In case that I have to be the on to bring my dog I will need to locate my dog in a comfortable position in the care where he won’t be so affected by the shaking of the car.

Allow your dog to enter the crate. You may entice your labrador with some treats and the like to encourage him to enter the crate. If your dog won’t get in then you may push gently or lead by leash in the crate. Remember not to forcefully get him in. When he does get in then do give praise or treats so that your Labrador Retriever will associate the entering of the crate with positive reaction.

Secure the crate in the back seat of the car and it will even be more assuring for your dog if you have a chew toy or something familiar in the crate so that he won’t be bored during the trip. REMEMBER: Allow your dog to defecate and urinate before the trip so that nothing “messy” happens. It is also important to let him drink so that he won’t be dehydrated. Make sure the crate won’t be exposed to the sun during the trip.

If you are more confident with your lab then it is okay to have him secured by a doggy-seatbelt beside you. Just make sure your dog won’t inhibit you from concentrating on driving. We don’t want to have to make a detour to the Hospital for humans.

We can consider two things here:

1. You have with you and adult dog.
2. You have with you a puppy

When you have a newly acquired dog it helps to have a check up with the Vet just to make sure it’s not carrying any form of sickness which may be contagious to your other dogs or also just to be sure that your dog is healthy.

When do I have my dog checked?

A good once a year check up would do, but if you are afraid that your dog might have a weaker immune system or may be in need of constant check up then every 3 months would do. It’s very important to bring your dog during daytime and not during night time so that you will be able to take notice of your dog and there won’t be any fluctuations in the sleeping pattern.

What do I have to bring?

What should I bring to the Vet? Here’s a small list of stuff to bring when going to the vet:

• A towel, so your pooch can be comfortable in his crate
• A crate (or in some cases a dog seatbelt)
• Water
• Treats
• Dog book (or your doggy records if already provided)
• Phone (in case of emergencies)
• Leash

After you have prepared this you may move on to the next step.

Read on: How to transport a Labrador

We all know that Labrador Retrievers are naturally curious. And when one pet is curious it doesn’t really have the common sense that is necessary to survive a human household.

So let’s classify the different hazards one can detect in the house.

1.Electrical

I have my share of electrical shocks when I was still young. Your Labrador is a fast learner but if it still has not yet received any shocks from the electrical outlets it is bound to continuously be curious with the small hole. It will sniff lick and you know what comes next. Seal all these outlets within the house with a plastic outlet cover.

Wires are also a problem since most dogs would see this as a toy. Secure all wires by not leaving them exposed for the dog to chew.

2.Chemical

Chemicals which we use for daily household purposes may be deadly for your dog. Keep all chemicals properly stored in a cabinet or anywhere beyond reach of the dog. Do not underestimate your dog by merely placing it on the table. Labradors are huge dogs capable of toppling down stuff. Secure your chemicals in a place where one needs dexterity to access these objects.

3.Sharps

This refers to any object deemed sharp and may pierce the skin. Scissors, knives, pins, needles, nails, and even pens. Anything that the dog may swallow. I’ve seen enough dogs swallowing sharp objects on TV to know it is possible for them to eat it. This can badly damage the internal organs of your best friend so be careful where you leave your stuff lying around.

4.Poisonous plant and food

I got this list from http://dogpack.com
Here are some plants dangerous for dogs:

Bulbs: Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily, Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange Day Lily, Tulip
Ferns: Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern
Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia
Garden Perennials: Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose, Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane
House Plants: Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman), Devil’s Ivy, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Taro Vine, Warneckei Dracaena
Lillies: Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily
Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe “American”, Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree Philodendron, Yucca
Succulents: Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Trees: Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (aka Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut, Schefflera, Yew (aka Japanese Yew)
Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet, Glacier Ivy, Hahn’s self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy
Misc/Uncategorized: American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow

and then you have the food:
-garlic, onion, grapes, chocolate, avocado to name a few.

5.Other pets

Don’t assume immediately if a pet is okay to be around your Labrador. Labradors are friendly but have a strong prey drive. What you may assume as a friend for your dog, he may think of as prey.

