Lab Dog Breed Guide – Chocolate, Black, Yellow, Golden Labs Puppies Prices in USA

One of man’s oldest and closest friends is a dog. If you have owned, do, or are thinking of getting a Labrador, then you must have wondered where to start. Before we can interact with them and establish deep and long relationships, we have the question of breed to answer.

There are many dogs all over the world and like every human interaction, there is no guarantee that you will love a particular breed. This is due to their characteristics or general traits, which not only affect how they grow in their environments but also the kind of lives they live.

You will realize that dogs are different in how they behave through the days of their lives. Some breeds have historically provided and still do, human beings with companionship in their homes. They may be friendlier than most, and not show any aggression.

Other dogs, on the other hand, could be service breeds and register slightly or entirely different personalities. A Labrador retriever, as the name suggests, was historically a sporting dog that is now among the most common breeds in American families.

These dogs can grow to a medium size range of 21.5 to 24.5 inches in height, while an adult can weigh up to 80 pounds. They are also available in black, yellow, and chocolate colors but you may have noticed or will, some variations. Due to their activities, they are athletic and strong.

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Lab Shepherd Mix

Let us have a look at Labs in-depth:

Care and grooming

Besides love, which makes Labs happy and improve the quality of their lives, you may want to ensure that your furry friend enjoys a balanced diet. The amounts you feed them could affect their health, noting the risk of obesity in some dogs.

Therefore, keep the amounts appropriate or reasonable. If you like the idea of your furry friend having an extra one, then a cat could be one such companion or another small pet. Generally, keep your dog happy, besides promoting their health in every way you can.

What more makes a happy Lab? Grooming. Due to their shedding of fur, it is a good idea to ensure that your Labrador remains well-groomed; with a consistent cleaning schedule, a vacuum cleaner, and good brushes, you could keep your furry friend looking and feeling their best.

With Family

Because they are always present and active, these dogs will do much better with your company, or that of someone they can be comfortable around. They are ideal for homes that have someone for the better part of the day.

They are not likely to go hard, but when happy and playful, you should expect Labradors to become bouncy. You could keep an eye on your possessions when they are having fun and also on any young or frail members since they can also get pushy. This should not deter you, nevertheless—training can over time help improve their interaction with the surroundings.

Exercise

Any dog will thrive with training, which not only adds new skills to their lives but also provides them exercise, ensuring they grow healthy and more fit. Due to their lively nature, Labradors may require a lot of mental stimulation and exercise to be and remain happy.

Training

Labradors are beautiful and friendly service dogs that can serve as guides for the blind and even therapy dogs due to their nature and personality. Training them from a young age helps them reach their full potential.

It is a good idea to make early introductions of human faces and pets during your dog’s early life. To match their traits, it would be suitable to keep their experiences as positive as possible. Something else that you may want to ensure is that they exercise as regularly as possible since they are active and possess plenty of energy.

A program to help improve their obedience will also help with their development if introduced as soon as they arrive at their new home. Offering rewards like treats for good behavior is also a way to positively reinforce the training.

Expenses

Every pet is going to cost you some maintenance money; how much should you expect with Labs? Due to their large sizes, you may notice that you will have to spend more than you mostly would on parasite control or protection and food when compared to smaller dogs.

While their energy is a plus to their lives, it can also affect their interaction with their surroundings. A Lab’s enthusiasm can at times drive them to the consumption of materials or objects either around the park or at home. Depending on what it is, they may experience gastrointestinal problems.

A sickly pet means an equally unhappy parent, and medical expenses could be another challenge that may pull you down, should you be working on a tight budget. Moreover, large sums of food consumption without exercise, among other factors, could expose them to obesity.

Among these dogs, however, obesity is more common as compared to other breeds, so it is not always about what you do or fail to. Obesity, on the other hand, has chances of inviting more problems like cruciate ligament rupture, among other orthopedic diseases. In the long run, it will point back at how much is in your bank or whether you have pet insurance.

What rough estimates should you expect to work with yearly with Labradors? On average, you may find that your furry friend requires between $1,500 and $2,000.  A vet could cost you a high of between $300 to $500 and every week, their food may range from a high of $20 to $30.

Health

You will realize that compared to other breeds, these dogs tend to contract health issues easily and some come with underlying complications. Exercising is a great way, nevertheless, to promote your pet’s general good health. We will discuss some of the common complications that you should expect.

It is natural to grow attached to your family’s friend. Considering how friendly Labradors can be, it is understandable to feel sad as they grow older; Labradors have a lifespan of between 12 years, some stretching to 12 and a half years.

