LAB NOTES # 2 – IS A LABRADOR
RETRIEVER THE RIGHT DOG FOR YOU ?
There are very few places you can
look these days without seeing a Labrador Retriever –
they are in movies, magazines, in parks, walking on
streets, riding in cars – they are everywhere. It is
easy to see that the Labrador Retriever is the most
popular dog in North America
When people think about a Labrador
Retriever they think about a beautiful dog who is
friendly, outgoing and eager to please – the ideal
family pet. This could be why you are considering a
Labrador Retriever. Perhaps you had one as a child (when
Mom and Dad did all the work) or you have met Labrador
Retrievers who belong to other people.
Before you choose a Labrador
Retriever consider the following:
The age of the dog: Puppy,
adolescent, adult or senior. All life stages have pros
and cons. Puppies need to be housebroken, socialized and
require constant supervision, but you have a dog picked
at infancy who grows up with you and your family.
Adolescents could be past the housetraining stage but
still young enough for you to mold into the kind of dog
best suited to you. With adult dogs you won’t likely
have to worry about housetraining and you know how big
your dog will be and what it will look like. A senior
dog can be an excellent companion who has lots of life
and love left to give.
Colour: Black, yellow or
chocolate- this is strictly a personal preference. No
matter what you may hear coat colour does not affect
personality or temperament. Remember that the CKC breed
standard recognizes yellow as ranging in colour from
light cream to fox red and chocolate from light sedge to
chocolate. If someone tries to sell you a dog at a
premium price because of the “rare” colour consider
finding a more ethical breeder.
Gender: Again a personal
preference but either sex will make an excellent pet.
There is a difference in size with males being somewhat
larger than females (refer to the CKC breed standard ).
The breed is well known for its friendly temperament but
personality traits can differ from dog to dog. If you
are looking for a certain quality in a dog or have a
specific reason for the gender you want then discuss
this with the breeder. Breeders know their bloodlines
and their traits and can help pick the dog best suited
for you.
Where to buy: The best
place to buy a Labrador is from a reputable breeder. LOC
breeder members agree to adhere to a strict code of
ethics. A list of breeders is available on our website.
Rescue is also an option. Never buy from a pet
store unless the pet store is hosting an adoption day
for a credentialed rescue group.
The cost of owning a dog:
The lifetime commitment comes with a price tag that far
exceeds the cost of the dog. Annual vet checks,
immunizations as recommended, spay or neuter, dog food
and accessories, training. The list goes on and it adds
up!
**Labs shed a lot.
A female will generally blow her coat (shed heavily) 2
times a year with her heat cycle. All other Labs
neutered and unneutered males, and spayed females will
shed moderately throughout the year and more so as the
seasons change. This hair collects on furniture, clothes
and blows across the floor in tumbleweeds. You will be
amazed on where you will find the dog hair. As we like
to say, "Home is where the dog hair sticks to everything
except the dog".
Labs are people dogs.
If you have allergies to dog hair, dander or saliva, you
will probably have problems with a Lab. The somewhat
oilier coat does keep down some dander, but not all of
it. Many breeders and owners would be glad to have you
visit their dogs to see if you can tolerate being around
them. It is never fair to get a puppy then find out your
allergies are too bad and you have to tie the dog up
outside away from the family for the majority of its
life. A Lab should be with people. They should not be
left outside away from their people. They will not be
happy living that way. Think of what is best for the
dog.
Labradors are not clean.
If you are a neat freak, you will not like a Lab. They
shed. They can dig holes in your yard. Track in mud.
Chew on things. Rub up against and leave marks on your
walls. Clear off the coffee table with one wag of its
tail. If you are a neat freak, and want a dog as a
showpiece, don't get a Lab. Get a stuffed dog or one of
those new robot dogs.
Labs need a lot of
exercise. The
Labrador is an active breed. This may not seem a problem
if you are in the mood for some exercise yourself. But
they need an outlet for this energy every day. That
means when it is raining, on days you work late, when
you are not feeling good- your Lab will still want to go
for a run, walk, play ball, go swimming...whatever you
two do. If you do not provide an outlet for his pent-up
energy....he may find one!
Labs are prone to
genetically linked problems.
Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia, Eye problems, Heart
problems, Epilepsy...the list goes on. Do your homework!
Ask the breeder about all of these things.
Labs are prone to other
health problems.
Some of which may or may not be genetically linked.
Included but not limited to: Bloat, PANO, OCD, Thyroid
problems and other immune system and endocrine problems.
Labs stay puppies for a
very long time.
You may think great! I love puppies. Well, only their
minds stay puppies. Their bodies get big! They remain
clumsy, hard-headed, goofy and immature for a long time.
Labs are not really hard to train, but you have to be
persistent. They do need some form of training. Labs
don't really mature until they are 2-3 years old.
Labs can be easy to find.
This is a good thing and a bad thing. It means you
should be able to find one easily, but also that
everybody and their brother are breeding them. Not
everyone is doing so properly and paying attention to
temperament and health. The reputable breeder's puppies
are not cheap. they can get off cheaper by paying less
somewhere else. Remember you get what you pay for.
You may purchase a puppy
from an unreputable source just to get a puppy at a
lower price, and run into many problems with the pup as
he grows. Good breeders plan their litters with
considerable care and effort. Much thought and energy
goes into finding good Labradors to breed and/or
purchase to improve their own lines. The breeder should
be able to feasibly justify to you why they have done a
particular mating. Good breeders do things with their
dogs and are active within the fancy. Beware of a
breeder who appears to be producing litters just to sell
puppies as pets and seems to have no interest in the
breed beyond their own gain.
A Lab may not be the
best dog if you have very small children.
Labs are usually good around kids, but like all dogs,
they have to be taught to behave around children. A
small puppy will naturally bite and chew on, clothing,
shoes, hands.... Those sharp puppy teeth can hurt a
child’s hands without the puppy knowing it. A growing
puppy will often knock down a toddler in play. You have
to supervise any dog around small children.
Owning a Labrador Retriever is
a commitment for the lifetime of the dog. Labradors
can live from ten to fifteen years or even more! You
should always do your research to ensure
that this wonderful breed and its good and not so good
points mesh with you, your family and your lifestyle.
**
Adapted and reprinted with permission from Laura
Michaels ( who adapted it with permission from Cathy
Lewandowski) “Top Ten Reasons Why Not to Buy a Labrador”
www.woodhavenlabs.com
This Fact Sheet was written for
the LOC by D. van Nostrand. Reproduction in whole or
part without the express permission of the author is
prohibited.
