Different Types of Labrador Training

Many people choose Labradors as a pet for their family because of the ease of training Labradors to be good house pets. Labrador training is considered simpler than training other types of dogs because Labradors are intelligent, attentive, and are generally eager to learn and please their owners. There are several different avenues that can be used to accomplish Labrador retriever training and each type of training has its pros and cons so owners will need to choose the type of Labrador training that is right for them and their pet.

Personal Training

Many people choose to train their Labrador dogs themselves by using training materials and techniques created by expert dog trainers. Personal training is preferred by many people because it allows the training to be done at the pace that is comfortable for both the dog and the owner. It also allows the Labrador training to take place at a time that is convenient for the owner, as the hectic pace of daily life may make it difficult to devote the same amount of time each day to training the dog.

Personal Labrador training takes a great deal of time and dedication on the part of the owner to teach the dog everything that they will need to know to make good house pets. Teaching a Labrador to perform certain actions takes repetition and positive reinforcement for the dog to learn what is expected of them and how to signal certain desires and needs in such a way that the owner understands. Labrador training also takes a large amount of patience as some tasks put to the Labradors are learned faster than others and tasks that the dog is having trouble with may mean that the techniques used for teaching the dog that task will need to be revised.

Professional Training

There are many professional dog trainers that have experience in Labrador training and are willing to teach your dog the things that you want them to learn. Professional trainers often have years of experience and can obtain results much more quickly than an owner attempting to train the Labrador on their own. They can also devote more of their time to the Labrador training because it is their job and they are getting paid to take the time to teach the dog properly.

The biggest drawback to using a professional for Labrador training is the cost, which can cost hundreds of dollars depending on what the owner would like the trainer to teach the dog and how long the training takes. The Labrador training will need to take place when the trainer is available for teaching, which may be difficult to schedule if the owner works long or abnormal hours. There are some training centers that will keep the Labrador at their training facility for a week or several weeks to complete the training quickly, but the owner will not be present for the training and may forget how to reinforce the training that the dog received from the training facility.

Factors That Play An Important Role In Labrador Dog Adoption

The World Wide Web is a great place to find information regarding the Labrador breed. If you happen to have stumbled across a site dealing exclusively with Labradors you will be quite amazed by the amount of information that is available that tells you everything that there is to know about these gentle and friendly creatures. However, there is also a disquieting aspect and this is when you notice advertisements regarding Labrador dog adoption.

Don’t Rush

Most people, when they see a Labrador dog adoption advertisement tends to rush into adopting the dog based solely on the appearance of the pet in question. However, there is more to Labrador dog adoption than the appearance of the Labrador because you also need to think about other important factors before going ahead with Labrador dog adoption.

To begin with, you must be sure in your mind that you do in fact need to own a pet; bringing home a pet dog involves taking on a big responsibility which you must be able to shoulder. You need to be sure that your family is willing to keep a pet and you also need to consider the age of other family members before going ahead with Labrador dog adoption.

Other factors that you need to consider before proceeding with Labrador dog adoption include making a commitment to ensuring the welfare of the Labrador, being patient and tolerant with him and you also need to take on the responsibility of feeding and grooming your pet. If you have children in the home, you need not worry about bringing home a Labrador because Labradors are gentle and friendly with children.

Labrador dog adoption is rather inexpensive as compared to buying a puppy because the majority of adopted Labradors will already have been vaccinated and spayed and they also may have been trained by their previous masters. Still, there are many expenses that you will need to consider including paying for veterinary care, food, grooming, toys and also some dog supplies.

Another important aspect to owning a Labrador is Labrador training which must be begun as early as possible. In the case of Labrador dog adoption, the good news is that most adopted Labradors generally do not give many problems because they may have been sent to shelters only because their owner was unable to properly care for them and not because of bad behavior.

Labrador dog adoption is good for you as well as for the pet since you will be helping him get a new home and in return, you will be getting a pet that will provide you with much joy.

A Few Things Worth Knowing About Labrador Dog Care

One of the greatest experiences in life is to own a pet and when your pet happens to be a Labrador, your cup of joy is sure to overflow. These sweet, affectionate, very friendly as well as caring dogs require your love and attention and if they get the right amount of Labrador dog care and liberal doses of love, they will become ideal pets that will make your life a lot more enriched. One method of obtaining a Labrador is through Labrador dog adoption, which today is very easy as there are many online sites that put up Labradors for adoption.

Food And Water

Among the most essential things that need to be addressed with regard to providing proper Labrador dog care, you may include taking good care about feeding your pet as well as keeping them well hydrated. Just like other dog breeds, Labradors too require good food and plenty of water. It is therefore necessary that you set up a schedule for his feeding and this schedule should be established as soon as he becomes your pet. In addition, you need to ensure that your Labrador pet always has easy access to water 24x7x365.

As far as feeding your pet goes, proper Labrador dog care requires that he is fed once or twice in a day and he should also be given good as well as healthy dog food that must be given to him exactly according to instructions on the dog food labels.

