Am I ready to search for a Labrador Retriever puppy for sale?
Of course these Labrador puppies are cute as buttons! But, there is a lot of work, money and a huge commitment behind being the new owner of a Labrador Retriever puppy. So it’s important that you don’t let the lab puppy cuteness overpower you and end up making an emotional decision. Lab puppies are amazing dogs in many ways and this dog breed has been the most popular for 28 years in a row at the time of writing this blog. They are a popular breed, great water dogs, work in many fields such as search and rescue dogs, drug dogs, therapy dogs, emotional support dogs, ptsd service dogs, and because of their great temperaments also make amazing family pets.
First you need to be reasonably sure you are interested in a Labrador Retriever and not another breed. As Lab Breeders we focus on breeding dogs that are extremely good natured, amazing with children, love cuddles, have a drive to please you and can be a little goofy sometimes. Well, we can’t really breed in the goofy qualities but they do end up happening most of the time. Labs are amazing family dogs with low grooming requirements and tolerant of small children poking and pulling at them. Our Retrievers will encourage you to get some exercise which isn’t all that bad in today’s sedentary society. Just pick up the leash and watch them get excited for their walk. But, most walks are followed by a snuggle on their favorite doggie bed or on the couch if you allow it.
So all this works for you and you decide a Labrador Retriever puppy is the perfect fit for you. Let’s move forward. How much does it cost to raise and keep a Retriever? Well, there are different estimates out there but it will be around $10,000 over the lifetime of the puppy. After you make your purchase, there are things like vet visits, vaccinations, heart worm medication, food, grooming, boarding if you need to while you go away, toys, beds and the odd pair of shoes you may have to replace if you forget to pick them up while your Retriever goes through the puppy stage. Another cost may be an emergency procedure should your dog become sick, eat something they shouldn’t or have a fall type accident and injure their leg or joint.
So type of dog and finances are no problem, excellent! The next thing to consider is if you can dedicate the time required to raise a Labrador Retriever puppy. When your puppy comes home it will sleep a lot, but, it can’t be crated for more than about 3 hours or so. It will need to get up and relieve itself and if you can’t be home to let it do this, you will need someone to do it for you and give the puppy a drink. It is also possible to section off an area say in a laundry room or other room where your puppy can sleep and have a section to relieve itself on paper. But, this will go against potty training your puppy to go outside. Puppy training needs to begin at 8 weeks old and should be done every day for a minimum of 15 minutes a day. Taking a class with a professional dog trainer is also a must so that you can learn how and what to do with your puppy so it doesn’t jump up, walks loose on the leash, comes when called and sits and stays when you want him/her to. Time spent on your Retriever will also include one or two walks a day and socialization time both in and outside with all types of people, sounds and situations.
We suggest that you don’t focus on the look of the dog. Nobody wants a beautiful dog to look at while sitting in the vet’s office paying a $10,000 vet bill to repair hip dysplasia . Health, intelligence and temperament should be the first concerns. No matter if you end up with a yellow lab, black lab, chocolate lab, fox red or silver lab, you will fall in love with who they are–their personality. Within the breed you can search for either a laid back Lab or one with high energy for hunting and working. Either way, make sure you get your dog from a breeder who is a member of the Canadian Kennel Club in good standing. This way you can be sure that your dog’s bloodline is at least certified Labrador Retriever.
When we place one of our Lab puppies we aim to find a home for that dog for life. The average lifespan of a Labrador Retriever is between 10 and 12 years and has a lot to do with the dog food and dog treats you feed them , though they can pass away earlier and also have lived to 15 or even 17 years old. So your commitment to them, and to us is that you are ready to love and care for them from the day you get them home to the time they are ready to pass. We aren’t ok with people who want a puppy while it’s convenient. This commitment to your live animal should be for their life. There is nothing more upsetting to see someone want to get rid of their aging dog because they are older and can’t run and play as much anymore. If you can’t make a commitment for the life of your Labrador Retriever then it would be better for you to volunteer at a shelter where you can visit and play with dogs and walk away when you’ve had enough.
If you live with someone it is important that they are on board 100% with you getting a Retriever, are not allergic to them (yes check before getting your dog) and they too are committed to the duration for the dog. Others who live in the home and even possibly neighbors could become problems if they are not ok with you bringing home a Labrador Retriever puppy. The work you need to do begins checking all of these things before you make the commitment, and then continues on long into the life of your lab.
So there are a few things to get you started while you figure out if you are ready for a Lab puppy or not. They are amazing dogs and we have had countless stories from families about how our Labs have changed their lives for the better. Visit our Facebook page @LuckyLabs to read their stories and see the pictures of the now adult dogs that they took home as a tiny 8 week old Labrador Retriever puppy. You can find Labrador puppies for sale here. They don’t come however without work, patience, and some cost but ….. they are very worth it all!
