There is no question that Labrador Retrievers are a great addition to almost any household. They are generally good with other pets, kids, and are fairly easy to train. But this doesn’t mean they are no maintenance. Every dog requires work in order to be a well-behaved and healthy member of the family. If you’ve been thinking about a Lab, you should ask yourself the following questions before picking one out.
#1 – Can I Provide Enough Exercise?
Although many pictures depict Labs as the chubby dog lying by the fire, they are in fact bred for all day hunting expeditions and have quite a bit of energy. Especially a young one! You should be ready to provide exercise for your Lab, otherwise he will find other ways to relieve his pent-up energy. Like chewing. Labs love to chew.
#2 – Can I Handle Their Mouthiness?
Bred to retrieve, Labs naturally want to stick things in their mouths, even more so than other dog breeds. Lab puppies, especially, need to learn bite habitation. This takes time, patience and dedication. And, as mentioned, this mouthiness also means they love to chew, so you need to spend a fair amount of time teaching your lab to not chew your couch, shoes, etc. If this doesn’t sound like fun, you may want to adopt an older Lab where someone has already done this work for you.
#3 – Am I Willing To Train Him?
Labs are, for the most part, easy to train and they enjoy a job. Mental exercise is just as important as physical, so you should be prepared to give your Lab a job. Labs are great at a lot of sports, from basic obedience to dock diving or agility. Training takes time and money, so be aware of that.
#4 – Am I Ready For That Tail?
Something people often don’t think about is that strong rudder of a tail. For most Labs, that happy tail is constantly swinging and they are at just the right height to knock over anything on your coffee, side and bed tables. It can also knock over small children and hurt elderly members of the family. It’s good to think about whether you can proof your home for that tail. If not, you may want to go for a breed whose tail isn’t quite as strong or one that is naturally tailless.
#5 – How Often Am I Away From Home?
Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left behind – they love their family and become very bonded. This makes the Lab prone to separation anxiety if you are gone a lot. They are not a breed that likes to be left alone all the time. If you have a job that includes lots of travel and/or long hours every day, another breed of dog may be better fit.