A second aspect to providing good Labrador dog care is ensuring that your pet has a place to call his own and this is the place where he will be able to rest and get his sleep without being disturbed. Though it is common to let your pet Labrador share your bed it is nevertheless, always a good idea to give him a bed of his own, and even a big sized kennel that has a blanket or a dog bed in it will do just fine. You may also need to train him to sleep in his bed and it also makes good sense to teach him that his bed is where you would like to see him get his sleep.

Other Labrador dog care tips include training him – either personally or by sending him to a dog training class. Also, you need to groom as well as bathe your Labrador on a regular basis, and you also need to ensure that he is given plenty of exercise on a regular basis.

Finally, proper Labrador dog care also means giving your pet his shots and getting his licenses in good time. Rabies shots as well as heartworm checks must be done in order to ensure his wellbeing because these measures can even end up saving the life of your Labrador.

There Is Much Useful Labrador Dog Information Available Online

Having decided on owning a Labrador pet dog, it is then a good idea if you did your research on the breed beforehand and gathered as much Labrador dog information as you could. There are a number of things to keep in mind in this regard, and for more information, you should check out the Internet where there is a lot of pertinent information available. Many sites, in fact, deal only with providing Labrador dog information and these sites can be found by using the popular search engines such as Google and MSN.

Sociable Breed

You should not however expect that the Labrador dog information you obtain from online sources to exactly match with the real information on this dog breed. Perhaps the first bit of useful Labrador dog information that you will come across is that this is a breed that is very sociable and friendly. In fact, the breed is so friendly that it is safe to let little children play with Labrador pet dogs, especially those that have been well trained and know how to socialize.

A second useful piece of Labrador dog information relates to the size of this breed. Labradors are big in size and therefore, before brings him home you need to be sure that you have enough space to accommodate a large sized pet. He is also going to need plenty of space to walk and run about and he also needs to be taken out for regular exercising. Also, it is not recommended that you leave your pet Labrador at home for the entire day without his having some company because this is a breed that demands to be around people and he needs to have fun as well as play with others.

All it really takes to keeping a Labrador happy is to give him plenty of love as well as to train him so that he learns to understand house rules. As long as you are aware of how to go about his training and upkeep you will not have any difficulties in raising and keeping him and he will in fact soon become a great addition to your home.

If you have any doubts about the suitability of keeping a Labrador for a pet, you will need to study Labrador dog information related to his needs as well as care and then decide if he is the type of pet dog you want to bring home.

Becoming the proud owner of a Labrador is sure to be a great experience and it only requires that you do your best to provide proper Labrador dog care for these sweet and loving animals that are faithful and friendly and who deserve nothing but the best from you. The bottom line is that if you have plenty of space, and can devote time to keep him exercised and active, there is nothing that should stop you from keeping a Labrador as a pet.

Labrador Rescue Dog: Do A Good Act And Give An Abandoned Labrador A New Home

It is quite common to come across a Labrador rescue dog and this is good news because it means that fewer Labradors will be left uncared for, but it is also bad news because it shows that many more Labrador owners are abandoning their pets. However, there are many Labrador rescue services that are addressing the problem of caring for uncared for and abandoned Labradors, and in cities such as Denver, hundreds of homes are taking in Labrador rescue dogs.

Taken To Shelters

There are several different ways in which Labradors are rescued including taking them to shelters, and one of the more common reasons why a Labrador needs to be rescued is because his owner(s) have died and he has been left to fend for him. Many Labrador rescue dog are actually those Labradors that had been sent to a shelter by families that had decided that they no longer wished to keep their Labrador at home and will have donated their pet to a shelter.

If a Labrador that has been abandoned is left to fend for him, he may well end up living life on the streets, and perhaps will only have a crate to call his home. Rescuing such animals is a humane act and people that are willing to take a Labrador rescue dog are doing a very good deed. Seeing the joy on the face of a Labrador rescue dog that has been given to a new owner is one of the best things that can happen to the pet as well as to his new owner.

However, as the new owner of a Labrador rescue dog, you must be prepared to face problems with your new pet since he may, at first, not feel comfortable in his new home and surroundings. Most Labrador rescue dogs will still be living in the past and it will take time for them to readjust to their new environment. They may start to hide behind your furniture or hide them in closets. However, the Labrador is an adaptable creature and pretty soon he will readjust and if you are able to provide him with love, care and are patient; things will soon work out very well for everyone concerned.

Another aspect to Labrador that may not concern pet owners directly is breeding them and in this regard it is necessary to find a suitable Labrador stud dog to mate with your bitch.

In case you are interested in taking in a Labrador rescue dog, you should search for a good Labrador rescue group by going online and trying out search engines such as Google and Yahoo!. You can also try contacting a rescue that is located close to where you live and ask them to find a Labrador rescue dog for you.

Labrador Retriever Dog: A Popular Family Pet

For those of you who are thinking about keeping a pet dog, it would be a good idea for you to consider keeping a Labrador retriever dog for a pet. The popularity of this breed is on the rise and there are several good reasons for this including this breed’s very friendly nature. Besides his very friendly nature, the Labrador retriever dog is also very well adjusted to being in the company of children, who in any case would adore this particular breed, especially as he is very gentle towards them.

