When you use a Labrador retriever rescue, you are giving a dog a second chance.

Those Labrador puppies that you see in the pet store look so cute and you probably feel badly that they are cooped up in those tiny cages with no place to go. In addition, it is so much more convenient to just drop into the local pet store and pick out a puppy. However, once you decide you want a Labrador puppy, you should seriously consider finding a Labrador retriever rescue from which to choose a puppy. If you prefer an older dog, a rescue is an even better option.

Sources

While not all pet stores get their Labrador retrievers from puppy mills, this is the most likely type of place that the pet store got the puppies from. These puppies are born into poor conditions that often make the pet store look like a palace. It isn’t the puppies’ fault, but if you buy from a pet store, you are essentially supporting this behavior. Instead, you should find a rescue where the dogs are more likely to be from reputable breeders or have come from previous homes. Some of these dogs may have issues, but you will feel better that you are giving them a good home.

Selection

Another benefit of adopting a dog from a Labrador retriever rescue is the selection. The selection at a dog rescue will likely vary often, but you will be able to choose exactly what kind of dog you are getting. In most cases, the dogs at a rescue will be older and already trained. Therefore, it is often a better option for a family that doesn’t have the time to commit to training or being there for a small puppy. However, you can sometimes find younger Labrador puppies as well. If you don’t find what you are looking for, you can let the rescue know what you want. They will then alert you if they find one that fits your requirements or may even contact other rescues to find you one.

Personality

When you choose a Labrador dog, you want to be sure that you are picking one that will be a good fit for your family. When you are dealing with a Labrador retriever rescue, you will need to go through an application and approval process. They will help you find a dog that fits with your family best. Because many of the dogs are already older, you will be able to see their personality, interact with them and then make your choice.

A Labrador retriever rescue will help you find a dog that best fits into your family and your lifestyle. While it may seem more convenient to head to the pet store and grab one of those cute little puppies, it is better to take your time and at least consider using a dog rescue. When you use a rescue, you will be able to tell the personality of the dog better and will have a greater selection. In addition, you won’t be supporting the puppy mills that many pet stores use as a supplier.

Reasons to Use a Labrador Retriever Rescue to Find a Pet

classified ads to find someone local who happens to have a litter of pups. However, you can’t be sure of the quality of the parents. A pet store may be an option, but again, the quality is generally low and many of these dogs come from puppy mills. Instead, it is best to look into a dog rescue that specializes in the breed you want.

One of the benefits of purchasing your Labrador dog from a rescue is you will get the best fit for your family. Pet stores and some shelters will give a dog to anyone who has the money to get one. This increases the risk that the dog will become abandoned or abused by its new owners. Instead, many rescues require potential owners to interact with the dog and complete detailed profiles to ensure that they match the right dog with the right family. This helps ensure a better fit.

The quality of the Labrador retrievers is another concern alleviated by dog rescues. While rescues aren’t known to turn down any dog, they know a lot about the breed in which they specialize. When they specialize in Labrador dogs, they will know what to look for in dog quality. They will know if the dog is ill or has the potential for other problems based on its past history and care by previous owners. Therefore, you can feel confident that you will get a healthy dog in general.

Using a pet rescue also supports the cause. If you truly love dogs, it is important to support the proper channels. When you buy from a breeder with a poor reputation or a pet store supplied by puppy mills, you support the wrong causes and encourage that behavior, whether you condone it or not. Supporting a rescue, instead, can help save more dogs in the future.

Deciding to bring a Labrador retriever into your home as a pet is a big decision. Once you make that decision, it is important to find the right one for your family through proper screening. A dog rescue will screen both its dogs and potential owners to ensure the best match to reduce the chances of abuse and abandonment.

Because rescue Labradors have often abused or abandoned before reaching temporary shelters or foster homes, there can be a learning curve time period where they adjust to your home and family. Be patient with rescue Labradors as they integrate into your family’s routine and home atmosphere. Rescue Labradors are looking for homes where they be loved and taken care of with shelter, food and water and lots of play time for their energetic personalities.

