Owning a Country Lab
American Kennel Club states, "Labradors as the most popular dog breed in the United States for the past 10 years." This popularity is created from their devoted loyalty, outstanding athleticism, and friendly temperament around children and other animals. They are intelligent and trusting, and have a strong desire to learn and please their owners. Labradors were voted "one of the most trainable dog breeds," by Animal Plane and have a unique ability to bring happiness to the lives around them.
The saying“A dog is man’s best friend” is true for so many reasons!
http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever/
http://www.animalplanet.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds/sporting/labrador-retriever.html
The BREED
The Labrador Retriever is also known as a water dog, bird dog, or gun dog.
The AKC, or any another registry, does not differentiate or recognize an American Labrador Retriever or an English Labrador Retriever. However, there are slight differences between the breeds:
American Labs are tall and lengthy. They are thought to be more of the field lab and have greater athleticism. They have a thinner coat, a longer neck, and a narrower head.
English Labs are short and stocky. They are considered more of the show lab. They have a thicker coat, strong neck, and a blockier head.
Our dogs, Cooper and Maggie, have traits of each. Cooper's dad was a Chocolate English and his mom was a Silver American. Maggie's dad was a Yellow English and her mom was a White American. We recognize Cooper as being slightly more "American" than Maggie, who has the shorter stockier built, with a blockier head.
Average Height: 22.5-24.5 inches (male), 21.5-23.5 inches (female) Cooper= 23.5 inches and Maggie= 22.75 inches
Average Weight: 65-80 pounds (male), 55-80 pounds (female) Cooper= 77 pounds, Maggie (is Pregnant and currently)= 95 pounds
Average Life Expectancy= 10-12 years
Training
Bringing a puppy home is an exciting time. Being properly prepared helps the training process. Dogs are den creatures, and we encourage the crate method for potty training. It is important to have several toys for retrieval practice and simple play. Treats are also a must to reward their positive behavior.
Labradors can be trained for multiple purposes. They are considered hunting dogs, show dogs, therapy dogs, and/or service animals. How you choose to train your puppy is up to you; just remember that consistency is key.
Hunting: https://www.sportdog.com/hunting-training-tips/where-to-begin-with-puppy-training
Keeping your lab happy & healthy
The happiness of a Lab is in correlation to their health. From proper nutrition, water, exercise, grooming, and vet checks, you as the owner are responsible for their continued health and well-being.
When you take your fully registered AKC puppy home, it will have received its 6 week vaccinations and deworming from our veterinarian. We require your vet to administer the 9- and 12-week shots, as well and an annual shot from there on out.
