Coffi Lab

[Hollysdad]

While we're between dogs OH and I have been visiting Coffi Lab in Monmouth for our elevenses. The Coffi Lab theme is a coffee shop which is built around dog friendliness, so they have dog drinks and snacks on the menu as well as human ones. The aisles are wide so there is space for the dogs to pass each other or sprawl between tables. The coffee and cakes are pretty good too.
During today's elevenses there were a few doodles and smaller dogs in the cafe but the highlight for us was a large yellow Lab and a 4-month old black Lab. The older Lab is a regular and lay down beside the table and enjoyed its coconut ice cream The lady with the puppy was doing some textbook R+ training. When it settled it was rewarded. It had already got the message that good things happen when it sits or lies down. It was a joy to watch two well-behaved Labs and just increased our yearning for a new dog.
Looking on the Coffi Lab website they have several branches in SE Wales and have one or two over the river in England. If their other branches are like the Monmouth one then they're worth a visit.

 

[Jacqui-S]

How lovely for you
I think you may be lab people

 

[Cath]

Sounds lovely every town should have one @Hollysdad

 

[Loraseal]

I love visiting places like this. When I first saw the subject I thought you were announcing that you were proud owners of a chocolate labrador!

 

[edzbird]

I love visiting places like this. When I first saw the subject I thought you were announcing that you were proud owners of a chocolate labrador!

Ditto. Coffi is a super name too.

 

[Hollysdad]

I love visiting places like this. When I first saw the subject I thought you were announcing that you were proud owners of a chocolate labrador!

LOL. We’re waiting on news about a litter of Cockerpoos. I we’re successful then trips to the Coffi Lab will be part of its socialising.

 

[Hollysdad]

We had a great visit to Coffi Lab this morning. Our favourite black Lab puppy was there, along with several doodles and smaller dogs. There was a very well behaved greyhound at the next table and a really chilled goldie near the door. The highlight was a 12-year-old yellow Lab who was a retired guide dog. Her owner kept her when she was retired. While not formally working the Lab still looks out for her owner and was perfectly behaved.
We managed to say hello to several of the dogs. It was wonderful.

 

[MellowYellow]

That sounds such fun! Any news on the cockerpoo front??

 

[Hollysdad]

That sounds such fun! Any news on the cockerpoo front??

The litters are due in the first half of March. We have fingers crossed that there will be enough healthy puppies to satisfy everyone on the list.

 

[Lab_adore]

Fingers crossed @Hollysdad

I love the sound of Coffi Lab, I wish we had something similar nearby

 

[Hollysdad]

Today I had my face washed by an 18 month old black Lab.
We were at the next table so we naturally started chatting. The couple had owned Labs before and we compared notes about their characters and habits. I think they won the ‘whats the most revolting thing your dog has done’ contest. One of their labs had a play in a slurry pile on a farm. It was covered in s**t up to its chin.
After a few minutes I was on my knees stroking it, which seems to be acceptable behaviour in the CL, after which he kindly washed my face. It was wonderful.

 

[Candy]

I hope I'm not being out of order when I say that in my opinion you NEED another Labrador, and soon!
You're showing the classic signs and somewhere there is a Labrador who needs exactly the home that you can provide!

 

[Hollysdad]

I hope I'm not being out of order when I say that in my opinion you NEED another Labrador, and soon!
You're showing the classic signs and somewhere there is a Labrador who needs exactly the home that you can provide!

I think we'd both love another Lab. We understand them and their curious little ways.
We have to be realistic. In ten years time we may not be able to give a Lab the exercise it needs. We're going for less demanding breeds so we can meet the exercise needs of our next dog. Also, we want a breed which will enjoy games and mental stimulation as much as walks. We also have aspirations to have a PAT dog. Keeping a Lab clean enough to be a PAT dog could be a full time job!
Doodles offer promising crosses, with Cavapoo and Cockerpoo as our first choices.

 

[Jelinga]

I think we'd both love another Lab. We understand them and their curious little ways.
We have to be realistic. In ten years time we may not be able to give a Lab the exercise it needs. We're going for less demanding breeds so we can meet the exercise needs of our next dog. Also, we want a breed which will enjoy games and mental stimulation as much as walks. We also have aspirations to have a PAT dog. Keeping a Lab clean enough to be a PAT dog could be a full time job!
Doodles offer promising crosses, with Cavapoo and Cockerpoo as our first choices.

My neighbour has a Cavapoo, she is very lively and zooms around their very large garden (old rectory). The owner has to put a fitted 'mac' on her to keep her relatively free of mud! A Lab is much calmer in my experience My friend has two Doodles and the nine year old was doing Zoomies around the living room, the other one, a magnificent looking Doodle crosses a large field in seconds! Give me a Lab any day

 

[Sophiedoodle]

Doodles offer promising crosses, with Cavapoo and Cockerpoo as our first choices.

Look into Australian Labradoodles! Known to be generally calmer than cockapoos... can't speak for cavas but all the cockerpoos we know are CRAZY

 

[Jacqui-S]

Look into Australian Labradoodles! Known to be generally calmer than cockapoos... can't speak for cavas but all the cockerpoos we know are CRAZY

Oh yeah, cos Oreo and Shamu are really calm

 

[Hollysdad]

Are they inherently crazy or have they been allowed to develop that way? Ive always felt that its a combination of nature and nurture which sets the character of the adult dog.
We tend to go for the quieter dogs in a litter and raise them in a calm environment. It seems to work for us as people often commented how calm and steady Holly and Cocoa were.

 

[MellowYellow]

Are they inherently crazy or have they been allowed to develop that way? Ive always felt that its a combination of nature and nurture which sets the character of the adult dog.
We tend to go for the quieter dogs in a litter and raise them in a calm environment. It seems to work for us as people often commented how calm and steady Holly and Cocoa were.

I agree, mixture of nature and nurture.

Whichever dog you end up going for, I am sure it will work out perfectly for you. Just perhaps avoid Irish Setters. Or Jack Russell Terriers.

 

[Hollysdad]

I agree, mixture of nature and nurture.

Whichever dog you end up going for, I am sure it will work out perfectly for you. Just perhaps avoid Irish Setters. Or Jack Russell Terriers.

I've only known two Setters and both of them were too stupid for words.
Our son has a Jack Russell (Leo) who is a delightful dog who wants to join in everything. He's really friendly with people and other dogs but can never be trusted off lead.

 

[Sophiedoodle]

Are they inherently crazy or have they been allowed to develop that way? Ive always felt that its a combination of nature and nurture which sets the character of the adult dog.
We tend to go for the quieter dogs in a litter and raise them in a calm environment. It seems to work for us as people often commented how calm and steady Holly and Cocoa were.

Completely agree... growing up in a calm environment would definitely help. I guess it also depends on the parents too and what generation of cockapoo you were go go for - whether there was more spaniel in them (hence why they might be a bit more crazy)