Adopting rescue Labradors does require time and attention from your family. Obedience training and firm reinforcement training at home with lots of praise for rescue Labradors can help them in adjusting and becoming more comfortable in their new family. Preparing your home with a comfortable sleeping environment, food and a place for playing is also crucial in making your home a safe place for rescue Labradors on your adoption list. As you choose your adopted Labrador, make sure that they have or will have all of their current vaccinations, are neutered or spayed, have their up-to-date blood work, and flea and tick protection. Keeping your new pet healthy is beneficial not only to them but also contributes to their overall well-being as part of their new family.

While rescue Labradors do enjoy time outside, they are also very sociable, friendly dogs that shouldn’t spend all day outside. Labradors want to interact with your family and other pets if you have them. By integrating them into that family life, you can help them form new relationships and forget their past traumatic experiences in abusive homes or shelters. Patience is key during the initial few weeks with your adopted Labrador as they learn to adjust your household and routine. As they learn what you expect from them and that their new home is a safe and loving environment, they will adjust and become a loyal, loving part of your home life.  Including rescue Labradors as part of your pet adoption plan for your family can help a loving, friendly Labrador find a new home and new family.

One of the main reasons that many people looking to adopt a Labrador rescue don’t follow through is because of the assumption that they will have to work hard to correct behavioral issues that stem from years of abuse or neglect. This simply isn’t the case. Labradors are very obedient and extremely smart dogs who pick up on the internal feelings of their owners. If you are genuinely committed to giving your Labrador rescue a better life, they will sometimes sense it and behave accordingly.

Helping your Labrador rescue with emotional trauma and mental distress is as simple as displaying warmth and compassion toward your dog. Speak softly and reassuringly to your Labrador. Praise your pet often when they are on the right track. Be sure to reward them with treats and extra play time when they do something especially good.

Disciplining a Labrador rescue with emotional issues can be tricky but it’s not impossible. Be calm but firm when you’re giving a verbal command. Never raise your hand or swing your feet if you’ve adopted an abused Labrador. Don’t be surprised if they have an accident when you raise your voice to them. Urination in this manner is a sign of submission and your Labrador is trying to tell you that it knows you are in charge.

Getting your Labrador rescue healthy is a big step on the road to emotional recovery, as well. Feed your dog on a regular schedule and only give them the healthy food they deserve. Be sure that they are up to date on all of their vaccinations and are living parasite-free, internally and on their skin and ears. Follow up with your veterinarian on heartworm medications and parasite preventative.

With some patience, some training and a good caring family, your Labrador rescue will be on the road to mental recovery in no time at all. Showing your pet positive attention and unconditional love will mend it’s broken heart and heal it’s troubled mind.

Labrador Retriever rescues come from most of the same sources as any other dogs. They are usually the result of random breeding, puppy mills and purebred show dogs. The Labrador breeder’s purebred puppy that was sold at Christmas for $800 could very easily be at the local animal rescue center by the Spring. Litters of pups that end up on animals shelter’s doorsteps each year are usually the result of the same backyard breeding that you see listed in the newspaper.

While rescue shelters have no control over what breeds of dogs will be brought in, they usually receive a fairly accurate cross section of the local community. Since Labrador Retrievers are a very popular breed, you’ll likely be able to find a Labrador or a Labrador mix within a few days. Most adoption centers accept Labradors regardless of age. Puppies are usually available for adoption after about seven weeks, depending on local rescue policies. You’ll also find older pets in Labrador rescue shelters, too.

Many Labradors are in shelters because of unanticipated issues within the family. A child can become allergic to their pet and cause the parents to need to find a new home for the dog. Sometimes dog owners die, leaving their Labradors unattended and not cared for. Sadly, it’s also not uncommon for Labradors to end up in shelters for less honorable reasons like needing too much attention, being too big or requiring walks. These poor pups are victims of their owner’s unrealistic expectations of them.

Stray Labrador Retriever rescues are also common. These are dogs that have been picked up by a citizen or by animal control and taken to the shelter to be claimed by their original owners. Unfortunately, the owners are sometimes never found or give up the search leaving the dog to be adopted by someone else.

Always be willing to try another shelter if you don’t find the right Labrador rescue for your home. The selection process can take a little time, but the more effort you put into it, the more successful your new Labrador rescue will be at integrating into your home.

