Labradors love to please their owners

Your Labrador retriever is smart and wants to learn tricks, if for no other reason than to please you. Happy, well-adjusted dogs are the ones who are allowed playtime, romping, running, games and learning to keep their minds and bodies agile. A bored dog will exhibit signs by digging, chewing, wandering off or barking incessantly. It will help everyone in your family, especially your Lab, if you take the time to train them, discipline them and love them in equal measures.

You can start this process with a good standard obedience course, both on-leash and –off. Labrador retrievers are strong dogs when adult-sized, so it would behoove you to teach him manners before he gets big enough to push you around. Once your puppy is trained, maintaining the training into adulthood should become routine. No one wants a dog jumping up on strangers, nosing where they shouldn’t be nosing, digging up a garden, chewing on the baseboards or barking like a maniac at the slightest provocation. Training early on will establish with your dog who is the master in the home and out, and will help the dog be more secure, knowing there is a strong hand taking care of the big decisions and safety of the family.

Training a puppy to do tricks can be learned by reading books, from the Internet, or in a class specifically designed to help you. Labs can generally learn to sit, play fetch, shake “hands” and roll over with a minimum of effort, because they are smart and willing to learn and please. Retrievers have excellent noses and can be trained to find lost items; and retrieve them (hence the name). You can learn to train the dog tricks either with food rewards or affection rewards, both bringing the results you desire within a relatively short period of time. The affection/praise system of training might be desirable in Labrador retrievers simply because of their propensity for becoming overweight. Labs tend to load the pounds on if their diets are not strictly maintained, so food rewards should be closely monitored.

Labradors are smart and learn new tricks quickly

Consistency is a big part of teaching a dog tricks. Firm, patient instructions and discipline given without a raised voice is an important tool. Frightening your dog will certainly not make them learn any faster; it will simply confuse them and make them insecure. You want the dog to respect you and bond with you and your family, so patience and consistency is key among all family members. If you are not at home, you want the comfort of knowing that the dog will respect everyone in the home, so it is important to let every family member be a part of teaching the dog. Familiarity and respect will come to your dog with even exposure to everyone in the house, so go on family walks and play in the park. Teaching your dog to fetch a tennis ball is great exercise for him, and a valuable opportunity for him to bond with you and the whole family.

Adorable yellow lab puppies

So you want an adorable, cuddly, bouncy, drooling Labrador puppy. Are you sure it has the right temperament for you and your family, and do you know how to tell one delightful little puppy’s personality from another? As a rule, Labradors are less whiney and insecure than other breeds, and not prone to territoriality or possessiveness. They do grow to be quite large however, and will chew (on just about anything) as puppies. They are evenly tempered and great with kids, and will run like crazy when you give them room. If you need a slobbery tennis ball retrieved, this is the breed for you.

That said, puppies, like people, are all different and their personalities should be gauged before you bring him or her into your home. Here are a few helpful tests and trials that you can perform to determine what kind of puppy you’re looking at.

Hopefully, you’re buying or adopting a dog from a place that will let you spend a little time with one or several candidates. You need hands-on checking of certain things. For instance, sit still and see which puppy comes to you. Is the dog timidly approaching, or confidently walking or running up with his head and tails and ears up? This can be an indicator of the puppy’s comfort level around people. Ask the owner or breeder’s permission before administering the next tests…

Play with the puppy for a little while. Offer a toy and see how aggressively he grabs it. Is he willing to hand it back over or is he hanging on to it for dear life when you try to take it back? It’s not “normal” for a Labrador to not give back a toy; hanging on can indicate an aggressiveness that you may not want. Offer a little treat. Does the puppy want to take it from you? Eagerness to take it from your hand indicates the ability to train him. Once the puppy is a little more comfortable with you, rub his belly and see how comfortable he is with that. Does he flinch when handled? Pick up his feet and rub his ears, run your hands all over his body. Does he has a negative reaction to your attentions?