Trains Well

Another endearing quality of the Labrador retriever dog is his ability to train well and he will also readily learn the basic rules of the house, and in addition, is also able to learn to do a few tricks as well. There no doubts that the Labrador retriever dog picks up things very fast, and he is also a very obedient animal that will always serve his master faithfully. With such outstanding qualities, the Labrador retriever dog is a great joy – both in the company of adults as well as with children.

As the owner of a Labrador retriever dog you will, of course, need to shoulder a fair amount of responsibility regarding the upkeep and welfare of your pet. In fact, keeping a Labrador retriever dog at home also gives you a great opportunity to inculcate a sense of responsibility in your children who must be taught how to properly own as well as care for their pet.

You must also ensure that your Labrador retriever dog is given plenty of exercise as he is very energetic and thus will need to burn his energy in a productive way. He must also be given a lot of space to run about as well as be taken for walks regularly. In addition, the Labrador retriever dog demands and should be give a great deal of attention and you must do your best, as his owner, to give him love and make him feel like he is your friend and not just an acquisition to the home.

For his part, the Labrador retriever dog will crave companionship from humans and so, it is never wise to leave him on his own. If you are going on vacation, makes sure to leave him with someone responsible who will provide him with attention and care for him properly. In the case of a Labrador rescue dog, you need to be even more careful about how you keep him and you must ensure that he is given a lot of love and care and he should be made to feel wanted at all times as well.

All in all, bringing home a Labrador retriever dog will prove to be a boon for you and your family who will soon fall in love with this lovable, intelligent and excellent pet dog.

Labrador Dog: Affectionate And A Great Companion Dog

Most people keep a pet dog for the companionship that their pets provide and if this is the case with you too then you should consider keeping a Labrador dog for a pet. You will of course need to choose between the American type and the English type of Labrador – each of which has its own special traits. For example, an English Labrador dog is known to be heavier and bulkier than his American cousin who is thinner as well as taller.

Unique Grays

There are also a few rare gray and silver colored Labradors that actually get their unique coloring as a result of having been cross bred, though this fact is hotly disputed by those who know dog breeds very well. One thing that sets the Labrador dog apart from other breeds is the fact that he makes an ideal companion and this breed is also well known for its lovable nature and the Labrador is also very affectionate towards children and towards adults. He is also a very intelligent breed as well.

The Labrador dog is also sometimes also called the St. John’s Dog and he has, in bygone eras, helped fishermen out at sea. He could jump overboard and help the fishermen as they laid their nets and this trait makes the Labrador dog easy to train otherwise as well. In fact, he is also used in detecting drugs and is used to help blind people as well as the disabled.

Typically, a Labrador dog grows to about two feet (males) and a few inches less (females) and he will weigh between sixty to seventy-five pounds (males) while females tend to weigh between fifty-five to seventy pounds. It is however not recommended keeping them in small-sized apartments as they need plenty of space to move about freely.

A Labrador dog is also known to be very energetic and this means that he must be given a lot of exercise and though they can exist in small confinements, they tend to thrive when kept in a house with plenty of space. If you are looking for a great family dog, look no further than a Labrador Retriever dog that is famous of his intelligence and friendly nature.

The bottom line is that a Labrador dog is very loveable and possesses a good nature; to get the best out of him, you need to train him when he is young, and he should also not lack for human affection and attention.

Breed Rescues Are The Best Places For Labrador Puppies Information

It's too bad there isn't a test you have to take in order to be allowed the privilege of owning a Labrador puppy. Many people who buy a puppy don’t know even the most basic of Labrador puppies information. They don’t know how big a Labrador dog gets or even that a dog has feelings just like we do. When the novelty of having a puppy wears off, these unfortunate canines are tossed out like garbage for animal rescue groups to collect.

Breed Rescue Websites

Pet stores that sell puppies and some irresponsible dog breeders are the worst places to get Labrador puppies information. They will just tell you what you want to hear in order to either get rid of you or to make you buy a certain "Miracle" product. They really don’t care about the welfare of your dog. They just want your money.

When you go to a Labrador Retriever breed rescue website, they will often include long sections about what to expect when living with a Lab, what their needs are and other useful Labrador puppies information to help you decide if a Lab will fit into your life. They have a vested interest in making sure a Lab adopted from them will not come back to them.

Are Pups Available?

It's rare for puppies to be available, but when they do, they are usually about nine to twelve months old. Many dog people consider "puppyhood" to last until a dog is two years old, so don’t be surprised if you are told about a great "18 month old puppy". But a puppy takes a lot of time and sleepless nights. You also don’t know how big they will grow.

But, if you do take on a Labrador pup, whether from a rescue, from a friend or from a licensed breeder, a breed rescue will still be willing to help guide you to the Labrador puppies information you need to know to be sure you and your dog get along. This will include anything from helping to find a vet, grooming tips and determining whether you need to go to a professional trainer or not.

Another great source of Labrador puppies information is your puppy. He or she won’t talk to you in human language, but just with careful attention, you will get to know the moods, them moment when the pup is unwell or when your dog understands a new command.

Could That Labrador/Golden Retriever Puppy Be A Future Life Saver?

