Posts Tagged ‘Labrador retriever’

Yellow Labradors: Large Sized Animals

Tuesday, January 13th, 2009

There no doubts that bringing home a Labrador will be one of the best decisions you will ever make, especially if there are children in the home who want a family pet with whom to play with and care for. Though Labradors can be of many different colors, Yellow Labradors are the ones that you should choose ahead of Black or other colored Labradors because they are excellent around children and thus are very popular family pet dogs. Part of this popularity stems from them being portrayed as great pets in many television shows and in the movies.

It would not be wrong to expect Yellow Labradors to come across as being intelligent, loving as well as even heroic because that is how they are portrayed in movies. Nevertheless, Yellow Labradors are one of those Labrador types that are full of energy and so, they will require a lot of space to move in and also given plenty of care as well as need to be trained to behave well in the home and also with others.

Although you will expect a lot from your Yellow Labrador, you should also be prepared to adjust to them especially when they do not turn out to be exactly as you expected. Once they become fully-grown up they can become quite large in size and you will have your hands full coping with these playful bundles of joy.

Also, Yellow Labradors are one of those Labrador types that require expending a lot of effort in properly raising them and so you must be prepared to devote a lot of time and do whatever it takes to ensure that your Labrador is well cared for, properly trained and given the best diet.

Yellow Labradors are also excellent watchdogs and they are sure to be the first to warn you in case something unusual occurs, and they are also easy to train and will socialize once they have been taught how to behave appropriately. Overall, bringing home a Yellow Labrador will prove to be a real boon and his friendliness, loyalty, reliability as well as devotion makes him an excellent family pet dog.

When you bring home a Yellow Labrador, you are getting a pet that is of a happy nature and though they are strong as well as large, they cannot be considered a threat and they are also not too heavy in their build. Though dogs of the size of Yellow Labradors are often very intimidating to children, this is one Labrador type that is actually quite harmless and it also makes for a wonderful family pet.

However, you need to have enough space to hold such large sized pets and they should be able to run about and play without being cramped for space. The Yellow Labrador is a playful sort and he loves to play with his owner and he is also amenable to being socialized and will adjust to other animals as well including even cats.

Bringing home a Yellow Labrador will mean getting more companionship as well as security though at the same time it does demand that the owner takes proper care and feeds and exercises him adequately. You should thus be well prepared to spend time in taking him out, giving him nutritious food and also ensuring that he is allowed plenty of room in which to play and otherwise move about.

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About Labrador Grooming

Monday, January 5th, 2009

Just because they have short hair doesn’t mean that Labrador Retrievers don’t have to be groomed on a regular basis, because they do. Daily grooming sessions should include removing the dead hair from the dog’s coat with a short haired rake, an inspection of the dog’s ears to make sure they aren’t infected, a quick glance at the dog’s feet to make sure that the pads aren’t cut and a brush with a firm bristle brush.

Most of the owners decide that grooming is the most reasonable option. The good news is that Labrador grooming doesn’t have to be a heinous chore, that it can actually be a relaxing way to spend time bonding with their pet. Daily grooming can also be an excellent way to detect and prevent any ear and skin infections their Labrador might be developing.

It never ceases to amaze Labrador dog owners how much their dog hates to be bathed. The typical Labrador loves the water; lake water, ocean water, pond water, even skuzzy ditch water, they can’t seem to get enough of it. It often seems like the more disgusting the water the more the Labrador likes it. However pull a hose out, or fill the bathtub with water and your water loving Labrador becomes a bundle of nerves. Unfortunately the occasional bath is essential during Labrador grooming.

The purpose of using the short hair rake is to pull the dead hair from your dog’s coat. When the dead hair is ignored it gives the dog’s coat a dull appearance. If ignored for any length of time the dead hair will appear on your couch. If you are grooming during a time when the dog is shedding its old coat it is best to do your grooming close to a trashcan.

This is a bad idea. Try using children’s tear free shampoo, as this won’t irritate the dog’s skin and will make the bathing experience a little more pleasant. If you choose to use a dog shampoo make sure you dilute it before rubbing it into your dog’s skin. After bathing your dog, make sure the soap is completely rinsed out. Soap that isn’t rinsed will dry out causing an irritation that can later lead to a skin infection.

When you first get your Labrador retriever you will find that your dog is more interested in playing then being groomed. Although the bouncing around and chewing on the brushes is perfectly natural for a young puppy it often ties the patience of the person who is actually grooming the dog. Unfortunately the only way to improve your dog’s manners while it is being groomed is to keep persevering.

