Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Few Facts You Must Know About Dogs

Dogs and humans have been companions for thousands of years. Dog breed Usually a dog owners are happy that their dog fetches the ball and they take the dog out for short walks. Dogs and specially Labrador retrievers require a variety of exercises, physical and mental, to maintain good health. Each dog requires exercise depending upon the surroundings and you should try and create a unique exercise regimen. You can built the schedule keeping in mind the following about Labrador Retrievers and other dogs.

Quick facts about Dogs:

  • Dogs are natural pack animals.
  • When Dogs are young they instinctively look for a leader. The leader can be either you or another dog.
  • Dogs with little human contact in the first three months typically don't make good pets.
  • Dogs were the first animals domesticated by people therefore no matter how tough it may seem you can teach your dog new tricks.
  • A puppy is born blind, deaf and toothless.
  • After birth of a puppy, the eyes do not fully open until they're about 12 days old.
  • Puppies sleep ninety percent of the day for their first few weeks.
  • A one year old dog is as mature as a 15 years old human.
  • An adult dog has 42 teeth.
  • Dogs can be trained to detect diseases.
  • The largest breed of dog is the Irish Wolfhound.
  • The St. Bernard is the heaviest.
  • The world's smallest dog breed is the Chihuahua.
  • Most pet owners (94 percent) say their pet makes them smile more than once a day.
  • A greyhound can run as fast as 45 miles an hour.
  • Labrador Retrievers are easiest to train of all dog breeds.
  • A dog's nose works one million times better than a human's nose.
  • There are more than 700 types of pure bred dogs.
  • German Shepherds are one of the most registered dogs.
  • Dogs are mentioned 14 times in the Bible.
  • Dalmatian puppies are born completely white.
  • Boxers are so named because of their manner of playing with their front paws.
  • Dogs live 15 years on an average.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Labrador Puppies Make Your Girlfriend Smile

Dogs are best friends of mankind from thousands of years. Dogs have been used by the human race for many things including as a house guard, tending livestock, as a companion or a playing mate. Over the years the bond between the human and the dog race has grown. Once a great philosopher said, "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself."
Dogs have developed themselves in thousands of different breeds as a result of selective breeding by humans. There are approximate 78.2 million dogs owned in the United States. Puppies are cute and they do touch humans in unique ways.
I'm sharing 10 photos of the cutest labrador puppies; you can share this article with your girlfriend or even on your Facebook timeline or any other personal social profile. I am sure this will make her smile and help you in re-building any burnt bridges.

10 Labrador cute puppies devoted to your happiness:

labrador retriever puppy sleeping
A cute labrador puppy Sleeping
labrador puppy with santa cap
A Puppy celebrating Christmas and waiting for Santa
labrador puppy sitting in the garden
Cute Puppy in the Garden
labrador puppies running
Labrador Puppies running towards the camera
labrador puppy with yellow flower
Lab puppy checking a Yellow flower
labrador puppies with red ball
Puppies waiting for their Mistress
labrador puppy and his toys
Going to sleep with his toys
a litter of labrador puppies
A litter of cute labrador puppies
lab puppy with red rose
Red rose for you
puppy sleeping in flower basket
Puppy sleeping in a basket with yellow flower

Your feedback would be appreciated.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Labrador Retriever Puppy Checklist

“I am going to adopt a Labrador retriever puppy” whenever I hear this or have said it myself (though till now I have said it only 2 times); like anyone else I start planning and thinking about what to do with the dog and end up having grand plans and get excited about the prospect of adopting a new pet. Having adopted two pets in the last 5 years I have realized that some preparation is needed before you adopt a new pet. I have built a list of things that need to be done before you adopt a pet which I’m going to share with you Crockery for the dog like food & water bowls should be made of stainless steel so that they cannot be chewed by the puppy.

labrador retriever puppies

Ensure that you use a light-weight leash and collar. The collar size should ensure that the pup is not uncomfortable with it yet it does serve the purpose of reining the pup in whenever required.

