Labrador Retriever Dogs

The first rule anyone considering getting a Labrador is to carefully consider the breeder. This is so important as the time spent in advance will save much time and trouble in years to come.

Avoid the Color Sale
I am still amazed that from time to time I will see an ad in the paper advertising a litter with 1 rare Chocolate Lab? If you find a breeder whose idea of qualifying you as an owner of one of their pups is asking what color you prefer…. RUN and RUN fast. When talking to a reputable breeder they are more interested in what type of life you will provide to their pup and the color of the pups most likely will no even be mentioned.

Ask Plenty of Questions
If someone is calling their self a breeder, they should be only be breeding to improve the breed. Now how are they going to improve the breed if they do not know it inside and out. Do your research ahead of time and make a list of questions. Ask about the labs history, traits, health issues etc… You will quickly find out if this is the type of breeder you can trust. For instance when getting our Lab our first question was “Why are your breeding Labs”? For this answer we got many I really love the breed. If you get this type of stock response dig deeper. Ask why do you want to breed though, you ca love the breed by simply having one? We knew we found we found the right breeder for us when the response was, “I feel that the Labs in the United States have over time lost the Sporting Ability. I am trying to improve a proven champion conformation line by installing champion field characteristics”. Now this is what we wanted to hear and obvisouly someone that understood the breed standard.

Be Prepared to Have Questions Asked
If you are offered a pup without any questions being asked about you and your lifestyle, do nottake it as a compliment that you seem like a great person, RUN… Yes you will most likely do a lot of running away when searching. Most breeders love the pups and want first most to know they are placed in a suitable environment. Be prepared to answer questions about who will care for the dog, where will the dog stay, what will you do for exercise etc… Also many will ask many personality type questions such as if you prefer the outdoors or indoors. This is to make sure the Lab is right for you. In many cases a breeder will turn away potential buyers they do not feel would do with a Lab added to their house.

Check on CERTs
This is so important and a must to do. Make sure that at least the parents have been Hip and Elbow certified. This helps reduce the chance that your pup will develop Hip Dysplasia or Elbow Dysplasia. Also see if the parents have Eye CERTS on their pedigrees. Labs have been known to be prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy and breeding stock should have their eyes checked annually to ensure they have not developed thislate onset health problem that can be passed to the pups.

Decide What You Are Looking For
The most important thing to do is consider what you and your Lab will do together. Are you looking to join in confirmation competition? If so you will want to check the bloodlines and research the ancestry of the line to see what champions your puppy is coming from. Maybe you are looking for a hunting companion? In this case a review of the ancestry can show past field trial champions. Maybe you are just looking for a companion? In this case, the amount of show champions do not matter, focus on finding a healthy pup from a good line.

Although time consuming, these suggestions will greatly help you in finding the right Lab for you. The short time spent researching will lead to years of companionship that is unbelievable.

Those cute, adorable, fuzzy, warm chewing machines that we refer to as Lab puppies. If you have never owned a Lab, get ready for a wild ride. If you are a Lab owner, you know right where this is going and we hope to offer some tips to help.

The Problem
Chewingitis A non-stop desire to have something in the mouth to chew on at all times, all hours of the day. In some cases this turns from a desire to pure need.

Ok so this is not really a disease but it sums up the Labs desire to chew. Out of all the different breeds I have been privileged to own none even come close with the desire to chew than a Lab pup. From stories being told of a Lab pulling up boards off a deck (true story) to my first hand experience with this chewing desire, it is a problem that needs controlled and controlled quickly otherwise your life will be turned upside down.

The Root of Chewingitis
In most cases the problem seems to stem from boredom. This is not to say that your Lab is not being stimulated, it just needs more. Labs are known and loved for their never-ending endurance. In the wrong situation this can quickly turn from a desired trait to a nightmare. The Labrador desires a lot of stimulation and if is not being provided, it will create some for itself. Do not try to accomplish this non-stop simulation yourself as you would most likely die of exhaustion within a few days. Instead try some of these great tricks for treating Chewingitis.

