Labrador Retriever Care Sheet

Labrador Retrievers (Labs) are wonderful pets.  They are very loyal and obedient dogs who are highly intellegent and easily trained. They are loving and gentle and often get along wonderfully with children.

Housing

Dogs should be kept inside with their humans as they are pack animals and are much happier with constant human companionship. They need to have a space in your home that is theirs. A crate or cage that is the appropriate size for your dog works wonderfully. The crate should have a blanket inside for the dog to cuddle with. Doggy beds are another item that will work as your dog's space. The blankets and beds should be cleaned frequently to keep them from harboring parasites such as fleas.

Feeding

Quailty hard food is an important part of your dogs diet. It helps reduce tarter build up and helps control weight better than soft foods. Talk to your vet about what type of food is best suited to your particular dog's needs. Human foods should be avoided as some are toxic to your dog and table scraps often cause weight and digestive problems among others.

Dogs need a clean, constant supply of water.  Make sure your dogs water dish is always full and clean it regularly to avoid build up.

Grooming

Labs need twice weekly grooming to keep their coats healthy. Use a stiff brush to remove the loose hairs. A flea comb is also useful for flea control. Your dog should, however, be on flea preventative you can get at your vet. Avoid over the counter flea medications as they can be deadly. Fleas, if lft untreated, can be deadly, slowly draining the life from your pet. 

If brushed regularly, they should rarely require baths. If your Lab does need a bath be sure to use a dog shampoo and not human shampoo. Dogs have sensitive skin so leave the people products for people. There are many kinds of dog shampoos to choose from, flea shampoos to control parasites, oder control for the stinky dog, hypoallergenic for those with allergies, medicated for those with itchy skin, and a host of others. Take your dog's condition into consideration when choosing the proper shampoo for him. In cooler months you should use a blow dryer on a low setting to dry your dog in order to keep him from getting too cold and becoming ill. 

Exercising

Labs are a very active dog and need daily exercise. A daily walk is neccessary to keep your Lab in top condition. A few hours of fetch in the yard is also a wonderful way for you and your dog to exercise and bond. Labs are natural retrievers and usually excel at a fetch.

Also for further information feel free to join the Dog's Life Yahoo! Group and talk to other dog owners from around the world.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dogslife/

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