Take your puppy outside after he eats and drinks. If you’re also crate training your new pet, it will also need to go outside as soon as it comes out of the crate. Early morning and late evening trips outside are also recommended.

Praise your Labrador verbally and with affection when it does its business and then go immediately inside. This practice  shows the purpose of going outside. Do not leave your puppy out all day if you’re trying to house-train it, though. This can confuse your Labrador Retriever training efforts.

A Labrador puppy can be expected to refrain from using the bathroom for the number of hours that matches his age in months, up to ten months. A six month old puppy can hold it for four hours, a four month old puppy can only go four.  No dog should be expected to refrain for more than ten hours.

Many people think that a Labrador is housebroken when your pet comes to you to be let out or goes to the door but you should really be taking your puppy out on a regular schedule. This way, your Labrador knows that  a bathroom break will be coming and can hold it. The best schedule to follow is to take the puppy out first thing in the morning, after every meal, right before bed, and anytime you come home (no matter how long or short a time you’ve been gone).

If you have a doggie door installed, the Labrador training procedure is the same until the puppy learns to go out by itself.  You should still be there early on to praise your dog and to train it to go in a certain part of the yard.

Some trainers suggest giving a cookie during Labrador Retriever training when your dog uses the bathroom outdoors. This idea doesn’t always work because then the puppy becomes focused on the treat. Praise  your pet and immediately go back inside. This will show the dog why you’re out there.

The most important part of housebreaking your Labrador puppy is to maintain a schedule it can count on and pay attention to what it’s asking for. Your puppy will be trained in no time!

The ACL is commonly torn when your Labrador twists on one of its hind legs, putting too much tension on the ligament and causing it to rupture. This often occurs if your Labrador slips on a slick surface, makes a quick turn while running or is hit by an automobile.

Obesity is another common issue in Labrador health and can also put too much weight on the knee. Overweight Labradors tend to have more instances of ruptured cruciate ligaments than dogs with ideal weight numbers. It appears that in most Labradors with this problem, the ACL slowly degenerates and becomes weaker until it tears without any sudden injury.

If your Labrador ruptured their cruciate ligament, they will appear much less lively. They will usually hold the foot of the affected leg a few inches off the ground. Some may start to use the leg again, but the pain will return and your Labrador will repeat the symptoms. Labradors with a degenerating ACL may show the same signs of pain and there may be some swelling on or near the joint.

Diagnosis of a torn ACL is made through observing abnormal movement of the joint. If your Labrador is in a lot of pain or very nervous, the muscles near the knee may be so tense that they prevent the abnormal movement from occurring, causing your veterinarian trouble diagnosing. If your vet suspects a ruptured cruciate ligament in your Labrador but can not feel the bones moving, your pet may be sedated to relax the muscles and then re-examined.

If the ACL is completely torn, Labradors are generally treated with surgery. After the surgery, your Labrador should be strictly confined up to eight weeks to ensure Labrador health. After about ten days, most Labradors will start putting minimal weight on the injured leg. It is extremely important to be careful with your pet to prevent the surgical correction from tearing. The veterinarian’s instructions regarding the recovery period should be followed exactly.

More than likely, your Labrador will recover fully and be ready to romp and play within a few months. They will pain-free and enjoying life again!

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.

Although it is never too late to start, it is important to start your Labrador training as early as possible. Your adorable little Labrador puppy will quickly grow to be a large and active dog, who can be excitable and  hard to control without a little basic obedience training.

Labrador Retriever puppies respond best to positive and non violent training methods. All these puppies require are some guidelines and boundaries in order to become well behaved and trustworthy members of your family. Your Labrador will do their best for you while in training so there is no need for harsh training methods.  Reward-based Labrador training techniques are the most effective way to teach your puppy. While it also provides quality time to spend with your dog, Labradors thrive on the physical and mental stimulation which obedience training provides.

Socializing your puppy early is very important step in your Labrador training program. It helps them to be comfortable with all types of people and animals. Social skills are vital for dogs to become a respected part of our human world.

All basic dog commands such as “sit”, “stay” and “heel” will be easily learned by your Labrador puppy. Most Labrador puppy owners stress the importance of teaching your dog how to walk nicely on  a leash without tugging or pulling andnot to jump up on people. Anybody who has had the pleasure of sharing their home with a Labrador puppy  will agree to the importance of these two puppy training commands. This is due to their size and excitable nature. Don’t worry, though; They are very fast learners!

If you plan to train your Labrador puppy yourself at home, it is recommended you follow some comprehensive Labrador training sites. There are huge communities of Labrador lovers who all share the common goal of wanting to raise, effectively train and care for their dogs in a positive manner. Labrador owners can learn so much from the experience and knowledge of other people who have been down the road of Labrador training before.  The Labrador lover family is a fulfilling and educational community to be involved in.