Allergies

Dogs are not very different from humans for they too have tendency to be allergic to a few things. This can be exhibited by excessive itching and hair loss but these will NOT ALWAYS indicate allergies. There are some tests which can indicate if your dog really has allergies and these tests are not neccesarily expensive. One may give antihistamines as prescribed by the vet or other forms of treatments but there is no cure for allergies.

Allergies may be divided into the following:

• Atopic Dermatitis- a common skin allergen due to mites, dust and other airborne allergens. Common signs maybe be indicated by scratching of the face or licking of the feet. Then later on the occurence of red spots and lesions due to excessive scratching and chewing. The solution is having some shots to build up their resistance but its not a guarantee. Consult your vet for options.
• Contact Allergy – an allergy which results from a skin contact with the allergen of the dog, not really as common as the Atopic Dermatitis
• Flea Allergy- of course due to fleas, a very common allergy among dogs and can cause excessive itching. Try to remove the fleas, and use some anti-flea and tick solution. Avoid infestations by giving your dog regular baths.
• Food Allergy – this is why you should let your dog try a sample of the dog food your buying before you buy the whole sac. Food allergy can be exhibited by the typical redness and itching and even hair loss. Beef, wheat and corn are common allergens.
• Hot Spots -this is not a pretty sight indeed, these sores are due to the allergies and these will worsen when scratched. A solution to this would be washing your dog well with Shampoo. There is a certain powder which can help. Consult your vet for a solution
• Pyoderma – this is an infection from a Staph microogranism on the skin. These can cause lesions and pus whch develop into scabs and crusts. There are oral antibiotics which can be prescribed by the vet.

Cancer

The older your dog gets, the more possible to getting cancer. This is a leading killer in dogs who are 10 years and above. Here are common signs given by the Veterinary Cancer Society:

• Abnormal Swellings that persist or continue to grow
• Bleeding or discharge from any bodily opening
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Loss of appetite
• Offensive odor from the mouth
• Persistent lameness or stiffness
• reluctance to exercise or loss of stamina
• Sores that won’t heal
• Weight loss

When you observe these in your dog, it is highly recommended that you bring him to the Vet.

Cold Water Tail (Limber tail Syndrome, Dead Tail, Broken Tail)

Commonly exhibited by a hanging tail or a limping tail. This can occur when the dog is in an activity which involves a lot of wagging such as swimming. This susually returns to normal after a few days.

Dental Diseases

Discolored teeth, foul breath, and red inflamed gums are signs of infection in the oral cavity. When food is stuck on the teeth these will develop into tartar. When there is now an infection of the gingiva then the dog may have gingivits which is indicated by the bleeding of the gums. Oral prophylaxis for treatment, but prevention can be done by proper brushing of teeth.

Ear Infection

This is basically caused by moisture in the ears, and is common in Labradors due to their tendency to swim a lot. It is exhibited by shaking of the head, sratching of the ears and a foul odor from the ears. Routine cleaning with a dry cotton can help prevent such infection.

Eye Diseases

All breeds of dogs can suffer from eye diseases and Labs are no exception. In fact, they seem disposed to many eye conditions, including entropion of the lower eyelid, mild ectropion, medial canthal pocket syndrome, limbal melanoma, uveal cysts, canine anterior melanoma, cataracts, glaucoma, retinal atrophy, optic nerve colobomas and others. One of the most unusual, however is focal retinal dysplasia and drawfism. (from Terra Nova Book on the Labrador Retriever)

Hip Dyslapsia

It is an inherited condition which is a kind of joint “looseness”. This can be from mild limping to even crippling. X-ray is the sure way to diagnosis of this disease.

Arthritis

Which can be due to improper nutrition and lack of exercise. Your dog will exhibit limping and lack of desire to move. This is because it lacks the ground substance for his joints. This can be treated by some prescribed treatment from the vet.