Roll the puppy onto his back. Does he wet himself nervously, or struggle and bite? You do not want a dog that is too submissive, or too aggressive. A well adjusted puppy should struggle and kick for a few seconds before settling down into submission under your hand. Remember, be gentle! You don’t have a force a puppy to submit, they will do it on their own, simply because you are bigger.

How can you resist this adorable face

Pick the puppy up and walk away from his littermates. Does he get overly anxious and whiny, or squirm vigorously to get back to the pack? This may indicate that he’s not ready to leave his canine family, or simply that he’s going to be a little more insecure than his brothers and sisters.

Labs are very loving towards other dogs and people

Overall, how comfortable are the two of you together? Do you seem to “click” and have a rapport together; are you getting solid vibes from this little bundle of drool? It’s partly common sense and partly intuition that will tell you which puppy will be the best fit for you and your family. Do some reading online or at the library, and get advice from folks who already own Labradors, and good luck on your choice.

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Labradors can be very active dogs

Labradors may be the most popular large dog breeds. Easy to care for, friendly and intelligent, Labradors offer years of companionship to their owners. One thing sometimes holds people back from selecting a Labrador as a family pet:  Grooming.  Luckily, grooming a Labrador can be easy, if you just know how.

First realize that a properly groomed Labrador is in no need of occasional trims or shaving. Caring for their coat will ensure it remains healthy. That being said, the nails of the Labrador will need to be occasionally trimmed. This should always be handled by a professional. Cutting a dog’s nail improperly can cause pain and lead to other health problems. It is always best to bring your Labrador to a professional groomer to have their nails clipped.

The biggest grooming chore will actually be controlling shedding. Depending on the breed, your Labrador may shed only once or twice a year or shed every day. While it is a common myth that labs don’t shed, they do and learning to control the shedding will help keep your home clean and your dog comfortable.

Grooming can be a positive experience for you and your dog.

1. Place the dog in a tub of warm water. The water should not be scalding hot, but should be as warm as you and the dog can handle. Use a sprayer or cup to completely wet the dog from head to tail.
2. Use your fingers or a rubberized grooming tool to begin to work the lab’s coat. This process is aimed at loosening dead hair and skin from the lab’s coat. Using a tool works well because it will allow you to work the entire length of the coat, including the root area.
3. Rinse the dog with lots and lots of warm water while continuing to massage the coat and skin before removing the dog from the bath.
4. Use a hairdryer set to warm (avoid the hot setting) to dry the coat. While blowing out the hair, use your fingers to work the coat, always working in the opposite direction from the hair growth. This step can be very messy, so if possible do it outside.

This process should be repeated once a week until you are sure the majority of the fur has been removed. Once you have removed the majority of the shed fur, you can simply maintain it. By using proper maintenance techniques, you can typically avoid having to bathe the dog again. Use a grooming tool once or twice a week to work the coat and remove shed fur. This regular brushing will also help to distribute the natural oils produced by the lab.

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Labrador Retrievers love to have fun, and do require a bit of guidance to begin with when they are puppies. Providing direction in a fun, firm way at a young age will make the Lab into the most loyal dog, well-behaved, fun dog that an owner could wish for. Labs want to please their owners, so positive reinforcement and lots of love is always the way to train your dog.

Labs need to exercise every day

Labs need some type of exercise every day. A bored dog can become a restless or destructive dog. The excess energy that they build up can be worked off with some games or an afternoon jog. Additionally, the dog and the master can both have fun, and get a great workout. There’s nothing like going for a long run down the road with your Lab, or throwing a stick or a ball on the beach. Labradors are retrievers, and love to play fetch. Remember, when the retrieve the ball and bring it back to you to reward them with kind words or even a hug.

There are ball throwers that are sold at the pet store that make the dog fly clear across the park with ease. My dogs love this gadget, and it has been a life saver. The dogs will get a great workout.

Labs do love to eat, and an overweight dog is an unhealthy dog. Owners need to know the correct amount of food for the weight and the activity level of their dogs. If you can afford it, try to buy premium dog food. When I upgraded the food that my dogs were eating, their coats looked better, their eyes looked clearer, and their overall health seemed to improve. My dogs are my family, and I want them to live as long as possible. For me, it’s worth the extra money.

