Are Labs Good Dogs – And Is A Labrador The Right Dog For You?

60

Are Labs good dogs? Especially when it comes to life as a family pet? Do Labs make ideal pets for every home, or are they more suited to some families than others? Most importantly, is a Labrador the right dog for you and your family? We are going to take a look at the Labradors good and bad points, to help you answer the question: “Is a Labrador the right dog for me?”

Are You Ready For A Labrador?

There is a lot of information on this website about how great Labradors are. And obviously we think that they are brilliant! But not everyone feels the same way. A Labrador is not the right dog for every family, and the best time to discover this fact is before you commit to owning one. Take some time to go through each of the points below with your whole family, and make sure that you are all happy to welcome this beautiful but sometimes challenging new member of the clan into your home.

How Much Exercise Do Labradors Need?

An adult Labrador needs regular exercise. Just like people,  dogs need to keep their cardiovascular system and muscles healthy through regular use.

0001-132020326For minimum fitness, every adult Labrador that has regular access to a garden should also have a minimum daily walk of at least half an hour each day. And a longer and more vigourous exercise session of 1 to 2 hours at least three times a week. If you don’t have at least this much time to spend outdoors with your dog in all weathers, a Labrador is not the right dog for you.

If you live in a flat,  you will need to take your Labrador out far more often than this in order for him to empty his bowels and bladder, stretch his legs and get some fresh air. If you think you won’t have time for this, then sadly this might not be the right time to get a Labrador.

How Much Training Do Labradors Need?

Training your Labrador and teaching him some basic manners is vital. Big dogs must learn not to jump on people, barge them over, snatch food, bite or nip at fingers, or generally behave unacceptably. And like all dogs they must be trained to come when they are called.

This all takes time and effort. Not to mention patience. You should also take time out at least twice a day to do some formal training sessions in the house or garden. Especially when your puppy is young, it is important to teach him the basic commands which will help you to live happily together as he grows.

How Much Attention Do Labradors Need?

Labradors love company. They are not solitary animals, and will want to be together for as much of the day as you are able.

0001-152852826They will want to follow you around the house as you clean, or flop down by your feet whilst you do some work at the computer. Not only do Labs need to let out regularly to relieve themselves, but they need to have something to occupy their minds.

Chew toys and activity toys are a great way to keep your Labs brain busy whilst you are otherwise occupied. Filling a kong with treats to distract them is a big favourite in our house.

Can A Labrador Be Left Alone All Day?

Labradors cannot be left alone all day whilst you are at work. If you work full time and cannot bring your Labrador with you, you will need to carefully plan out how you will keep him happy whilst you are gone.

black-lab-puppy-on-grass

If you are bringing home a small puppy, you will need to work from home or take at least a couple of weeks off work while they settle in and potty training begins in earnest. The maximum amount of time a dog should be regularly left is 3 to 4 hours, so if you work full time you will need to make arrangements for doggy day care. Labradors can become destructive, noisy and very upset when left alone for too long.

Do Labradors Chew A Lot?

Labradors who are left for long periods of time can become destructive, and the most common method of destroying things is by chewing. But it’s not just lonely Labs who chew. Labrador puppies chew a lot, especially when they are teething. Being born and bred retrievers, into adulthood Labradors love to pick things up and carry them around.

If you have a lot of precious, fragile furniture or are very sentimental about the state of your home, a Labrador puppy may cause you a lot of stress in those first chewy months.

Fortuantely, there are ways you can reduce your Labrador’s chewing and deal with the situation. If this is a concern, make sure you read up on how to stop your Labrador chewing and decide whether this is something you are prepared to do and think about how you will feel when inevitably something slips through the net and is damaged by your lovely Labrador friend. We’ve linked some guides at the end of this article that will help you.

Can Labradors Live In Small Houses?

Labradors are relatively large dogs.   An adult male may weigh as much as 80lbs.   They are also fairly lively dogs,  especially in the first couple of years,  and take up quite a bit of space in your home. The crate your Lab will need as a puppy will be large, and may dominate your kitchen or utility room for a year or more.   This will not look pretty, it will get in the way and you will need to keep using it for around 18 months for most Labradors.

Do Labradors Need A Garden?

Whilst it is possible to keep a Labrador happily in a fairly large apartment, you will need to commit to taking him for regular breaks outside. Come rain or shine, whether you wanted to entertain guests or are frustrated with getting the kids in and out of their wellies for the seventh time today, you are not going to have a choice. Make sure you are happy with the going back and forth, especially during potty training when these trips to the garden may need to be as regularly as every twenty minutes.

Do Labradors Damage Gardens?

