Proper nutrition is essential for your Labrador puppy! It can make the difference between a healthy puppy and a sick puppy. Proper nutrition is the number one goal for all puppy owners who want their pups to grow into healthy and happy dogs.

Nutrition starts with a good quality dog food that is made with good ingredients. The dog food should contain complete nutrition. All dog foods are not created equal! Carefully read the dog food labels. The main ingredient should be meat. If it is corn or some other ingredient, do not buy it. Corn and other ingredients are used as fillers in dog food because they are less expensive. Steer clear of dog foods that have the main ingredient listed as corn!

Most veterinarians recommend feeding a puppy dry food only. You may occasionally give a small amount of canned food but it is not advisable to give often because it can cause loose stools. Never give your dog table foods or sweets. These foods are not for dogs and can make them both overweight and even sick!

It is vital that you feed your Labrador puppy the very best food that you can find. Puppies are growing rapidly and they need good nutrition. Your puppy can begin a very long and healthy life if you take the necessary nutrition steps now while he is young. Don’t sacrifice your puppy’s health by giving him substandard foods. Your puppy is counting on you to take the best care of him!

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular types of dogs around, and they are the perfect addition to any home! There are several types of Labrador’s, including chocolate labs, and black labs, and each and every type will be your new best friend!

Labradors are very playful dogs. Nothing will be better for your Lab than spending the day outside playing fetch. The dogs never seem to run out of energy, and can easily spend a couple of hours actively chasing the ball. A home with children and active adults is a welcomed home for a Lab.

They are great for homes with children of all ages, as while they are playful, they are also very gentle and kind. The dogs are very rarely aggressive, and they have a great temperament almost all of the time. They don’t so much mind the tugs at the ears and pulling of the tail little ones seem to love to do to their four-legged friends.

The Labrador Retriever will show you as much love as you want. It is no wonder kids fall so easily in love with them. Along with all of the running and playing, Labs also love to lick the face and offer lots of attention to its owner as well. This is just one small way for him to say I love you!

Labrador Retriever’s are great dogs that will soon become far more than just your pet. With those puppy dog eyes, beautiful coats and exceptional mannerisms, it is hard not to fall in love with something as sweet and adorable as a Retriever!

Keeping your Labrador healthy is one of the most important things you can do as a pet owner. A dog must be cared for properly or he can get sick or even worse, he can die! Proper care means learning the basics of dog care and what to look for if your dog is injured or sick and needs to see a veterinarian.

The first part of caring for your dog, involves good nutrition. You want to make sure you are feeding him a nutritious dog food made of quality meat. Do not skimp on quality to save a little money. Another important step in taking good care of your Lab is to make sure that he is seen by a vet regularly for health checkups. Your vet will be able to ensure that your dog is growing properly and is free of parasites and other illnesses. It is also important to make sure that your dog gets regular exercise. Just like humans, a dog can become overweight and weak by sitting around all day! Make sure to play with your dog and take him on regular walks. Playing fetch is a great game to get his heart pumping.

If you follow all of these important steps, then you will be well on your way to keeping your dog healthy and happy. Along with these steps, make sure to give your dog lots of love. Love and attention will keep him happy and help to prolong his years with you!

When you train your dog it wants to please you, positive reinforcement is the fastest path to get your puppy or adult dog to respond to your wishes. Do not try to train the dog when it is obviously too full of energy to focus, this will hamper training efforts, aggravate you and cause confusion or fear for the animal.

Begin with the basics, allow the Labrador Retriever to get acquainted with the leash. Let the animal smell it, pet the dog with the leash and when it shows no fear or concern of the leash attach it to it’s collar and just allow it to drag the lead around without any interference on your part. If you have chosen to use a choke collar for your dog, it is important not to use the choke feature at this import juncture.

The hard part has arrived, walking on leash. Most dogs naturally want to pull away, do not punish the animal or jerk on the lead, stay still and encourage the Labrador Retriever to stay by your side. As your Labrador Retriever moves toward you, slowly move away, getting it to follow you, give it very high praise for doing well. As it begins to understand that you want it next to you, it will become easier to train it to “heel” with the leash. The use of a favorite toy or treat to encourage closeness during these encounters greatly helps. Squeak toys are great to keep the dog’s attention.

Always remember to be patient!

In general, Labrador Retrievers are a healthy and hardy breed with few major problems. However labs, like all breeds, have their share of genetic disorders.

The most common is called Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC). Labs with this syndrome show signs of muscle weakness and lack of coordination during strenuous activity and may collapse. Dogs exhibiting EIC are not ideal for retriever training, but can live perfectly normal lives as house pets.

Another common disorder is elbow or hip dysplasia, which can be a problem in the larger dogs of the breed. This problem will often show up when a lab is still a puppy and will persist throughout their life. In dysplasia, the cartilage in the elbow or hip joint experiences more wear and tear than is normal. This can cause joint pain and eventually arthritis in the dog. Joint supplements are recommended and pain can often be managed with medication. In extreme cases, surgery may be required to ease pain and prevent lameness.

Labrador retrievers may also suffer eye problems. It is possible that as a lab ages it will develop cataracts, giving the eye a slightly milky appearance. This is usually not strong enough to require surgery. Labs may also suffer from Progressive Retinal Atrophy, in which the retina degrades, leading to eventual blindness.

In addition, Labrador retrievers may suffer ear infections due to the floppiness of their ears, which can easily be avoided through regularly cleaning the ears. Labs are also prone to obesity, especially as they age. This can worsen the likelihood of developing hip dysplasia or diabetes, so getting enough exercise is important to ensuring your Labrador retriever lives a long, healthy life.

