The Labrador Retriever is a strong looking, short coupled dog with a short, dense coat. A Labrador has a broad skull, powerful neck, and a thick "otter" tail. The chest should be deep and wide with well sprung ribs. The forlegs should be straight from the shoulder, medium in length with good bone. Good angulation of the hind quarters is also desirable. The AKC Standard calls for males to be 22 1/2 to 24 1/2 inches tall at the withers and between 65 to 85 lbs. The female from 21 1/2 to 24 1/2 inches tall at the withers and from 55 to 75 lbs. Overall the Labrador should have a sturdy, balanced, proportional appearance. The coat may be Black, Yellow, or Chocolate. According to the AKC Standard any other color is a diqualification. A small white area on the chest is permisible.
Black Labs should posses a deep dark black coat. The yellow coat ranges in color from a light cream to dark fox - red in color. Chocolates should be a rich dark brown. The nails nose, and eye rim pigmint should be black on the black and yellow coated dogs. The chocolates should have self colored (chocolate) colored nails, nose, and eye rim pigment. Pure bred Labs can be born with mismarked coats that are black and tan, brindle, or have excessive white. They are still wonderful pets "only" and true Labs, but unethical breeders may try to market them as "rare" colors or patterens for excessive amounts of money. In reality they are disqualifications and should be spade or neutered as they are outside the AKC Standard and not permitted in the breed ring.
Labrador Retrievers are intelligent, hardy dogs. Traditionally bred for hunting and retrieving. They are typicaly even tempered and well suited for family life. A Labrador is rarely aggressive to other dogs and these friendly, outgoing dogs usually enjoy the company of children. Their strong desire to please makes them very motivated learners. While quite energetic, Labradors are versatile and easily trained for the conformation show ring, hunting, obedience, agility, or asTherapy or Search and Rescue dogs. Due to the Labradors large size, muscular build, and playful nature they require moderate amouts of daily execise, but also make wonderful companions.
Puppies are very cute and they are a lot of fun. More important, they are also a lot of work and very expensive. A Labrador can have a life span of 10 to 15 years or more. A commitment to a dog is for life! Before you begin the lengthy process of obtaining a dog or puppy ask yourself these questions:
*Are you prepared for all the work involved with raising a puppy and caring for and adult dog?
*Do you have the patience and time to train a puppy?
*Will a dog fit into your lifestyle?
*Can you afford the care a dog for it's life time?
The rewards of owning a dog are emence if you and your family are ready to take on the work and responsibilities that come with owning a dog. The care of the dog should be the responsibilty of an adult. Children are still learning how to take care of themselves and it is unrealistic to think that a child can give consistant proper daily care. However with adult guidance, most children can be very helpful with the care your new pet will require.
Puppies require constant supervision during the first year and sometimes longer. When you are unable to supervise your puppy you must provide a safe place for him. It takes a long time, a lot of patience, and consistancy for a puppy to establish good habits. Even as you train him he will occassionally forget the rules and have a potty accident in the house, chew your best pair of shoes or furniture. You may find him digging holes in your flower garden as he buries his treasures. Extra house keeping chores come with every dog and especially during that first year. Housebreaking and obedience training will require a daily commitment for several months. A new puppy should not be left unattended for more than a few hours at a time and will require several short walks a day. If you will away at work during the day, it will be necessary to make arrangements for the care of the puppy for several months. Many families have very busy schedules with work and school related activities. If your families time is already spread very thin you must ask yourself if you will be able to give your new puppy the time and companionship it will require. Having both a puppy and a toddler also creates an extra challenge and they will both require close supervision. Puppies nip and chew as they are teething and their teeth are very sharp. They jump up and can easily knock over a toddler. Sometimes it is best to wait until the youngest child starts school before getting your puppy. In some situations an adult dog may be a better choice for your family. Some breeders occassionally have adult or young adult dogs available. There are also numerous rescue organizations that have adult dogs for adoption.