You will find that Labradors are generally happy dogs and they are also very well-adjusted animals. Labradors are playful and careful with children and adults alike. They show a lot of love for those that care for them. Though they are large and strong dogs, they are not heavily built so they are not quite as intimidating as other large dogs can be to children.  Happy Labradors are very playful and really enjoy playing with their families.

Labradors can quickly and easily be taught to get along with other pets that  a family might have, including cats and other dogs. This is very important consideration when you are considering a pet for your family. Luckily, pet integration is usually not a problem when bringing a Labrador into the family due to their eager-to-please nature.

Labradors are extremely friendly dogs that make friends easily with both humans and other animals. They especially enjoy the company of people very much, making them very good pets for socially active families and families who enjoy the outdoors. Labradors do require a significant amount of attention and affection and are happiest when they receive praise.  Labradors and families have a great history of success when they work together as a team. Including your Labrador in the dog-friendly things you do will prove to be a fun and easy way of teaching your pet that it’s a part of the family.

Because of their happy and people-pleasing characteristics, Labradors are one of the best possible pets a family could consider. Labradors and families have a great history of being extremely compatible that will surely continue throughout the ages.

If you notice that your new pet Labrador tends to bark or whine when you leave it’s sight, your dog may have abandonment issues. Most dogs with abandonment issues will tend to cling to their owners, following them wherever they go and not letting them out of their sight. Some will even act out when you are away, destroying furniture or getting into things they know they are not supposed to.

This behavior is a way for your Labrador to let you know that they are scared of being alone. After being abandoned once or more, your pet can be extremely anxious about it happening again. This causes them to become very needy, requiring constant attention or reassurance that you won’t do the same thing the owners before you have done. Your Labrador rescue pet may show you the signs of it’s abandonment issues as a cry for help, asking you to show that you are in their life for good.

You can reinforce your commitment to your Labrador rescue by following a daily routine. Don’t make a big deal about coming or going. Simply carry on about your day as you would if your new pet wasn’t there, allowing some extra time for affection during good behavior. If your Labrador barks or whines when you go out of sight, don’t suddenly reappear. This shows your pet that you come when they make noise so they will continue to do so. If your Labrador gets too clingy and under-foot, you can put up baby gates in certain areas of your home to teach them boundaries. If they jump and whine at the gate, the best action is to simply ignore them. If they show restraint and simply lay near the gate, be sure to show them that this is good behavior by acknowledging them every 15 minutes or so; A simply pat on the head or a “Good dog!” will do.

Keep in mind that abandonment issues in Labrador rescues are not the fault of the dog. People before you have left their mark in a bad way. Don’t let your pet control the house, but be sure to show it that you’ll stick around.

Learn how you can help and read up on the breed; knowledge will help you in a number of ways.  First, you will find out that there is so much to love about the lab in the first place.  Discovering more information about lab rescues will be something that you will find very satisfying, and there is quite a bit of information on rescue of not only this special breed, but just about every other breed out there.  Quite often it is up to the Humane Society or local animal cruelty prevention society to take care of rescuing animals of all types from abusive owners.  That is not always the case, though.

Other rescue groups do exist in a number of areas specifically for the purpose of Labrador rescue.  On our website, you’ll find a list of several different websites—some are very localized, others are national.  One is even a Canadian website.

Helping Labrador Retrievers find safe homes after they have not been well-treated is something that is not always an easy thing to do.  These dogs will quite often need lots of patience and loving care after what they have gone through, and you and your dog may need to learn some new coping skills.

Typically, Lab rescue will yield a dog, or dogs, that have been malnourished and mistreated in any number of ways by the owners.  The websites that are listed on our sites are no-kill shelters, and will work to find homes for these beautiful animals that will suit them.

All animals, especially Labs, are loving—and these particular dogs can

provide all sorts of other things for the owners.  Protection, fun, and a general sense of well-being can be had because of playing with this wonderful breed.  Whether it’s mixed or full-bred, they’re wonderful and are great with kids and adults alike.