It has long been known that some crossbreeds seem to do better than their parents of either breed. It's a question of finding which breeds cross best with other breeds. Some of these crossbreeds even go on to become established breeds in their own right. One of the mist successful crossbreeds in dogs is seen in the Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy, also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers. Even at an early age, they readily show the best of both the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.

The Perfect Personality?

Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are dogs that love people and are eager to please. Keep in mind that not every one is alike, and bad training will always make a bad, fearful dog (no matter what breed), but on the whole, a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is a born people watcher. They are fascinated by people and seem to identify with them. They also have a lot of strength and energy, which comes in handy for service and search and rescue dogs.

Best Seeing Eye Dogs

According to service dog experts and charities that train seeing eye dogs in England, the best dog for the job is a Labrador/Golden retriever crossbred. There is a strict breeding program run in England by Guide Dogs to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs. A Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is first tested at about eight weeks of age to see what his personality is like.

Their training never really stops. Many a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy fails the program and is put up for adoption as a pet. To take a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy and turn out a dependable life-saver costs an average of $70,000 (US). They work until old age or illness forces them to retire, and then they are placed in care homes for the rest of their lives.

Other Facts

Although many online Labrador puppies information web sites will say that a Golden Labrador is always yellow, this is not true. Every now and then there is a black or chocolate Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy born. You can register your Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy with the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Every day, ther is a newborn Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy who makes that first step to being a drug sniffing dog, cancer sniffing dog, service dog or a search and rescue dog. They all can rescue us from ourselves and our selfishness and help give our souls back to ourselves.

The Yellow Lab Puppy In Advertising

If you have a product to sell, get a dog in your ads. But not just any dog. You need to get a yellow Lab puppy to do your sales pitch. Unfortunately, a black Lab puppy will not photograph as well. Not only is a yellow Lab puppy jaw-droppingly cute, but they are intelligent enough even at seven weeks of age to respond to basic commands like "come", "sit" or "run around like a maniac." Even if people can't remember at first what your product is the first time they see the add, they will remember the yellow Lab puppy and look forward to seeing the ad again.

The Andrex Puppy

One of the most popular brands of toilet paper in Great Britain is Andrex. And their logo? You guessed it – a cute yellow Lab puppy. This puppy (which obviously changes every few months as the previous one ages) appears on the product label, in print ads and in incredibly adorable television advertisements. His name is always "Softy" and he is a national icon. He even has a wax portrait at Madame Tussauds after the Softy topped the list of a national poll for "Most Beloved Fictional TV Character". The wax puppy's tail even wags.

The Cottenelle Puppy

If American readers think that the Andrex puppy sounds familiar, well, you'd be right. A yellow Lab puppy is the emblem of Cottenelle bathroom tissue, which is basically the American version of Andrex. Both are made by the massive company Kimberley-Clarke. It has only been in recent years that the puppy was added. Previous logos were of a baby and of a cotton plant. Perhaps advertisers thought Americans were stupid enough to try and use a yellow Lab puppy as toilet paper?

K-9 Advantix

Perhaps the best television commercial currently on the air (from a dog lover's point of view) is the one for K-9 Advantix, where a tiny yellow Lab puppy sings, "Ain't no bugs on me!" K-9 Advantix is a medication just for dogs (and puppies as young as eight weeks old) to get rid of mosquitoes, fleas and ticks. You can stop a room full of arguing politicians by playing that ad.

Gay Web Design

Even a cartoon yellow Lab puppy can work in advertising, especially web-vertising. That is the case with YellowPuppy.com, marketed as a "gay web site design service". This is a small business doing big things in making businesses make attractive and user-friendly web pages. Although humans do most of the work, quite a lot of the success can be due to the logo of a goofy yellow Lab puppy.

Photographing The Black Lab Puppy

Ever wonder why most advertisers avoid black furry animals for their billboards and commercials? That's because black dogs, black cats, black guinea pigs, black anything is extremely hard to photograph well. This is one reason why they turn to brighter-colored animals such as a yellow Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy mix. But don’t let this knowledge stop you from adopting a black pet like a black Lab puppy. With patience, an eye for contrasting colors and a decent camera, you can get great snaps of your black Lab puppy.

Make Sure The Pup Is Tired

Best portraits of an all-black Lab puppy are best done outside in natural light, where there are a lot of distractions. You need to get a good play session in with your puppy before you attempt any kind of photography – unless you have high-speed film! Puppies have short attention spans, so also bring noisemakers or squeaky toys to get their attention.

Location, Location, Location

You need to get your black Lab puppy against a lighter colored background such as green grass or clear blue lake water. You definitely don’t want him against anything about as dark as he is. The viewer will have a hard time discerning the puppy from the rest of the picture.

You also don’t want the background to be "busy", with a lot of objects and colors and things to distract the viewer's eye from your magnificent black Lab puppy. You want the background to be as uniform as possible. Be careful with really bright white backgrounds, as they can throw light back into your camera and ruin the shot.

