Are you ready for a dog?
Some questions to think about -- there are no right or
wrong answers.
- Why do I want a dog?
- What do I hope to do with a dog?
- How much time do I have for a dog?
- If I have other pets, what will they think of a new
dog?
- What do other people in my household think of
having a dog?
- Do I want an active, romping dog? Or do I want a
quiet couch potato? Do I want one that is sweet or
fiesty? Friendly or quiet?
Is a Labrador What You Want?
Labradors are in general big, friendly, active dogs. They
like all kinds of physical activity, from taking long walks to
hunting, to any of a number of sports available for dogs,
hiking, camping, etc. They are a strong sturdy dog, suitable
for many outdoor activities. Labradors are not protective.
They are friendly, especially with people and are normally
not aggressive toward other dogs. They do not make good
guard dogs although they will generally bark at people
arriving at your front door. They do need training, being
large and friendly means that they will easily knock an
adult over in an unrestrained greeting. Being the active
sort means that they will need to have their minds
occupied regularly and training will help with that. Being
active dogs, they will require regular exercise. Retrieving,
naturally, is a favored activity. Without this exercise, they
are often destructive and too much of a handful for many
people.
How Do I Find The Right Lab For Me?
If you've decided that a Labrador is the dog for you, think
about what you want to do. If you are looking for a loving
pet, a male labrador might be a better bet than a female
one. If you are looking for a dog that you can train and
have all kinds of fun with, look for a dog that is responsive
and alert. If you want a dog that is more quiet, consider an
older (more than 6 years old) Labrador! However, in all
honesty, the differences between the sexes (especially
neutered) are minimal. The differences between the colors
are even less than that between males and females. Being
flexible on these points will help you locate a suitable dog
much more quickly. Being flexible on age helps, too. The
majority of dogs that are in rescue programs are adults
over a year of age. Our own program seems to have dogs
averaging about three or four years of age. If you are
determined to get a puppy, locating a good breeder may be
a better choice than trying to get a puppy through rescue.
Don't fall into the sympathy trap. Stop and tell yourself you
will be spending an unknown number of years with the dog
that you pick out. So take the time to meet the dog,
interact with him or her and decide if this dog is appropriate
for you. Don't assume an older dog will not bond with you.
Labradors are very people-oriented dogs, and they do not
form exclusive bonds with one person as some breeds do.
They form new friendships easily and move into your home
and heart quickly. If the dog is untrained, do you have the
patience, time, and resources to train her? If he is dog
aggressive, are you able to deal with that? If she is
chronically sick, will you be able to give her the daily
medication? If he has bad habits, can you deal with them
while you train them out of him? This is not to say you
should look for only the perfect dog, since there is no such
thing. But look for the dog with the characteristics you want
and the problems that you feel capable of dealing with. If
you are adopting from SCLRR, a representive will be
talking with you to help you assess your potentials. If you
are going through SCLRR's referral program, you are
welcome to talk with us about your questions.
Why Do People Give Up Dogs?
Realize that not everyone who gives up a dog is a mean
or nasty person. Sometimes people just wind up with the
wrong dog for them. That's why we just went through
talking about what you want in a dog and what Labradors
generally have to offer. A mismatch between owner and
dog can make both miserable. Sometimes people have to
give up their dogs due to illness or advancing age.
Sometimes the dog's owner has died and the relatives are
caring for it, but don't really want a dog. Sometimes a
change in lifestyle (divorce, etc) means that the owner no
longer has the resources (time or money) for the dog.
There are many reasons.
What Questions Should I Ask When Adopting?
Try to find out as much as you can about the dog's
background. Where did the owner get the dog from? What
kinds of things have they done? Is the dog used to meeting
people? Children? Other dogs? Has the dog ever bitten
anyone? What does it think of cats, birds or other pets? Is
the dog neutered? Do you have vet records on the dog I
can see? How much are you asking for it? Can I donate
that amount to rescue/shelter organizations? Do you have
toys, leashes, anything that goes with the dog (even if you
don't need them, ask for them and give them to a rescue or
shelter group). Are you willing to sign a transfer of
ownership? Realize that the owner you talk with may or
may not be particularly communicative. Some of them
won't say much more than "Take this dog or I take it to the
pound." Ask your questions anyway. Take the time to
interact with the dog -- don't get too wrapped up in
interacting with the owner -- he isn't the one you will be
taking home!
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