If you are looking for a new dog to add to your family, consider adopting a Labrador that has been rescued and is looking for a new home.We all know that puppies are soft and cuddly but they do turn into a adult dogs. Here are some good points to consider when it comes to choosing a puppy verses an older dog.

How much time do you have to spend with your new pet? Like children, puppies need constant attention. You’ll spend a lot of time housebreaking your puppy unless you can live with puppy accidents. Although Labrador puppies are precious, they are “hazardous” to carpet, even if they are closely watched.

A two month old puppy needs to empty his bladder at least every two hours, every four hours if he’s four months old. This means you have to begin to train him by taking him out quite often to initiate the house-breaking process. It’s a round the clock chore so you’ll have to wake up that often during the night as well. A puppy will also have to be leash trained before walking them and that is another task in itself.

The bladder of an adult dog is already developed, making them easier to house-train.  Most Labrador rescue groups have older dogs that are already house-trained. A great benefit of rescuing and adopting an adult Labrador dog is that it will be less pressure on you and easier on your carpet.

Puppies are adorable, but that ball of fluff is also a wrecking ball of destruction in your home. Puppies have sharp, little teeth that chew on everything. It’s also not a good idea to keep a teething puppy around a small child; they can’t differentiate a small human from a grown one or from furniture. Chewing on everything from electronic cords to children can be a dangerous and destructive habit. You must diligently supervise a puppy to prevent this from happening.

If you get a Lab from a shelter they have most often been trained. Larger dogs have longer attention spans and don’t need the constant supervision a puppy will demand.

Personality is another advantage you get with an adult lab. This makes is much easier to choose one that fits into your lifestyle. Most rescues allow you to foster a dog on a trial basis to make sure that you and your new family member are a good match. Usually someone from the rescue group will come to see your home and make sure it is a healthy and safe environment.

You will be a hero in your community as well as to the dog you save. Older dogs have so much love and loyalty and want to please you.. This is especially true if they had a difficult life before being rescued.

Rescuers know that every year there are adoptable animals that have to be killed because of a lack of homes. There are about four million of these tragedies and about one quarter of those are purebred animals. This problem is due to overpopulation; purchasing a puppy helps contribute to the problem.

Visit http://clublabrador.com online to find valuable information about Labradors and why adoption is a great option.

Our dog got heartworm

When we found out that our lab, Jack, had heartworms, it was pretty scary news. Heartworms are fatal when not treated, and can cause truly horrifying health problems. Even the cure can be deadly, which is why so many vets advocate preventative medication, like Heartguard.

Canine heartworms, like many dog parasites, come from mosquitoes. They can’t be passed on to other dogs, so even if you have one dog with heartworms, the other will be safe if he’s on preventative medication. Vets can only detect heartworms through a specific blood test, so even if you have your dog on HeartGuard, it’s still a good idea to get him tested once a year or so. That’s because preventative medication only kills larvae, and not adult worms. It takes the larvae 6 months to become adults, so a dog can test negative ,even if he has baby worms in his system.

Before treatment begins, dogs are usually given a drug to help them kill off the parasites that help heartworms breed. Because the parasites have a symbiotic relationship with the worms, killing them off can prevent more adult worms from clogging the heart and lungs of your pet.

Dog heartworms are usually treated with a medication called Immiticide, which is arsenic based, and is injected into the lumbar region of the dog’s spine. It will make them sore for a few days, but they will soon recover from the pain. The hard part comes after the injection. When you inject dogs with Immiticide, it kills the adult worms by dissolving them into the bloodstream. If a dog is too active during recovery, he may cause some of the adult worms to break off into his bloodstream and cause a blood clot. If dogs are not kept in kennels or dog pens during treatment, acute death can occur.

After the first shot and a month of bed rest, your pet will go back to the vet for two more rounds of shots. One on one day, and the next the following. These will kill the last of the adult worms, and your dog will need to rest for another month with minimal activity.

After the final shot, the vet will give some medication to kill the microfillae, or the baby worms in your dog’s system. Once these babies are dead, your dog will need to remain on preventative medication for the rest of his life to prevent a re-occurrence of the worms. You should still have your dig tested once yearly to make sure that the medication has removed all traces of worms from your dog’s heart and lungs.