In The Studio

It is certainly possible to photograph your black Lab puppy indoors, although this requires very specific lighting so your puppy doesn’t look like a silhouette in a three dimensional world. If worse comes to worse, take your black Lab puppy to a professional photographer. They have the lighting equipment to make the portrait look life like.

If you'd like to give a go, you need to get what's called a "key light", sometimes referred to as a "hair light", so you can see the hairs on your black Lab puppy instead of just one glob of demon-eyed darkness. This would be placed behind and to one side of the puppy. Then, you need to take a lot of pictures to be sure you get that perfect shot that will forever record the magic of when your Lab was still a little black Lab puppy.


Find more Labrador dog and pets classifieds

Could That Labrador/Golden Retriever Puppy Be A Future Life Saver?

It has long been known that some crossbreeds seem to do better than their parents of either breed. It's a question of finding which breeds cross best with other breeds. Some of these crossbreeds even go on to become established breeds in their own right. One of the mist successful crossbreeds in dogs is seen in the Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy, also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers. Even at an early age, they readily show the best of both the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever.

The Perfect Personality?

Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are dogs that love people and are eager to please. Keep in mind that not every one is alike, and bad training will always make a bad, fearful dog (no matter what breed), but on the whole, a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is a born people watcher. They are fascinated by people and seem to identify with them. They also have a lot of strength and energy, which comes in handy for service and search and rescue dogs.

Best Seeing Eye Dogs

According to service dog experts and charities that train seeing eye dogs in England, the best dog for the job is a Labrador/Golden retriever crossbred. There is a strict breeding program run in England by Guide Dogs to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs. A Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is first tested at about eight weeks of age to see what his personality is like.

Their training never really stops. Many a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy fails the program and is put up for adoption as a pet. To take a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy and turn out a dependable life-saver costs an average of $70,000 (US). They work until old age or illness forces them to retire, and then they are placed in care homes for the rest of their lives.

Other Facts

Although many online Labrador puppies information web sites will say that a Golden Labrador is always yellow, this is not true. Every now and then there is a black or chocolate Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy born. You can register your Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy with the American Canine Hybrid Club.

Every day, ther is a newborn Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy who makes that first step to being a drug sniffing dog, cancer sniffing dog, service dog or a search and rescue dog. They all can rescue us from ourselves and our selfishness and help give our souls back to ourselves.

Find Labrador dog ads at Oz Free Classifieds

Housebreaking The Labrador Retriever Puppy

They're cute, they love you, but they use your home as a huge toilet. This happens to any puppy owner, and not just the owner of a Labrador Retriever puppy. Housebreaking any puppy takes persistence and patience, which not a lot of people have. Sadly, many a Labrador Retriever puppy (usually from nine months old on) is abandoned or sent to the pound for housebreaking problems that are not really the fault of the pup, but of the selfish and impatient owners. Housetraining an older dog is just the same as housetraining a Labrador Retriever puppy.

When You Get Your Pup Home

As soon as you get your new Labrador Retriever puppy – or rescue dog – home for the first time, take them right to where you would like them to toilet. Pick them up and plop them there, if you have to. A car ride especially seems to make a dog or puppy have to pee. Be patient and wait until your new Labrador puppy (no matter what his age) squats. Praise lavishly with kind words and affection and then take them inside.

When You Gotta Go…

If you take the time to observe and interact with your rescue dog or Labrador Retriever puppy, you will soon be able to tell when Nature is ringing that little doggie bell. A dog or puppy will often walk in circles, sniffing the floor or the walls when they feel the urge. If you see this behavior, rush them outside and then lavishly praise them when they squat.

Because they are so young, most puppies like a Labrador Retriever puppy will often pee out of excitement or out of fear. They just haven't been able to develop the bladder control yet. You do need to expect this and not be too harsh on them when this happens. Perhaps you could have your puppy spend time in a room with easy to clean floors or with older carpet that needs a few stains in order to improve it's looks.

When Should They Get It?

All dogs and puppies learn housebreaking in their own time. So, it's perfectly normal for your Labrador Retriever puppy to still be having accidents at seven months of age while the neighbor's chocolate Lab puppy is perfectly housebroken as a wee six months of age. Sometimes it can take dogs a year to get the hang of it. Once they do, they are really proud of keeping the house clean.

If your Lab is over a year old and still having housebreaking issues, please see a vet to be sure there isn’t a health problem.

Should We Clone A Labrador Puppy?

Out of all the creatures in the world to clone, a Labrador puppy certainly seems a lofty goal. Unlike people, the world certainly could use more Labrador puppies. But cloning is an expensive and resource-heavy process. And which dogs do you clone? Although the early death of Dolly the Sheep was thought to be because she was a clone of a six year old sheep (rather than a lamb), dogs are still cloned from adult or aging dogs. Raising a cloned Labrador Retriever puppy is truly going where no man has gone before.

They're Here!

The first dog to be successfully cloned was an Afghan Hound named "Snuppy" in 2005. Snuppy currently behaves like a normal, happy dog. Snuppy's success was the inspiration for the next well-publicized batch of cloned dogs – cloned yellow Labrador puppies from a top drug-sniffing Lab in South Korea. A cloned Labrador puppy in that drug-sniffing project is affectionately called a "toppy" – short for "tomorrow puppy".