Just like children pups need toys. I’m a strong believer that it is easy to teach pups with toys, some of the popular toys are chew toys, kongs, balls, ropes and bones. Just make sure that the toys you buy are easy to wash and should made of natural material. Some people have the misconception that high quality dog food is not necessary. This is untrue. Especially in case of pups ensure that you do feed them good dog food. Just a pay a visit to the pet shop around the corner and you will find a huge range to choose from. Having a permanent place to sleep for the dog from the start is good as the dog will learn where to go when he or she wants to sleep. If you can afford then do buy a bed for the pup or an old rug would also do to give the cuddly feeling. Ensure that the pet is registered and has an ID tag with the full details. Pups are vulnerable to getting lost and the ID tag can help in such scenarios. An I.D tag with his name and full address with phone number.

Buy a right type of brush (depending on the fur of the pup) and ensure that you wash the pup once a month. Brush the pup regularly to keep it free from ticks. As most of you would know a poop scooper and some bags are handy while teaching the dog potty training.

It is recommended to get the pup to become habitual of using a toothbrush. It is easier to teach a pup to use a tooth brush instead of trying to train an old dog.

This is a basic list of things to keep in mind and shop for before getting a pup home. Depending on the breed of the pup you would have make some additions to the list but it is enough to get you started.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Help your Labrador Retriever Puppy while Teething

If you have already have kids and thought that you are done with the teething problem for life. You are wrong in case you plan to adopt a Labrador retriever pup. Unlike a child who can express their frustration with teething by crying. The puppies have very few options to express themselves when they feel the irritation and pain when they are teething. There have been cases where Labrador Labrador Puppy chewing rope toyRetriever pups have become violent though invariably teething puppies start chewing anything they can lay their mouth on as that is the only way they can relieve themselves of the problems faced while teething.

A few days (couple of weeks) after you adopted a newly born puppy you would notice puppy teeth marks on everything in the house. Another trait that is seen in teething puppies is the do excessive chewing, increase in aggression and sometimes bleeding gums (in which case you should consult a veterinarian). This is the indication that you have to get ready to help your sweet puppy.

Puppies have 14 teeth on top of their muzzle and 14 on the bottom. And as they come close to adulthood they have to deal with more teeth as an adult dog have 21 on top and bottom. This is the time when puppies need you support hitting them for chewing you new shoes is no the solution. But there are few things that can help your puppy in his poor time.

Tips to help your Labrador retriever puppy while teething:

  • Give your puppy some chew toys that are tough to chew.
  • Keep your puppy busy in play with ball or puppy obedience training.
  • Do not forget to correct your puppy if you found him chewing anything inappropriate.
  • It is better time to teach your puppy 'leave it'.
  • Rope toys can help your puppy in teething stage and they are best because they are inexpensive and east to clean.
  • Kong Company is having a large number of chewing toys that can help your puppy in a big way.
  • Do not leave your puppy at his own because he will put every object in his mouth and that can be dangerous if he found garbage in the backyard.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Why Labs are Good Companion Dogs

Choosing a companion dog is not easy. Do not forget to assess owner's apartment, health and physical status with the dog's requirements like how much routine exercise is necessary, nature of the dog and other preferences that Labrador has. Labarador Retrievres are one of the best companion dogs for humans and history proves that. Some of the dog breeds that prove to be good companion pets are Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, York shire Terriers, toy Poodles and Maltese. Therefore if you are planning to adopt a pet as a companion Labrador Retriever is one of the breed that you should consider before you decide.

labrador Retriever sitting

Why choose Labrador Retrievers:

  • Labradors are known to be one of the most intelligent and calm dog breed. Labrador retriever has never been unseated as the number one well-loved dog in the United States and Europe.
  • It is relatively easy to train Labradors and get them to follow commands. Labrador Retrievers, by nature, are looking for a leader to whom they can look up to (and you should try to take the position of the leader).
  • They are suitable as companion dogs, dogs for handicap people and therapy dogs.
  • They are very playful and obedient.
  • Labrador Retrievers are social dogs and like to mix with humans.
  • Labradors adore children and often develop a strong bond with the children of the family. Labs are not aggressive dogs. Having said that Labrador Retrievers behave aggressively when confronted by a stranger.
  • It is true that Labrador Retrievers are not one of the best guard dogs but they are better than many other dog breeds.