Jessie looks worn in this picture, 24 hours after TPLO surgery. Looking at her eyes, she may be a little shnockered from the drugs. She walked to the car, toe tapping, and slept most of the way home.

I don’t like using cones for my Labrador Retrievers, but the Dr.’s wife made it pretty clear we should. Horror stories of staples, and trips to the emergency room pretty much confirmed it.

After all these years, no one has invented anything better than the dreaded “Cone”! If you have any comments on this please add. We are always looking for new ways of handling old problems.

Thanks again for all the well wishes, especially from her local dog park pack!

We are getting ready for recovery mode!

Please post comments with any tips you might have.
Jessie is a 2 1/2 year old Yellow Labrador Retriever. She was never a crate trained puppy, and can be a handful, like most Labrador Retrievers.

Jessie & Sam...The House Labradors

Before I even had time to write the article about how Jessie tore her CCL, and how we picked the surgeon, or how scared we were when it happened, I could go on and on, the journey is starting. A quick recap….

The Players

Jessie (female Labrador Retriever), is one the two house labs. Sam (also a female Labrador Retriever), is the older sister, at 4 1/2. Jessie comes in at 2 1/2 years old (human years).

The Dog Park

Just like I do every weekend, I took the the two to the dog park; they chase balls, while I walk and chat with the PDPM Group (yes we have T-Shirts).

Just Like That…

30 to 45 min. after we were there, she tore it. How she did it? I don’t know! I heard somebody yell that Jessie was limping, and the next thing I knew I was trying to carry a 76 1/2 pound dog, out of the park, in 90° heat! I didn’t make it very far. She limped on three legs back to the car (I think she felt sorry for her old man).

Emergency Animal Clinic

Labrador Health (the price tag):  $479 later, the vet said she tore her CCL, and referred us to a surgeon for a consult, but was certain she needed TPLO Surgery.

TPLO Consultation

Two consultations later, not including the one on the phone (who diagnosed her without looking at her) and here we are.

Thanks for everyone’s kind thoughts!

I will post updates later…

Spaying or neutering your Labrador puppy is a good idea, even though you may have come across or heard by word of mouth several myths associated with the act. It’s usually best for Labrador health to spay or neuter your dog when she is still a puppy, when she is more resilient and tend to recover in a shorter amount of time than older or more mature Labs.

We humans associate gender with our personal identity to a very strong degree, but Labradors do not have this kind of psychological or cultural concept to deal with, so it is a mistake to assume that your dog will be traumatized when you have him or her neutered or spayed.

Another common misconception is that neutering or spaying your pet will make him or her fat, lazy, and lacking energy. Except for the period of time immediately after the procedure is performed, spaying or neuturing your dog will not effect their metabolism. Remember, dogs do not grow fat and lazy because of a lack of reproductive organs, but because of metabolic functions and what kind of dog food you buy and how much you feed them. The solution is to be careful not to overfeed your Labrador, and to be sure to give her plenty of attention, time for play, andexercise.

Spaying your puppy is best to do before she goes into heat. Studies have shown that this is the most healthy option for optimum Labrador health, prevents tumors, and you do not have to deal with the sporadic and crazy behavior of a dog in heat, as well as the possibility of puppies.

Spaying or neutering your Labrador Retriever is one of the most important things you can do to help ensure they stay healthy and happy.  Every dog, except those used for breeding, should be spayed or neutered.

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.

True Labs are pure-breeds, so your first consideration should be finding a breeder. It is important to carefully check the reputation of each breeder prior to selecting one. Discuss what health tests they perform on their breeding stock and ask to see records. This will help you avoid purchasing a pet that is genetically predisposed to develop one of the common Labrador ailments.

Once you have selected a breeder and a liter has been born, your next major hurdle will be picking the perfect puppy. This can be difficult and many folks make the same mistake. They choose the first puppy that approaches them. There is a belief that this puppy will be the most affectionate. This is actually often completely wrong. Instead of affectionate, these bold pups are often simply the most aggressive of the pack. Stay away from the puppy that is scared or nervous – they will likely grow into an easily frightened animal. Take some time to review the entire liter. If you see a puppy who appears cautious you’ve probably found the perfect pet. Typically it is these puppies that grow into pets that are obedient and enjoyable.

You also cannot deny that sometimes you just bond with a particular Labrador puppy. If this is the case, spend some time watching the dog interact with its littermates to see how he or she acts around other dogs, always remember that this behavior is a good indicator of their eventual personality.

Take some time when selecting your Lab puppy – it will help ensure you end up with the perfect pet.