Is a Labrador Retriever the Right Dog for You and Your Home?

By Brian John
To refer to the Labrador Retriever as an extraordinary breed would be nothing short of an understatement. Characteristically, being in tune with their masters is a requirement of their personalities so it is important that the owner understand what the animal was bred to do - namely hunt and retrieve. In order for a Labrador to find birds or ducks that were shot down and have landed out of sight, they must be in tune with their hunter/owner in order to learn their purpose.

This need for harmony in the Labradors life carries over to the home front as well and is not reserved exclusively for their retrieving skills. For the person who is in need of constant companionship, this is the ideal breed of dog. Conversely, if you expect the dog to be able to entertain itself you will be rudely awakened as the breed thrives on canine-human interaction. So that is one of the first things you need to be aware of when deciding if this is the right canine pet for you.

Hounds and Terriers are breeds of hunting dogs that can do with or without human interaction, so if are not capable of satisfying this need of the Labradors you would be wise to choose one of the other breeds. Where Hounds and Terriers hunt by their sense of smell, the Labrador must have that human attention link in order to successfully perform its duties as a retriever.

History has always mentioned wolves as hunters and the witty ones always had the advantage over the submissive or dull witted wolves even in the same pack. To keep away from the aggressive wolves which showed fangs or intense stares, the other pack members kept away from fights.

Labradors that do not respond well to their owners commands may take of into the water after a fallen bird or squirrel (as an example) and swim past it - maybe even way past it and vanish from sight. The well disciplined and trained Lab does not often make this kind of a mistake because it is their innate nature to adhere to their owners commands. It follows then that this canine breed is an excellent choice for obedience trainees as well as being service dogs (i.e. one of the better seeing-eye candidates).

So how will you know if a Labrador Retriever is the right dog for you and your family? For one, you have to have the capability as its owner to deal with a strong connection and dependency factor. Additionally, it must have human interaction and leadership. Most breeds of dogs exhibit a propensity for companionship, but the Labrador demands much more than other breeds. Whether they are indoors, outdoors, or a combination, they will not survive well physically (and psychologically) if left alone to their own devices, so you should be extra certain that you can handle this responsibility.

The bottom line with Labrador Retrievers is that if they are left alone for long periods at a time it confuses them. They think that they have lost their family (or pack as it were) and attempt to escape their confines in order to hunt down their owners and be with them.

Written by Jeff Nenadic from My Dog Shop - check for current specials on chew toys online.

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