Wednesday, January 16, 2008

How To Care for Labrador Retrievers

By Samantha Harthy


Owning a Labrador Retriever is an amazing experience! They are sweet, loving, caring animals that need your love and care to become the best dog they can be. Here are some tips on how to care for your Lab:
Be sure to feed and water your dog. As with any breed of dog, Labs need food and water. Set up a feeding schedule for your dog as soon as she comes into your possession. Your Lab should have access to water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Feeding can be done once or twice a day, depending on your preference. Choose a good, healthy brand of dog food and feed according to the instructions on the bag. When you give your dog his bowl of food, tell him to sit, and don't put the food on the floor until he has sat. Once he obeys the command, sit the bowl on the floor for him, make him look at you (away from the bowl of tasty food), then release him so he can eat his meal. This will teach him that you are in charge of feeding him, not merely obeying his request.
Give her a place to sleep that is her own. Many people don't enjoy sharing their bed with a large, hairy dog (these people are crazy... just kidding, of course); if you don't want your Lab to sleep with you, give her a bed that is her own. A large kennel with a blanket or dog bed should do the trick. As a puppy, train her that this is her bed, and stick to putting her in it and telling her to lay down when you are ready for her to go to bed. Many people think it is "mean" to put their dog into a pen or crate to sleep, especially when the dog cries because she wants to be with you. Though she may not like the idea of being away from you, it is really best for her to have her own place to sleep. This is true for any dog, as their ancestors used to sleep in a cave-like bed either on their own or with their pack. By providing your dog this "safe zone" in which to sleep, she knows where she can go to get some peace and quiet.
Take them to a puppy/dog training class. If you get your Lab when he is a puppy, or even if you get him when he is older and already trained, taking him to a class will teach him that you are his master, and allow him to interact with other dogs. If he knows his stuff, a refresher course never hurt anyone, and it will give the two of you some great bonding time. If your Lab is a new puppy and doesn't know "come" from "sit," this will help teach you what you need to do, and help your puppy learn how to actually obey. Bring plenty of treats, love and patience to each class!
Groom and bathe your Lab regularly. Though there isn't a lot of grooming involved for a Lab, the breed tends to shed quite a bit, and brushing and bathing them can help keep down the amount of hair that gathers on your floors. Clip their nails regularly as well (if you can hear them clicking on the floor, it is time to clip them!).
Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. Labs tend to become overweight if fed too much and exercised too little. The good news is that lab's love to run and swim. Though it may not be convenient for her to take a dip in a pond, she needs to get out and walk or run everyday. At least 30 minutes of exercise should be given to the dog each day. This is a great chance to spend time with your dog and get outside. Don't make it a chore -- make it fun for both of you!
Get your dog his shots and licenses on time. Not only are puppy shots, rabies shots and heartworm checks necessary to keep him healthy, they could save his life! Take him to the vet regularly, and be sure you get his licenses on time to keep both of you out of trouble!
Owning a Labrador Retriever means you can expect some general traits in your dog.
You now own a dog that loves the water. Labs were originally bred as a hunting dog for marshy/wet areas, and their job was to retrieve ducks and other waterfowl. If you live near water, his instinct tells him to run and jump right into it, so be prepared for that!
Labs are typically very gentle, loving dogs that get along great with children. My experience with labs tells me that if there is a little kid nearby, your lab is going to want to be right there, licking her face! If you have small children, make sure you let them around your lab and teach your dog not to jump on people, as he could accidentally knock down a child in his race to lick her face.
Prepare for the large amount of shedding typical of the breed. If your Lab is indoors, make a habit of brushing it regularly (at least every other day) and be prepared to vacuum a lot of dog hair! If you have allergies in the family, a Labrador Retriever may not be the breed for you.
Labs have a tendency (especially as a puppy) to chew on anything and everything in sight. If your puppy sees a shoe, she interprets it as a chew toy. This being said, keep lots of "real" chew toys accessible, train her early not to chew on chair legs, and keep anything off the floor that you wouldn't want chewed.

Labrador Retrievers make excellent companions for people of any age. If properly cared for, they can be the perfect addition to any family. I hope this helps and that you and your lab are very happy together for a very long time!

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