Japan has also followed suit in the summer of 2008 with the successful birth of a black Labrador puppy cloned from a caner-sniffing dog with the English name of "Marine". Some cancers make the patient's urine give off a distinctive odor. Well, it's distinctive to a Labrador Retriever puppy, but not to human noses. This is a big gamble, to see if they will grow up to me a Marine puppy platoon, but if it pays off, this could wind up saving millions in cancer detection and care.

Problems With Other Cloned Animals

All fingers and paws are crossed that the effort and expense of gaining a special cloned Labrador puppy will pay off in more easily trainable dogs. Only about 10 – 15% of dogs who try out for specialty sniffing jobs like drug detection actually pass the program. Just like people, not all dogs are the same when it comes to trainability.

There is also good concern that a cloned Labrador puppy will not life the normal, reasonably healthy life of a naturally born Labrador puppy. Dolly's early death has already been mentioned. Cloned dairy cattle have failed to live up to expectations in being able to produce as much milk as the original cow. Also, according to the Center for Food Safety, about 90% of all cloning attempts fail.

Also, having great genes does not guarantee a great Labrador puppy. Genes only play a part on making a great animal. Experience and circumstance also play a major role in shaping the character and ability of any animal. For now, cloning puppies is a gamble. But if the cloned dogs do not suffer and perform up to expectations, then it will be worth the cost.

Labrador Retriever Mix: A Good Bet For New Dog Owners

Getting a dog can seem like a major gamble, especially if you haven't much experience with dogs. Mongrels are great for the novice dog owner, but some mixes are more sensible and healthier than others. For example, a cross between a Chihuahua and a Chinese Crested Hairless tends to produce the world's ugliest (and sickliest) dogs. However, a Labrador Retriever mix – no matter what other breed is mixed with – tends to lead to a great pal with hybrid vigor.

Not Perfect, But Nearly

No dog is perfect – not the purebred Labrador puppy at Westminster or the Labrador Retriever mix at your local animal shelter. Then again, no person is perfect. But odds are, you still have friends, lovers and business associates – even though they are imperfect. If you go into a relationship with a Labrador Retriever mix knowing there's going to be some trouble eventually, but you and the dog can work through it, then you won’t be in for major disappointment.

Labrador Retriever mixes tend to have the high intelligence of a Lab, the massive appetite and the habit of digging. This is a tendency only – not all Labrador Retriever mixes will act like this. But you should be ready for it. Most Labrador Retriever mixes, if shy at first, will come around to persistent and patient companionship. Labrador Retriever mixes tend to have excellent memories and will never completely forget what terrified them.

Adoption Is The Best Option

Although the idea of getting an incredibly cute, pot-bellied puppy is undeniably appealing, they are a heck of a lot of work and are expensive. If you haven't had much experience with dogs, getting an eight week old puppy is the worst way to begin your life with dogs. You can get a lot of pleasure and can save a life by choosing the adoption option instead.

You won’t have to look far to find a Labrador Retriever mix that needs a home. Since Labs are the most popular breed in America, a large percentage of shelter dogs will have Lab in the mix somewhere. This writer's own dog is Labrador Retriever mix and you can’t have her. Her mother was part Lab, part collie and part Staffordshire Bull Terrier. We think her father was part Doberman and part kangaroo. She has the massive appetite, digging drive and love of tennis balls that Labs have. She is only my second dog.

Officially, Golden Labrador Retriever Purebreds Do Not Exist

If you go leafing through advertisements for dog kennels, you can't help but notice the many that loudly proclaim that they breed golden Labrador Retrievers. And they do not mean a Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix (which are also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers). They mean a golden colored purebred Labrador Retriever. According to the various Labrador Breed Associations and national kennel clubs, Labs come in just three recognized colors – and golden is not one of them.

Suspected Scam

The only three recognized colors of purebred Labrador Retrievers are yellow, black and chocolate (which used to be called liver). There are many shades of yellow in yellow Labrador Retrievers. Some are so pale that they are called "white", even though their papers will call them yellow. The darkest shade of yellow is sometimes called "gold", but even the darkest golden Labrador Retriever will not compare to the luster of a Golden Retriever.

But, like PT Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute", and they will believe whatever they are told. If they are told that there is such a thing as a purebred golden Labrador, they will break open their wallets and buy one. Even when they can clearly see that the puppy's color is yellow, they think the "golden" label means "premium" and they will buy the so-called "golden Labrador Retriever" over the identical-looking "yellow Labrador Retriever."

Nothing Wrong With A Yellow Lab

If you do discover that your pricey "golden Labrador Retriever" is simply a yellow Lab, take heart. Your dog will still be loyal and comical and loving. Keep the dog. But by all means, complain to the Better Business Bureau about how the dog was represented. It would help if you had a copy of the original ad that lead you to the kennel and a copy of the contract. You did get a contract with your "golden Labrador Retriever", didn’t you? If not, there's ANOTHER thing to complain about.

