Labrador retriever is an excellent family dog due to its loyal and friendly nature. It’s a medium to large size breed with a strong retrieving instinct. Labrador has consistently been ranked as the most popular dog breed in the United States. For more than a decade labs are quite social and friendly dogs. And can get along easily with family members and other pets. It’s due to their friendly nature that they are not recommended as watchdogs. Labs are not just family dogs but also make excellent service dogs. Because of their sweet and affectionate nature. They are considered idle therapy dogs.
History About labrador retriever dog
Labrador retrievers are not from labrador city. But from Newfoundland, a province in Canada. Originally called Saint John’s dogs. They were the traditional water dogs of Newfoundland. These dogs helped the local fishermen to hunt and retrieve fish during the early 1800s. These dogs Were spotted by the visiting English nobility. These English nobles were very impressed with the dog. And bought the progenitors of this breed to England. This breed was later refined and standardized by the British. By breeding it with British hunting dogs. Labs were recognized as a breed by the kennel club. In 1903 the American kennel club accepted the breed in 1917.
All About Labrador Retriever dogs, are known for their loyalty and intelligence, making them excellent working dogs in addition to beloved family pets. It’s no wonder that so many people are passionate about Labrador Retriever dogs. with their incredible energy and loving nature.
Food and nutrition
Food plays a significant role in determining a dog’s health, lifespan, and quality of life. Labs are medium to large dog breeds. And require a well-balanced high-quality diet. The food requirements of a labrador vary with his age puppies are in a growing phase.
Labrador puppy food requirement
Their growing bodies need more protein content than adult dogs. They are supposed To be filled 3 to 4 times a day. With small servings once a puppy reaches one year of age. Switch Its food to adult type.
Adult labrador food requirement
Adult dogs need higher calories since they are more active. Usually, they are fed twice a day. Senior dogs tend to be less active and may have some potential health problems. They have specific nutritional requirements that are tailored to their specific health needs. If your lab is over or underweight, he needs a different diet advised by a veterinarian. There is a general rule that a more active dog will need more calories than a lazier one.
In the United States, commercial food products are supposed to follow the guidelines advised by the AAFCO. Make sure that you buy food that is AAFCO compliant. Protein is the most important ingredient.
Proteins
Protein in the dog’s food is crucial for the overall growth of the body. Protein is supposed to be the first ingredient on the food label. Since ingredients are arranged in decreasing order of weight. Animal-based proteins are more easily digestible than plant ones. According to the AAFCO, the minimum protein requirement is 22% for a puppy and 18 for an adult dog. These are minimum requirements usually dog food has more protein content than these.
Fats
Fat is the second main ingredient in the dog’s food. It provides a concentrated form of energy as per AAFCO guidelines. The minimum fat requirements are 8% for a puppy and 5% for an adult dog. Some of the other key ingredients in the dog’s food. Are supposed to be carbohydrates, omega-3 fatty acids, essential vitamins, and minerals. Avoid dog food brands that contain fillers artificial preservatives or chemical flavorings. Labs are very food-driven dogs and have a tendency to gain weight easily.
Obesity
Once overweight they could easily become obese which will result in a number of health problems. Obesity is a serious health condition for dogs. It could lead to Hip or elbow dysplasia, heart disease, diabetes, etc. Obesity could ultimately shorten their lifespan. Monitor their weight and calorie intake. Give them proper exercise. Treats should be given in moderation. If your lab is overweight consult with a vet about its food requirements. You need to know about labrador retriever dogs’ obesity problem while buying. Because if you are lazy then this breed is not for you.
Exercise
Labradors were bred to be versatile working dogs. They have strong hunting and retrieving nature. They need regular exercise activities to keep their muscular bodies in shape. And burn off extra calories in fact they are happiest and thrive. When given proper mental and physical stimulation. Labs are workaholics who enjoy outdoor activities. They need at least 1 hour of exercise daily, and love hiking, and running. Labs also enjoy activities like playing fetch doc, diving scent trails, etc. They could participate in a number of canine sports. Such as agility tracking obedience etc. Retrieving and swimming are their favorite activities as they were bred to be water retriever dogs.
Labradors love water and are naturally drawn to it. Their double coats webbed toes and otter tails make them excellent water dogs. A labrador puppy, however, needs to be handled with care. It does not need much exercise activity, particularly in the first 3 months of life. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical stimulation. Their mental stimulation is achieved in a number of ways. Such as learning new tricks, playing with puzzle toys, playing scent games, etc. Without adequate physical and mental stimulation. They become bored and destructive you may observe some hyperactive behavior like breaking digging and chewing. Lack of proper exercise is also a contributing factor to their obesity.