A part of your garden will be used for Labrador toilet purposes and you will need to pick up, and dispose of his faeces on a daily basis. Puppies, female dogs and even some dogs will wee on your grass too. This can often kill the grass, leaving brown circular patches on your lawn. There is no method we have ever come across, be in pills, sprays, or food supplements which actually works to stop this happening. You will need to accept the lawn won’t be perfect, and have a bag of grass seed handy to chuck in the gaps.

This Labrador Retriever looks gorgeous, but are Labs good dogs for a family - we investigate

Some young Labradors are also extremely fond of digging and are quite capable of constructing a sizable crater in your flower beds if left unattended outdoor.  These things need to be considered if you are a keen gardener, or like to keep a tidy backyard. There are some ways to reduce digging, but short of confining the dog to a tarmacked area you will probably find that some dogs will never stop doing it entirely.

Do Labradors Smell?

Labradors are one of the stronger smelling breeds of dog. Their coats have a natural ‘doggy’ smell which is stronger when they are damp. Some of us are quite partial to this smell. Others are not. Dog shampoo can help, but bathing only temporarily reduces the Labrador odour,  and it also removes the coats natural waterproofing. So you should not bath your Labrador in the winter if he is likely to go swimming.

Labradors are attracted to water and mud, and preventing a Labrador from swimming may be difficult for you. You will not notice the smell of your Labrador after a while,  but rest assured if you own a Labrador, your house will take on a distinct aroma that your non-doggy friends will be aware of. If this bothers you, a Labrador is not for you. You can find out more about the best way to bath and groom your Labrador in this article.

Do Labradors Shed A Lot?

Labradors have a very dense undercoat which they deposit on your carpets about twice a year.  Usually in spring and autumn. You can hasten the shedding process a little through grooming,  but it cannot be avoided entirely. Even with frequent vacuuming, you will have very hairy carpets and hairy clothes for several weeks of the year. The rest of the year, they will just be fairly hairy.

If dog hair bothers you, or a family member has allergies, this will be something you need to seriously consider before you bring your Labrador home. We look at Labrador shedding in detail in this article on managing your Labrador in the moulting season.

How Much Do Labradors Cost?

The cost of your Labrador will not be the price you pay to bring him home. All dogs cost money on an ongoing basis. Feeding is a weekly expenditure for example. There is no doubt that it costs more to feed a seventy pound Labrador,  than it does to feed a fifteen pound terrier, and in this respect a bigger dog will have more feeding costs. There are cheap brands of dog food available, but if you want to give your dog the best dog food, high in protein and low in carbohydrates, this does not come cheaply.

Veterinary costs these days can be horrific and for any dog, you will need to budget for veterinary insurance.  Again cheap policies are available, but make sure that you read the smallprint. Ongoing medical issues are very expensive, and some policies won’t renew if your dog suffers from a continuing issue like hip dysplasia or epilepsy. Both fairly common health problems in Labradors.

The cost of certain dog accessories,  leads, beds etc,  are all usually higher for larger breeds of dog too. The best dog beds for Labradors can look great and be very comfortable, but they also can have quite a price tag.

Are Labs good dogs for a family?

Labradors are well known for their friendly and loyal natures, and for their intelligence and trainability. But does this make them good family dogs? Labradors lack guarding tendencies in general, so they will welcome friends into your home with open arms. Although they will also probably welcome burglars with the same generosity – so don’t get a Lab if what you want is a watch dog. They love exercise and companionship, and will happily accompany the family wherever they are going.

Are Labradors Good With Children?

Most Labradors love children as much as they love adults, but they are very enthusiastic in their greeting and playing. A strong adult can cope with a happy barrelling along Labrador charging into their legs. A child or frail elderly person can be sent flying, and potentially be seriously injured.

Labrador puppies can also be quite mouthy, and this nipping and biting phase can upset some children as although the biting is not aggressive on the pup’s part it still can be quite painful. Especially for little fingers. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a Labrador when you have young kids, but you will need to manage their interactions and keep them seperated at all times when unsupervised.

Does The Whole Family Want A Labrador?

It only takes one member of a family that is really unhappy with any aspect of these facts of Labrador life,  to cause real stress and disruption. Are all your family in agreement that they are happy to live with a Labrador for the next ten to fifteen years?   If not,  you may want to reconsider.

Is A Labrador Right For Me?

If we haven’t put you off,  and you really do want a Labrador,  ou might like to read Choosing the right dog  next, to discover how to find your perfect friend! If you already share your home with a Labrador, is there any advice you would like to offer  a prospective Labrador owner,  about the reality of living with a Lab?   Share your thoughts in the comments below

The Labrador Handbook by Pippa Mattinson(paid link)

Readers Also Liked

More Information On Labrador Puppies

For a complete guide to raising a healthy and happy puppy don’t miss The Happy Puppy Handbook.

