Is a labrador right for you?
Often touted as the best breed for a first time dog owner, labs have a reputation for being sweet, smart, easy to train, eager to please and great with children! We agree with all of these things, yet there are things to consider before committing to 15 years with these sweethearts. Here are 3 things to help you evaluate if a labrador is right for you!
1.) Labs shed- ALOT!!
The BIGGEST complaint we hear from every lab owner is the amount of hair they have to clean up! It seems to never stop shedding. You’ll find tumbleweeds on your stairs, in the corners of your rooms and all over your couch because, of course, that’s their favorite spot to nap. If daily vacuuming and brushing your dog during his seasonal shed don’t bother you, you’ll do just fine with a lab! Investing in a couple quality vacuum cleaners with allergen filters has helped us keep it under control.Â
2.) Labs need exercise!
This goes back to their origins: they were bred to be hunting companions! Through the years, the original energy levels of the Labrador Retriever have been amped up or toned down to suit the needs of the breeder- so you have varying degrees of energy within the breed. You can read our post here about the different types of labs. However, even the most laid back lab needs daily exercise to prevent boredom and satisfy their natural drive. What happens when a dog is bored? Their mouths can go to town on furniture, the wall, bedding, kids toys, shoes, boxes etc. Our advice: don’t buy a dog who needs exercise and expect it to change your habits. If you don’t like getting out for walks currently, owning a dog who needs a walk is likely not going to change that. You could just wind up with a dog who is bored and takes it out on your house.
3.) Labs are mouthy!
Every one of our dogs will walk around with something in their mouth- they each have their own thing, but they all carry something with them. This means labs as puppies can be more bitey than some other breeds- again, they were bred to be hunters and carry things with their mouths! As they grow up, the biting on undeserving hands subsides, but they still chew with a vigor. Sticks, toys, bones- their jaws will destroy it all. Be prepared to invest – and we do mean invest – in quality chew toys. You will go through many. The positive to this is that it helps ease boredom by keeping their brain focused on chewing; which in turn, tires them out! Want to know which ones to get? We have saved you some search time and put together our favorite, time tested puppy and dog products here!
