Choosing a Dog~ Having a dog is a large commitment. Some people think puppies are cute and I must agree they are. But they grow up and in the first few years of their life it is called the puppy years. Just like the terrible twos for a toddler. The puppies are curious and get into a lot of things. Your house will have to be puppy proofed. They need a lot of love and attention just like humans. Dogs have feelings also. When you choose your dog make sure before you purchase it that you know why you want it so you will know what breed to get. If you want a hunting dog you need to research all breeds, so you know you are going to get a hunting dog. Same as if you want a lap dog that is not too much of handful, you wouldn't want a Saint Bernard, so you really need to look into all the breeds and know what you are getting before you get it.
Bonding~ When you get your new puppy or dog, your new member of the family; there will be a bonding period. By bonding I mean stroking, petting, and gently grooming your dog. Some play time would be good also. But keep all of these sessions short, because puppies have a very short attention span. Always make sure you reinforce positive behavior, and reward your pet for doing good. Like learning new tricks or using the outside for the restroom.Training~ Training in obedience in the long run is very helpful. A dog will learn best if he/she is rewarded. They also need plenty of attention, good-tempered attention is best. You do not want your pet to be afraid of you.
A Labrador Retriever is my favorite kind of dog. They are very smart, and love to get attention. To me they seem easier to train. They do go through their puppy stages just like any other dog, but if they have toys and an old shoe, maybe even a tennis ball, if you give them things that they are allowed to play with and keep all of the things up that they are not, then you have a less likely chance of having anything ruined in your home. They do love the water and they love to ride in the back of a pickup truck. They are really good at chasing birds, and rabbits also.
One sad thing about a Labrador Retriever, is that they tend to get arthritis in their joints because they are such active dogs growing up in their life.
You must make sure your dog gets his/her required doses of vaccines in their life to help keep them from getting any fatal diseases. And you should be aware of what to do if your dog gets attacked by a swarm of wasps or even bitten by a snake. Always keep your vets number where you can get to it easily. Another imporant factor is to have your pet spayed or neutered, because the pet population is really getting out of hand, it is just too high! There are not enough homes for all of the stranded, homeless pets, and most of them get euthenized.
On Terrific Pets they also agree that the lab is a very active dog, and very strongly built. On this site they say that the Labrador Retriever is AKC Ranking #1. That is great.
Another few points they make are that Labrador Retrievers are very good with children and other pets. They also agree that a lab is very easy to train,they train very well. Labs are good natured, loyal, and hard working.
last modified September 16, 2004
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