The trick to training your dog to stay obedient during the grooming sessions is to stay patient, the only thing losing your temper will accomplish is to scare your dog. Firmly but gently remove your puppy’s mouth from the brushes, and constantly enforce the sit command. Keep your voice soft but firm. Reward your Labrador’s good behavior during Labrador grooming.

After you have finished grooming your dog, wipe the inside of it’s ears with a warm washcloth, cleaning the ears will help prevent your Labrador from developing an ear infection

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Tips On Looking For Labradors For Sale

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Nothing can melt your heart more than a Labrador puppy. That is why it’s no wonder that Labradors for sale are the most sought after in any community. Labradors are very sweet, companionable, and loving. The breed itself is known for its intelligence and being even tempered. It is a dog that is free from aggression and insecurities.

Finding Labradors for sale is no walk in the park. It takes a lot of work in order to look for Labradors for sale. You have to consider a lot of factors, especially the kind of pet store, commercial breeder, breeder or private owner from which you get your Labrador puppies.

Labradors for sale can be found in pet shops. Unfortunately pet shops are the most common culprits backing these puppy mills. Dogs born out of puppy mills are not only poorly raised but also treated cruelly, as well as having health problems and genetic defects. Puppy mills do not have a standard for Labradors for sale. They continuously churn out these puppies without ever investing on the environment in which the puppies are raised.

The media has shed light upon the plight of these Labradors for sale. But don’t fear you can still find good quality Labradors for sale. You can go to breeders, or private owners that raise these dogs for the passion and delight of doing so and not just for money.

Being a dog breeder does not come cheap, but neither does it produce high income. That is why most puppies from professional Labrador breeders are a bit pricier than those you find in a pet shop. In the end though you will be getting your money’s worth and in fact you will save more.

Sadly there are puppy mills that are managed by greedy people who are in the business of making money, and only in making money. Those are the people that keep female Labradors in small cages with hardwire flooring and feed the dogs with bad food or even dead dogs.

The common indicator of responsible breeders is that they just don’t offer up Labradors for sale. They care about the state you’re in and your capabilities as a potential dog owner. More often than not they will ask to see the environment at which you will be raising their priced offspring. Also excellent breeders will always show you the registration and pedigree papers. Labrador breeders are not just for show dogs, or special skills dog. They are also perfect for pets because they are bred to genetically compatible. The parents are hand picked for their temperament, looks as well as personalities.

Excellent breeders will help you in the transition of owning a Labrador puppy. They will also educate you on the Labrador puppy care that you need to know. A breeder will give recommendations on what the puppy needs and where you get them. Aside from all this expect a good breeder to follow up once in a while on how you and your new puppy is getting on.

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How To Train Labrador Rescue Dogs

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008

While dogs are typically known as playful companions and man’s best friends, dogs also have a number of roles that are not as widely acknowledged. When law enforcement is called in to find a missing person, or a natural disaster strikes, dogs are often part of the first line of defense when the time comes to respond.

Burmese mountain dogs, Saint Bernards and Labrador Retrievers are among the most common breeds favored for search-and-rescue training. Their roles may include all or some of the following: wilderness rescue, avalanche searches, drowning searches, natural disasters, and in some cases, corpse retrieval.

Law enforcement and disaster response are the two most common applications for Labrador rescue dogs, and may include the following: wilderness rescue, avalanche and drowning searches, corpse retrieval, and natural disasters.

Training a Labrador rescue dog is as much about become a trusted friend of the dog as it is about the dog learning the skills necessary to become successful at search-and-rescue. Rescue training is very intensive and lasts for many months or years, and typically begins when the puppy is between eight and ten weeks old. It is important that search-and-rescue dogs begin training and discipline early in life. Deployment may begin as early as six to eighteen months after the training has commenced.

During the dog’s training, it is essential the dog and the handler become comfortable with each other and learn each other’s eccentricities. This is the reason why dogs change partners very rarely because a bond develops during training.

There are a multitude of skills that a successful Labrador rescue dog must learn throughout the training process. Among these are obedience, socialization and agility. Each of these skills should be trained daily for the first few months, for anywhere from ten to sixty minutes. For any kind of rescue dog, scent training is also essential, but can be trained less often as the other skills, three to seven days per week, for five to thirty minutes.