Grooming
Their Coats come in 3 different colors yellow black and chocolate. Labrador has a thick water-repellent coat. This water-repellent double-layered coat makes them an ideal water dog. Since their outer Coats are short. They seldom develop mats or tangles. However, they shed a lot and need to be brushed 2 or 3 times a week. Brushing spreads natural oils throughout their skin and allows you to spot any kind of skin infections. During their shedding season which is in spring and fall. They need frequent brushing labs to have a short outer coat and regular brushing of it. They need only occasional baths. However, if they become dirty or messy they should be given a bath. Bathing too often deprives the always use of dog-specific products. Since dogs may be allergic to human shampoo soap etc.
Ear care
A study by the royal veterinary college indicates. Ear infections are the most common disorder among labradors. Their ears should be checked weekly for any odor debris or wax accumulation. An odor coming from the ears is usually a sign of infection. Clean their outer ear using a cotton ball. And a vet-recommended cleaning solution does not insert q-tips into their ear canals.
Nails care
Trim their nails once or twice a month depending on the growth. If you can hear the nails clicking on the floor. They need to be trimmed in black and chocolate-colored labradors. The quick portion isn’t clearly visible. Make sure not to cut the quick portion of their nails.
Teeth care
Dental hygiene Is essential to prevent tartar and gum disease. Brush their teeth 2 or 3 times a week using a soft toothbrush. Designed for dogs and don’t use human toothpaste since fluoride can upset their stomach.
Training
Labradors are very intelligent and trainable dogs. They have been ranked 7th in the list of intelligent dog breeds by doctor Stanley corrin. A renowned canine psychologist it’s because of their easy trainability. They are highly used as service and companion dogs. Labs have an innate ability to learn new things and please their owner. This makes the training an easy task. Start the training process early when your puppy is 7 to 8 weeks old. A young puppy can easily be molded into the desired personality. However young puppies should be trained in short sessions that are fun and easy for them.
Basic obedience commands
The first thing that your dog needs to learn is basic obedience commands. These are different hand gestures and verbal commands. Such as come, sit, stay, drop, etc. You can enroll your puppy in an obedience training class. However, these basic commands can be taught at home as well as some of the other traits techniques. What your lab needs to learn are crate training, property training, lease training, etc.
Reward-based training
Reward-based training in the form of treats and praise is the key to a successful training process. Labs are very food-driven dogs and can be trained easily using treats. Positive reinforcement will accelerate the training process. Scolding or punishing your dog is completely counterproductive. And should be avoided at all costs. Keep the training session short fun and easy for your lab. A short focused session of 5 to 10 minutes is enough for them to teach only one command.
Socialization
In a session, labradors need early socialization. Just like any other breed, it helps them become well-behaved. Adult dogs expose your dog to different people animals and situations. Walk them outside to a dog’s park or a market. Enrolling them in a puppy kindergarten class is a great idea for their socialization. The prime time for socializing a puppy is between 2 to 4 months of age. Poorly socialized dogs feel uncomfortable and are fearful of new people, places, and animals. While knowing About labrador retriever dogs make sure that the socialization priority should be on top.
Health care
According to the American kennel club, the lifespan of a labrador is 10 to 12 years. Research by the royal veterinary college indicates. Chocolate-colored labradors have significantly shorter lives than black and yellow labs. The median lifespan of a chocolate lab is 10.7 years. Which is almost 10% shorter than that of their black or yellow counterparts. Chocolate labs are also more prone to skin and ear infections. Labs are generally healthy dogs. But as with all breeds, there are some general and breed-specific health issues. Some of the potential health concerns for labs are:
- overweight
- hip and elbow dysplasia
- eye diseases
- heart diseases
- hereditary
- myopathy
Among these obesity and joint disorders are the top health concerns for labs. The most common cause of death in labs is a musculoskeletal disorder. Which accounts for almost a quarter of lab deaths.
Clearance tests
Labradors are prone to a number of heredity disorders. That can be prevented if their Parents are genetically tested before mating. Breeders are supposed to genetically test their breeding dogs for genetic diseases. This prevents the transmission of heredity diseases to the next generation of labrador puppies. You should expect to check the clearance test of puppy parents for the following health issues. Certificate from OFA for hip dysplasia, and a certificate from OFA for elbow dysplasia. Certificate from CEF for eye evaluation and DNA test for EIC. The results and scoring of these tests can be found on the CHIC website. While considering this breed for your family you need to understand About labrador retriever dog Clearance test.
After reading this article you will know About labrador retriever dogs.