The characteristics above are proof that Labrador Retrievers are one of the most sought after dog breed and one should consider adopting a Labrador Retriever if they are going to go in for a new pet.

Related Posts : Labrador Retriever Facts

Monday, April 8, 2013

Exercise tips for Labrador Retrievers

Routine exercise is necessary for dogs as it helps your dog to keep fit, healthy and they enjoy the change in environment. Other positive impacts of regular exercise are better muscle development and better digestion. A dog that does not exercise regularly will grow into a unhealthy dog and would require constant attention.

It is a known fact that dogs that are deprived from exercise become aggressive, irritating, bark constantly without a provocation or a Labrador might chew anything that he can get hold of. On the other hand well exercised dogs are stable, easy to handle and show their affection and love towards the all members of the family. From my experience as a dog trainer I can say for sure that lack of exercise is responsible for common behavioral problems in dogs.

Few Rules to keep in mind while exercising a Labrador Retriever Puppy

Labrador Retriever dogs have few health issues. Joint problem is one of them and if some precautions are not taken during exercise they can become a serious problem. Some of the precautions that need to be taken are:

  • Do not give your puppy a long walk before 18 months of age.
  • Do not include him in games where he/she have to jump, leap or stop suddenly.
  • A game like Frisbee is not recommended for puppies because this game needs more stamina and quick movement which can result in a broken joint for a puppy.
  • Do not involve a puppy in high energy games of fetch.
  • If you want to play fetch a ball then throw the ball close to the ground so that puppy will not have to jump to catch it.

Rules for the exercising of Adult Labrador Retriever dogs:

The type of exercise required is different in each dog and also depends on its age. Keep the following in mind when creating a exercise regimen for your grown up Labrador Retriever

  • If your dog is easy going, laid back then he needs a small amount of exercise daily.
  • If your dog is active and has high energy then you need to work on him vigorously and daily exercise will help him in exhaust his energy which will lead to the dog being more docile.
  • You need to be consistent about the exercise of your dog. Please do not think that only taking your dog to hiking in the weekends and small walks during the week is good for him.
  • Involve them in playing fetch a ball and Frisbee. These games are a good source of exercise for adult dogs and are highly recommended.
  • Everybody knows that Labradors are good swimmers therefore ensure that swimming is part of exercise routine.
  • Training, teaching new tricks and playing with toys is also necessary for their mental growth.
  • While exercise is important you should take care that you go not give your high energy dog hours of exercise so as to keep him calm. This is not good for dog’s health.

The best thing about ensuring that a dog follows an exercise routine is that the pet owner also gets to exercise and there are times when the pet owner needs more exercise than the pet. Anyway I hope what I have shared will help you in keeping your dog healthy.

A Train full grown Labrador Retriever Dog

labrador retriever

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Labradors As Pets (Series) - A Labrador Retriever

This post is the first post on a series of posts about Labrador as pets. In the series I will be talking about the advantages of having a Labrador as a pet, how to choose a Labrador pup, how to train a Labrador retriever, their diet and grooming amongst other things.