Bloat

One scary condition which is medically known as Gastric Dilatation volvulus. This is due to the closing of the openings of the stomach due to twisting of the stomach. So gas builds up inside. Your dog will try to expell the air and will look like it is trying to vomit but it cannot. Within 1 hour you dog can die. This condition is common in large breed dogs especially those that eat fast. One way to prevent this to let your dog eat a little slowly. But there is no guarantee prevention from this condition. When your dog starts to exhibit these signs (such as the swelling of the stomach) then immediately go to the vet!

We can list up a few things which can be a “cure” for obesity in dogs.

1. Jogging
2. Swimming
3. Fetch
4. Walking

Jogging

The Labrador Retriever is a very energetic dog and if this energy isn’t used up somewhere then they will tend to be very destructive.  So how long can you jog your labrador Retriever? You can probably jog a good 1-3 kilometers, depends on how healthy your lab is and try to avoid the heat of the sun. Bring some water with you for your lab as they are built to resist the cold but will overheat in hight temperatures. You can jog for about 30 minutes. NEVER FORGET THE LEASH. Never be too confident with your dog. ANYTHING can go wrong.

Swimming

This is probably one of the major reasons why I chose the Labrador as the dog of my choice. These dogs LOVE to swim. Bring them to a beach somewhere or dive in the pool. It gives them a good cooling activity as well as a good exercise for them. Along with swimming you can have dock diving. I’ve seen dogs do some really cool diving moves. And these dogs can dive deep. Just remember, too much of something is not good for them. Limit to 2 hours maximum for swimming.

Fetch

And here comes the popular command when it comes to dogs. FETCH. Fetching may involve an object of interest in the dog and provide a good prey drive. Prey drive is very important for dog training as it will determine how  ”cooperative” a dog will be during training. Try a stick or a toy, but some dogs like the our Black lab at home, goes crazy over balls. Old tennis balls will do but make sure you don’t use objects which are toxic with them. Check the labels of toys. Fetching can go on from 30 minutes to even 1 hour and a half, with short breaks in between.

Walking

If you’re not the type to make a run for it, then walking will have to do. Simple walking  for a good 2-3 kilometers within 1-2 hours is fun for you and your dog. Your dog with its natural curiosity would love to check the surroundings. This form of activity is healthy both physically and mentally for your labrador Retriever. They will enjoy this and at times, they will pull. Now it is important that you should be walking the dog and not the other way around. To do this. Hold the end of the leash with one hand and the other hand holding the middle part of the leash. When your dog pulls you, give it a slight tug the opposite way. This way your dog will follow your lead. If he will cross over in front you try to pull him back to the side. It is important that your dog walks beside you not in front of you. If you come across another dog, it is important that you maintain distance as to avoid any accidents.

Benefits of Exercise

A dog is filled with energy. A dog not well exercised will become aggresive and destructive. All the pent up energy will be channeled in unwanted behavior such as excessive chewing,  barking, or even scratching. Exercising will keep a dog entertained and also calm. A dog who has not gone out for a long time will tend to be “wild”.

FAQs:

1.How many times should I exercise my dog?

-Twice a day will do.

2.My dog keeps pulling the leash, what should I do?

-Stay put until he calms down, after which, lead him again. Keep doing this until he realizes that pulling will resort to stopping

3.My dog starts to go wild at the sight of squirrels, other dogs, skaterboards.. etc.. What should I do?

-pretend to not see these objects and divert his attention to something else. Continue walking opposite to these things and gradually your dog will lose interest.

4.Collar or Harness?

-Preferably collars over harness. Collars tend to have more control over your canine friend and contrary to the belief that they choke, they actually don’t.

5.My dog has foam in his mouth when he runs, is this normal?

-An excess of salivating results to this. Let your dog cool down or drink water. Dogs don’t sweat so they cool down by salivating.

6.My dog is in no mood to walk. Why?

-This could probably be a problem related to its health. Take your dog to the Vet.

7.My dog is pregnant, can she walk?

-Walk yes, run no. Don’t make her go around a lot. This will lead to miscarriage.

8.My dog walks around our lawn, is this enough?

-No it is not, a dog in his own territory, no matter how big, will equate it to his territory therefore it doesnt seem significant in distance.

