Labrador Retriever Dog Gifts : Articles : Lab Breed : Labs Right for You?

Is a Labrador Retriever Right for You?
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LABS

By Shannon K. Steffen

Based on personality alone, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds within the United States. Often though, people will bring a Lab into their family because they have heard great things about the breed, met a well behaved and beautiful specimen of this breed, or got to play with a puppy and think they are the cutest thing ever. Unfortunately, all too often families don’t put in the proper research of the breed first and it is only after they bring the dog home that they realize that they may have a problem.

Questions should be answered prior to bringing a Lab home:

1. Are you willing to take responsibility for a dog and its needs for the next 10-15 years, regardless of what life brings you?
2. Do you have the time, money and patience to take care of a dog?
3. Can you give the dog enough attention and exercise?
4. Can you live with shedding and drooling for the next 10-15 years?
5. If you plan on getting a puppy, do you have the time and patience to deal with the trials and tribulations of puppy hood?
6. Can you resist the urge to get a dog impulsively, and instead work to make a responsible decision?

Activity Level

The Labrador Retrievers were originally bred for field work and hunting. This particular dog breed is never short of energy and needs a family that is willing to exercise it on a regular basis. Simply put, Labs are like younger children and if the energy of these children is released within a safe environment, such as a playground, they are happy and well behaved. However, if you take those energetic children and keep them confined to a small space, house, or apartment, they will have no choice but to release their energy within those closed spaces. The end result is a destructive behavior that can become evident with excessive chewing, soiling, and destruction of objects within that confined area. Ultimately, if you are a person that isn't active and does't have time to exercise their dog, then a Lab is not right for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy hiking, biking, running, swimming, playing with your dog, or getting out in the world, then this breed may be exactly what you are looking for.

Space Consideration

Do you need a big house or giant backyard in order to make a Labrador Retriever content? The answer is no. There are many people who have a larger space for their dogs to roam and yet never exercise them. This is when people run into problems. It is not the amount of space that a person or family has for the dog but rather how much outdoor exercise time the Lab gets.

Many Lab owners live in the heart of big cities, such as New York City and the Labs are perfectly content. This is because these owners bring their dogs out for regular walks, to dog parks, and even out to the beach or local parks to play some ball. A couple of hours spent playing on a regular daily basis can easily balance out any smaller living spaces. It isn't the space that you have but rather how you use it and those locations surrounding it.

Personality Match

Almost anyone that owns a Lab will tell you that their dog is perfectly matched for them. This is because the dog breed itself was designed to work very closely with people. Take them away from people and make them spend time in solitude and the Lab will be far less than content with its living situation. It is a people dog and therefore wants nothing less than to be around people in whatever capacity it can. Whether it is lying at your feet while you are watching television or going for a long hike, it wants to be around you as much as possible.

For those that have never had a dog before, this is perfect breed to start out with because they are easy to train and want nothing more than to make you happy. That does not mean that this breed is born knowing how to sit, stay, or roll over; that part does take work on the owner's part. It is just that the willingness to make you happy gives them a greater attention span and willingness to learn. Whether you have children or not, with some training, the Lab can be the best companion and friend you ever had.

Spending Time

You don't need to spend every waking moment with a Lab but, you do need to spend a good deal of time with them on a daily basis. Labs are furry shadows and are always at your feet. Feel the need to head to the bathroom? Don't be surprised if your Lab follows you into the room.

This breed loves spending time with its human companions and will follow its owners around no matter where they go. If you plan on spending a lot of time out of the house and keeping your Lab caged up, then this is not the breed for you. Of course, you don't need to quit your job in order to tend to your Lab's need to be close to you but you will need to make sure that you spend as much time with your Lab as possible both at home and away from home. And when it becomes dark outside, have the Lab sleep as close to you or your children as possible to make up for the time lost during the day while you and our family are at work or school. Does that mean that the Lab should sleep in the bed with you? No. Having the Lab sleep on the floor next to your bed or in the same area of the house with you is sufficient. They just want to be as close to you as possible in order to bond and if you give it this time, a healthy bond between owner and Lab will flourish.

As you can see, bring a Lab into your home will entail a good amount of your time and energy. If you are able to meet the requirements of this breed, then the end result will be a well-manner pup and a very happy family. However, if you ignore the needs of this breed and still bring it into your home, the dog may become destructive and the family frustrated. Some families do not do the proper research before bringing a Labrador Retriever into their family and, sadly, this is why so many are left at shelters. Hundreds of Labs are abandoned or left at shelters each year and for those that do not get rescued and find a new home, there time ends. Too many Labrador Retrievers are put to sleep each year because people only realize the amount of time and effort that is needed for this breed after they bring them home. Sure, they are cute and cuddly but this is one breed that needs a good deal of human companionship and love. If you cannot answeryes to all the questions at the top of this page, then a Labrador Retriever is not for you. However, if you have answered yes to those questions, then welcome to the exciting world of the Labrador Retriever!