(paid link)Published in April 2014, the Happy Puppy Handbook covers every aspect of life with a small puppy.

It will help you prepare your home for the new arrival, and get your puppy off to a great start with potty training, socialization and early obedience.

You can buy The Happy Puppy Handbook from Amazon by following this link(paid link). If you do, The Labrador Site will receive a small commission which is greatly appreciated and won’t affect the cost to you!

The Labrador Site Founder

Pippa Mattinson is the best selling author of The Happy Puppy Handbook, the Labrador Handbook, Choosing The Perfect Puppy, and Total Recall.

She is also the founder of the Gundog Trust and the Dogsnet Online Training Program 

Pippa's online training courses were launched in 2019 and you can find the latest course dates on the Dogsnet website

60 COMMENTS

  1. I am a 13 year old boy who is looking in to getting a male yellow lab. My parents work through the week and I have school. My Grandma will come over some days in the week but that’s it. My grandpa has a 2 year old and he is the nicest most best dog ever. I also have a hybrid wolf is hyper but sweet. I also have a Siberian husky but she is a little bit more rough and can be quite aggressive. Is this the right dog for me!?

  2. My husband and I accidentally adopted a lab I found as a stray over a year ago and he’s amazing, but he would be a horrible fit for certain families I know. I don’t think they’re a good fit for anyone without a fence. I run mine 3x a week and we actually put up a fence just for him. Also, he’s destroyed about $2000 worth of stuff in my home. He’s super smart though. When I found him, he was covered in ticks, on a broken chain, was uneutered, not house-trained and I couldn’t even get him to walk up or down steps and within 3 months I trained him to the point he got his advanced trick dog title. Granted, I think he may be either a field lab or mixed with a little bit of something else so he has a bit more drive and needs to work more. But there were so many people who wanted to adopt him and I could just see the potential for someone taking him to a pound after a few weeks because of how much energy he has and how destructive he can be. I train therapy and scent work dogs, so I started working with him on the hopes of giving him a better chance of success with a new family. He and I became so attached though that my husband said we should keep him. I don’t know if all labs are this energetic, but I not only have to run him 5 miles 3x a week (even with a fence), but I also even have to invent new training for him to keep him from getting bored and destroying my home. Labs are great, but you should definitely make sure you can deal with the energy and training requirements.

  3. We got a yellow lab and did not do any prior reading of labs specifically as we thought we were prepared for a dog. Once we got him, we realized how inexperienced we were and there were many realizations that came with having a Labrador, we had so many problems from the very first day with him from toilet training to behavior to time required. Now this sounds all bad but it’s not!! He is the best thing that ever happened to us, I would go through the difficulties of raising a lab a million times over! Already thinking of when to get him a brother. So worth the problems you face because the outcome is this amazing best friend with a heart of gold.

  4. Hi There, Looking into getting a black lab and have some concerns. We have never owned one but my husband has had them at his work and loves them. I am concerned about them being too hyper and playful since I run an in home daycare. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

  5. Hi There, Looking into getting a black lab. My husband has had them at his work over the years and loves them. We have never owned one so I’m a little nervous. I run an in home daycare and he thinks they are one of the best breeds with children. My concern is the fact they are so hyper and playful will this be a good choice for us. Any input would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks

  6. I have a 7 month old chocolate lab and live in a townhouse with the only green space being common area, meaning if outside my girl needs to be leashed. To make sure she gets her exercise we walk at least 2 km each morning before I go to work and then at least another 3 km in the evening. Weekends and at least one day during the week it is a good long hike of 8-10 km and finding water of some type to play in is daily be it a puddle, sprinkler, fountain or the river-she literally starts to vibrate when she sees it. I also work full time, Gracie is crated and loves her crate. I am gone 7 hours and have never had a problem with her, she is always happy. Once home from work it is all about her- toileting, attention, play time, walk and then her dinner. I find this sets her up for a nice settled evening with more play of course but I can get things done around the house and she is quite content to follow me. I guess my point is you don’t have to have a large house and yard if you are willing to go out in all weather and daily. Bought myself a rain coat and welly boots once I got her and lots of fleece for those early morning bundled up winter mornings. By not having a yard we are out every day, good and healthy for me as well :). School yards are great after hours for off leash running and we go to the park early morning on weekends as she likes going down the slide.
    If you’re willing and prepared for the work a lab is worth every minute of the time you put in.

  7. I have to agree with all said, I have a Lab, and she is great. Best companion, reliable, allways ready to go for a stroll, and yes would not trade him for a 3rd husband!
    Best dog ever!

  8. Hello Pippa, we are planning to get a 8 week old lab pup from one of our friends. Our cross breed adopted rescue dogs sleep inside at night in a partitioned part of the house. Given all the puppy chewing that will take place, do you think this is a good arrangement?