9.I have a lot of dogs, can I walk to them together?

-If your dogs are well trained to do “pack” walking then it is okay, but preferably you ask someone to accompany you. Labradors are BIG, and I mean BIG dogs with lots of power. They can pull you if you are not in control. Heck, they can even drag you like a sleigh in Christmas Day.

10.My dog is full, can I make him run?

-Give him about an hour to settle down and you can start with a slow jog.

1. BATHING
2. BRUSHING

(F.A.Q.’s in the bottom part of post, this will cover questions like Can I use human shampoo on my dog?)

So before we delve more in grooming your dog or grooming your labrador retriever, let us remember what the coat of your Labrador Retriever is supposed to look like. Coat type is very essential to Dog Grooming Basics. Here we have the list of what the Labrador Retriever’s Coat is like:

• Water resistant
• Coarse, dry
• Thick
• Shiny (for the black Lab)
• Short

Knowing the coat condition of your Lab is very essential to the health. When you have a soft coat which is easily washed, or a dull color (especially in the Black Lab) then it indicates a problem. Usually fish oil helps in obtaining a shiny coat. You can buy these pet supplements. Achieving that tough weather-resistant coat is the goal in labs.

Grooming the Coat/Coat Caring Tips

This is the dry part of grooming which precedes the actual washing.

You can use a hairbrush to brush off the dead hair or the hair shedded in the process. Labs are heavy shedders. If you collect a month’s worth of shedded hair you can probably make a pillow.

Remember to brush outwards, not inwards. Check for any particles and stuff which can probably be identified as tick eggs. They will look like black particles and stuff. Check for lesions and scars

NOTE: The grooming process is one way for the owner and dog to bond. Make sure you use the time to give praises to your lab so that it will look forward to this activity.

Washing and Shampooing

After you have done brushing, you can now start the actual bathing process. Now generally speaking, Labs LOVE the water. They are basically associated as swimming dogs. But there are still those some instances when a lab will tend to walk away from the wet side of the world. Take for instance Milan. Milan is a black labrador who walks away from gushing water, but with a little encouragement, she doesn’t seem to dislike it anymore. Just remember, Verbal encouragement go a long way in the Labrador Happy Moment.

NOTE: As long as you use the right DOG SHAMPOO, it is okay to bathe your Lab once a week.

Materials:

• Shampoo – DO NOT USE HUMAN SHAMPOO. it WILL affect your Lab in bad ways. Human shampoo is too strong for the lab
• Tub – although not necessary, it helps in ensuring all parts of the Lab gets washed. At times they would even want to lie down on the tub.
• Towel- after the bath it is important that your lab shakes off the water THEN you rub him/her dry.

Steps:

1. Wash your Lab thoroughly being careful not to get some water in the ears
2. Apply an ample of amount of DOG SHAMPOO on your palm and rub a little to the nape of the Lab being careful not to get it into the eyes or ears.
3. Slowly work your way massaging the head and then slowly working through the neck and chest.
4. Now you can start on the forelegs and the paws, rub in between the paws to make sure no dirt stays stuck in there.
5. Then work your way on the back and the belly. Add water if you feel the shampoo drying up.
6. You continue to the Hind portions and rub well on the base of the tail. This is where you may usually see ticks.
7. Do the same with what you did on the forelegs for the hind limbs.
8. Then work on the base of the tail to the tip. This part is also a good place for fleas to hide so rub them well.
9. Wash off well making sure that no shampoo is left on the coat
10. Let it shake off then rub with towel dry.

Dog Nail Trimming/ Nail Cutting

Nail cutting your dog will pose some sort of nuisance especially if your dog has a fear for such. Thankfully there are some safe nail trimming devices that can help in trimming cleanly and less painfully the nails of your Labrador Retriever. But in case of just using the ordinary pet nailcutter, be careful to not cut any blood vessels while doing so and prepare some corn starch to stop the bleeding. It is still much better if a groomer did it for you.

