The difference between a good Labrador retriever owner and a disastrous one depends on whether or not that person leads an active lifestyle. To put it in simple terms, labs were bred to be extremely active when in the company of hunters, from dawn to dusk. They used to run, swim, and retrieve foul for up to 16 hours each day, or more.
Labs have extremely high energy levels and just because your Labrador retriever does not go out hunting, it does not mean that this dog is missing its inner expression to release the same amount of energy. This is great news for active people who like to swim, jog, and play fetch games as often as possible.
The term "disastrous dog owner" would best describe a person who is raising a Lab but absolutely hates going outside and being active. There are many people out there who love nothing more than to sit around the house all day watching television while they expect their Lab dogs to lay quietly alongside their feet with no need at all to run and play.
These types of people tend to complain that their pets are "overactive" and causing too much trouble around the house. However, the truth is that the dogs are perfectly healthy and literally wired and itching to move around. It is the way they were genetically programmed. It is what they were bred to do. Therefore, the problem lies within the owner, not the Lab.
Think Long and Hard Before Buying a Lab Puppy: Most people who run out and buy a puppy, especially one as active as a Labrador retriever, have a tendency to overestimate the amount of play-time they can invest in their dog. Eventually, the excitement and joy of playing with a new puppy subsides and when the dog owner gets bored, these little balls of energy are left to entertain themselves.
Adult Labrador dogs need a minimum of one hour each and every day, both in the morning and again at night, to participate in strenuous, interactive physical activities. This does not mean simply letting your dog out in the yard by itself while you cook dinner. This will not suffice as "playtime". Labs need a partner to run and fetch with. Left to themselves for physical activity will prove unsuccessful as Labs tend not to exercise by themselves in a constructive manner.
When Labs Become Destructive: You can't just open up the door and tell your Lab to go play. While some dogs are independent enough to run around outside by themselves, Labrador Retrievers need someone to play with and if you are not around then they may become destructive. Behaviors such as non-stop barking, chewing, and digging up the yard will become commonplace.
Should your Lab start to demonstrate these types of negative activities, the last thing you want to do is become frustrated and deem your pet aggressive. The truth is that he is just doing what you wanted him to do: entertain himself.
Unless you are there to direct your Lab and be the "leader" while taking fun trips outside in the form of a hike, a jog, or retrieving games in the water, you must take responsibility for his destructive behavior and know that it is your fault and your responsibility to take charge of your Lab's physical needs.
If you have never owned a Labrador Retriever before but are considering adopting or purchasing one, you have no doubt done a little studying of the breed. Unfortunately, one of their more common traits is frequently overlooked biting, chewing, and nipping- not just the case with our feet and hands, but inanimate objects as well. Such is the case with wood and wooden furniture, considering the fact that, if it will fit, a Labrador puppy will put anything in its mouth to chew on it.
Even more unfortunate is the fact that newer Lab owners don't educate themselves well enough to be aware of this and oftentimes scold the puppy quite harshly for biting and having a temper. Nothing could be farther from the truth since Labradors are inherently oral obsessive and have been bred for retrieving. Above all else, Labs require proper training beginning at a very early age so that they do not bite fingers and limbs, or chew on non-human items.
The easiest approach to take is that a Labrador puppy is a furry little piranha. Although this may sound comical, it is the best way to understand a part of the breeds inherent nature. As they run around, usually with their mouths agape, you should be well aware that they are looking for something to close their mouths on. As the puppy grows into adulthood, there is a greater tendency for them to grab our arms and out clothing.
Teaching the dog that this type of behavior is unacceptable at an early age, otherwise they will take advantage of it and will dominate their human as a result. There is no guarantee that you can train your pet Lab from biting, gabbing, and nipping. However, you can teach them to make better choices. Another scenario similar to the furry little piranha concept is to look at them as vacuum cleaners. Herein lays a major problem as they can and oftentimes to ingest things that are not only harmful, but potentially lethal, such as poisons.
There have been documented reports by veterinarians who have treated numerous Labrador Retrievers for swallowing all sorts of non-edibles, specifically parts of bicycle seats, knives, rawhide, small toys, socks, stones, and tennis balls to name a few. Whatever they can fit in their mouths and even down their throats is considered fair game to them. Here are a few suggestions to consider in order to avert an injurious situation for the dog:
? de-fluff your pillows to remove the temptation to attack them
? discard any loose smaller items, especially toys, that they can swallow
? remove cushions from the sofa while they are inside the house
Being a Labrador owner can be a very enjoyable experience if you can correct this part of their behavior, but just be sure that you do it with kindness and love, and remember that this is what they have been bred to do. The ideal solution, of course, is to try and dog-proof as much of your house as possible while raising them from puppies. It will minimize the amount of damage that occurs and you will be considerably happier in the long run.
Both Jane Saeman & Jeff Nenadic are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jane Saeman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Movie Reviews, Music and Cooking Tips. Jane Saeman loves dogs and strives to keep other dog lovers informed.A whole world awaits other dog lovers.Find out how at my website wh. Jane Saeman's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
Jeff Nenadic has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pets, Dog Breeds and Dogs Training. Written by Jeff Nenadic from . Jeff Nenadic's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.