You have to be careful with some labs “counter surfing.” My 1 year old puppy has jumped up on the counter and grabbed full loaves of bread (plastic included) when I wasn’t looking. She is also very fond of anything chocolate which can be dangerous, so be careful where you leave food items. My food stores have all moved either into the refrigerator, or into the higher cabinets.

Showing your Lab that you care by spending some time together is very beneficial to both you and your dog, and in the long run will help when it comes to your dog’s behavior. Puppies will be puppies, and do need to be disciplined, especially when their behavior can be dangerous to themselves or to others. My puppy liked to chew on computer cords, which can be very dangerous. A quick “no” , and removing her from area usually worked. I also used a few sprays that were designed to repel dogs, and that helped. Bitter apple is a type of spray that works well.

Dogs need to learn socialization skills at an early age.

It is also important to socialize your lab to be around other people, as well as other dogs. Many Labs start out as being a little bit shy when they are puppies, so owners must take the time and energy to teach them to be around others and be comfortable. Positive reinforcement and patience are extremely important in these situations.

Labs do excite easily and if a young dog decides to bowl over their new companion, the master needs to firmly, yet gently set some limits. Normally, a gentle push away of the Lab from the person will work. If my dogs jumps on me when I walk in the door, I just turn away, and she calms down almost immediately.

On the other hand, some Labs like to do things like digging huge holes under the fence in the back yard. Usually this is a sign of boredom on the Lab’s part—so it is time to up the ante on exercise, with some extra love and attention as well.

If you are having trouble setting limits, and you feel that you are losing control, there are always classes to help with training techniques. You can do this in a group or individually.

Labrador Retrievers are people pleasers and basically need love, attention and a little bit of effort to get the desired behavior. They are loyal and loving animals and worth every effort you take to teach, train, and just be with them.

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Cute chocolate labrador puppy

popularity of the book “Marley and Me” (which featured a mischievous yellow Labrador) raised the breed’s profile, as did President Bill Clinton’s chocolate Labrador, Buddy, during the ’90s. It’s no wonder; these good-natured dogs are great with kids, make happy outdoor companions and in general make great additions to an active family.

Are you thinking about what kind of dog to get? Are you wondering which breed of Labrador you should choose? Well, remember that Labradors love to hunt and to swim. This is one dog that won’t be happy cooped up in an apartment!
Labradors come in many colors, but yellow, chocolate and black are the standards, with black being the most common. Is a yellow Labrador more likely to have health problems? is a black Labrador generally more friendly? Is a chocolate Lab easier to train?

The answers are no, no and no. Some dog owners and breeders will swear to you that the different colors of Labrador come with unique characteristics, but the truth is they don’t.

So which breed of Labrador you choose should not be decided by the color of their coat, but rather by how well you trust the breeder. A Labrador breeder who has experience and who doesn’t breed dogs with known diseases is the only way to go. Local Labrador clubs (which you can find online) should be helpful in finding breeders who can match you with the right dog.

Now, a little about the history of Labradors. The Labrador breed originated in Canada, where fishermen used them to help with the daily catch. The dogs were bred with hunting dogs such as Irish Setters and Spaniels and became the “retrievers” we know today.

Even if you don’t hunt, those breed characteristics make a yellow Labrador (as well as the brown, red, black, and other colors) popular pets. But they will require lots of love and attention; without constant engagement, these intelligent and active dogs can get into lots of trouble. That’s why Labradors do best in a family setting with plenty to keep them busy.

As for potential health problems, Lab owners are more likely to see canine hip dysplasia, a skeletal abnormality that

gastric torsion in labrador

results in pain in the rear legs and severe arthritis. Gastric torsion is another common Labrador medical condition. Caused by a twisted stomach that results in swelling of the abdomen, it is most common in large-cheated breeds. Eye diseases, heart diseases and cancer are also issues that responsible Lab owners should keep an eye out for when choosing their future pet.

So, a little research will go a long way in ensuring that you find the right Labrador (be it yellow, chocolate or black) for your family.