Ear Care

Do no attempt to insert a cotton bud into the ear of the Labrador Retriever. This part of the dog is very delicate sine it is prone to infections. You can easily clean this by purchasing an ear cleaning solution from your vet and get careful instructions on the application.

Dental Care

You can purchase tootbrushes designed for the dog mouth and special dog toothpaste for you bestfriend. (Not your human bestfriend..)

Brush the teeth outwards so as not to push food stuff deeper into the cavity of the mouth.

If the tartar gets too much and you need serious dental treatment then the Vet can provide Oral Prophylaxis. Rather expensive but assures you of a cleaner and healthier set of teeth.

FAQ’s:

1. Can I use human shampoo?   -NO, NO, and NO
2. Will my dog’s coat go dry if I wash it often? As long as you use the right shampoo, it doesn’t
3. Does taking my dog to the groomer make a difference?  Yes, in quality and in your wallet weight
4. Can I use soap? Dog soap yes, human soap no.
5. Can I use scissors to cut nails? No, no and no
6. What should I do if my dog has ticks and fleas? Consider using proper medication such as Frontline, and I did notice that my dog’s All-in-one dewormer helped, but best if you consult a vet. Don’t play doctor, you don’t have the certificate.

Here are the options for those who plan to go for the breed.

1. House with backyard -it helps if a person has a backyard so your dog can have a place to move around.
2. Apartment with decent space- the labrador retriever is a big dog, meaning it needs space, if your confident that your dog won’t chew away your furniture then by all means keep him inside, but don’t forget to let him out everyday
3. Cage -a good number still prefer to keep their dogs in cages, well, it’s fine as long as it does get to go out everyday to do its daily “business” and to get a sense of freedom. Come on, it doesn’t deserve to be a prisoner you know.
4. Leashed -while at times this keeps your dog safely in place, but one must be careful of any accidents that may occur like getting tangled and choked by its own leash.

Conclusion: Just make sure your dog gets to move, proceed with its business and have a happy life. If your housing style will hinder your dog from getting what it deserves, then might as well not have the dog. Shelter is an important commodity. If you can’t provide it, don’t keep him.

INDOORS or OUTDOORS?

There are some who prefer to keep their buddies indoors. It is a good option and makes you closer to your beloved canine pal, however one must take into consideration these things:

1. House hazaards
2. Furniture Chewing
3. Housetraining
4. Sleeping area for your dog
5. Other pets
6. breakable objects
7. Objects which can scare your dog
8. Edible objects but are health threats to your dog

However if you do have outdoors you also will need to consider these:

1. Weather/Seasonal changes
2. Possibility of flea infection from neighboring dogs
3. Your dog will keep barking at anything that will pass by
4. Dog will have tendency to become over excited when seeing you
5. Dog will become hyper most of the time if caged outside
6. Dog will be susceptible to any disease from neighboring dogs

So keep it into consideration to choose what place is best for your dogs when it comes to making your dog stay in a safe place where he can be happy.

Some may think that obesity in dogs will make them look cuter and make them stop moving around. It may look cute to see a round dog slowly making its way while walking to towards you. But it won’t look cute when that dog completely stops moving.

Obesity can lead to a good number of complications in the body. Common amongst large breed dogs would poor nutrition, overeating, and lack of movement is the Osteoarthritis.

So here comes the question: what should I feed my Lab and how much?

Nutrition

The six components for good nutrition in dogs are: water, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins,  and minerals. Out of these six, the labrador needs 5 of these to survive. The one component that the labrador may live without is carbohydrates. If one can recall the dogs of the past, or even the wolves, they didn’t really have carbs as part of their daily diet. But even if it is not neccesary, carbohydrates are easy to digest and absorb therefore play a good part in providing energy.

1.Water

This is one important component in a dog’s nutrition that a lot of people take for granted. Just like in man, dehydration in dogs can lead to a lot of other complications. Prevention is always better than the cure itself so always provide you dog with plentiful amount of water. Remember that this dog was built to withstand the cold not the heat. Under high temperatures your dog could die. (being a devil’s advocate here)

*here’s an interesting way to keep your dogs hydrated, feed them with ice, they’ll love it.

