Mr T is older and I know if I will return to work or not when he's at school I have opted for nothing, just the dream.
Hope that is some help x