Getting a Labrador Retriever? Consider Size, Health Issues and More

So you're thinking about buying a Labrador Retriever, and you're wondering how difficult is it to care for them? Well, there are some important considerations to make when it comes to buying this breed of dog. In this article, I will discuss what these considerations are.

The Basics -

First off, no matter what type of dog you decide to get, you need to have it spayed or neutered. Of course, if you're planning on breeding your lab then you will not want to spay or neuter them. Other then this, you should have the veterinarian give your dog its recommended shots. These shots can include worm medication, a rabies vaccine; etc. You'll also want to decide on the type of food you want for your Lab, buy dog bowls, toys, and perhaps purchase a dog house.

Keep Your Lab Outside -

Labrador Retrievers grow up to be very large dogs. And because of their size, Labs really should be outside for the most part. Labs need plenty of room to go exploring and to sniff things that shouldn't be sniffed. In fact, it's not good enough for Labs to just be outside; they need to have large open spaces as well. Five acres or more should do the trick.

And you'll want to make sure that your Lab(s) are fenced in well. Sometimes Labradors enjoy exploring a little too much, and they end up spooking ranchers and other people. These individuals could trap or kill your Labrador(s) if given the chance, so watch your dogs carefully. Labs are hunting dogs at heart, which means they might kill small livestock if given the opportunity. Labs can't help it; it's in their blood.

Raising Your Lab Inside -

If you have to care for a lab inside your home then you'll want to exercise the animal regularly. Take your Lab for a long walk at least once a day, and give him or her plenty of attention. You may also have to vacuum and sweep a bit more because Labs tend to shed quite profusely at times. So if you have allergies, you may regret keeping a Lab inside your home.

The loud bark that most Labs have may also bother your neighbors a bit, so you may want to train them not to bark. When Labs are about eight months old, they may become a bit more destructive. It's like they're teenagers or something. This is why Labs should be raised outside for the most part. Woe to any home that has an irritable Lab inside of it.

Health Problems -

Labs are very healthy dogs usually, and they generally have few health problems. When I owned a Lab a few years back, he only became sick a few times. When my Lab was around seven months old, he caught some sort of illness. It was like a cold. A few pills from the doctor cured him, and that was that. As my Lab grew older, he had to have both of the glands in his throat removed because of allergies.

The poor dog even had his leg nearly blown off with a shotgun(angry rancher), and he still crawled back three days later. And what's more amazing is that the leg was salvageable. This dog of mine went on to live to the ripe old age of thirteen, and then sadly died of old age.

Very little is needed for Labradors to remain healthy. Just feed and water your Lab on a daily basis, do the basic checkups with your veterinarian, and spend time with them. And occasionally spoil them with some human food(turkey leftovers). Trust me, your Lab will live a long and happy life if you do this.

As you can see, Labradors can be difficult to care for; it just depends on their environment. Having plenty of open land to roam on is essential for Labs, but they can do without it if they have to. Just make sure you make up for the loss of space with exercise and attention.