Questions about our foster dogs
WHERE DO RESCUE LABS COME FROM?
Our dogs enter SCLRR from animal shelters (could be strays or owner surrenders) and directly from private owners.
WHY WOULD ANYBODY GIVE UP A LAB?
Our most frequent reasons for dogs being relinquished are moving, new baby, the dog has too much energy, destruction, animals in home not getting along, training issues, and the list goes on. We feel the major reason for failure in dog staying in the home is lack of training and a commitment to the dog's exercise needs.
WHY DO LABS NEED TO BE RESCUED?
Sometimes Labs do not show well in kennels and need to have a calmer environment to be seen as an adoptable dog. Many times there are health or age issues that make people hesitant to adopt a particular dog from the shelter. Most of the time, shelters do not have space to keep dogs longer than a few days and if the public does not adopt them out quickly, they are euthanized.
ARE YOUR DOGS 100% LAB OR DO YOU ALSO ACCEPT LAB MIXES?
We only know if a dog is a purebred if we have the AKC papers. Otherwise, any dog we have in our group could be a mix or not. We evaluate all dogs thoroughly to ensure the normal Lab personality is present. We do pull in definite Lab mixes from time to time, but only if their temperament and training is better than our average purebred Labs.
HAVE THE LABS BEEN ABUSED?
We have seen dogs abused, but this is rare. Most dogs suffer from a lack of training, socialization or poor breeding that gives people the impression that they have been abused. This is why we do in-home evaluations to determine any behavioral issues in a dog and to determine the type of family a dog needs to flourish.
HOW OLD ARE RESCUE LABS?
Our Labs range any age. Typically, we do not get dogs younger than 10 months. Puppies are extremely rare (especially known purebred puppies). Most of our dogs are in the range of 1-7 years. We consider dogs 7 years and older to be senior dogs.
DO YOU HAVE PUPPIES?
Rarely, if ever.
WHAT COLORS ARE AVAILABLE?
Yellow, Chocolate and Black
DO YOU HAVE MORE MALE OR FEMALE LABS? DO MALES OR FEMALES MAKE BETTER PETS?
We typically have more male Labs at any given time, but the percentage is pretty equal at the end of the year. There is no basic difference between genders. Neither gender is better or more easily housebroken than another. Ever dog should be considered on their individual personality and not color or gender.
WHAT CRITERIA ARE MOST IMPORTANT IN CHOOSING A LAB?
Temperament and energy level are your most important consideration. The more flexible you are about color, sex, and age, the more likely we will be able to find a suitable match.
ARE ALL RESCUE LABS HEALTHY?
We do our best to evaluate our dogs for all health issues. We strive to uncover all behavioral or medical issues in a new dog so families are not surprised. Most of our dogs receive a vet exam and will receive some sort of medical treatment. Some dogs have a lot of prior medical history provided by their former owner, these dogs may not get a vet exam if they appear healthy. All dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, de-wormed and are treated for fleas/ticks. If there are medical issues, our goal is to cure the issue or get it managed so the new owner can just take over where we left off. There are no guarantees or perfect situations to promise no medical issues in the new home as dogs can be exposed to illnesses and parasites every day. We believe in full disclosure and never try to hide any medical or behavioral issues. We do diagnostic tests on our dogs whenever needed. Most people are surprised at the level of medical care we acquire for our dogs.
WHAT IS THE TEMPERAMENT OF RESCUE LABS?
We evaluate the temperament to exclude any dogs with aggression issues with dogs or people. We try to test for cat compatibility, but that is not always possible as not every foster has a cat in their home. We are very strict on our placement of dogs with children under the age of 5.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF ADOPTING A SENIOR DOG?
This article could not explain the wonderful advantages any better! ARE THE DOGS HOUSEBROKEN?
The dogs we foster are usually close to or virtually housebroken. There are no guarantees, it is up to the new family members to watch their new dog at all times for the first couple of weeks, look for their signals that they need to go potty and basically treat them like a puppy in the beginning. We recommend keeping a dog on leash in the house as one way to ensure they do not wander away from your view. You should take a dog outside after they wake from a nap, finish eating or drinking water. Taking a dog out every 30 minutes is a good rule of thumb for those first two weeks. When you can't watch them, put them in a crate or outside. Do not leave them alone. Smells of former dogs that had housebreaking mistakes can last up to 5 years or more. Dogs may get confused smelling these old accidents. Our dogs never have issues with housebreaking in their new homes as long as the family stays consistent in the training.