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chocolate labrador

The Labrador retriever is the most popular dog breed in many countries. They are, after all, typically friendly, well balanced, and athletic by nature. This makes them a great match for most families and owners. Still, owning a Labrador retriever requires some decision-making, effort, and maintenance on your part. Chocolate labs, the rarest of the bunch, are no exception to this.

One of the first decisions you’ll have to make regarding your Labrador is the role he/she will play in your home. The beginning of a positive relationship with your pet is to decide what kind of interactions he/she will have with the members of the household, neighbors, friends, and strangers. Making this decision early on allows you to more readily assess and solve any problems that arise.

You may need to train your Labrador out of a few standard bad behaviors. Labradors, for example, have the proclivity to chew things. If you find your lab doing this, you can look up procedures for home training or enlist a professional. Labradors mature around three years of age. Up to this point, they’re more likely to possess an extremely enthusiastic and energetic demeanor. You should be prepared to present a firm hand in case this energy gets out of hand. It’s also recommended that you teach your lab leash etiquette early on to prevent pulling when he/she is an adult (and much larger). Their fearless rowdiness can get out of hand if unchecked. Worry not though- training labs is usually easy since they’re eager to please.

Similarly, Labradors are a naturally curious breed. Their desire to chase after the unknown can easily lead to separation. To prevent loss or theft of your lab, microchipping is recommended; a tag and collar are essential.

Labradors are infamous as well for their massive appetites. They will often eat whatever is available. For this reason, you should carefully control and monitor the amount of food you give your dog. Keeping your pet healthy can help avert the occurrence of hip and joint problems when they’re older. It’s also been estimated that Labradors kept in shape live an average of two years longer than their obese counterparts. Apart from food control, you can maintain your pet’s weight by engaging him/her in activities traditionally favored by Labradors- swimming, running, and playing catch.

Another element key to the Chocolate Labrador’s health is grooming. Twice a year (typically when the weather changes), a lab will shed its coat. During these periods, a simple (yet thorough) brushing every other day is recommended. For the rest of the year, once a week should suffice. And while chocolate labs tend to shed less than yellow labs, you may, for your own vanity, still want to invest in a few lint rollers to minimize the amount of hair lingering on clothes and furniture. Nail trims are another part of the grooming process and should take place every week or two.

During these grooming sessions (or when you’re simply relaxing with the lab), check the ears to make sure they are a healthy light pink color. Ear infections are common in chocolate Labradors because of the floppy architecture of their ears. Regularly making sure that the inside isn’t darker, inflamed, or brown-spotted is an easy way to control this issue.

Once you’ve built a relationship with your chocolate Labrador retriever, and a routine for things like grooming, walking, and feeding, the responsibilities of owning a dog should become much easier, and more like a second nature. The important thing is to make sure the pet-owning experience is rewarding for both you and your lab.

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Labrador dog food

Because Labradors have a specific chemical makeup, what you feed your dog can increase the lifespan and the quality of life of your beloved pet.  When choosing a food, the amount of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are very important.  It is also a good idea to look for dog foods with salmon oil, flax oil and canola oil, all which are great sources of omega 3. These essential fats will optimize the nutritional value of any food, and contribute to healthy skin and a healthy coat.   If you are feeding your lab a well balanced dog food, it should cover all their nutritional needs, and extra vitamins and supplements should only be needed in specific situations.

Choosing the best dog food can be overwhelming. There are hundreds on the market.  The first thing you should look at is the list of ingredients, and the order which they appear on the label.  Meat, poultry, fish or eggs should be the first ingredient.  The protein in these foods is essential for energy and muscle growth, as well as helping transport oxygen through the blood stream and to essential organs.   Inexpensive dog foods are usually loaded with fillers, such as corn, have little nutritional value, and should be avoided.

I have also read that lamb should be avoided in Labrador breeds.  The smell of lamb is undesirable for dogs, so manufacturers usually overcome this by masking the food with artificial flavors and sugars in order to hide the scent.

