LABRADORS

To make it clear, it's essential to differentiate a watchdog from a guard dog. A watchdog is likely to sound an alarm whenever he spots an intruder or danger, and not more than that. There may be cases in which the lab may try to attack, but they may take you friendly once you give them a treat. On the other side, a guard dog will not only sound an alarm, but he can also go on an attack.

Labradors are incapable of attacking someone as they are vocal and can communicate well by barking. So, after so much research, there's no proper training for your home Labrador to become a watchdog, as they are intelligent enough to differentiate between friendly people and threats.

The answer is yes. You can crate train a Labrador:

1. You just need to create or adopt a command word for your dog. This command word could be "crate," depending on your choice.

2. Introduce the crate to your dog holding a treat (food), and put it inside the crate. When the lab follows the trick by entering the crate, say the command word you have adopted and praise him.

3. Feed the puppy inside the crate. Remember, always use the command word in step 1. When the Labrador feels comfortable inside the crate, close the door slowly and open it when he's done with the treat.
4. After some time, keep the crate's door open while the lab eats. You may also stay out of sight for 15-30 seconds to ensure the dog is still inside the crate.

Don't skip any step until the lab shows no hesitation following your commands.

If you have no experience with Labradors, the black Labradors will be much easier to train.

Yes, it is. Due to their ability to socialize and intelligence, Labradors retrievers are easy to train. 

The most common reasons a dog loses his appetite are infections and diseases. The symptoms are:

• The inability to finish his meal.
• The denial of his favorite treat
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Lethargy

Whenever you see this happening, you might need to meet the vet.

It seems as if they are never complete, but why is that? - why are Labradors always hungry?

It is not because you are not giving them enough food. Most of the time, according to studies, a specific gene mutation may be why some labs may not feel complete. 1 in 4 labs is incapable of feeling full, and this only happens in Labradors and flat coat retrievers. For such dogs, a strict diet and regular exercise are a must.

Just like humans use their mouths to communicate, dogs use their mouths to communicate by barking. Labradors retrievers like any other dog, bark. But they do not bark a lot unless they are facing an odd situation or they are out of their normal environment.

Reasons Why Do Labs Bark

• Barking for attention: Labradors are very emotional dogs and they might feel alone when they are ignored. Therefore, they will bark as a response to being ignored or left alone. They are attention seekers and there is nothing wrong with it.
• Barking for food/water: Labradors can express hunger through barking. Physically, they will appear to be less energetic, straight tale and ears down.
• Barking towards an odd situation: Labs are the best candidates to be watchdogs. They will bark at anything they feel is a threat to them or to people they are well attached to. They may bark at dogs they are not socialized with, with the intention of intimidating them.
• Barking for excitement: Dogs usually gets excited when you are about to take them outdoors for a walk, or when you come back home after some hours or days out.

Labradors barely bark at night, but there will be cases they will do it not because they have detected an intruder but simply a squirrel, that’s their guard dog nature. Labs will also react to pain by barking. In case of excessive or unnatural barking, take them to vets.

Well, if you look up to its origins, it’s obvious that these dogs love swimming. They were originally bred to be great companions for fishermen and hunters. Initially, they were used for helping get back to the boat, fish that escaped the net, and nowadays they are used mostly to retrieve waterfowl.

Although most Labradors love swimming, some labs get scared when they are around water, it’s a bit strange when you’re facing this situation. That’s why it is very important to teach your labs to love water while they are still puppies.

Why doesn’t My Labrador Like Water?

Generally, Labradors get excited whenever they see water, if that’s not your labs’ case the reasons can be:

Your Labrador’s type

It's not an official statement, but there are two different types of Labradors. The American Labrador and the English Labrador. The American Labrador is more like a working dog, they are slimmer, more excited, intelligent, and more athletic.

The English Labrador is more easy-going and less complex compared to the American Labrador, typically a show dog. But both are still high-energy dogs.

Fear or bad experience

They can develop an anxiety disorder after facing a traumatic situation with water. Even if it’s a situation that happened while they were still puppies, it can affect their adult life as well.

Something new

Labradors tend to avoid when they were not properly introduced to water, because they might think it’s something harmful to them.

The place where they were initially found, Newfoundland, Canada, has an average of -1°C daily temperature in winters, and 16°C daily temperature in summers. Even in cold weather Labradors were still capable of helping fishermen to get back to the boat fish that escaped the net, and help hunters at retrieving waterfowl.

Although Labradors can handle cold weather, that doesn’t mean they are completely immune to it. As owners, you should avoid exposing Labradors to extremely cold weather for a long time as it can be harmful to labs’ health.