Purchasing a puppy is just the beginning! Additional expenses will include, but are not limited to: food, vet bills, chew toys, a crate, baby gate(s), dishes, nail clipper, brushes, collars and leashes, secure fencing, training classes, and the cost of spaying or neutering your pet. The first year can be very expensive and the care of an aging dog can be overwhelming.
After the first year, basic veterinary care includes vaccinations, heart worm prevention, and flea prevention. Expect some unplanned expense for possible ear infections, injuries, or more serious illnesses throughout your dogs life. A medical problem can can cost from $100 to $1000. or more.
Dogs should not be allowed to run free. The dangers are endless and could open you up to law suits should your pet bite or scratch a child, or cause a traffic accident. Secure fencing can be costly.
Your buget should include the cost of one or two training courses of six to eight classes each. You will find them invaluable in teaching your pet to be a well behaved family member. If no one is home during the day you should consider the cost of a pet sitter to walk your puppy or doggy day care maybe an option.
If you vacation away from home each year you may have boarding kennel expenses as well.
All breeds of dogs can have health problems. Be leery of anyone trying to sell you a puppy with the statement that their line of dogs does not have any health problems. They are either not knowledgeable of the breed or they are trying to mislead you. All reputable breeders will be able to dicuss the possible health problems of their breed and the particular problems they have run into with their line.
Ear infections: Dogs with ears that hang down are more likely to develop ear infections. Wax buildup and moisture in the ear can support the growth of yeast and bacteria. You will need to clean your dogs ears to remove excess wax and debris. Ask your veternarian to show you how or take your dog to the vet for regular ear cleaning. Your vet can advise you on how often you should clean your pets ears. If you find your dogs ear channel red, swollen, or with a foul smell or discharge, call your vet immediately. Excessive head shaking can also be sign of an ear infection. Your vet may prescribe medication and an ear cleaning fluid. It is very important to administer the medication until the medicine is gone, even if the symtoms are no longer present.
Panosteitis: This is a common problem in large breed dogs, also known as wandering lameness or Pano. It usually occurs during the rapid growth phase of developement. Often there is no history of trauma or injury. X-rays are used to diagnose Panosteitis. The treatment usually consists of rest and a change of diet. The feeding of high protein puppy food maybe a contributing factor. Many vets and breeders recommend starting large breed puppies on Adult food that contains 22 to 24% protein at around 4 months of age. Fortunately, the condiion is temporary.
Osteochondritis: OCD is associated with a small fragment of cartilage in the joint. OCD maybe associated with an injury or trauma. The symptoms include pain and lameness. Usually h shoulder joint is involved. Surgery is sometimes required to repair the joint. Lots of crate rest is necessary. Your veterinarian may recommend pain medication or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligaments: ACL injuries are common in dogs. THe Cruciate ligaments are located at the knee joint. A dog with a ruptured ALC will usually not put any weight on the affected leg. The surgery to repair the torn ACL is usually very success, but proper after care is an essential part of the treatment. The dog may be required to spend most of his time in his crate resting for several weeks. The next phase of treatment could involve a regular walking schedule to rehabilitate your dog working from short daily walks to longer distances every other day. The dog will most likely recover completely if the veternarians rest and exercise instuctions are followed carefully.
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All breeds of dogs, including the Labrador Retriever have some disorders that can be inherited. The common disorders include Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Retinal Dysplasia, and Progessive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Less Common disorders include Epilepsy, inherited heart defects, and bleeding disorders. These are seen less often in the Labrador.
The selection process of breeding stock should include many factors such as researching the pedigree, general health, soundness, appearance, and temperament of the dogs being considered.
Health screening and testing done on breeding stock is a very important tool used to reduce the transmission of inherited disorders. Unfortunetly the risk has not yet been eliminated, but well bred breeding stock with health clearances increase the chance of producing healthy puppies.
Hip and Elbow dysplasia affect many breeds. Factors other than genetics may be associated with joint dysplasia such as nutrition, or, excessive joint stress and weight at an early age.
