A Guide For Labrador Retriever Owners and Fanatics
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Do you have questions, articles, pictures, news, training tips or any information pertaining to Labradors. Would you like us to do a dog product review? Send us an e-mail and I will gladly post them on this blog and try to answer any questions you may have.
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As always, with most samples listed on the All About Labradors blog, don't delay in making your request or they will be gone. The offer is for the USA only.
You can begin some elementary retrieving exercises at eight weeks or so, and your Labrador will most likely love the game and look forward to it each day. To teach the basic mechanics of the fetch (run out, pick up the object, return the object to the master, and release), begin by placing the puppy on a 10-foot lead. Take a favorite toy or a ball large enough not to be swallowed, dangle it in front and above the dog's head to gain its attention, and toss it 5 to 6 feet in front of you. Precede your command with your dog's name. For example, say, "Jake, fetch!" As he races for the toy, follow behind him. Make sure the lead stays loose and does not snap shut and frighten or hurt him (and perhaps permanently sour him on retrieving).
If he picks up the toy, praise him encouragingly. Should he merely eye or paw the toy, make him pick it up by shaking it in front of him, repeating "Jake, fetch!" Once he has grasped the toy, walk backwards to your beginning spot. Coax him to follow you by motioning him toward you using your hands and fingers. When he arrives back, get the toy from his mouth by commanding "Out!" and gently pulling it loose. Now is the time to give him a lot of praise and affection - not during the exercise, although encouragement can be helpful.
At such a young age, the emphasis in this and all types of exercise is on fun, not on performance. Improvement in response should naturally come with familiarity. As the puppy masters the game, vary it. Keep the dog guessing. Try to remain in position and not move out toward the toy. Later, you can attach a longer lead and extend the distance of your throw, or throw the toy sideways. Any Labrador retriever worth its name will take easily and eagerly to this game.
It is recommended that you play with the puppy often and consciously make an effort to get down to its level. Standing upright, humans can be quite an imposing sight for a puppy. Sitting or lying on the floor, they are no longer towers but friendly companions. Giving a puppy some eye-to-eye attention will go a long way in cementing the human-dog bond.
Because Labrador retrievers make good swimmers as adults, some misinformed people think this gives them the liberty to dunk young puppies into any available pool of water. A Labrador is a natural swimmer, but the dog needs to learn the fundamentals before being expected to feel at ease in the water. When a puppy's first exposure to the water is being thrown or forced in, the shock may make it dislike and fear the water throughout life. Many potential field dogs have been ruined by improper or overzealous training.
The first introduction to the water can begin while a puppy is quite young (three months is a good age). A puppy should be able to master the mechanics very quickly, especially if "shown the ropes" by some older dogs. The owner should always be nearby, should trouble arise. It often helps the dog feel at ease if the owner wades into the water with it on the first dip.
Ponds or lakes, with their easy entries, are best for training water dogs. The slick tiles and steep sides of a pool are often unmanageable for the dog, and many drownings have occurred when an exhausted dog was unable to climb out of the water. Similarly, a young puppy is not strong enough to manage a rough ocean surf, but should be encouraged to play along the shoreline in a sheltered area of shallow water.
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Complete the form on the Banfield website to get printable coupon. Print and bring the coupon to your Pet's first scheduled exam at your local Banfield (located in PetSmart), and the exam is FREE!
Hip Dysplasia is a widespread condition that primarily affects large breeds of dogs. Hip dysplasia is a painful, crippling disease that causes a dog's hip to weaken, deteriorate and become arthritic.
Hip dysplasia literally means an abnormality in the development of the hip joint. It is characterized by a shallow acetabulum (the "cup" of the hip joint) and changes in the shape of the femoral head (the "ball" of the hip joint). These changes may occur due to excessive laxity in the hip joint.
In the following video, Morkel Pienaar (BVSc Cert Ophtal MRCVS) of vetstoria.com, explains:
For those of you that feed your Labrador Retrievers Wellness foods or snacks, here are a couple of coupons to save you some money.
First is for $5.00 off Wellness Dry Dog Food (or cat food). Offer is valid on any purchase of Wellness® Dry Dog Food. Limit 1 coupon per purchase, per customer. Good only on product(s), sizes and flavors indicated. Customer pays sales tax. RETAILER: Offer expires 12/28/09. OFFER VALID ONLY IN THE U.S.
The second coupon is for $2.00 OFF Wellness® Snacks for Dogs (or cats). Good only on product(s), sizes and flavors indicated. Customer pays sales tax. RETAILER: Offer expires 12/28/09.
Atopy or atopic dermatitis is an allergic skin disease of dogs. In the allergic state, the dog’s immune system ‘overreacts’ to foreign substances (allergens) to which it is exposed. The most common type of allergy is the inhalant type, also known as atopy. It results in itchiness, either localized (in one or several areas) or generalized (all over the dog). Common allergens that can cause atopy include tree pollens, grass and weed pollens, moulds, mildew, and the house dust mite.
