Grooming your Labrador can be more easily accomplished if you purchase a few Labrador grooming tools. The first choice that you should make is the purchase of a good quality bristle brush to help remove dead hair from your pet while distributing natural oils. Weekly or bi-weekly maintenance with the bristle brush will help keep your Labrador’s coat healthy and shiny while helping keep shedding down. When your Lab is shedding, daily usage of the bristle brush will help you deal with the massive quantity of hair your pet will shed into your home.

Another way to keep your Lab’s coat shiny and healthy is with regular bathing. While many dogs can have their hair shaved off in the summer, Labrador’s need their coat to help keep them cool. Instead, utilize regular bathing and brushing to keep his coat looking healthy through Labrador grooming.

Labrador grooming also should include close attention to his nails so that they don’t crack and become infected. Choosing a good quality nail clipper or having your Lab’s nails clipped at the groomers help make the process smoother while maintaining the health of your dog through Labrador grooming. Be careful not to damage the “quick” or pink part of the nail. Using a light to navigate a dark Labrador’s nail clipping can help prevent you from injuring this sensitive part of a Labrador’s nail during Labrador grooming.

Another part of Labrador grooming to consider as part of the total grooming experience is to check his eyes and ears. Carefully inspecting the ears for ticks is important to your dog’s health as well. Watching out for dirt after a run in a forest or yard is also important so that your Labrador doesn’t injure himself trying to remove the dirt himself with a paw. Cleaning out your dog’s ears and eyes as part of Labrador grooming is another important part of the grooming process which helps to keep infections and irritations in his eyes and ears away. By following these few simple steps to Labrador grooming, you can help your pet look and feel his best.

A Labrador dog, like all breeds, eats dog food, and you want to be sure that you feed her the dog food that maximizes her optimum health. You may want to feed your puppy twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening, but be sure not to overfeed! Labs are happy, fun-loving, energetic dogs with a high metabolism, and some dogs will eat even when they are not hungry. This can make your Labrador sick, so patiently watch how much she eats and consider her behavior to determine exactly how much to feed her.

Some Labs may leave a little in the bowl for later when they are a bit older, and that should be totally okay with you. Others may not. As your dog matures, ir may be beneficial to begin feeding her once a day. But whatever your Labrador’s eating habits are, you need to be consistent in when, how often, and how much you feed her to maintain a healthy routine.

Some Labs develop allergies to certain kinds of food, including meat products. It is also generally a good idea for nutritional reasons to mix it up every few months, as this can prevent stomachupset. Some Labs are picky eaters, others are not. Your task is to know your dog, what she likes and doesn’t like, and which foods are best for her needs. If you are concerned your Labrador is allergic to the food you are using, you may want to consider taking her to the vets to have her examined for allergies and to adjust her diet as needed.

Feeding your Labrador well, and with a consistent schedule is all part of the investment in having a healthy, fun, and loveable pet. Take the time to try several different types of food and carefully examine your dogs reaction to ensure you are feeding them the best possible food.

Nobody wants to eat off of a dirty plate, and although dogs generally have a cultural reputation around the world for being “unclean,” that certainly is not true about Labradors! You want to pay attention and be considerate, think about your lab’s health, and use clean dog dishes when you serve your dog her daily entrée of dog food. Using unclean dog dishes for food and water is not only hard to look at, they can actually be dangerous for your pet.

Your dog can develop small, and sometime irritating or bleeding, bumps and pimples in her jawline, face, and elsewhere.  These bumps are known as canine acne. Dog acne can be a very troublesome and painful condition, and one way to prevent this from happening is to use clean dishes.

Probably the best way to sanitize your dog dish is to wash it every day. Depending on what kind of dish you use, you may or may not want to put it in the dishwasher. It’s just as easy to scrub it.Acquiring a separate sponge or cloth just for this purpose is a good idea, rather than using the same utensils that you use for your own dishes. Use regular dish soap, and make sure you rinse and dry well before preparing the next succulent meal of dog food for your pet. Avoid using harsh chemicals, scrubs, or bleaches when cleaning your dog’s food dishes.

It is equally important to make sure you wash and refill your Lab’s water bowl every day. Old, unclean water, teeming with bacteria, is not healthy for dogs to drink any more than it would be healthy for you to drink.

Taking the time to clean and sanatize your pet’s water and food bowls will help ensure they remain healthy. It also makes the food and water more appealing to your dog.

1. Labradors are very social dogs. Once you bring your new puppy home, be prepared to spend a lot of time with him or her.
2. Labs are very active dogs. If your dog doesn’t get enough exercise, it is possible they may eventually develop health problems during their life. Hip dysplasia is one common ailment that overweight labs sometimes develop.