If you go to a rescue shelter and see a dog listed as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever, the staff just made a common mistake. Don't rip into them about it – they are doing the best you can. You could write a thank you letter about how well you are getting on with your rescue dog and just casually mention that, officially, there is no such thing as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever. Once that is done, concentrate on building up a great friendship with your new Lab of whatever color.

Officially, Golden Labrador Retriever Purebreds Do Not Exist

If you go leafing through advertisements for dog kennels, you can't help but notice the many that loudly proclaim that they breed golden Labrador Retrievers. And they do not mean a Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix (which are also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers). They mean a golden colored purebred Labrador Retriever. According to the various Labrador Breed Associations and national kennel clubs, Labs come in just three recognized colors – and golden is not one of them.

Suspected Scam

The only three recognized colors of purebred Labrador Retrievers are yellow, black and chocolate (which used to be called liver). There are many shades of yellow in yellow Labrador Retrievers. Some are so pale that they are called "white", even though their papers will call them yellow. The darkest shade of yellow is sometimes called "gold", but even the darkest golden Labrador Retriever will not compare to the luster of a Golden Retriever.

But, like PT Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute", and they will believe whatever they are told. If they are told that there is such a thing as a purebred golden Labrador, they will break open their wallets and buy one. Even when they can clearly see that the puppy's color is yellow, they think the "golden" label means "premium" and they will buy the so-called "golden Labrador Retriever" over the identical-looking "yellow Labrador Retriever."

Nothing Wrong With A Yellow Lab

If you do discover that your pricey "golden Labrador Retriever" is simply a yellow Lab, take heart. Your dog will still be loyal and comical and loving. Keep the dog. But by all means, complain to the Better Business Bureau about how the dog was represented. It would help if you had a copy of the original ad that lead you to the kennel and a copy of the contract. You did get a contract with your "golden Labrador Retriever", didn’t you? If not, there's ANOTHER thing to complain about.

If you go to a rescue shelter and see a dog listed as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever, the staff just made a common mistake. Don't rip into them about it – they are doing the best you can. You could write a thank you letter about how well you are getting on with your rescue dog and just casually mention that, officially, there is no such thing as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever. Once that is done, concentrate on building up a great friendship with your new Lab of whatever color.

The Yellow Labrador Retriever: A Modern Day Cinderella Story

Once upon a time in the 1800's, an all-purpose hunting and companion dog breed was being developed. Eventually, this breed would be called the Labrador Retriever. At first, all of the best specimens that people adored were all black in color, or black with very tiny white spots. But every now and then, a yellow Labrador Retriever was born. Back then, it was thought that a yellow Labrador retriever was sickly. Any yellow puppies in a litter were taken from the mother and killed.

Someone Takes A Chance

We do not know the name of the first person who decided to not kill his or her Labrador Retriever puppy who decided to give it a chance to live just like its black siblings. Eventually, it was obvious to everyone that a yellow Labrador Retriever was just as healthy and intelligent as a black Labrador Retriever. Some trainers even prefer yellow Labrador Retrievers over any other color in a sort of reverse-prejudice.

And then the tide turned. Now, when the public hears the name "Labrador Retriever" it is most likely a yellow dog that they think of first. Their sunny color perfectly reflects their sunny dispositions. You'd be hard pressed not to find someone who doesn’t know a great yellow Labrador Retriever from somewhere in his or her past.

Search And Rescue

Yellow Labrador Retrievers have never taken the actions of humans to their kind and color personally. Neither do black Labrador Retrievers, chocolate Labrador Retrievers or the so-called golden Labrador Retrievers. All Labrador Retrievers (unless abused) love people. Their first love is for their own people, but they willingly extend this love to complete strangers.

This has made the yellow Labrador Retriever one of the most desired dogs in search and rescue organizations. The yellow coat makes them easier to spot in the shadows of a collapsed building or other rescue site. But rescue organizations will take on a dog of any color, as long as they have the right attitude and abilities to stay focused.

However, it is hard not to notice that many of the most awarded search and rescue dogs and other service dogs are yellow Labrador Retrievers or yellow Lab crosses. In England, a successful breeding program to train dogs for the blind uses crosses of Labrador Retrievers (of whatever color) and Golden Retrievers.

One such heroic yellow Labrador Retriever was the only dog to die in the 9/11 attacks. His name was Sirius and he was on a daily routine mission at the World Trade Center to sniff for explosives with the NY/NJ Port Authority. His body was recovered on January 22, 2002.

Black Dog Syndrome Even For Black Labrador Retrievers

Black dog syndrome is used by people who work or volunteer in animal shelters. For some reason, all black dogs, even purebred black Labrador Retrievers are almost always passed over in favor of other colored dogs. Any other color dog does better – even if they are the same breed. This also happens to black Labrador Retrievers, especially in shelters. A golden, yellow, white or chocolate Labrador Retriever will almost always be picked over black Labrador Retrievers.

Superstition

Although we claim to not believe in superstitions, our subconscious proves we do. Quite often, we pass over anything black because of the negative bias towards the color black. The only things that seem to escape this bias are diamonds and horses. However, there are a lot of myths, legends and stories about black dogs being somehow bad. One of these is that vampires can change into black wolves – or black dogs (even black Labrador Retrievers).

