Dogs bring so much joy to our lives. They offer companionship, affection, and they can even be a great help to those who need them the most. There are many reasons why you would choose Lab puppies as your family pet.
The Labrador Retriever is a beautiful breed of dog with a lovely temperament. If trained at a young age, they can be obedient and loyal. Labs are one of the most commonly used support dogs making up the most significant proportion of guide dogs for the blind. This is down to their inherent ability to learn, adapt, and to support their owners and keepers.
If you are considering getting a Labrador, then there are many great reasons to choose that particular breed. Although, if you are in your more senior years, you may well ask if you are too old to get a Lab Puppy.
The Health Benefits Of Owning A Dog
Whether you are looking at buying a Yellow Lab, Chocolate Lab, or any other type of dog, there are some great benefits to your health. As your dog needs to get out lots, it will ensure that you do too. This means walking them and getting plenty of fresh air. This could be as good for you as it is the dog, as regular exercise is excellent for managing and preventing a whole host of human health conditions.
Dogs are great for your mental health too. They provide constant companionship and will stop you from feeling lonely. They are excellent for helping you to fight depression. Many people keep therapy dogs to assist with all kinds of health problems too.
How Much Work Is Involved In Keeping A Labrador?
A dog does require a fair amount of looking after. Lab puppies, in particular, can be a very energetic breed that will need exercising daily. You will need to consider that your dog will need a walk of at least thirty minutes, as well as some energetic playing to work through any pent up energy that they have. Exercise is important to both the physical health of your dog and their mental health.
You will need to feed your Labrador. Your family dog will need to have a routine with feeding, as they are creatures of habit. They will be reliant on you to ensure they have everything that they need, such as a constant supply of fresh water.
If you want your dog to get off to the best start, you will have to devote a lot of time and effort into training them. This will mean using positive reinforcement techniques such as rewarding your dog with a treat or affection whenever they display the desired behavior. It can often be helpful to sign up for a training class to help with getting the right support in developing your Labrador’s obedience skills.
Just like humans, dogs require mental stimulation and social contact. This will mean that you should play games with your dog or provide puzzle toys to occupy them. If possible, it can be healthy for them to go and play with other dogs from time-to-time, so if you know any other dog owners, it is useful to go walking together.
Your Labrador will have two coats and will molt a lot. Grooming is therefore vital to keep your dog comfortable and your home free from all of the hair.
The Cost Of Ownership
A significant factor that you need to think about before you get a dog is the cost of ownership. Whether you are buying from a Labrador Retriever breeder, or if you are getting a dog from a re-homing shelter, then there will be an initial outlay in buying them in the first place. Quality breeders are generally more expensive, however, this is one of the easiest ways of getting a dog as a puppy. As well, a good breeding program will include genetic testing so that dogs with common medical issues are not bred. We also select the smartest puppies for breeding so that we can continue our donations of puppies to be trained as service dogs to Veterans.
Once you have your dog, you will need to insure them so that they are covered for any expensive health problems that may crop up. You may also want to take out a care plan at your local vet to make sure that they get worm and flea treatments regularly, as well as check-ups and their necessary vaccinations.
Your Labrador will obviously need to be fed. They can be quite healthy eaters, and you will need to buy food with a high nutritional value to ensure that your dog is kept in good shape. Better quality food can be more expensive than lower priced brands but the better food you feed your dog the healthier they will be. In the long run it’s never a good idea to skimp on your dog’s food.
Aside from these crucial factors, there are many other costs that build-up with dog ownership. They will need bedding, leads, toys, treats, vaccinations, health exams, as well as grooming tools. There is an ongoing financial responsibility associated with dog ownership, and you should always ask yourself if you can afford to meet their needs. On average it is estimated that the cost for a dog over their 12 year life is about $10,000.
What Are The Other Options?
As lovely as it is to have a dog from being a puppy, you can always adopt a dog that is further on in years. With the average lifespan of a dog being around twelve years, you will want to factor how many years you feel you may have together.
Adopting a dog from a re-homing center may be a very good option. Often, dogs have to be given up by their owners for many reasons and, as such, will need to go to the right home. As well, at times we have adult dogs who retire from our breeding program and because we will take any puppy we have bred back for the lifetime of the dog, we at times have young adults available. Our goal is to NEVER have any of our puppies in a shelter so we are responsible for them for their entire lifetime. Choosing an adult dog from a breeder will allow you to access the health and temperament history. The puppies we choose to breed are of the very smartest and healthiest of our litters. You may be able to find a dog that is that little bit older, and who has already undergone some training and socializing and who is past the puppy-stage.
