The Labrador Retriever

Tthe Labrdor Retriever tops the AKC's list this year once again as the most popular breed in the United States. It Is easy to see why this breed is so popular. These dogs are loving, gentle and loyal. Their intelligence makes them one of the easiest breeds to obedience train.

An important point to keep in mind when deciding on whether a Labrador retriever is right for your family and lifestyle is that these dogs are high energy, especially as puppies. These dogs thrive on companionship and affection. They have a high need to interact with humans. They will not be content to just sit in the backyard. A lab that is bored or feels ingnored will have a tendency to become destructive. Labs can be heavy chewers (especially when young) and the shelters are filled with dogs that have chewed through the furniture. A friend of ours had a lab that took to stripping the living room wallpaper while she was at work! (I could have used this dog years ago when we first bought our house!)

If you have the time for the appropriate training, time for walks, play and affection this breed of dog can easily become the love of your life!

Appearance & Grooming

The Labrador retriever is low maintenance when it come to grooming. The coat of the Lab is short, close fitting and sleek. They are generaly moderate shedders, although they do have a period of heavy seasonal shedding twice a year. In the fall they tend to loose a lot of thin, downy coat that is replaced with a thick, slighty coarser coat in preparation for the cold winter months. It is this time of year that my dog tends to look heavier in appearance. The coat comes in so thick it actually makes him look as if he has gained weight!

Springtime brings the heaviest period of shedding. It will help your dog greatly if during this time you brush him daily and use a de-shedding tool. It is geat to do this outside on a warm day as it saves the messy cleanup.

Although you will want to bathe your dog regularly, take care not to do this too often as you will remove the natural oils in a lab's coat. These oils are what makes him so waterproof. A healthy lab has a coat that repels water.

Care & Feeding

The best advice I can give any Lab owner is PLEASE do not overfeed your dog. Hip and elbow arthritis are common problems in this breed; Overweight dogs will suffer greatly from these conditions, particularly as they age. Keeping your lab the proper weight will not be easy. These dogs are chow hounds!

There are times when I am sitting watching TV, that my lab, Guinness will literally empty out my closet. He will bring me shoes, scarves, pencils, the newspaper anything he thinks will get him an extra treat!

It is a good idea to provide your dog with a daily supplement of glucosamine (for joints) from the time your dog is a puppy. The glucosamine will help keep the joints lubricated and prevent early onset of arthritis. This would be beneficial for any large breed of dog. You should give this supplement in addtion to a daily multi vitamin.

The recent recalls on dog food have frightened many owners. We had always fed our Guinness fresh cooked food in additon to a low calorie commercially prepared kibble. Now more than ever it is important to chese these comercially prepared products carefully.

Please Bookmark our eBay store as I will be adding Guiness favorite dog biscuit and treat recipes. We will be providing more links from our About Me page to informational web sites that will help you keep your best friend it tip top shape.

Have questions about Labrador Retrievers? Contact us and we will answer your questions and post them to our eBay store custom pages!

Visit our eBay store for Labrador Retriever gift items.