Therefore, Labradors can’t catch a cold unless they are over-exposed to extreme cold temperatures below -6°C. When they are over-exposed to temperatures below -6°C, apart from feeling cold, it can also cause a drop in the dog’s body temperature and may result in “hypothermia”.

How To Keep Labs Warm In Winter?

• Keep your labs indoors
• Avoid unnecessary outdoors walking
• Find a good place your dog can shelter on
• Get them thick blankets
• Make sure your dog doesn’t de-hydrate
• Your labs will need regular brushing
• Get them proper nutrition

Most owners ignore, and some are not aware that Labradors also need special care in the winter season. Hypothermia is a dangerous matter for labs. Always make sure your labs are warm and comfortable enough during extremely cold weather.

Bred to hunt and retrieve, they would play fetch games which mostly consist of chasing balls, all day long, as they have endless energy.

Labradors should chase balls, as long as you set limits for it. Once they are old, the chances of getting hip dysplasia are too high, but this can also occur in puppies and adult Labradors. That’s why it is very important to limit your labs from chasing balls as they put way too much effort when catching the balls and that can hurt their joints.

Although chasing balls brings plenty of benefits for labs, putting too much effort into their legs can lead to micro-fractures when it is done constantly. This doesn’t mean you should stop playing fetch games with your labs but nor more than 15 to 30 minutes a day. When playing indoors, roll the ball instead of throwing them, to keep the labs’ feet on the ground instead of jumping or slamming against the ground.

Apart from joint problems, another downside of chasing balls is the kind of ball you will use, most people use tennis balls. Dog loves chewing through everything and if you are not aware they may chew the ball by parts, which is very unhealthy and may cause serious problems when they ingest them. A dog’s chewable toy could be a better choice than a tennis ball.

There are other exercises they could do to keep them entertained; you should not focus only on playing fetch games. Doggy treadmills, running, and tug-of-war games are also worth it as fetch games are.

It is recommended that you should bathe a lab once or twice a month. Bathing a lab more than that may cause them to lose the vital oil underneath their hairy coat, which is fundamental for the growth of their fur. Do not make use of harsh products on your Labrador, use only recommended dog shampoo or even baby shampoos. The double-coat feature on Labradors can repel dirt and smells, that’s why a bath once or twice a month is fine.

How Often Should You Bathe A Labrador Puppy?

A Labrador puppy should not be given any bath until they are 3-month-old. In fact, for all dog breeds, puppies should only get a bath once they are 3 months old. So, what to do in case your puppy gets dirty?

There are pet tissues you could use to remove the dirt on them, you can find them at any pet store close to you. Add a bit of dry shampoo to the pet tissue and rub the puppy. Don’t rub the puppy’s face completely, to protect their ears and eyes from entering shampoo.

The Best Place To Bath A Labrador

Find the best place or easy access in and out for the dog. This could be a bathtub in which the Labrador can easily jump, or if the weather looks nice, you could bathe them outside around the yard. If you don’t have time for your dog, you could always take them to dog bath facilities such as grooming centers.

Labrador retrievers can eat a lot, they are like monsters when it comes to feeding time, some are capable of pounding a cup of dog food in less than 15 seconds. They think they are always hungry even if you gave them a good amount of food, that’s one of the reasons these dogs can easily gain weight. Feeding routine matters to prevent excessive weight gain and diseases. 

A healthy Labrador should weigh around 55 to 80 kilograms, when he’s above 100kg he has become an overweight dog. As owners, you should be on top of not only what you feed your dog, but how much you feed your dog, monitoring your labs’ eating habits is crucial as it helps to prevent bloating and obesity.

Obesity in Labradors may cause them to be vulnerable to diseases such as heart problems, joint inflammations, and respiratory problems, basically, it reduces resistance against disease in general.

Feed your puppies four times a day when they are under 3 months old, and 3 times a day when they are 4 months old or above. For adult Labradors, two meals a day is enough, one in the morning and the other in the evening. The quantity of the food you feed them should vary according to manufacturer recommendations on that food.

Tips To Avoid Obesity On Labradors

• Diet control: Always feed your labs according to manufacturer recommendations. In case you are planning to add any food into a combination, ask the vet for suggestions.
• Self-control: Train your dog to be calm around food. Labradors tend to be too excited when they see food, as a consequence, they will ingest the food rapidly without even chewing them.
• Daily exercises: Regular exercises are important to burn some calories. Labradors are very energetic dogs, they are always ready for bike rides, give-and-take or, fetch games.

The amount of food depends on their age, brand, and type of food you will be giving them. Every dog food manufacturer has its recommendations on how much food your lab will eat per day.

