Labrador Retrievers Make Great Family Pets

By Toby Le Rock

The Labrador Retriever, affectionately known as a Lab, or a Labby by their owners, was originally bred as a hunting or gun dog but are now considered by many to be the perfect family pet. Lovable and excitable by nature the Lab is highly dependable, extremely obedient and of course gifted with a multitude of doggy talents.

Labrador retrievers are statistically one of the most popular dog breeds in the world with a huge proportion of dog owners having a lab at home. Its friendly, placid, bright, and bouncy good nature makes it a wonderfully delightful companion as well as being perfectly suited for other tasks outside the home such as police work.

The Labs friendly nature and desire to please their human masters makes them ideal assistance dogs for the disabled or the deaf and they often used as therapeutic aids for people suffering from all manner of both physical and mental ailments.

Labs are tremendous swimmers and fittingly have an otter-like tail. Their coat is grown in an interweave pattern, making them ideally suited to spending time in the water.

And, as their name suggests, Labradors are excellent retrievers and one of their surprisingly pleasant attributes is the fact that they have extremely soft mouths. Apparently, a Lab is able to carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it though I have to say if my Labs got an egg in their mouth they would simply eat it. They have capricious appetites!

Generally Labradors dont have the same problems of aggression and temperament that can surface in some other breeds and are well known for the laid back nature.

The Labs playful nature makes them ideal playmates for children and will be more than a match for even the most energetic of children. They love to chase, and of course retrieve, and throwing a ball for them to run after will give Labs amused for hours. They also love being around humans and enjoying receiving as much as giving affection.

Because of their natural intelligence Labrador retrievers can be very successfully trained to perform even the most complicated of tasks though they can certainly be stubborn and mischievous when they want to be.

Labs are also very curious creatures and they will happily investigate any new surroundings with great glee. If something attracts their attention, particularly the scent of food, they will determinedly seek it out. Similarly they will happily trot after a person they havent met before simply to check them out.

Because of their friendly nature and tendency to roam they can often go missing or, worse, be tempted away from their homes. It is highly recommended therefore that Lab owners arrange for their dogs to be micro-chipped or, at the very least, to have the owners contact details on their collars.

Labs are basically a healthy breed, though they are highly prone to becoming overweight as they have a tremendous talent for begging or finding food. But, like all dog breeds, Labs are susceptible to certain conditions and they can be prone to hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and other joint problems as well as suffering from diabetes.

Thankfully, most Labs will not encounter any health problems and will prove to be the perfect companion for all members of the family from the youngest to the eldest. - 31825

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Are You Thinking About Breeding Your Labrador Retrievers

By Toby Le Rock

Many Labrador owners will at some time or another considered breeding their Lab Retrievers, but there are many things to consider before taking the plunge into canine breeding. There are various reason why owners would want to breed their Labs. One of the main reasons is to produce a litter for themselves or their family, the second is to be able to sell the pups commercially.

Whatever your motivation it should be remembered that not all pregnancies result in a happy, healthy litter. And, if you have the female dog, breeding a litter at home can be a great experience for the first time breeder or it can be an unmitigated disaster. It is obviously very important to make sure you have the best possible pairing of dogs. Each dog must have a good temperament, be in top physical shape and free from disease. Each animals lineage should be checked to ensure there are no inherited problems such as hip dysplasia.

The temperament of the breeding pair is just as important as their health. Labradors inevitably end up in a family home so it is essential that they are temperamentally suited to sharing a home with children as well as adults.

The pedigrees of the breeding pair should be carefully checked to ensure they are not too closely related. That is essential to avoid the danger of inbreeding. If inbreeding does occur, it can damage the health of the offspring, lead to poor temperament as well weaken the bloodline.

The breeding pair should be given time to become accustomed to each other before being allowed to breed. This will give time for any health and temperament concerns to become apparent. It is also advisable that the breeding pair are over two years-of-age. The breeding of Lab retrievers should not be taken lightly. Bringing the breeding pair together is only the first step. The hard work really begins when the bitch is confirmed as pregnant.

The care of a Labrador retriever during pregnancy and also the whelping process can prove to be hard work. Once the pups are born that hard work will most certainly continue. The puppies have to be cared for and finding new homes for them can be time-consuming and expensive.

On a final point, you should not underestimate the importance of finding good owners for the pups. You will not let them go to just anyone So if you are unsure that potential owners can offer the pups a caring and loving environment, be prepared to turn them down. - 31825

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