Helpful Information...

Considering buying a Labrador Retriever? We think you're choosing a wonderful breed!

Before you decide, ask yourself some questions. Can you resist buying the first cute puppy you see, on impulse? Are you prepared to make a commitment to a dog for the next 10-15 years, even if you have life changes such as moving, new babies, or kids going off to college? Full responsibility for a dog is not a job for children; it requires a responsible adult, at least supervising, and should be carefully considered. The commitment is not a small one; training a Labrador to be a pleasant companion requires considerable time and patience. Labs don't become well-behaved all by themselves! They require substantial attention and exercise throughout their lives; they are active and social animals and don't do well when stuck in the backyard and forgotten.

Labrador puppy chewing and digging can be destructive. Do you have an appropriate environment for a puppy and are you willing to live with puppy mistakes? Remember that Labradors are not fully mature until around three years of age, so that's a long puppy-hood. Are you willing to spend the money it takes to provide appropriate care, including quality food and supplies, annual vaccines, heartworm testing and preventative, and spaying or neutering? Are you willing to wait for the right puppy from the responsible breeder of your choice? Remember, finding the best puppy for you is well worth the wait.  

Buy a well-bred dog from a responsible breeder. Responsible breeders take care to produce healthy, typical Labradors with good temperaments. Don't bargain-hunt and don't buy a puppy from a pet store; often those puppies come from poor breeding, may have been kept in poor conditions with inadequate socialization, and are sometimes more expensive than puppies purchased from a responsible breeder. Responsible breeders do all they can to avoid producing serious problems, including aggressive or shy temperaments, hereditary health defects such as hip or elbow dysplasia, or early blindness from hereditary eye diseases. Remember that "AKC papers" are not an indication of quality in the dog. They only mean that the dog's parents were AKC registered.

Written by Vicki Blodgett  -  Reprinted from THE LABRADOR CONNECTION
 

 

Beware of Pet Store Puppies and Back Yard Breeders 

PET SHOP or DEALER  -  The puppies are poorly bred and raised. They are thought of as merchandise to be sold for a high profit. The high profit results because little has been put into the breeding or the care of the puppies. Many are sickly. Pet shops rely heavily on impulse buying, which is no way to choose an addition to the family.

BACKYARD BREEDER - This is the person who owns a pet and thinks it would be fun to have puppies, that it would be a great experience for the children, or that the bitch should be bred once before she is spayed. Even worse, perhaps it's being done just to make money. Usually this breeder knows little about the standard or history of the breed or pedigrees and still less about proper care. The backyard breeder is not aware of breed problems, and doesn't care. This person's only goal is to produce puppies, and when the fun is over, to sell them quickly. 

Check our Links Page for more reading on Pet Shops.

 
 

Why should I Spay and Neuter?

Many reputable breeders sell pet quality puppies with the agreement that the animal will be neutered. These puppies are sometimes sold at a lower price than the show prospect puppies, even though they have the same excellent pedigree and have received the same care and attention.

The basic disposition and temperament of your dog WILL NOT be changed by removing his or her reproductive capability. Neutering a male can make him more tolerant of other males, but neutering will not, by itself, turn your dog into an obese, lazy animal. . .that is the result of excess food and insufficient exercise.

Benefits of spaying include not having to worry about accidental breeding, the stress and inconvenience of confining the bitch in season, risky mismating shots, and unwanted puppies. The spayed bitch will not develop uterine infections or tumors of the reproductive system as do so many older unspayed bitches.

The American Kennel Club permits spayed and neutered dogs to participate in all phases of obedience, tracking, field work, agility and junior handling, but not in most conformation classes.

Puppy Proof Your Home

Folks who have had babies in their homes know about making the home safe for children. For those who have had no children, just get down at a puppy's level and remove or safeguard everything they can  possibly see and everything for about 5 feet up, anything near chairs, tables, sofas, etc.  Prevention is worth a pound of cure.   Here are some things you can do to make sure your home is safe for your new puppy.

1. Secure electrical outlets and cords. Everything goes in puppy's mouth.....that's how they learn about the world. Make sure electrical cords are secured to baseboards or inaccessible to the pup. Puppies chewing on wires can suffer electric shock burns or die.   The same goes for TV cables, computer cables.

2. Keep medication bottles or cleaners out of the puppy's way, secured in a closed cabinet. Child proof does not mean puppy proof containers because puppies can chew through the bottle.

3. Keep your puppy away from toxic plants, both in and out of the house. Here's a list of known harmful plants that can cause illness from mild to deadly. Autumn crocus, Azaleas, Bleeding Heart, Buttercups, Castor bean, Daffodil, Dutchman's Breeches, Elderberry, Foxglove, Golden Chain, Hyacinth, Iris, Japanese Yew, Jack-In-the-Pulpit, Larkspur, Lily of the Valley,Mistletoe, Narcissus, Oleander, Poinsettia, Rhubarb, Rhododendrons, just about any kind of bulb and beware those peach and cherry pits!

4. Use pesticides and rodent poisons with caution and make sure that the puppy cannot get to them. Rat baits are sometimes mixed with grains and can be attractive to pets. Same with boxes or plastic packages.....puppy could try to play with them and ingest the contents!

5. Don't invite other dogs over to your house unless your puppy has had all his vaccinations If friends do come over make sure their are folk who are meticulous about the health of their pets!

6. Don't leave cigarettes or butts on the table or in the ashtrays.Puppies could eat them and get nicotine poisoning.

7. Watch out for Christmas ornaments, tinsel, and other decorations. Broken Christmas balls can lead to nasty cuts, and metallic tinsel can cause poisoning.   Other decorations may be toxic, as well..

8. Don't leave candles burning where puppies can touch them. Puppies are curious creatures and can get burned.

9. Keep the toliet lid down if you use cleaners.They may be alkaline and tempting for the puppy or dog to drink.

10. Dispose of bones so that puppy cannot get to them. Puppies will attracted to the smell in the trash can and ingested bones can be deadly.

11. Don't leave sewing needles or pins out. Something else for those nosy pups to put in their mouths!

12. Antifreeze is out of reach and drippings are cleaned up immediately! Sweet tasting antifreeze is deadly to pups.

13. Be careful not to use flea collars, dips or other preparations on pups under 15 weeks. Check with and follow your veterinarian's recommendations for flea control on young dogs.

In case of an accident, have your veterinarian's phone number posted by the phone!