Labradors retrievers can eat a lot of food, and there will be times you feel like you are not giving them enough food as they are constantly hungry. These dogs can rapidly overweight when their diet is not balanced or controlled.

For adults Labradors, 2 meals a day is enough, and for Labradors puppies, 3 meals a day is enough.

General recommendations from Eukanuba dog food manufacturer, for adults (with Lamb And Rice Formula Dog Food):

General recommendations from Mars Petcare dog food manufacturer, for Labradors puppies (IAMS Proactive Health Smart Puppy Large Breed Dogs (<2 Years) Dry Dog Food, Chicken, 3 kg Pack”):

What Is The Best Food For Labradors?

Just like humans, the best food for a Labrador is the food that keeps them healthy from the inside out, the food which boosts their energy levels at a fair price.

Feeding quantity to a lab depends on its age, type of food, or brand. Labradors can eat a lot, sometimes you may feel it is never enough the amount of food you feed them.

Labrador puppies

You must feed the lab puppies according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Usually, puppies under 3 months must be fed 4 times a day, and 3 times for 6-month-old labs. You must pay attention to how their body develops. Labrador puppies should not be fat or very thin, they must maintain a balanced diet.

What To Feed Labrador Puppies?

When it comes to what to feed Labradors puppies, wet complete puppy food is the best option. Wet complete puppy food as the same says, means there should not be added food combinations, as all nutrients needed by the puppy is included in that one food.

Adult Labradors

As mentioned before, the dog must be fed according to the guidelines of the manufacturer. Mature labs must be fed two times a day, one in the morning and the other meal in the evening. Labradors can easily become overweight when their diet is not controlled, and as consequence, they are vulnerable to heart diseases.

What To Feed Adult Labradors?

When it comes to feeding adult Labrador, highly nutritious ingredients with high protein are the best option for strengthening their muscles.

You can check out some options here.

The most common Labrador’s coat colors are black, chocolate and yellow. Over the years, black labs have been used mostly for hunting, chocolate labs are well suited for home dogs, and yellow labs are used mostly as guide dogs. The Labrador’s coat color doesn’t change its personality and it’s up to you what color is suitable according to your needs.

• Black Labradors are agile and tough; therefore, they are the most preferred for hunting, and they make great home pets too.
• Chocolate Labradors are the results of what is called Backyard breeding. Improper breeding caused them to be less intelligent and less trainable compared to others. They became famous due to their beautiful color and have great personalities making them great home pets.
• Yellow Labradors are said to be the healthiest Labradors, and it’s believed that they are the least prone to breed-related diseases compared to other Labradors. They are very photogenic and most used for service dogs.

The best color should be based on your preferences, they can all make great family dogs due to their friendly temperament and great personalities.

• Bathe your dogs as little as possible, and use recommended shampoos only.
• Mind your dog’s diet. Adding Supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids in their, food helps them to get a clean and shiny coat.
• Regular brushing is essential for the distribution of their natural oil, evenly.
• Don’t let them be exposed to sunlight too often.

Labradors are not known for their pointing ability, as they were bred to be retrievers rather than pointers. However, with proper training, they can be taught to point at birds or other game. This is not a natural behavior for them, so it may take some time and effort to train them to do it.

On average, Labradors live for about 10-12 years. However, their lifespan can vary depending on a number of factors, such as their overall health, diet, and lifestyle. Some Labradors may live longer or shorter lives than the average.

Labrador retrievers are a highly energetic breed of dog that require a significant amount of exercise to stay healthy and happy. As a general rule, Labs should get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, though more is always better. This can be in the form of walks, runs, or play sessions with toys. It's important to note that the type and intensity of exercise should be appropriate for the age and health of the individual dog. For example, a young, healthy Lab will be able to handle more strenuous exercise than an older dog or one that is dealing with health issues.

In addition to daily exercise, Labs also benefit from having a regular routine of physical activity. This can include regular walks or runs, trips to the dog park, or sessions of fetch or other games. By establishing a routine, you can ensure that your Lab is getting the regular physical activity that they need to stay healthy and happy.

One of the key benefits of regular exercise for Labs is that it can help to prevent obesity. Labs are prone to weight gain, and obesity can lead to a range of health problems, including joint issues, heart disease, and diabetes. By ensuring that your Lab gets enough exercise, you can help to keep their weight under control and prevent these problems from developing.

Exercise is also important for Labradors because it helps to keep their minds active and engaged. Like all dogs, Labs are intelligent and curious animals, and they need mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Regular exercise provides this stimulation, as it encourages them to explore and interact with their environment. This can help to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors that can arise when a dog is not getting enough mental stimulation.