Canine Atopic Dermatitis, also known as atopy is a common itchy skin allergy in dogs caused by a disorder of the dog's immune system. It is an allergy to substances in the environment that are inhaled by the dog. These substances are called allergens and cause the immune system to over re-act and release histamines.
"Dr. Wayne Rosenkrantz, DVM, DACVD, discusses Atopy in dogs-clinical signs, allergies, skin infections & treatment options. Dr. Rosenkrantz, specializes in Animal Dermatology in Tustin, CA. This video is NOT meant to replace the advice of your regular vet."
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Information from Happytails Canine Spa:
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Right now they are offering a free 1 oz sample size of Bubbles 'n Beads. You will receive a confirmation e-mail, so make sure you watch for it. I also received a free 20% Promo Code for a future order in my e-mail.
Be advised, the first 500 responses per week will receive free sample. If you don't get it this week, don't forget to try again next week. Available in the USA and Canada.
Find out the history of the Labrador Retriever with information from certified dog trainer, Nancy Frensley in this free video on dog care and obedience.
Frensley is the K-9 program leader and training manager of the K-9 College at the Berkeley East Bay Human Society.
Quick tips to remember when caring for a Labrador Retriever:
Subject: Do Labrador Retrievers get cold during the winter - UPDATE
From: Ashley (USA)
Labrador Retriever's Name: Junior
Fay,
Thank you soo much for the helpful information! Its starting to get cold, but thankfully he is bundled up in his doggy house with blankets. I always stick the blankets in the dryer just so they can stay warm for him. His name is Junior =)! Barely 10 months still VERY hyper and extremely happy. He truly is my heart! Thank you soo much again.
With Christmas around the corner, my children make their list of what to get their siblings and our two lovable Labrador Retrievers. While searching the Internet we came across some products of interest for my Labrador Retriever girls and I thought I would share them with the readers of this blog (just in case you haven't pick up your gifts yet).
I'll be posting future post with other Labrador Retriever Christmas Gifts.
Hyper Products makes many unique interactive toys for your Labrador Retriever but we like the Doggie Driver or the Hyper Dog Launcher (available with 2 or 4 ball launcher).
We figured The Doggie Driver will be a gift for dad as well as our two Labrador Retriever girls as it provides practicing his golf swing while exercising our dogs. Swings like a regular golf club, this slobber-free tennis ball launcher will send your Labrador Retriever in pursuit up to 100 yards. After your Labrador returns the ball, just push the open end of the Doggie Driver against the ball to pick it up. Nice and easy.
Watch this beautiful Labrador Retriever have some fun with the Hyper Products Doggie Driver.
The Hyper Dog Ball Launcher shoots tennis balls away, up to 220 feet, for your Labrador Retriever to fetch. It's slingshot design allows you to play catch over and over without getting doggie drool on your hands and makes picking up the ball easier.
Watch these very energetic Labrador Retrievers show of using the Hyper Dog Ball Launcher!
Hyper Products offers many other interactive toys for your Labrador Retriever as well as treats, training aides and cool gear.
You can find Hyper products at just about any main dog supply store or any easy search of the Internet will bring you plenty of results (PetCo, Amazon, etc).
Here's a helpful video and accompanying article in regards to table for for your Labrador Retriever and other pets you may have.
Dr. Karen Becker of Mercola Healthy Pets, dispels the long-held myth that “table food” is bad for your pets.
Human, edible foods can be very healthy for your pets. Throw away the concept of “cat” food and “dog” food, and just think “food” -- food that grows in the ground or comes from animal products.
A whole generation of pet owners is afraid to feed anything but over processed rendered food to their pets. But there’s no way you can create abundant health in an animal by providing only the minimum nutrients it needs for survival. Dogs and cats have a living food requirement, just like you do.
The food you feed your pet should be biologically suited to meet your dog’s or cat’s needs. Dog and cat chow may be nutritionally “complete,” but it is akin to your drinking a meal replacement shake three times a day for the rest of your life … or giving them to your kids in lieu of fresh foods.
Yet, many veterinarians will often recommend you feed your pets kibble or canned food for the rest of their lives. Some will go so far as to say that feeding your pet anything that doesn’t come from a bag or can will be harming your pet!
This is a paradigm problem, and one that can be very confusing for pet owners.
In reality, there’s no way you can give your pet the food it needs to thrive if you do not feed it a biologically appropriate diet that includes a variety of fresh foods.
In fact, a growing number of holistic-minded veterinarians state that processed pet food (kibbled and canned food) is the number one cause of illness and premature death in modern dogs and cats.
So how did conventional veterinary nutrition positions get so skewed?