Dysplasia of joints is associated with deterioration of the affected joint with the dog experiencing pain and progressive lameness. The severity of the conditon ranges from slight to severe. The use of OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of Animal) to examine x-rays of breeding candidates and using only those that are rated Good or Exellent to produce puppies could greatly reduce the incidence of joint dysplasia in the offspring. A reputable breeder will be able to provide OFA or optional Penn-HIP scores for the parents of puppies they produce. Surgical repair may be an option for dogs affected with joint dysplasia.
Eye disorders associated with Labradors commonly affect the eye lids and can be easily corrected with minor surgery. The affected eye may appear to be red and tear excessively, giving it a moist look around the eye. Excessive squinting or blinking may also be noticed.
Entropion - eyelashes are turned inward and may scratch and scar the eye
Ectropion - the lower lid droops and eyelashes turn outward creating a pocket to trap debris that could cause an infection or scratch the eye.
Distichiasis - the abnormal growth of eyelashes from the meibomian glands along the eye lid margin. The abnormal eyelashes are usually surgectly removed
More serious inherited eye disorders in Labradors include cateracts, Retinal Dysplasia, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Some, but no all eye disases may progress to blindness, others may possibily be corrected by surgery.
Annual eye examination by veterinary Ophthalmologist and CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) clearances on breeding stock can greatly reduce, but not eliminate the occurance of eye disordes in the offspring they produce.
Some seizures in Labradors can be due to a inherited form of Epilepsy. In some cases seizures are linked to various non genetic factors such as infections, trauma, low blood sugar, or exposure to toxins and pesticides. Seizures are very dificult for dog owners to deal with and the cause can sometimes be very difficult to pinpoint. Fortunately, seizures are not common and many dogs respond well to medication.
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD) is a heart defect that is not widely seen in Labradors. It appears to be inherited. There have been cases noted in offspring of a stud dog on the west coast that was later diagnosed with a mild form of the disorder.
Von Willebrand's Disease is a bleeding disorder that is not commonly seen in Labradors A recessive gene that codes for an abnormal protein is responsible for the disorder. The severity varies. There is a screening test available for Von Wilebrand's Disease.
Finding a responsible, reputable breeder is well worth the effort. A quality puppy from a reputable breeder is the best canidate to become a wonderful, healthy companion. A breeder hat is knowledgeable and makes you comfortable asking questions will be a valuable asset as you raise your puppy. You can find the names of breeders in your area by contacting Labrador Retriever Clubs, looking on the AKC web site, asking veternarians in your area or talking to local trainers.
Reputable breeders should be knowledgeable about their breed. You should get the impression that their goal is to improve the breed rather than make a monetary profit. The breeder should be able to easily discuss inherited disorders, temerament, conformation, and health clearances with perspecive families for their puppies. Most will require you to spay or nueter your new pet and may sell only on a limited Registration. Most will also request tha you keep in contact with them and contact them first if you are no longer able to keep your pe.
Frequently the sire of the litter may not live with the breeder. Although the breeder may have traveled a long distance to find the right male the breeder will be able to provide information on the sire and often the sire owner will be available to address your questions as well.
A reptuable breeder will have a specific set of goals in mind for each breeding and will be happy to share them with you. There may be several related dogs to the puppy you pick that you can meet during your visit. They will produce 1 to 4 or less litters per year and you may have to wait for the right dog for up to a year or more. The reputable breeder looks to place puppies with responible dog owners and may ask you lengthy questions about your family and how you plan to care for your puppy. The breeder will do their best to help you select the right for your family and will never let a puppy go as a birthday or Christmas gift or at Christmas time and will wait until after the holidays to release the puppies. You will never see an ad that reads "Ready just in time for Christmas" placed by a reputable breeder!
When you are ready to start the lengthy process of finding the right puppy for your family, doing your homework and taking the time to find a breeder that is willing to work with you is very worth the the time it will take.