Questions about our organization
WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
We are located throughout Southern California (Orange County, South and North Los Angeles areas, Ventura County, Antelope Valley, San Bernardino County, and a few other areas). We do not operate outside of these areas which include San Diego or most parts in the Inland Empire as we do not have volunteers in these areas. We are sorry, but there are no exceptions.
WHERE CAN I SEE YOUR LABS?
We rarely (if ever) have adoption events where a Lab can be adopted "on the spot" as homechecks and the approval process apply with all adoptions. We do attend pet events and bring foster dogs to show people the types of dogs we have in the group. To visit a particular foster dog for a possible adoption, the foster parent will make an appointment with a family at the foster home. This way you can see the dog in its own environment and the foster parent can show you how they have been successful with the dog in their home.
HOW LONG IS THE WAIT TO ADOPT A LAB?
The wait is usually 1-2 months from the time you submit your application. Depending on how flexible your family is on age, gender, and color, the process can move more quickly.
DO YOU OFFER "TRIAL PERIODS" BEFORE THE ADOPTION IS FINALIZED?
Our goal is the proper placement of each Lab the first time, therefore, we do not offer "trial periods" with adoption. Due to our level of evaluation and screening, we feel that our match making is right most of the time. We will always accept dogs back into the program without any negativity or issues. We do ask that if you are having a training issue that is manageable that you contact a trainer before considering the adoption a failure. We are happy to recommend competent trainers in most areas we operate in. Many issues can be resolved for a happy outcome for all.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE THE DOGS AWAY FOR FREE?
Monies we spend on each dog usually exceed the $225 adoption fee ($100 for dogs 7 years and older). As a result, we rely on donations and the adoption fee to be able to offer the level of service our organization does for both dogs and the families. We have no paid volunteers and our administrative costs are very low. Most of our costs are due to veterinary and boarding fees. We have great relationships with many vets and boarding kennels to make our dollars stretch as far as possible. We receive absolutely no government funds to operate this rescue. When you add up the basic costs for spay/neuter, vaccines, microchipping, vet office visits, deworming and other minor treatments that we normally have to perform on each dog, this usually exceeds $225.
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY DOG IF IT HAS BITTEN OR MAY BITE SOMEONE?
This article summarizes this issue and relinquishment extremely well. HOW CAN I GIVE YOU MY LABRADOR?
HOW CAN I FOSTER FOR YOUR ORGRANIZATION?
What do I do if I found a stray Labrador?
What do I do if I lost my dog?
What do I do if I want to keep my dog, but medical costs are too high?
Miscellaneous Questions
Is a Lab the best breed for my family?
A very comprehensive article on Labradors can be found at the Labrador FAQ. Is it ok that I want to teach my child responsibility by taking care of a dog?
This issue is discussed here. Are Labs good with children?
Labradors do have the reputation of being a fantastic family dog. That does not mean they are always wonderful with children and each dog will have its own personality with children. If a dog is reportedly good with children, this also does not mean that children can do anything they want to a Lab such as pinching, riding, pulling, bothering the dog while eating, laying on them when they are sleeping, etc.
We have found that the more "working dog" type Labs are not as tolerant of children as Labs bred more for good temperament. When you are looking for a Labrador breeder, you should not worry about the dog being a champion in any particular sport and instead concentrate on finding a breeder that brags about their dogs' gentle, kid tolerant personality.
We find that people with small children often times struggle when they have a Lab that needs 1 hour or more exercise and training a day. It is hard to give the necessary time to the dog when you need to give that necessary time to the child. If a dog is not getting enough exercise, it can make them more rambunctious around children and have more nervous/hyperactive behavioral issues in general.
