| Labrador FAQ- Listed are some 'frequently asked questions about Labradors'. Hopefully It will hit upon a few you might have. 1. How big do they get and how heavy? Males on average get to be anywhere from 22 1/2 inches to 24 1/2 inches at shoulder and the females about 21 1/2 inches to 23 1/2 inches. The boys can weigh approximately 85lbs. and the girls approximately 65lbs. The weight will depend upon the height and how heavily boned the dog is. Condition also comes into consideration. 2. What colors do they come in and is there a difference between the colors? Labradors come in three colours, black, yellow and chocolate. Black is black, yellow can range from fox red to creme and chocolate can range from light sedge to chocolate. A small amount (silver dollar size) of white is permissible on the chest. There should be no difference between the colours in temperament or type. It is likely more the difference between one breeders breeding program and anothers as to what they place emphasis on. 3. Are they good with children and/or other dogs? Labradors, on the whole, adore children, people, cats, dogs and everything else that walks, crawls and breathes on this earth. I always tell people that they are not family dogs but neighbourhood dogs! As a rule introducing a second dog into a family with a Labrador already there is not a problem. 4. Which is better as a family pet, male or female? My response to this is to say to someone, that is like asking people if they prefer to have boy children or girl children....it depends on the individual and their experiences with that given sex. Both make loving family companions. Often people assume a female would be easier to handle. This is untrue as it really depends on the character of the given puppy/dog. A 65lb female who is very active and always underfoot is not as easy to live with as the 85lb male who is a real couch-potato. But, each dog like humans have there own personality and can be diffrent the the "Usual". Try and chose a personality,not a sex. Also how much time and traning you put into your dog really makes a diffrence. 5. Do they shed and how much grooming/bathing do they need? Yes, this breed does have hair loss. If your dog is a house dog year round, you may have a some hair loss all the time and then a large blowing of coat in the late spring and late fall. A warm bath and a good brushing with a shedding blade will get most of it out over a few days. Generally if their living quarters are clean, likely a bath or two a year is all that is needed. Check their nails to make sure they don't get overgrown and the ears once a week for smelly ear yeasts. This is not a breed for someone with allergies. 6. How much exercise do they need? Labradors are dogs that require a far amount of it. Generally a good walk of say half an hour daily and then any play time...especially something like fetch, will be beneficial to the dog. If not properly exercised, they can become bored and then destructive. 7. Are they bad for chewing? Yes, they are. Labs are part dog, part beaver. Always have plenty of safe doggy type toys for them to chew and play with. Also, use a crate when you are not around to supervise a young dog. Better safe than sorry. And yes...they will chew and eat anything and everything! 8. They do like the water don't they? Oh yes and just try and keep them out of every puddle, stream, pool, lake or ocean that they see. If your Lab is in the water a lot, make sure you don't run into hot-spot trouble from the coat constantly being wet. Also make sure you know what is in the body of water your Lab is joyfully swimming in....they can get sick from contaminated water or water high in bacteria especially during the hot summer months. 9. Do they have allergies? Generally no but individuals can develop them to everything and anything from carpets to food. 10. Do they make good guard dogs? No. Most will bark at something strange but they don't get overly carried away with this protection bit. Many Labradors, unfortunately, would likely welcome the stranger into the house and show them where the silverware, VCR and computer(horrors!) are. However, they are not stupid dogs and have been known to kick up enough stink at a strange person in strange circumstances. 11. What sort of genetic problems do they have that breeders check breeding stock for? Currently breeders check for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hereditary eye defects(cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, retinal folds/dysplasia for example) and in some lines they are now checking hearts for tricupsid valve dysplasia. Now the very important test that has come avaliable "Optigen testing" they also evaluate new DNA markers for prcd-PRA.(Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA refers to a group of diseases that cause the retina of the eye to degenerate slowly over time. The result is declining vision and eventual blindness. “prcd” stands for “progressive rod-cone degeneration” which is the type of PRA known in several breeds)., Make sure your puppy's parents have had proper clearances...ask to see them. 12. How long do they live? I wish I could say forever but I would be telling a tale. Providing your Labrador is healthy, fit and getting proper exercise all of its life....I would say approximately about 12 years. 13. Hot spots ( Pyotraumatic dermatitis)click for more info. 14. Coccidia - Almost every breeder who has 1 or 10 litters a year ends up having coccidia and I have had it in my kennel as well. Click for more info on coccidia.. This was said by a very wise person, It was not me ,but I do believe it to be true so I am adding it.:..... Labradors are not jogging dogs, period. Tell these people to get a sighthound, not a dog designed for cold water retrieves. They overheat VERY quickly, and repeated jogging on a hard surface will cause damage....I am very strict on this for my puppies, no jogging/running/Frisby catching. If they want further confirmation, have them consult a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. Walkies, great! Labradors: built for comfort, not for speed!! Keep scrolling down More info below. |
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| www.integrityfarm.com |
| www.nhlabradors.com |
| www.nhpups.com |
| www.labradorbreeder.com |
| Coccidia - Almost every breeder who has 1 or 10 litters a year ends up having coccidia and I have had it in my kennel as well. Click for more info on coccidia.. |
| You will get more feeding instructions in your puppy packet. Bringing home a new puppy can be welcomed with anxiety. It can be a very scary time for both the new owner and the new puppy. This is only unless preparations before his homecoming are made. Although many questions may arise, the most immediate question is probably: what should I feed my new puppy? This question is very important because of the factor food plays in the development of the puppy into his adult life. The food fed to your puppy will determine his health, weight, growth, and overall happy attitude for life. What Size Should The Kibble Be? This may seem like a small thing, but a puppy’s teeth are not strong enough to eat the adult size kibble of most dog foods on the market. This may sound like a contradiction to the answer to the first question, but it is not. In some foods , the kibbles are made in such a way that they are small enough for a puppy. Any dog food kibble is still hard, but the puppy can not yet chew such a hard food. The solution to this is to soak the kibbles in water to make them nice and soft for the puppy. This makes these kibbles still perfect for any stage. . We also recomend this to help prevent Puppy Bloat. How Often Should a Puppy Be Fed? Puppies need to eat a lot, but and not too much. As a general rule, puppies can eat up to 1/3 more than a full grown dog. Remember the puppy is growing very rapidly, and he needs enough food to keep up with this growth. You should be able to feel but not see their ribs, and they should have a visible waist when you look down at them. This is true for puppies of any breed, big or small. The new puppy may eat several times a day, but do not allow him to get use to having food available whenever he wants. Train him to be able to eat at scheduled times. |