There are a few conditions inherent to the Lab breed that may require extra nutritional supplementation.  An example is that some Labs are prone to allergies, which can cause skin sensitivity. If your Lab has dry and itchy skin or a thinning coat, you may need to add supplements.  Before adding anything to your dog’s diet, it is a good idea to talk to your veterinarian.

Labrador puppies go through an accelerated stage of growth and require twice the amount of nutrients as older dogs.  Some owners think that growing puppies need extra calcium, but you need to be careful. Too much calcium can actually be harmful, and may cause serious health problems.  Magnesium and phosphorus should also be added with any calcium supplementation.  Use premium foods specifically designed for puppies, and make sure to weigh your puppy often.  This will ensure that you are feeding them the proper amount.

Some experts believe that the best food for your lab, is food that you make yourself.  By doing this you know exactly what goes into the food, you can include fresh quality ingredients and avoid all preservatives.  Your food should include real chicken, turkey or beef, brown rice and oatmeal, yogurt eggs and cottage cheese.  This can be done in as little as 2 hours a week, and can be less expensive than premium, over the counter dog foods.

Feeding your Labradors higher quality food will save you money in the long run.  Dogs that are fed inferior diets or economical foods suffer from a variety of illnesses including dry, itchy skin as well as yeast infections, and suffer from liver, kidney and thyroid problems, which can add up to expensive veterinarian bills.  Take the time to do some research, and be willing to spend a little extra money now.  Your precious pet and your loyal companion is worth it.

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Labrador Pure Bred

Labradors are wonderful dogs for just about anyone. They make excellent companions and family dogs. They aim to please and are highly intelligent. They are so smart that they need to be trained to complete tasks or tricks to fill their time so that they do not try to find other, more destructive ways, to fill their days. Many people debate over whether to get a Labrador from a respectable breeder to rescuing one of these gorgeous dogs from a rescue. There are solid arguments on both sides of this particular issue, though ultimately, you must weigh the facts and what is important to you and use that information to decide for yourself what is best for you and your family.

Buying a Labrador from a respectable breeder has its advantages. You will know what the lineage of your Labrador is, and will know that it was taken care of, and is free from any major health problems. With the cost of vet bills being sky high, and the common thyroid, skin, and allergy problems that Labradors have, it can be nice peace of mind to know that you have a happy, healthy puppy that is the offspring of happy, healthy parents. A respectable breeder will allow you to visit with the puppies before deciding to make a purchase and also meet the parents of the puppies. The breeder will be able to show that the parents of the puppies are not related, thereby greatly reducing the risks of health problems. This is the type of peace of mind that you can only have if you buy your Labrador from a respectable breeder in your area.

When rescuing a Labrador from a shelter or rescue group, you will not usually be able to learn anything at all about the Labrador’s history. In many cases, even the age of the dog will be a mystery. Since you will have no way of knowing what its genetic lineage is, there will be no way to calculate the risk of your Labrador having health problems that could be very time consuming and costly to manage. However, when you rescue a Labrador, you are giving a formerly unwanted dog another chance at life. For some reason, it just seems as though dogs know that they were saved and have a special connection with the owners that have adopted them from shelters and rescues. This unique bond is what drives many people to adopt Labradors from rescues or shelters. Additionally, most rescue groups and shelters will only allow Labradors to be adopted after they have been spayed or neutered, examined by a veterinarian, and brought current on their vaccinations. Generally, the adoption fee for a Labrador is much less than the total cost of all of the veterinary care that it receives before it is adopted. The cost savings can be hundreds of dollars in many cases. This can be another positive reason to consider adopting a Labrador from a rescue group or shelter.

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Yellow Labrador Retriever

Labradors were originally bred to be hunting dogs. They were trained to accompany hunters of all different types and retrieve game that they had shot. Currently, only some Labradors are used as hunting dogs. Many Labradors are enjoying their lives as family dogs and only hunt tennis balls during a game of fetch. Due to their good nature and intelligence, these dogs are incredibly versatile and make outstanding pets to anyone that can keep up with their constant energy.