If the Labrador rescue dog has a competent trainer, it is expected that the dog’s skills will improve very rapidly, and often daily. Still, the many skills required of a search-and-rescue dog are essential and should be drilled routinely. Some of these skills are obedience, socialization and agility. Each of these skills should be trained daily for anywhere from ten minutes to one hour. Scent training is also an essential skill, and should be trained from three to seven days per week for five to thirty minutes.

As the dog’s skills progress, obedience, agility and socialization training should continue with the same frequency. Scent training, however, can become less frequent with time, and should take place three to five times per week, but should increase in duration to between twenty and sixty minutes. Focus sessions, which stress very specific skills such as scent discrimination, should be added after the dog has become reliable in the primary training area.

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How To Find Labrador Pictures

Thursday, December 4th, 2008

One of the more photographed breeds of dogs in the world, by popular demand, is the Labrador and people are always looking for new and exciting Labrador pictures to view, collect and learn from. You can find Labrador pictures from a variety of different sources and you should take the time to check them all out because they all have something very special to offer whether it is high quality pictures or just pictures of Labradors at home.

Professional photographers love to create over sized picture books of detailed and high definition pictures of the Labrador breed. The dog lends itself to such beautiful markings that you cannot help but be impressed with the photo quality and the hard work that goes into a collection like this. Labradors are also very obedient dogs so they can get themselves into poses and situations that make for some great pictures as well.

To help you continue your search on the Internet you can find some wonderful Labrador pictures at compilation websites all over the Internet. Compilation websites are sites where people can post pictures of their dogs for the world to see.

Most of them are of the dog in its home activities and some pictures are of show dogs and even show dog champions. You can also see some police dogs as well. Either way you can find a wide variety of Labrador pictures on a compilation website.

Sometimes it can be interesting to check out the website of a particular owner who posts his Labrador pictures of his dog in all types of situations or even the websites of show dog champions. You can really get a look at a Labrador at home with these regularly updated pictures and the daily diaries these owners keep. You can learn a lot about a Labrador by studying the day-to-day activities of other Labradors and their owners.

There is a lot to be learned from checking in on a Labrador’s daily activities. When a breeder puts together a website and uploads Labrador pictures to it, the breeder only wants to show the best pictures that they can so that it reflects positively on their business.

You can learn a great deal from the Labrador pictures on a breeder’s website so, if you are really looking to learn something about the different Labrador types, then be sure to check out a breeder’s website and take your time going through all of the helpful information.

You can find Labrador pictures just about anywhere you would normally find a collection of any kind of pictures and you could spend hours looking through just a small portion of what is out there. You can also check out the new video websites that are growing in popularity for some action videos of Labradors and then you can really get an idea of how wonderful and impressive the Labrador can be.

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How You Can Spot A Fake Labrador Breeder

Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

When you have decided that it is time to get a new pet you want to be sure that everything goes just right. If you are considering a Labrador then you are going to want to make sure you are dealing with a reputable Labrador breeder before you invest your hard earned money. There are many things you can do to check and see if the breeder you are dealing with is a reputable breeder or not and a responsible owner should take the time to check out any breeder because it is the health and happiness of your dog and the expectations of your family at stake.

A convenient resource for checking out potential Labrador breeders is the national breeder registries that you can often find on the Internet. The best known of the breeder registries is the American Kennel Club and that would be a great place to start. It is important that your breeders not only understand the principles of good breeding but also subscribe to them by being listed under a breeder registry. This should be the first place you look for a breeder.

A Labrador breeder is someone that will be a part of your life and your dog’s life for a very long time. If you ever have a question you should be able to ask your breeder and know that you are getting the information you need. If you do not get answers that satisfy your questions when you are looking for a breeder then chances are the communication after the sale may be less than reliable. Communication with your breeder is important so be sure to gauge their reliability when you are talking to them.

Any good breeder is going to offer you detailed care instructions when you purchase your new Labrador and they are very likely to send you home with a sample of the dog’s food so you know what to feed the dog. If your breeder indicates that they are not in the habit of offering care instructions or food samples then the breeder you are talking to may not be the breeder for you.

Any good or reputable Labrador breeders are going to be able to offer a new owner free pet insurance for their new dog that extends for six weeks after the purchase date. Your breeder gets these policies for free from various insurance companies as promotional items and if the breeder you are dealing with fails to mention, or offer, any free pet insurance policies then you may want to question your choice of breeder.

The insurance companies are hoping you renew the insurance and a good breeder will just want to give you another option to help in the care of your new pup.

A good breeder is just as important to your dog’s health and happiness as you are or your vet is. Choosing a fake breeder or a less than reputable breeder can cause many problems down the road and make your dog’s life, and your life, miserable.