Health concerns

Hip dysplasia. If you overfeed your Lab when young, then you could be exposing them to a hip dysplasia risk. Trials of hip scoring to rid the disease from breeds do not blow the cloud of devastation that this disease floats over your pet’s life. It is thus good to feed them appropriately, especially as they grow.

Elbow dysplasia. Grown Labs face the risk of elbow dysplasia. Unlike the former disease, this strain causes lameness on the fore-limb and is caused by among other factors, overfeeding a developing dog. It would be safer to avoid the risk of osteochondrosis or growth, which happens between the fore-arms ulnar and radius.

Exercise-induced collapse. Does your furry friend exert when exercising? If it gets too much, then they could risk a collapse. This is common among young dogs and its determination is drawn from a DNA test.

Progressive retinal atrophy. Many breeds show cases of this disease, which progressively affects their blindness. A DNA test helps with determination and detection.

Cruciate ligament rupture. As your dog grows, it could also face a risk of a disease, secondary to trauma. Besides affecting young Labs, it is also common among those that love to run and are gaining weight.

Bloat and gastric volvulus. You may notice that with bloat, your dog’s stomach swells with fluid and gas and in most cases, can be a cause of torsion or twisting of the stomach. If this is not attended to with urgency, then it can get fatal within a short time.

Prevention and Care

Weight. You may want to watch your furry friend’s weight management and, in that case, their food consumption. Labradors that overeat, which is common with them, face a high risk of orthopedic disease, which not only shortens your pet’s lifespan but will also cost between $3,000 and $5,000 to fix through surgery (should the case be a cruciate ligament tear).

Ear Care. Regularly clean your pet’s ear to prevent or lessen chances of ear infections, which are common with Labradors due to being short-eared.

Foraging. Not everything that your dog ingests will be safe for their health or tummies. It is, therefore, a good idea to always be wary of what they try out or their general activity both outdoors and indoors.

Hip. The best way to manage a Labrador’s hip is to ensure that it is regularly checked to rule out any issues. It is also advisable to buy from breeders with hip dysplasia scores.

Pros

Labradors have high intelligence, making it easier to train them. You can, therefore, try out a variety of positive and modern methods. Due to their high activity and foraging, teaching them the right ways to do things or behave is one way to make things easier for both of you.

They also have much eagerness and are easily receptive to foods. Unlike dogs that may have less energy or motivation, Labs will give you an easier time when it comes to feeding.

While some of their health problems are hard to entirely eliminate, testing helps determine any possible risks or underlying problems. This is also a great way to not only reduce but avoid developmental complications through the later stages of their lives.

You may love how friendly these dogs are to not only the people around them but also other pets and dogs. This makes it easy to introduce them to new people and environments. When they are brought up alongside cats or are introduced subtly to them, Labs could develop good relationships with them.

Cons

While it is not a bad thing, the energy that Labradors possess can be demanding. They will, therefore, require a lot of exercises. But it is beyond just their activity and energy and involves their health too. Remember that a fit dog will more likely be healthier than one that does not exercise.

However, they should not exercise too much when they are younger, for the healthy development of their joints.

Due to the inherited disorders that some breeds have, you may want to consider getting a Lab from tested breeders. This will increase the chances of returning home with a puppy less likely to encounter most health issues prone to their kind. However, this will depend greatly on how well you watch them as they grow up and the conditions that surround them.

Labs are furry and will leave your home with plenty of work to do, ensuring their environment and yours too, remain clean and conducive. Moreover, these dogs will need training on acceptable and unacceptable behavior so that they can desist from acts such as pulling on their leash or jumping.

Because they are friendly, they may not contain the urge to greet whomever they come across—even another dog. You, may, therefore, want to find ways to keep them manageable, without forcing them into personalities that do not match their make-up.

Like most dogs that develop an attachment due to spending close time with a family or a member in it, they may over time develop separation anxiety. You may find this to be challenging if you have to turn up in places where you cannot take your dog.

Bottom Line

If you love dogs or are looking to increase the size of your family, then Labradors could be what you are missing. You may love them for not only how they look but also their friendliness and overall personality. They are playful dogs, so, having them should fill your home with love and perhaps laughter. Watch that your furry friend grows healthier and happier by the day for more fun time!

Have you considered rescuing a Labrador? It is unimaginable that some of them can be abandoned or homeless. Thanks to plenty of organizations and homes, they have guardian angels with an aim to settle them. Rescue a Labrador today and add some love and happiness to both your hearts.

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