Probably the most famous bad black dog was the Hound of the Baskervilles, which went after the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Many scholars and psychologists think the reason why the Hound of the Baskervilles is so famous is because a large black dog fits our subconscious idea of what an evil creature looks like, even a dog with floppy ears like a black Labrador Retriever.

Hecate And Paganism

In some pre-Christian pagan religions, black dogs were seen as sacred. One of the most powerful and respected Goddesses (still worshipped by modern day Pagans) is Hecate (or Hekate), known as the Goddess of Witches. One of her symbols was the black dog. It was said that She could appear to people in the form of either a black snake, a black mare or a black dog.

Whenever Christianity overtook paganism, anything associated with the old Deities was immediately demonized. This is probably what happened to all black dogs, even in this modern day and age, causing the black dog syndrome seen today in pet rescues and animal shelters.

A Good Dog Is Never A Bad Color

If you are considering adopting a dog (and good for you), then please be sure to take a second look at all of the black dogs in the shelter. Perhaps they will look ordinary, but that's only on the outside. If you specifically want to adopt a Labrador Retriever, be sure to tell the breed rescue or animal shelter that you would accept a black Labrador Retriever. You will certainly gain not only the shelter worker's respect, but the friend of a lifetime.

The Incredible Appetite Of The Labrador Retriever

One of the reasons that Labrador Retrievers are so highly trainable is that they will do just about anything for food. If we ever figure out how to plug up the hole in the ozone layer, it will be because a Labrador Retriever was offered a triple cheese pepperoni and sausage pizza if he could fix it. However, their appetites have many Labrador retrievers into trouble.

Christmas Dinner

Usually every year out of England just after Christmas, you read about a dog who ate the family's Christmas dinner, desserts, decorations and some of the gifts. Almost without fail, the dog winds up being a Labrador Retriever. Christmas dinner in England is given even more hoopla than Thanksgiving in America. Although some Labrador Retrievers can eat such a massive amount of food with just a few belches, most just vomit it all back up. How festive.

Gucci Watches

Some dogs have incredible taste. Lulu the Labrador Retriever didn’t just eat anything in April of 2002 – she chose her owner's $1500 (US) Gucci watch. Worried for both watch and dog (and about the inevitable puns in the press), Lulu was taken immediately to the vet, who confirmed that the dog was ticking. A successful operation removed the watch but not Lulu's appetite. She has also eaten socks, dice and almost swallowed a diamond engagement ring before she was stopped.

Cat Poo

Most dogs are attracted to cat droppings, although some prefer to roll in them while others eat them. Almost all Labrador Retrievers will not pass up a chance at "kitty pate". This is because cats cannot digest all of their food, so their droppings still has meat in it. This can be dangerous to your Labrador if your cat is on medication, which can also turn up in the poop.

Poison

Labrador Retrievers are like babies in that they explore the world with their mouths. They also think many poisonous substances like slug bait and antifreeze taste good. You need to keep these out of reach or stop using them entirely. You also need child proof locks on your cupboards, because Labrador Retrievers can learn to open almost any kind of cabinet door.
Include your medications in on the list of poisons. Human medications are made to be taken by creatures that weigh a lot more than the average black Labrador Retriever. They will wind up getting a dose that may make them very sick. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your Lab has eaten human medication.

The Labrador: Superdog And Devil Dog

One of the best selling books of 2005 was "Marley and Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog", a true story written by John Grogan. The movie version is slated to be released in the fall of 2008. Although the late-lamented Marley has made Grogan's fortune, he was a total terror to live with, despite the fact that he was a Labrador Retriever.

This is typical of the relationship between people and Labradors. People expect them to be mind readers or a furry person and they are neither. If the owners don’t commit to interacting with their dogs a lot, then even the best bred Labradors will turn into Devil Dogs (and not the nice kind with the creamy filling, either).

They Need To Be Busy

Labradors have been bred to work all day and use up a lot of energy into making independent decisions. They are one of the most intelligent breeds of dog in the world and almost certainly smarter that 99.9% of human beings. If you don’t give them something to do, they will find a job to do – no matter if you like this new profession or not.

It is crucial to know what you are getting into before you bring home a Labrador – whether a puppy or adult. These are animals that are a bit like small horses in that they need daily exercise, preferably at least two brisk walks of twenty minutes each twice a day. Some get by on one long walk, but also get to play fetch or go fishing with their owners. If they don’t get this exercise, they feel their oats and burst with energy. This tends to lead to mischief and destruction.

What They Are Capable Of

In the aftermath of September 11, most of the nations rescue dog squads were deployed to either New York or Washington, DC. The three breeds of dogs seen over and over again were Border Collies, German Shepherds and, most of all Labradors of all sizes and colors. They were not only able to traverse dangerous territory to do their jobs, but they were also able to turn their energy off to comfort the grieving.

Labradors will stare at you when they are not thinking of play or food. Even the maverick Marley became the perfect therapist at the times his family needed comfort most. Labradors adore humans, for some unknown reason. It has been suggested that the souls of humanity rest in the bodies of dogs. Labradors make a good case for this theory.

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