So take your time and make the right choice when you go looking for a Labrador breeder to get your new pup from.

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The Perils Of Buying Labradors From Pet Shops

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

Pet overpopulation, genetics, politics and economics, who knew getting a puppy from a pet store, can be so complicated. You probably thought those big brown puppy eyes are the only thing that matters but as with everything in the world today. Things are not as easy as that.

Labrador’s are all the rage around the world. Aside from being utterly lovable they are also extremely versatile. Labradors, unlike most dogs, are not temperamental at all. They get along well with other breed of dogs and they are intelligent, multi talented, and loving without being over bearing.

Sadly though, by you walking out of that pet store with that cute Labrador on hand makes you a purveyor of puppy mills. So you argue that the pet shop owner told me that their puppies are from reputable Labrador breeders and not a puppy mill. Before we argue upon that assertion, first let us clearly define what Labrador breeders and puppy mills are.

Puppy mills are common knowledge; we accept the fact that some people need a source of living. Labrador puppies are very popular in the market and it is ok to breed them. But it is the essence of the Labrador breeders’ procedure that is coming into question. People seem to forget that their source of living should be treated nicely.

Labrador breeders on the other hand are pretty different, because they are artists in the dog world. They breed dogs not necessarily for income but in the quest for the perfect Labrador in looks, temperament and intelligence. Labrador breeders don’t just sell puppies to anyone they make you prove that you deserve their priced doggies before even considering of letting you own one. Like Hollywood, the pet store industry has been plagued with scandals since time immemorial. The incalculable bulk of Labradors sold at pet stores are bred from puppy mills. Pet shops are very well known to be financing and keeping the puppy mill industry alive.

Some pet stores will assert that their puppy does not come from those kinds of puppy mills or that the Labradors they sell come from a reputable breeder, or dog owner. This may be true but chances are, it’s probably not, only about ten percent of pet stores get their puppies from dependable Labrador breeders and private owners.

Not only that but dogs produced by commercial Labrador breeders have a tendency to be ill or genetically defective. The illnesses start with the mothers, and are passed on to the puppies. Common illnesses are fleas, ear infections, mange and bronchial illnesses. Genetics also plays a part because some puppies are a product of in breeding. Some diseases or defects may have arisen from the way these puppies traveled from the puppy mills to the pet shops. These defects are, hip deformities, sprains and bone problems. Still others are afflicted by bad vision, hearing problems and epilepsy.

If you really want a pet, the safest bet is not to buy from a pet store. If the need is not that urgent you can always do backgrounds check on the pet store of your choice. Better yet, simply go to the nearest kennel club and ask for recommendations. Buying a puppy that came from a puppy mill will cost you tons of veterinary care bills, so be careful and make your choices responsibly.

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What To Expect From A Labrador Rescue Experience

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

If you’re ready to get a Labrador, don’t go to the puppy store at the mall, or to a Labrador Retriever breeder. Instead, contact a Labrador rescue organization to see what kinds of homeless Labradors are up for adoption. By rescuing a Labrador, you get a purebred dog without paying a purebred price, and a lucky Lab gets a new home with a loving owner.

Perfectly good Labrador Retrievers of all backgrounds and colors end up in Labrador rescue centers for any number of reasons. Some owners abandon their dogs, and they end up in Labrador rescue. Other owners reluctantly surrender their pets to Labrador rescue because they can no longer afford to care for them, or because their housing situation has changed so they can no longer keep a dog. A small number of owners give up their dogs because they have a new spouse or child that is allergic to the dog or, for whatever reasons the new relationship is affected negatively.

When you adopt a dog from a Labrador rescue organization, you will be asked to pay a scaled adoption fee based on the age and health of your dog. This fee helps cover Labrador rescue’s operating expenses. Labrador rescue organizations are independently licensed from state to state, but most if not all are 501(c)3 non-profit organizations.

Most of the expenses Labrador rescue incurs for your dog are the cost of medical care. Labradors are spayed or neutered if they are still fertile when they are surrendered to Labrador rescue. Adoption fees helps cover the cost of the operation and the expenses a foster family incurs to care for your dog while it recuperates from surgery

Labrador rescue works with families, owners, shelters, and veterinarians to make sure all rescue dogs are groomed, given a health examination, and are current in their vaccinations and heartworm medications.

Your adoption fee helps defer the expenses that Labrador rescue incurred to rescue and care for your dog before you adopted it. Labrador Retriever rescue has offices in all fifty of the United States, and Labradors available for rescue vary from one location to another.