Teething
This will be your first experience with Chewingitis. During the teething stage, the puppy teeth are coming out and the adult teeth are coming in. This makes your pups mouth very sensitive and they are just like a baby with teeth coming in and need to chew on something. Whether that something is your shoe or a toy is up to you….

One of the best remedies I have found for this is ice cubes. I cannot even begin to think of the amount of ice we would go through when teething. The cold ice helps dull the pain all the while filling the pups mouth (this prevents it having your shoe in there).

After Teething
After the teething has stopped the Chewingitis does not regress. Often they have simply moved on from shoes to new items they can reach. Yes that means put those remote controls, credit cards, and any other valuable in an inaccessible place.

Why this desire is continued is still beyond me. All I know is it does not stop and lot soft work needs to be done to keep that pup happy.

A Tired Puppy Is A Happy Puppy
Plan on lots of walks and time to run and play. This helps get a lot of the pent up energy out and will make for a much more relaxing evening indoors for everyone. Plan on a brisk morning walk to start the day and an evening walk. The pup also needs a chance to stretch its legs by running off leash. If you have a back yard, you can try a variety of games. From fetch (hey, they are retrievers you know) to finding hidden items try to find items that stimulate both the mind and body of your Lab.

What to Chew
Do not even think about those soft plastic or stuffed toys offered at pet stores. This results in about 5 seconds of pure mayhem ended with a loss of $5.00. Kind of reminds one of a Tornado hitting a matchbox toy car…

One of the best toys I found is the Kong. These come in both a Red and Black color, get the black one. The Red is a softer rubber and will not last very long. Try stuffing the Kong with a variety of treats (our favorite is still to fill it with peanut butter and freeze it). The Kong not only gives your Lab puppy something to chew on but also provides mental stimulation as they try to figure out the quickest way to get the goodies out from inside.

Another great toy is a hard plastic treat ball. Make sure it is large enough for the Lab not to get its’ mouth around otherwise you will end up with another soft plastic toy tornado. Lets face it, Labs love to eat and this treat ball is the perfect stimulation for the eater. They push the ball, push the ball and finally a treat is dispensed. Another great mind stimulation toy.

Is Chewingitis Curable?
Of course… Usually a Labrador Retriever will reach maturity between the ages of 1 and 2 years. During this time they will finish finishing their bodies out and slow down on the chewing. They become much calmer and controlled but will still need lots of time to play. Of course the playtime so fun with a Lab this is never a problem as you both will have years of enjoyment with each other.

Affecting over 12% of Labrador Retrievers that have been tested this serious health problem is not one that should be overlooked.

Elbow Dysplasia
Elbow Dysplasia is a term that is actually used for several distinct, inherited elbow abnormalities. A few of these abnormalities include osteochondrosis dessicans, and and ununited anconeal process. The various abnormalities have a higher instance in males due to the larger size.

Most believe the main factor in the development of Elbow Dysplasia in dogs in heredity. Environmental factors such as obesity, excessive calcium intake and exercise can also attribute to this health problem. This is why it is so important to choose a reputable breeder when choosing a Labrador. Make sure that both parents have been certified to have no problems. You can review tests of a dogs heritage on its’ pedigree and the OFA is responsible for keeping a registry of dogs certified. Of Labradors over the age of 2 years old, 12% of Labs have been rated dysphasic.

Elbow Dysplasia can usually be detected by the use of an x-ray of the forelegs. In cases that can not be detected by an x-ray a cat scan will be used. Typically symptoms of Elbow Dyslasia begin to show at an early age, usually between 6 and 12 months of age. Although not as common, there have also been cases documented of late onset Elbow Dysplasia in senior dogs. The first sign is usually mild lameness in the front legs and is typically heightened after strenuous exercise.

There are various ways to treat Elbow Dysplasia including surgery, glucosamine food supplements and pain medication. The best results are seen when the Elbow Dysplasia is detected early. Of the dogs diagnosed, only slightly more than half will successfully be treated.