Well, major dog and cat food manufacturers provide much of the veterinary nutrition information to veterinary students. It becomes engrained in many new vets’ minds that it’s wrong to feed pets “living” fresh foods.
This is a myth!
Your Pets Need Living Foods
Veterinarians tell you to never offer living foods to your pet. But your pets need living foods on a consistent basis to achieve optimal health.
So, yes, you can and should offer your pets some of the very same foods that you enjoy. And since those foods are at a much higher grade nutritionally than typical dog or cat foods, they may be the healthiest foods your pets have ever consumed.
As you know, I recommend you feed your dogs and cats an all raw, nutritionally balanced living food diet. In my opinion, the only viable excuse to not to feed your pets a species appropriate diet is cost. Feeding raw food cost more than dry food. However, raw fed animals have fewer health problems, which mean lower vet bills over a lifetime. If you cannot afford to feed your pet an all raw diet, don’t deny your pet’s access to living foods throughout the day, in the form of treats. Remember, treats (even really healthy treats) should not constitute more than 15 percent of your pet’s daily food intake.
Berries are one of the best treats you can offer. Bite size and packed with antioxidants. Many cats enjoy zucchini and cantaloupe. . My favorite training treats for dogs include peas, raw nuts (remember, the only nuts you should never feed your pets are macadamia nuts).
A salad without dressing, but with plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, is also good for your cats -- your pets are chewing on your houseplants for a reason, after all.
Avoid giving your carnivorous companions biologically inappropriate foods, including grains, such as oats, soy, millet, , wheat, or rice. Dogs and cats do not have a carbohydrate requirement and feeding your pets these pro-inflammatory foods creates unnecessary metabolic roadblocks to health.
Furthermore, there are certainly some foods that are toxic to feed to dogs and cats such as grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and onions. Never feed your pets these foods.
The Optimal Choice to Feed Your Pets
I highly recommend you give your dog or cat an opportunity to experience living raw foods like fruits and veggies as treats, and feed them a biologically appropriate, balanced raw diet the rest of the time.
Remember, your pet is resilient and can eat a variety of suboptimal, metabolically stressful foods on occasion and be fine, but because it’s my goal to provide a diet that most closely fits your companion’s biological requirements, I don’t recommend a lifetime of kibble or other “dead” over-processed food.
The goal is to provide a diet that mimics your pet’s biological nutritional requirements as closely as possible … in this case it means rethinking the “lifetime of dry food” or “canned food” theory.
If you are unable or unwilling to feed your pet a species-appropriate, nutritionally balanced, raw food diet, then I strongly recommend you compromise with the next best choice: USDA-approved canned foods (and supplement with raw)
My last choice would be a dry food (kibble), made from human-grade ingredients with little to no grains, and LOTS OF WATER.
But no matter which option you choose, remember that you can treat your dog and cat to berries, leafy greens, raw nuts and many other fresh fruits, veggies and meats on a regular basis.
I hope this insight will help you feel more confident offering foods and treats to your pets that are unadulterated and fresh. They deserve the same benefit of living foods that you get, and there’s no better way to start than by sharing some of these raw healthy foods with your dog or cat today.
Dr. Mercola is the founder of the world’s most visited natural health web site, Mercola.com. You can learn the hazardous side effects of OTC Remedies by getting a FREE copy of his latest special report The Dangers of Over the Counter Remedies by going to his Report Page.
Here's a wonderful article for the readers of All About Labradors to help in making your Labrador Retriever happier. It has some nice tips and you are all welcome to help contribute further tips to this article.
Do you love your lab? Show your dog friend that you care!
Steps:
Play fetch with a tennis ball. You can often get them free from around tennis courts. Some labs won't bring the ball back to you without being trained to do it.
Get your lab in the water. They may like boating, chasing fish, and swimming. Know your dog's preferences about water before assuming they will like it or not. You can also get them a little backyard swimming pool or watering trough to dunk in during play.
Give your dog a chance to run. Most labs have bolts of energy so you might want a big chunk of land. Or, you can take them to an off-leash dog-park every couple of days. If there's any water there, bring a towel.
Train your lab. This breed does very well with training. Enroll in a class together.
Consider agility training for you and your lab. While they may not be the fastest dogs, they usually do quite well. It will make them mentally alert, eager to please, and fun exercise.
Walk your dog EVERYDAY! Even if it's just a 15 minute walk, dogs need it!
Tips:
Make sure to have a lot of time and attention for your lab, or else they'll get bored and depressed!
You don't need lots of expensive toys to keep a lab happy. A few tennis balls, some things to chew on (cow hooves are good), and quality time with you is what matters to them.
Make sure that you watch your dog closely if you give it rawhides to chew on. They will also need to have water readily available. You may notice that rawhides will make your Labrador gassy.
Warnings:
Have a fenced in yard so they don't run away.
Never let your lab run free in a place where vehicles are around. That can be quite dangerous.
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