Advantages of having a Labrador Retriever as a pet:

Labrador Retriever is the most popular pet dog for people around the world. This is not without reason as there are many advantages of keeping a Labrador Retriever as a pet. Some of them are :

  • Labradors do not require a lot of grooming. An occasional bath with hair combing every two weeks is enough for a Labrador retriever. This is not the case with most of the other dog breeds.
  • Labrador Retrievers are the best pets if you have children at home as Labrador Retrievers are affiniable and love being around the family. It has been seen that usually dogs develop affinity to children of the house over a period of time.
  • Labrador Retrievers change their behavior as per surroundings very quickly. youou might find a Labrador very aggressive and after 5 minutes later you will find him tugging gently with the toddler at home.
  • Since Labradors are well built and look like strong dogs it is good to have them around for safety as they can intimidate anyone but they are usually gentle with the family that adopts them.
  • Labrador Retriever is an energetic breed of dogs and do not tire easily therefore they are always ready to play around with the family and make any activity a fun activity.
  • Labrador Retrievers are gentle creatures and very sociable. A well groomed Labrador can adopt to any situation and household.
  • Labradors are easy to train since they are very amicable and follow instructions by nature Labradors can be trained in a short span of time.
  • Labradors are perfect dogs for hunting, fishing and hiking.
  • Labradors are highly trainable and they are often used as guides for blind, search and rescue operations dog.

If you are looking for a dog who will be like a family member then adopting a Labrador retriever is the best thing you can do.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Google-Nose for Dog owners

Google Nose Beta is beneficial and a boon for Dog Owners

Today Google has launched another product called Google Nose it allows users to search for a smell. A dog smells a large number of things in a day and now you can also do this. I am sure it will also help many of us in creating a strong bond with our dogs.

I have a 3 year old yellow Labrador Retriever and training him was not easy task for me. Now you can Train a Labrador in few weeks with the help of Google Nose Beta. This will make the smelling power of your dog more focused and powerful. You can also play an important role by searching for different and hard to find smells in Google Nose and give it to your dog.

Conclusion:

The story above sounds very interesting and amazing but the fact is that this technology does not exist in real world and you have to wait for few more years for this to happen. At this time it only exists in fictional universe.

Google-Nose for Labrador Retriever

Happy April Fools Day

Thursday, March 28, 2013

My dog is eating everything what should i do

Thank you for the questions readers have been asking me. I love helping other dog owners to rear dogs and have a good personal relationship with their pets.

Last week I got this mail from one of the readers

Question: Hi! My name is Jenny and I am 32 years old working woman. We have a yellow color Labrador and she is very well behaved with us. She is a completely trained dog from a Labrador retriever training school. She eats her meal on time and patient about her meal but when we are not around her behavior changes to a different dog. We have chained her in the backyard or have to crate her when we went out because she would go to kitchen jump up on the slabs and eat things like coffee, bread, eggs, beans and anything that is in her reach. Things become messed up when she tears apart the garbage and last night she reached to my drawer to get the candies.

We live in a small house with my parents and they declines to chain her or crate her in the house. And with practice she became an expert artist in doing these type of things (once she opened a jar of jam that was in the center of the dining table without leaving any marks of her existence. She is a healthy dog(45-50lbs) and has 1 hour run 2 times a day. She has many dog toys to play with. We feed her 3 times a day. But I don't know how to deal with it as the dog is totally out of control when we are not at home. Please help because I don't want to loose her.

Answer: According to my opinion as a Dog behavior specialist these things can become more difficult if she would eat garbage which can result in infection which leads to health complications.

Putting her into crate or chaining the dog in the backyard does not work in most cases. Most probably when your pet steals anything she sees it as reward and maybe appreciating herself which I called "self rewarding".

Ensure that your dog is busy when you are not there ensure that someone is around and preferably keep her busy. As a precaution you need to keep all the eatables far away from her. Kitchen slabs should be clean with minimum clutter. Drawers must be locked full-time, does not matter you are at home or outside.

Another thing that you can do is when the food is around your dog, just hold the leash from top of the neck and pull it gently when she gets excited. This exercise will train her brain not get excited when she sees food..

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

How to Find Labrador Retriever Breeder

You have a list of Labrador breeders in your locality but you are confused about which breeder to choose to help you find the right dog. A good Labrador breeder can help you choose the right breed depending upon requirements and where you live. A good dog breeder can help you rare your dog into a good friend and company.