The Labrador retriever is one of the most beloved canine breeds. Over time, this breed has undergone changes in body type which attribute to what it was bred to do. These changes have produced two distinct labels of Labrador that relate to their frame and physical features. These two styles are commonly referred to as English and American style, but they should be more accurately described as show dogs and field dogs because how they were bred was what caused the variation in build, not where they were bred.

Show dogs, or “English” Labrador retrievers possess a build that adheres to breed standards, hence their title as show dogs. They are of standard height, with a thickset frame, and large head. Their bone structure is thick and they have a heavy coat.

Field dogs or “American” Labrador retrievers are much taller than show dogs. Their bone structure is less dense and their coats are lighter. They can also be distinguished by having a more slender muzzle.

While these differences can be attributed to breeding dogs for show, guiding, therapy, rescue tasks or hunting, many Labrador retriever establishments state that it is completely plausible that despite whether a litter was bred to be either style, it will produce puppies that will grow to exemplify qualities of either style. Issues such as health, adaptability to training, and temperament, although there are many stereotypes, cannot be determined by whether the Labrador is “English” or “American” style. Consult a breeder for the aforementioned qualities.

Perhaps one of the most difficult commands to teach your retriever is the stay command due to the fact that with this obedience exercise the dog is getting rewarded for doing nothing. Normally the canine is rewarded for performing a certain task; your pet may become confused in the beginning processes of this exercise because they are used to being praised for engaging in an action. Although it may take some time to learn, be patient and stick with it and your Labrador retriever will soon be on its way to mastering the stay command.

The first step in the exercise involves coupling a hand signal along with the word “stay” itself. Step one, give your dog a positional training command that he/she already is comfortable with, such as sit. Then, with your hand completely open and all fingers placed together bring your palm up in front of your pets face and give the stay command in a firm tone.

You will then want to give praises along with the stay command. When your dog is able to hold the stay for a period of time, give him/her praises around two or three times. You don’t want to reprimand him for breaking the stay command and not provide some sort of positive feedback. Instead compliment your pet for obeying and only reprimand the canine once the stay command has been broken.

Finally, you will want to end the stay command with a praise and some sort of reward, such as a treat. Start off training your dog to stay for five or six seconds and then once this is mastered you can build the difficulty level further. After your dog has obeyed, give him/her a reward such as a treat to let your pet know that the task was successful.

How Do I Stop My Labrador Retriever From Biting? That is a serious question. No one wants a dog to have a biting problem.

When you get a new puppy, they bite in a playful manor. If is harmless and is just a form of play. But this biting needs to stop before it becomes a habit. Dogs usually get their permanent teeth by the time they are four months old. During this teething time, they want to bite and chew on everything. Their teeth and gums are uncomfortable. It is similar to what a baby goes through. It is up to the owner, trainer to curb this biting while providing comfort at the same time. Keep lots and lots of chew toys around for them to enjoy and relieve some of the discomfort.

After the puppy is through teething and has all their permanent teeth, the biting is usually due to fear. It is a response to protecting themselves. Labrador Retrievers are a breed of dog who will continue this behavior if it is not stopped. There are many ways of encouraging this to end. Because they are usually biting out of fear, it is up to the owner, trainer to socialize them with other people and animals. Keep your dog around people and new places. Help him feel comfortable and safe. He in turn will not feel like he has to bite to protect himself.

Labrador Retriever make wonderful pets for the whole family. If you are having trouble with you dog biting and not obeying, consider a training program in your community. It is well worth the effort and time.

Becoming a Labrador Retriever puppy owner is one of the greatest joys you can ever experience. After you have picked out the perfect Labrador Retriever puppy to become the newest member of your family, you have to know how to take care of him or her.

First off, you need to learn all the health problems that come with this breed, that way you can know what to look for if your puppy begins to act differently. You must train your dog its bathroom habits and any tricks you would like them to learn. This particular breed is a very stubborn one, so it is an absolute must that you remain consistent and never give up on it, it will take time and may be frustrating, but it will happen. Like children, we all need someone to teach us and so do puppies.

Proper grooming habits are always necessary to keep your dog happy and healthy, as well as looking beautiful. It is recommended you bathe your puppy, only when it stinks. Be sure to use the appropriate puppy shampoo and do the same as the get older. It is also said, to brush your dog once a week with a slicker brush, which will keep the shedding under control and keep your dogs coat free of knots.

Make sure you maintain your dogs weight, over weight dogs are unhappy dogs. Most important thing of all, tender love and care are the key ingredients to having a happy and healthy dog.

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dogs in the United States. They are intelligent, friendly and energetic. They enjoy company of humans, making the the top selection when it comes to family pets in the U.S.

Typically, male Labradors stand at about 23 to 25 inches, while females range between 20 to 23 inches. Males’ weight range is between 60 to 75 lbs. The largest male has been recorded to be about 100 lbs. Females’ weight range falls between 55 to 70 lbs. Both should engage in at least two-hour walks daily, in order to ensure good behavior and health.

As family pets, they have an extreme willingness to learn. They are very friendly and content when around children. Labrador Retrievers rarely resist their owners and are very obedient. In addition, they are very aware of their surroundings, making them very territorial.

Historically, they were hunting and fishing dogs. Consequently, they are profound swimmers. Labrador Retrievers have webbed feet that assist them in their swimming techniques. Their coats are water resistant as well, designed to make them warm when wet.

Labrador Retrievers usually come in different kinds, including: Black Labs, Yellow Labs and Brown or Chocolate Labs. The Yellow Labs’ color range is white and what is known as fox red, while the Black and Chocolate Labs only have one shade each.

Usually, most dogs are either ideal pets or good hunting and fishing dogs. However, Labrador Retrievers combine these two characteristics, making them great dogs to select.