2.Fats

The calorie content in fats is twice the amount as compared to proteins and carbohydrates. Meaning more energy. Dogs digest fats better than humans which explains why they need a good amount of it more than humans do. They also need EFA’s or Essential Fatty Acids found in plants which are good for their digestion. But excessive amounts of Fat can also help in the development of other complications. Some theory suggests that excessive oily food can cause Osteoarthritis (a problem in the joints which makes the dog in pain and unable to move) because it dissolves an important ground substance in the joints called Chondroitin Sulfate.

3.Carbohydrates

Aside from being a quick source of easily absorbed energy, they also form part in other biological functions in the body such as protein and fat metabolism regulation. Most, if not all commercial dog food which are dry are based on carbs in the forms of grain and cereal products. As previously stated, carbohydrates is not neccesarily an essential to the dog’s survival. It is  glucose, a specific kind of carbohydrate which a dog needs. It can be found in proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. So if you will not have carbs in your dog’s diet, you will need to make up for it in the fats and protein intake.

4.Proteins

Living things are made up of protein. Man is made up of 50% protein in each cell. Dog’s cells are the same. So we need to eat more of what makes us. Generally speaking protein is also important for the muscle development in the body. Proteins are responsible for growth, maintenance, and healing in the body. It is however, very important to base that your protein for your dog comes from an animal source not from a plant source, because animal-derived protein is what is more natural for your dog. (unfortunately dog food labels don’t post their protein source, try to take time to research more if needed)

5.Vitamins

There are two kinds of vitamins: the fat soluble vitamins (A,D, E, and K) and the water soluble vitamins (C and the eight B vitamins). Fat-soluble vitamins need dietary fat in order to be absorbed into the body, while the water solubles ones need… well, water.

Basically, there are a good number of things that vitamins can do good in a dog’s body. Let’s just put it this way, if your dog has a deficiency in one of these, it’ll hurt him bad. Once again, prevention is still better than the cure itself.

6.Minerals

Question, how does this differ from vitamins? Simple, they’re inorganic. So basically, they’re as important as your vitamins too. Examples of these are sulfur, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and the electrolytes sodium, potassium and chloride)

CHOOSING YOUR DOG’S FOOD

Price is a major factor. I will not lie to you by saying that price does not matter because it does. Cheaper dog foods (the ones that are impossibly cheap) pose as a risk for your dog. More expensive dog foods are a better assurance but not a 100% assurance. In choosing your dog food it is recommended that you ask someone from your area who is breeding dogs, or better yet ask your vet.

Types of Food

1.Dry food- the one that comes in kibble. convenient, affordable, and reasonable. Therefore, recommended

2.Canned wet food- canned food which are appetizing to your canine friend.

3.BARF (Bone and Raw Food) – as the name suggests it to be, but one must be careful and not do this on his own or the nutritional balance will be affected.

4.Dry food turn wet-yep, it’s dry kibble then add a little water, the powdered gravy becomes gravy.

NOTE: NEVER and I mean NEVER feed your dog food from the table. Why? Build the habit ruin the health. Besides, you’re not sure which food is safe and which is not.

Here is a small list of what is not good or what is poisonous for your dog:

1. Grapes
2. Raisins
3. Chocolate
4. Onions
5. Corncobs

Feeding Schedules

ADULTS:

2 times a day, 2 whole cups per meal (or depending on the suggestion on the dog food label)

PUPPIES:

4 times a day, 1-2 cups a day (don’t worry about the pup getting fat, it’s still growing, but do know when to control, ALWAYS ask for advice from the vet)

For any questions regarding feeding your dog please contact us through email@mylabrador.info

(Source: Terra Nova books: The Labrador Retriever)

What is the labrador retriever for? What can it do? I know people would much rather have this in a listed form so you can see if these are things you look for in the dog.

1.Swimmer

This function was a winning point for me. I always wanted a dog that could swim with me. These love the water. And they do know how to swim.

2. Retriever

Need I say more?