According to the American Kennel Club, Labradors were bred to withstand hours of work in the field with their owners retrieving game, have a stable temperament and are not easily excited. All breeders that register their Labradors with the American Kennel Club must strive to have all of these characteristics present in their dogs.

Physically, Labradors are bred to be large dogs. Their height at their withers should be about 22-1/2 inches to 24-1/2 inches for males and 21-1/2 to 23-1/2 inches for females. Males are bred to be 65 pounds to 80 pounds and females are bred to be 55 pounds to 70 pounds. Labradors are bred to be strong dogs. They are expected to be in proportion and extremely muscular. In fact, in order to show Labradors, they are required to be in working condition without any extra fat on their bodies.

Labradors are bred to be black, yellow, or chocolate. Though other color combinations do exist, these were not intentional and are not breed standard. A small white patch of hair on the chest is not intended by breeders, but it is still acceptable to the American Kennel Club for a dog with a white parch of hair on the chest to be in a dog show.

Labradors are supposed to be able to walk and run fluidly and with grace. Labradors are bred so that when the dog runs towards you, there is no sign of it having its elbows out. Quite the opposite is true. Labradors are bred to have their elbows close to their bodies during movement. This makes them better retrievers.

In terms of temperament, Labradors were bred to be strong, stoic dogs. They are bred to be independent and outgoing. The American Kennel Club does not approve of mature Labradors that are shy towards people or even the least bit aggressive. Labradors are bred for their intelligence. This breed of dog is generally so intelligent that it needs to have a job to do to stay busy. This is why they were originally used for hunting and retrieving. If a Labrador is not kept busy with a job to do, the dog will very likely grow to become incredibly bored. A bored dog is a destructive dog. The dog does not destroy things to be mean or spiteful, but because it is bored and needs something to do. This, obviously, is not an intended characteristic, but rather a byproduct of the intelligence that Labradors are bred for.

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Children safe with labradors

Many people have a moral and emotional struggle when they have a Labrador and find that they are expecting to have a baby. This moral and emotional struggle generally arises from wondering if it is safe to have a Labrador around small children. There are many different views on this topic, though it is important to consider the facts, your lifestyle, and the temperament of your Labrador before deciding whether or not your dog and child will be good playmates.

The fear of having a Labrador around small children is that due to the general largeness and hyperactivity of a Labrador, it could be dangerous to put a Labrador and small children together. This argument is valid in many instances. Labradors want constant interaction and do not understand that children are delicate and must be treated with great care. Labradors seek the approval from the people that care for them and try to show affection. A Labrador can generally show affection to an adult without any problems, but if a Labrador were to try to jump on a child to say hello, the child could be seriously injured. Furthermore, children tend to pull the tail and ears of dogs. Though a Labrador generally has a steady temperament, having its ears and tail tugged at could make it anxious and ready to jump or run away.

However, many people have had Labradors and children live together for many years without any problems. The key to ensuring a safe environment for a Labrador and a child is ensuring that they are not left alone together. This is not generally because you are unsure of what the dog will do to the child, but because you are unsure of whether or not the child will antagonize the dog and make it agitated. Whether or not this would be a legitimate concern for you and your Labrador and children would vary based upon the temperament of your dog and your children. Only you will know if your dog and your children have temperaments that will allow them to be safe together. If you have any doubts, then sadly, they are probably not safe together unsupervised.

If you have determined that you would not trust your Labrador around small children unsupervised, you may wish to enlist the help of a skilled dog trainer to work with your Labrador in accepting the small children in the home and being more tolerant of the behavior of children. Some of the wonderful characteristics about Labradors is that they are incredibly intelligent and very much wanting to please their owners. Obedience training can work wonders for any Labrador. In fact, you will find that after your Labrador undergoes obedience training, not only will your children enjoy being around your dog more, but you will, too. A trained Labrador is a happy Labrador because it knows where its place is in the family and what is expected of it. It knows how to please you and gets great joy out of doing so. This makes your Labrador a much safer dog for small children to be around because you know that the dog will listen immediately to your commands.

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