Labrador Retriever

Coat & Grooming: Labradors have a slightly oily coat, and that contributes to its waterproof qualities. The coat should not be dull, and it should be thick and even with no focal areas of hair loss. Labradors never need to be clipped, and doing so can irreversibly change the look and feel of the coat.

Be sure and monitor your Lab’s nails, and trim them when they extend more than ¼ inch past the pad. Longer nails can easily get caught in the space between boards on backyard decking, and cause painful tears. And don’t forget to brush your Lab’s teeth 2 - 3 times per week to maintain good dental and gum health, and use a toothpaste formulated for dogs.

Shedding: Labradors shed twice yearly during spring and winter. They have a double coat to keep them waterproof and warm. Weekly brushing is recommended, as it loosens and removes hairs that are in the process of falling out and reduces the amount of vacuuming required.

Training: Training a Labrador Retriever can be both fun and rewarding. Labradors are a highly intelligent breed and have the potential to be easy to train. But they’re also high-energy and continue to display puppy-like behavior well into their adult years. So it’s very important to begin training them as early as possible to make it an easy process. One way to do this is by rewarding them with treats, and making it into a game. As much as they want to make you happy, they also just want to play all the time.

Labrador training takes patience, but that’s true of most breeds. They excel at competitive training, such as field trial competitions and dock diving, because they love to please. Investigate opportunities for joining groups in your area that teach these types of activities to owners and their dogs.

Barking: Labradors have a deep, somewhat sharp bark that they tend to use when someone unfamiliar is spotted or a threat to their territory is perceived. Because Labradors are sociable animals who enjoy the company of humans and other animals, if they are left alone for long periods of time (especially regularly) they can develop anxiety and barking issues.

Make sure you set aside time every day to be with your Lab, exercising, playing games, or just hanging out. Crate training can be very beneficial for puppies, as it keeps them safe and helps them to feel safe, decreasing the chance that they will develop an anxiety issue.

Labradors rarely growl unless they feel there is a substantial threat to them or their “people.” They also do not tend to howl or whine excessively.

Personality: The Labrador personality is one of the things that attracts many people to the breed. Labradors are some of the most social dogs out there. They typically love meeting and playing with other dogs, and tend to be well-mannered canine citizens that don’t start fights with other dogs.

Temperament & Behavior: Labradors are cheerful, big, tail-wagging companions. There’s a reason they’re the most popular dog breed in America. They are great with family members of all ages and even friendly to strangers. Labradors are full of energy, and they’re the type of dog that will run to the door to greet you after a long day.

Behavior with Kids: Labradors are possibly one of the best breeds for families with small children. They have a high level of tolerance and are incredibly gentle and sweet, despite their size advantage over small children.

Protection: Generally, the friendliness inherent in a Lab’s disposition overrides any strong protective instinct. They are by no means timid, but typically warm up to strangers after perhaps a brief period of initial suspicion.

Life span: On average, the life expectancy of a Labrador is 11-13 years.

Inherited Health Issues: Certain diseases are common in Labrador Retrievers. Sometimes we understand the exact mechanism through which these diseases are inherited, and other times we simply understand that there are statistically larger numbers of a particular breed of dog diagnosed with the disease. For many diseases, genetic testing is available to ensure that a specific breeding dog does not have the condition. It is always wise to search for a breeder who performs that testing, as it gives you a larger degree of confidence that the puppy you end up with will be healthier.

Common diseases among Labs include: tricuspid valve dysplasia, laryngeal paralysis, allergies, Cushing’s disease, portosystemic shunt, elbow dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans, patellar luxation, cancer, exercise- induced collapse, idiopathic epilepsy, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal dysplasia.

Preventive Care: Because Labradors are often happy-go-lucky dogs that exhibit a high tolerance for pain, and continue to have an appetite despite the presence of serious disease, routine veterinary care is critical to ensuring that they stay healthy. As you can see from the list above, Labradors do have their share of health problems, so it’s important to keep up regular preventive care visits, even when it doesn’t appear that anything is amiss. Your veterinarian is trained to pick up on the subtle changes in your Labrador’s health status early, before they become big and potentially serious problems.

Labradors are more likely to have to joint problems and allergies, so often supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil capsules may be beneficial, as research shows that these fatty acids play a role in decreasing inflammation in the body. Use a good quality product, preferably manufactured for the veterinary market.

Also, remember that your Labrador is prone to gaining weight, especially after spaying or neutering. Remember that letting your Labrador become overweight will compound any pre-existing joint problems. Visiting the veterinarian for regular weigh-ins can help to keep you aware of unwanted weight gain.

Every dog deserves high quality, consistent preventive care to ensure that he lives a long and happy life.

All Labrador puppies should be fed a puppy food specifically formulated for large breeds until they are skeletally mature, at around one year of age. These foods have carefully restricted amounts of calcium and phosphorus, and are designed to encourage appropriate growth rates. Bone growth that is too rapid has been identified as a risk factor for the development of hip dysplasia in large breed dogs.

Labrador retrievers are prone to obesity, so it’s critical to monitor their weight at regular vet checkups and feed conservatively. Labradors are especially food-motivated, and they will beg for food even when they have been fed sufficiently. As your puppy becomes a grown dog, it may become necessary to purchase a kitchen trash can with a heavy lid to discourage scavenging.

These dogs love food, and they have a tendency to “scarf” their food, which leads to something called “aerophagia” - literally, ingesting air - and that can produce indigestion and gas, and make them more likely to suffer from the serious and life-threatening condition of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). Many Labrador owners find that purchasing food bowls that are designed to slow food intake help their dogs eat at a more normal pace, decreasing aerophagia substantially.

Just like any dog, access to fresh water is critical. Labradors tend to drink a lot, so ensure that they have 1-2 easily accessible sources of water that are refreshed daily - more during summer months.

There are diets specifically formulated for dogs with osteoarthritis that contain high amounts of fatty acids, as they may reduce the production of the inflammatory compounds that contribute to the pain associated with the disease. Since Labradors are prone to a number of skeletal problems that contribute to the development of arthritis, feeding a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, or supplementing with high quality veterinary fish oil capsules, is worth considering.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Lab is 3-4 cups.

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: Labradors love to go on walks, runs, and swims. They do best in homes with yards, or with owners willing to give them plenty of time to exercise each day. If they stay inside all day, they have a tendency to display destructive behaviors. Labradors can thrive in an indoor environment, as long as they are given sufficient time outside everyday in order to “burn” some of that abundant energy.

Labradors typically love toys! If you get a puppy, be sure to choose toys that are safe and don’t break or shred easily. Very hard chew toys, like deer antlers and the knuckle bones of cows, will break teeth and cause pain in the mouth. Toys made of very hard rubber that are resistant to being chewed up are a great idea. Beware of soft toys with squeakers inside; dogs will often extract and swallow the squeaker, and these can easily become lodged in the intestines. Tennis balls tend to be quite abrasive, and dogs that play with them routinely often sacrifice tooth enamel, so look for tennis balls specially designed for dogs at your local pet store.

Make sure your Labrador has a comfortable place to sleep that can accommodate his large frame. Sleeping on hard surfaces, such as rock or concrete, can cause roughness and fluid buildup around pressure points like the elbows.

Climate: Labradors do well in most all climates, however in extremely harsh winter environments they do best with a protective layer of clothing when outside. Their coats are oily by nature and water-resistant, so they wick away water and dry quickly when wet.