To help dog owners choose the right breeder I have built a questionnaire to evaluate Labrador breeders:

  • Do not book an appointment with a breeder but pay a surprise visit so that you are able to see actually for yourself whether the parents of the pet are reared in a good environment.
  • Ensure that the puppy's mother is there in the same kennel as of the pup.
  • The good breeder will have all the details about the dog and should have answers to most of the questions.
  • A professional breeder does not allow her dog to be in breeding before 1.5 years of age and after 7 years of age.
  • Professional breeders settle with one specific breed for breeding. They do not believe in breeding many breeds at their kennel.
  • A good breeder will offer you the puppies once they are 12 weeks old or above.
  • A professional will have records, including vaccination details and a photo album of all the litter form which the pup is being adopted.
  • A good breeder will not hesitate in answering any questions you have about the breed. He will also tell you about the health of the pups and health issues that the specific breed is having in their life span.
  • Is the puppy is of show quality, if not why?
  • Is the puppy socialized or not?
  • A good breeder can describe you all the positive points of the puppy and he will also not forget to share the negative ones.

Hope all of these things will help you in finding a good Labrador breeder and best of luck for adopting a new puppy.

A letter from a Labrador Retriever puppy

I am a small, nervous and poor Labrador Puppy and I will promise you that I will love you and be with you till my last breath. I understand I have habits that need to be improved but I need your cooperation or you can put me to a Labrador training school.

A few facts about me which will help you understand me:

  • My level of understanding things and ability to learning is same as 8 months old baby. I am teething and that is why I love to chew everything that is in my reach. With your help and instructions I will understand what I cannot chew on. I love dog chews and those keep me away from chewing anything and everything.
  • I am a Labrador Retriever Puppy; so I am unable to hold on my bladder more than 1-2 hours. Just like other dogs I poop anywhere I want, but I guess you humans prefer pooping at a particular place. Help me understand that.
  • If I pee on your precious carpet or on the floor do not punish me for that. Unlike humans I need to pee and poop regularly though I need to learn that but give me time for that. It would help if you do not give me water after 8PM.
  • I am a small Labrador Pup, things will become messed up but you have to keep calm with me. My life as a pet is something new for me and only patience can teach me.
  • I like to play; I will bite you, attack you, chase imaginary strangers at our house and run behind balls, other pets, kids even after every moving thing.Please do not get angry with me or expect me to sleep whole day and stay on one corner of the house. Guide me in playing or buy me some dog toys and few to chew toys as well.
  • I need to play as every form of activity is beneficial for my growth and my mental exercise. If I pinch you with my teeth please forgive me and command me in a loud hoot, I will get your message in a flash "This is how we, dogs, talk with each other".
  • Do not hit, kick or beat me as I am a little Puppy and you will not beat a 8 month old baby as well, so do the same with me. If you treat me miserably then I will grow up with a fear of beaten up, therefore I’m likely to become an aggressive dog.
  • I am a Pup and I have feelings and it hurts me when you beat me or kick me. Although you cannot compare me with a human neither I can behave like a human, nor I am a robot who can obey your each command.
  • I truly love you, want to live with you, and want to be the part of the family. I like being in a group or pack of other animals. My aim is to please you become your best friend until my last day.
  • I am a Labrador Puppy and I have to learn many things, need to prove you that I can be the best dog you have ever seen, and I know you are also learning things. But its ok I love you. So my request is for you to learn everything about training puppies and their behaviors.
  • Take advantage of the fact that you can read and read books on dogs, meet veterinarians and make use of another marvelous invention - The Internet. Please register me for Labrador Retriever Training or Puppy obedience classes, as it helps me to be more social and will lay a strong foundation for my life.
  • I am a Puppy right now, please make some time to guide me, teach me and work with me. In few months I will become a handsome Labrador dog, hopefully that day you will be proud of me.
  • We will have a bond of trust and love with each other. But all this will be happen if you keep calm and be patient with me.

I hope this conversation about me will help us in building a better and life long relationship

Lots of Love

Your Labrador Retriever Puppy