Unfortunately, we can’t spend hours everyday socializing our dogs. For those who have chosen to adopt a Lab, it’s important to develop a plan that includes time to work with the dog. Whenever possible, exercise your lab twice a day. A walk around the neighborhood is a perfect way to provide an energy outlet for the dog and is good for both of you. Play time is important as well. Always remember that Labs love affection, so spend some time each day playing with your new puppy.

There are, of course, other areas of concern when it comes to training. “Potty” training, teaching the puppy to stay off of furniture, and curbing their barking are all important. These areas of Lab training will be much easier for owners if they address their pet’s needs for affection and activity.

The breed is perfect for families or someone looking for a canine companion. Be sure to spend the time needed with your new puppy and he or she will be a member of your family in no time at all.

Labradors are beautiful dogs with thick coats that, unfortunately, shed. Depending on what kind of Lab you have, you will find that some with healthy coats can shed all year round while others, like black labs, shed twice a year. A dog sheds when they lose their old coat and grow a new one. If you want your dog’s coat to look healthy and to shine, not only is a good diet important, but it is also vital for you to groom her regularly.

Labrador grooming can include both bathing and regular brushing. It isn’t necessary to bathe your Lab weekly, or even monthly, but it is important to regularly check your dog’s coat to see if it is once again time to give Fido a bath.

As you begin the bathing process, you may find your Lab is somewhat skittish at first. Use a soothing voice and regular praise throughout the bath to keep the dog calm. If necessary, find someone to help you with the process. Having an extra set of hands during the bath can make it far easier on both you and the dog. Use dog shampoo to thoroughly lather the entire coat. Be sure completely rinse your pet off and do not allow him or her to get out or shake. Use an old towel to briskly towel dry your dog at the end of the bath.

Brushing your Lab regularly helps to keep her coat healthy and makes frequent baths unnecessary. Remember that Labs love attention and good brushing several times a week is a great way to not only interact with your dog, but to keep their coat healthy. Be sure to use a pet grooming brush designed to remove shed hair.

Labrador grooming can be a pleasant experience both for you and your Lab if you are patient, calm and consistent in the way you treat her.

Labradors are sweet and gentle animals and not difficult to train. If you approach your Lab with patience and always remain calm with her, you will find that training is rather easy. Training small puppies is possibly the most crucial but trying period, as they may have not yet learned how to appropriately release their energy. This is a test for you, too, a time to learn patience and consistency.

Learn to minimize negative behavior with consistency and patience. If you get nipped or bit, use a consistent response to address it, including saying “No” firmly or leaving them alone in a room for more than a minute. Do not give an emotional or angry response, but be firm and dispassionate. Give the pup a chew toy, and if she chews on it, reward her. If she nips or bites again, repeat the process. Use puppy training sessions to help your new friend learn simple commands such as ‘stay’ and ‘sit.’

Labrador training becomes easier as they mature. Utilize long walks to train the dog to heel. Play time offers an excellent opportunity to teach your dog some more advanced tricks such as ‘fetch,’ and is the perfect way to burn off some of their extra energy.

The key to the best Labrador training is to be kind and consistent. Never react with extreme emotion –especially not withviolence! It is never okay to hit or otherwise mistreat any dog. If you do actually become frustrated or angry, end the session and walk away. There will be plenty of opportunities to train your Lab.

Labs are intelligent and affectionate dogs and, with proper training, can quickly become an interactive member of your family.

Unlike humans, Labrador’s, like all canines, have a third eyelid.  This ultra thin membrane helps to keep the eye healthy and lubricated and it’s an important part of ocular health in all dogs.  It can also, on occasion, cause what vet’s often call “Cherry Eye.”  This condition is really nothing more than a mild irritation, which cause a red inflamed area.  This condition isn’t very serious, is more common in puppies and causes heavy tearing.  Your vet should always examine any suspected case of Cherry Eye to rule out more serious conditions. The treatment is ‘popping’ the inflamed area back into the eye – scary and often best left to a professional.

In some cases the “spine’ of the eye is malformed.  This can cause a ridge to extrude into the eye space. This condition, called Eversion, causes symptoms similar to Cherry Eye, but can be more irritating to the dog.

There are more serious conditions.  Labrador’s are prone to several different diseases of the eye and in older dogs, cancer may develop.  Remember that any inflammation, heavy tearing or discoloration should be examined by a veterinarian.  Your pooch can’t tell you what is wrong, but sometimes you can get a pretty good idea just by looking in their big, beautiful eyes.

