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Please be clear
with the breeder what your plans for the dog will be--show, obedience, hunting, field
trialing, and companion/pet. Depending on the
breeding, labs can have very docile or extremely energetic temperaments, and it is
important to have a pet that fits in with your lifestyle.
If you have any questions, or if we
can be of further help, please do not hesitate to call Judy Simonett at (604) 263-5272. Bringing a dog into your family is a twelve year
commitment, and we wish to help make this a very positive experience.
The purpose of this information is to explain some of
the responsibilities of dog ownership, and to
give some examples of the wide variety of activities to do with your new family member. |
Traits and Qualities of
Labradors
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| Labrador retrievers were bred to work
closely with man, take his direction carefully, swim into icy water and retrieve. This history creates a dog who is easily trained, people-oriented, physically tough, and only truly
happy with something in his mouth. They need
lots of exercise and thrive on training. Labs
have a natural affinity with water and should have the opportunity to swim. This breed needs interaction and companionship
with people and should not be expected to lead a solitary or independent life. |
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| Possible Problems: overenthusiasm resulting in mouthing, jumping,
pulling on lead, and chewing. Labs are also
keen scavengers and will eat any and all garbage if allowed. A bored labrador will make up its own fun, often
in an inappropriate way. All these faults are preventable with appropriate training and
control. |
Owner's
Responsibilities
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1. Safe
Environment
A dog must have a fenced yard, free of any
dangers with which he could hurt himself or ingest. Precautions
should be taken to prevent the puppy from harming itself or its physical surroundings. A puppy is comparable to a three year old with a
pair of scissors!
The crate is one of the greatest gifts to
dog training and care since the leash. It is
the crib and playpen of dog training. It
helps prevent chewing, barking, or dirtying in the house.
It calms anxious dogs and teaches hyperactive dogs to sleep when you are away. It becomes a home away from home wherever you go. For proper use and progression, check with your
breeder, veterinarian, or a training book. |
2. Food
Consult with your breeder and vet to determine the proper diet
depending on your dog's age, stress level, and activities. |
3. Medical
Care
Puppies must be immunized! This consists of a series of shots administered at
7, l2, and l6 weeks of age. Consult your vet
to discuss socializing with other dogs during this time.
It is important to establish a rapport with a vet, get annual boosters to the puppy
shots, and to be informed of local health concerns e.g. fleas, heartworm, rabies, etc.
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4. Grooming
Labradors are wash-and-wear dogs. Regular
swimming or hose downs and brushing will keep the coat lightly oiled, shiny and healthy. Nails, teeth, and ears should be tended to on a
regular basis. Check with your breeder, vet,
and/or books for the "How to". |
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Training
and Socializing
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| To have a well-behaved 70 pound dog it is
necessary to start training as soon as possible. Do not encourage a puppy to do anything
you do not want your adult dog to do. |
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| There are many, many books on the
market that hail weird and wonderful methods of training. Get suggestions from your
breeder, vet, and from other lab owners. Sign up for puppy kindergarten, then obedience
classes. Expose your pup to as many experiences as early as possible. |
Consider joining groups to enjoy a variety of activities with
your versatile labrador! All Canadian Kennel
Club sanctioned events offer titles you may earn with your dog. All titles require teamwork and dedication. The bond between the dog and owner is the ultimate
goal, not necessarily the competition.
CKC Sanctioned Events: Obedience, Conformation, Tracking, Agility,
Working certificates, and Field trials.
Non CKC-sanctioned Events (these activities are available to all
dogs-purebred or otherwise): Flyball, Scent hurdling, and Agility and Therapy. These
are good activities to take part in with a rescue dog.
To find out more about activities that you can take part in
with your lab, check our Activities page.
OF COURSE, JOIN THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER CLUB OF B.C.!!
Membership Application Form |
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