3. Tracker/Sniffer

With its powerful sense of smell, this dog is a perfect dog for sniffing out substances such as drugs and good for bomb sniffing. In a good number of hotles I either see a Belgian Malinois or a Labrador Retriever for the bomb sniffing.

4. Jogging Partner

You want to make sure that this energy spurting creature must calm down, you will need to exercise with it. If you want a companion to make the run with you without easily tiring then this is the dog for you. (just don’t forget to give it a lot of water)

5. Family dog

Yep, the perfect family dog. The gentle giant. With its adorable eyes, and non-aggresive nature, everyone is sure to love it.

These are but a few things that a labrador can do.

Another few are:

-frisbee fetch

-gundog

-agility

-Handicap assistant

Labrador Retriever

Being a dog loved by almost everyone, one would tend to wonder what exactly is it made of? How can you tell if a Lab is truly a Lab? Let is get into the more detailed explanation of what your lab is supposed to look like.

The distinguishing characteristics of the Labrador Retriever are their short, dense, weather-resistant coat, otter tail, clean-cut head, and kind eyes (puppy eyes). Life span may range from 10 to 12 years depending on health care of the canine member of the family.

Color

Generally speaking, a lab has only 3 colors: Black, Yellow, and Chocolate brown. Some yellow may range from deep yellow to faded almost white color. Some think that health is related to color. Although no study shows that color is a determinant of factors such as diseases and temperament, it is rather obvious that black Labs have a greater tendency to overheat as its color absorbs heat.

Body

The height from shoulders of the adult male down, is 22.5 to 24.4 inches whilst in the female it should be 21.5 to 23.5 inches. If there is a half an inch variation from the given sizes, then it is a candidate for disqualification from the show ring. It just shows that in conformation, size does really matter. But disqualification from the show ring does not indicate that what you have is not a Labrador.

Ideal weight would be 65-80 lbs. for male and 55-70 lbs. for female, but Labradors being heavy eaters can easily even go at 100 lbs..

The ideal form of the Lab is short-coupled, with well-sprung ribs. Its body should be long enough to allow a straight efficient stride but should never appear to have long legs.

Head

They should have wide skull. The lips should fall in a curve towards its throat. Nose color for blacks and yellows should be balck while the chocolate ones have brown. A pink nose is subject to disqualification. (I believe it is related to albinism genes involved). The nose should be wide and the nostrils well developed.

The upper teeth should overlap the lower ones when in a bite formation. Missing molars of can result to disqualification in the show. Healthy teeth are whitish yellowish in color.

Eyes should be in any color as indicated in the breed color: black and yellow labs- brown eyes, chocolate labs- brown or hazel eyes. The eye rims should either be black or yellow.

Labrador Retriever

Neck

The neck should never be very short. It should serve the important function of the Labrador retriever which is to retrieve from the ground.

Forequarters and Hindquarters

They must have  muscular forequarters and must be well balanced. The ideal length of the shoulder blade should be equal to the length of the upper arm. Legs should be perpendicular to the ground. The elbows should be close to the ribs without looseness. The feet are compact with well-arched toes. One cannot forget the webbed toes of the Labrador built for swimming.

Tail

We all know that the lab is very adept in swimming. And to help it in its swimming is the very important otter tail which is thick from base and gradually thinner till the tip. The tail is basically used for steering.

Coat

This has got to be the most distinguishable feature of the lab. Being a dog for the weather of no mercy, the lab must have short, dense, oiled, weather resistant and water-resistant coat. In blacks, the shiny black coat is a sign of a healthy Labrador.

Movement

As described in a lot of other books, the breed must be free and effortless in their gait. No weaving should occur, and the legs should form straight lines. Any abnormality in the movement should be due for a check up in the Vet’s.

Temperament

Generally, everyone agrees to the lovable attitude of the Labrador. As long as it is in normal conditions, the labrador is almost always friendly. The presence of a good temper is a MUST in labs. That is why the labradors are very good for training. Due to its friendliness, the lab is not very much of a guard dog. But one thing is for sure, they are people loving dogs.