Take some time to recognize one of the leading culprits behind lumpy Labrador zits:  plastic dog bowls.  As odd as it sounds, changing from a plastic bowl to a glass or china bowl can actually have a huge impact on the number and severity of breakouts faced by your dog.  Plastic bowls are perfect for collecting oils and bacteria which can lead to increased break-outs, so toss out the plastic and opt for something less like to lead to embarrassing zits! It’s also a good idea to clean food and water bowls each day to remove any build-up.

In the event your Labrador does develop a bad case of acne, it is important to keep an eye on it.  Failing to regularly clean the affected area may lead to a burst pimple.  This can become inflamed, crusty and bleed.  If your pups pimples get to this state, take the time to clean the area and dab hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection.

The truth is, a zit or two isn’t going to cause Rover anxiety.  They might, however, cause YOU some.  Take the time to gently wash Rover’s face with a warm cloth several times a day to help prevent any pimples from bursting and remember, they don’t bother your little friend anywhere near as much as they bother you!

Weather changes are appreciated by many people, especially when they head for the warmer times.  We, as humans, generally can’t stand to be in cold weather for very long periods of time; we’re just not built for it.  However, Labradors are.  And while humans love the upcoming heat of spring and summer, Labradors don’t.

Understanding that Labradors have a coat that is thicker than our skin (in order to ensure that they stay warm in cold weather) is important.  They originally were bred to do things like hunting, so it is a necessity.  However, handling heat is a different matter altogether when you think about how thick their skin is.

So how should you keep your Labrador safe in the upcoming heat?  Well, there are a few things that you can do to help your pet out, and keep it happy at the same time.

Many wouldn’t give this a second thought, because it’s so simple, but filling a baby pool with water with cooler water than the outside temperature is an easy fix.  Labradors love to splash in the water, and you’ll grin from ear to ear watching them.  More than likely, any nearby children will want to join in with them during the upcoming heat.

Pulling your favorite dog inside the house for awhile to cool off in the air conditioning would be great, too.  Letting the cool air surround your Labrador, getting under the fur and skin will help prevent any possible health problems from occurring.  While your dog may not be a fan of staying inside at first, they’ll like cooling off.

Cold water in the water bowl is also a great idea.  Whether you choose to make it ice-cold out of the tap, or put ice cubes in it to make it even colder, the water will help as well.  Take some time, and your Labrador will stay safe in the upcoming heat!

The ownership of a Labrador Retriever can be a wonderful addition to your family.  Yet like any other ‘new addition,’ either human or animal, a Lab brings with it a whole host of duties and responsibilities.

As is the case with any pet, you as a dog owner will be responsible for the feeding, grooming and exercise of your Labrador

Before you purchase or adopt your Labrador Retriever, research the type of dog food that would be ideal for your lab (and have plenty of it on hand, as these dogs are strong, sturdy and typically quite large). I strongly suggest opting for a higher quality dog food. You will see the benefits in your Lab’s healthy coat (it will shine), your dog’s eyes will be clearer and will minimize health problems later on in your Labrador’s life.

The Labrador has a double coat, so sheds all year round.  Brushing and occasionally bathing your Labrador will help, but not completely alleviate the shedding. Keep a broom and a lint and hair remover for your clothing handy. It’s a little extra work, but it is a small price to pay for the love and dedication these dogs provide.

Labrador Retrievers are known as active and athletic dogs that need daily exercise whether it be a long walk, or playing fetch in the back yard. They are also smart dogs, so mental stimulation, i.e having them search for hidden treats, or just learning basic commands will help keep them busy. Their main goal is to please you, and most destructive behavior arrises out of boredom.

As with any dog, a Labrador Retriever puppy will need the greatest level of care and attention.  You as the owner will be responsible for the dog’s behavioral conditioning, teaching the Lab not to bite, bark excessively or chase people or other animals.  Labs are generally good-natured animals, so this shouldn’t be too difficult.  And, of course, potty training will be a major issue.

In navigating your way through these first, precious weeks in the life of your Labrador Retriever, it may help to seek the assistance of an animal behavioral book or expert.  You and your puppy may even want to head to the classroom, investing in a few weeks of obedience training at a certified school in your area.

It may also be a good idea to involve your entire family in this process, ensuring that all members assume a role in the care of your Lab.  This will be a learning experience for all of you, as you learn how to make your Labrador Retriever a helpful, beloved and valuable member of your family.

For more information about how to care for your Labrador Retriever, visit the Labrador lover’s community at http://www.clublabrador.com