Sadly a large number of dogs are given up (even after years of being with the family) because a family is started and the dog no longer fits in with the new family routine. The most common time that dogs are given up is when the child is a toddler and starts walking around the house. Our rescue hears almost daily that parents don't believe or want to correct the child around the dog because they don't think they should have to, the dog should just be accepting of whatever the child does. This is the time that families should teach their children the importance of being kind and respectful to all animals, starting with the dog that is part of your family at home. Children can be taught to be gentle and you can offer your dog activities and training that will help both the child and the dog to get along. We always recommend you consult a behavioralist first to solve your problem vs. just automatically giving up on the dog. We have added the link below to provide another great source of information on this common sense approach to kids and dogs: Kids and Dogs We want to get a dog as a surprise gift for someone in our family! Is this a good idea?
SCLRR does not place dogs as surprise gifts in any situation. The entire family must present for the homecheck and we encourage the entire family to be present when meeting the dog at the foster home. Any person that will live with and care for a dog should be involved in the decision to adopt because of the immense amount of responsibility involved in the care of an animal. The choosing of a pet is a very personal decision and everyone in the household needs to be a part of that choice to ensure success for everyone involved.
What are the top 10 reasons to adopt a Labrador?
What is the lifespan of Labradors?
Approximately 12 years
Do all males life their leg and mark everything?
No. Many dogs who are considered very housebroken, mark plants and bushes outside to a high degree. Dogs that are trained properly do know they should not mark in a home.
When do Labradors grow up?
Are Labradors good guard dogs?
No, most Labrador Retrievers will bark at strangers but most of the time they will greet the stranger at the door with their tail wagging and a toy in their mouth ready to play. They will most likely show them where all the silverware in the house is in the house if it will get them a cookie and a good game of fetch.
How much space do they need? How much exercise do they need?
Labradors are energetic dogs, bred to spend long hours in the field. Exercise requirements will depend largely on the age and condition of the dog. Young, healthy dogs will require several aerobically paced walks or interactive play sessions per day. Space need not be a major factor, as it is generally considered a myth that "big dogs need room to run." Most dogs left alone, outdoors, will nap rather than exercise. Labradors require mental stimulation, as well as regular exercise; if your life-style is sedentary, or you don't have a few hours a day to interact with your dog, a Labrador may not be the best choice.
Will my Labrador make a good outdoor dog?
The Labrador is not intended to live as an outside dog as they are very people orientated and are miserable being separated from the family they love! If you are not interested in keeping your Labrador indoors, this is not the dog for you. A lonely Labrador may bark incessantly, dig up the back yard or continuously escape to roam the neighborhood.
I have heard that a good hunting dog should be kept outside in a kennel or they aren't good for hunting, is this true?
This notion is an old and outdated myth. The best hunting dog you will ever get will be happiest when he has bonded closely to you and is living inside your home as a well loved pet. Again, Labradors are miserable when left alone for long periods of time. Labradors, when sharing the home with their family, will bond with their owners and work hard to please them in the home and the field.
Can you bond with a dog that is not a puppy?
Absolutely yes! People who foster dogs will tell you that one can bond very quickly with most dogs. Many people who volunteer to foster a dog end up adopting the dog because they cannot imagine giving the dog up after even a few weeks.
Is crating a dog cruel?
Crating has become very popular and is widely used by SCLRR and other animal organizations especially when evaluating and getting to know a new family. Crates and kennels, keep a dog safe.
When dogs are puppies and crating is used for housebreaking, the puppies come to think of the crate as their "den." Many dogs come to love the security of their crates and go into the crate at various times during the day just to nap.
All of our foster homes work on crate training their foster dogs. The dogs are placed in the crate whenever the foster leaves the house. This keeps the house safe and it keeps the dog safe. We ask adopters to be willing to do the same thing for the first month. Dogs feel safe in their crate and since the crate is inside the house they are surrounded by familiar sights and smells and we feel they are happier than being put outside by themselves in the backyard. After a month the adoptive family can decide whether or not they want to continue to use the crate. Most of them do! Do rescued Lab's tend to have issues?
No. In fact, they tend to be more loyal, loving, and better behaved. A rescued dog tries extremely hard to be good because they don't want to go back to their unfortunate situation or be given up again. A rescued Lab appreciates you and their loving home more than a pet that has been with you his whole life and doesn't know any different.
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