The fewer requirements you have for a Lab, the sooner you will find one in rescue. If you are willing to accept a boy or a girl and don’t mind taking an older dog, you will probably find a Labrador rescue dog right away. Older dogs are easy to care for, because they like to nap.

Applicants to adopt a Labrador Retriever into a permanent home must complete an application process that includes a home visit. Potential owners must be twenty-one years of age or older, provide landlord permission to have a dog if they are renters, and commit to get regular grooming for the dog. The application also asks about prior dog ownership and what kind of activity level the owner has. Your new Labrador awaits you at a Labrador Retriever rescue near you.

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Questions You Should As Your Labrador Retriever Breeder

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Take a list of questions for a Labrador Retriever breeder written ahead of time when you visit them. This list will also be handy if you are going to be meeting a lot of Labrador retriever breeders at a dog show. If you meet a breeder online, you are still going to want to ask a lot of questions. You will be overwhelmed by all of the cute furry faces in order to trust your memory to recall the questions you need to ask.

Although you will think up many more questions depending on your unique home situation, these are the three main questions you need to ask. Always ask when you can visit the kennels, meet the parents, see the contract and meet the breeder. The first two will quickly let you know if you are dealing with a puppy mill owner. Since you can’t legally shoot the puppy mill owner, you can at least not give them any money.

It is absolutely vital that you are able to visit the kennels of any Labrador Retriever breeder. Even if you are at a show and there are literally a littler of pups for sale, resist the temptation and schedule an appointment. The environment your puppy will be raised in will tell you a lot about the health and mental stability of your future puppy. You also should be able to meet dogs related to your puppy.

The kennel or home kennel should not smell putrid or like a garbage truck in summer. The dogs should be healthy, smiling, well behaved and clean. It is okay for Labrador Retrievers to live most of their lives in outdoor covered kennels with runs.

They are a breed that can do as well outside as inside. It is not okay if they live in stacked crates. That’s a sign of someone who doesn’t care about the quality of dogs he or she breeds.

Paperwork for Lab puppies does not mean the newspaper you use for paper training. You need to ask about health certificates of both parents of the Labrador puppy as well as a contract. Yes, there definitely has to be a contract made up by the breeder about what the breeder is responsible for (especially in terms of your puppy’s health) and what you are responsible for. A contract is a deal breaker. No contract ? no deal.

And you need to ask about what Labrador information you need to know in order to comfortably live with a Lab. A good breeder will already pepper you with questions about your knowledge of dogs and past experience with them before you even get a chance to ask this question!

Expect to have to provide a letter of character reference from your veterinarian and to have your home checked out. The breeder should love his or her puppies more than money.

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Could That Labrador Golden Retriever Puppy Be A Future Life Saver?

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

Many people have known for a long time that particular crossbreeds of dogs are an improvement on each of the original breeds. It’s a matter of finding which breeds cross best with other breeds. Many of these crossbreeds have become considered pure breeds themselves. One of the most successful crossbreeds in dogs is seen in the Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy, known also as Golden Labrador Retrievers. As puppies, they readily show the best of both the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.

The Perfect Personality?

Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are dogs that really like people and are eager to please. Keep in mind that not every one is alike, and poor training will always make for a bad, fearful dog (regardless of breed), but on the whole, a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is a born people lover. They are fascinated by people and seem to identify with them. They also have a lot of strength and stamina, which comes in handy for service and search and rescue dogs.

Best Seeing Eye Dogs

According to service dog experts and charities that train seeing eye dogs in England, the best dog for the job is a Labrador/Golden retriever crossbred. There is an extensive breeding program run in England by Guide Dogs to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs. A Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is first tested at about eight weeks of age to see what his personality is like.

Their training never really stops. Often times the puppies will fail their training and be put up for adoption as a pet. It costs about $70,000 US Dollars to take a Golden Labrador Retriever puppy and turn it into a specially trained service dog. They work until old age or illness forces them to retire, and then they are placed in care homes for the rest of their days.

Other Things to Know

Although many online Labrador puppies information web sites will say that a Golden Labrador is always yellow, this is not true. Occasionally a dark puppy will be born. You can register your Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy with the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Each day, there is a newborn Golden / Labrador Retriever puppy who makes that first step to being a drug sniffing dog, cancer sniffing dog, service dog or a search and rescue dog. They all can rescue us from ourselves and our selfishness and help give our souls back to ourselves.