  9. I love labs, we’ve owned 3 since 1999. You definitely need to keep them busy. These dogs are not for the couch potato person. They can be quite mouthy for a long time depending on personality. My first lab never ever ever put his teeth on any one. He was typically naughty as all puppies are at first, lived to be 13 and was the best dog. We adopted a 6 year old female mix who was wonderful but she passed due to cancer three years later. I’m on my third lab who just turned 1 and she is a handful! Bossy, naughty, mouthy, defiant but has her very well behaved days. She is the smartest of the three. She gets plenty of exercise but her behaviour is terrible some days. She was a land shark from 8 weeks old and is still at times grabbing at us when she’s over excited. She had also developed a habit at age 6 months of grabbing me on walks and latching on my clothes for fun. Ripping them and bruising me in the process-she is almost out of this bad behaviour but it’s tough to manage. You really need patience because you don’t know what personality you’ll end up with lol. I love my girl but if she was my first lab and not my third, I probably wouldn’t get another one. Well, maybe not a puppy but I would definitely adopt senior Labradors again. Luckily I’ve had two well behaved labs before her to know it’s not the breed itself that is the issue. My dogs have never smelled bad lol. They always have that clean doggy smell! It might be health related if a Labrador smells bad, or just might need a bath. It could also be an anal gland issue! Yeah that is quite a fishy smell, let me tell ya lolol. Gotta love the fur tumbleweeds everywhere too!

  10. My family and i are looking to adopt a lab we have found one we like and he is 13 months old. The only problem is the that both my parents work full time 3-5 times a week and my brother and i have school. We have a large fenced property that we would be able to leave the dog during the day with plenty of shelter from the sun. Do you think that a dog aged 13 months would be able to spend that much time by itself. My mother walks 1hr every morning with 21/2 hour walks every weekend. I also run most evenings.

    • It’s a contentious topic Gemma, and there are many different opinions on this one. If you are going to keep your lab outdoors he needs constant access to a safe, dry, draught proof kennel – away from direct sunlight. And a secure exercise area. Depending on what the climate is like in your location this can achievable. In the UK many working dogs are kennelled this way and provided they are well exercised and have company this doesn’t usually cause any problems. However, a single dog kennelled alone may well bark and howl all day. So that is something you need to consider. You might also like to read this article – https://www.thelabradorsite.com/combining-a-labrador-puppy-with-full-time-work/

  11. I have had my girl Diva, a black lab, for about two months and let me tell you she is a hand full. I already had a dachshund mix and he needed a friend. I have trained both basic things like sit, leave it, come when called and other things. Let me tell you about our Diva. She is just a hyper little girl. She jumps on everything and everyone, chews up anything in the way and by that I mean everything (especially my hands), and her being a puppy does not help since puppies have very very sharp teeth. I love her to death but she is a work in progress. Also it’s getting warm here so she is shedding like crazy. Hair everywhere!! Another thing, when she is left alone with my other dog (Buckey) they both get into trouble. This means they will do anything possible to try and escape the back yard, and I mean anything. Hopefully she gets better and calms down as she gets older. Good luck with your labs!

    • I have had labs for many years and none of mine have smelled bad. This may be due to the diet your dog has. I have never used a crate, don’t like them and I do not think they are good for any dog. My dogs have never chewed things either, not even their own toys. Spend time with your lab and you will be rewarded.

      • Jinny,

        Could not agree more we have had Grouse our black male lab for 4 years now he has never chewed a thing got him when he was 11 months old from a gamekeeper when he said he was no use for the gun he just wanted a home he is the most brilliant dog anyone could wish for he just wanted a family he goes everywhere with us but if we have to leave him in the house on the odd occasion for an hour or two we give a good walk before and after and give him his little talk Grouse look after the house! no cage no closed doors he has complete run of the house and he fully understands and just finds a spot to sleep I think on one of the beds but put in the time with a dog especially labs( I am biased of course) but you will be rewarded also diet is all important forget about the fancy stuff Grouse has porridge and cod liver oil after his early morning walk and wet dog food sometimes with mixer later in the day

        • I wholeheartedly with both you so there is no need to add to the conversation.
          My boy is not smelly and we spend a lot of time with him….good food.. good company …what else can you ask for to smell like roses….:)

  12. On shedding fur: I bought a small iRobot vacuum cleaner on Amazon.com and I have to say it DRASTICALLY cut the fur in the house. It just automatically turns on every day and runs for about an hour. I still vacuum once a week but it is much easier. Anybody with a lab needs hints on how to make life easier…

  13. We have a five year old male Labrador called Charlie, he has been with us since he left the litter. I would recommend a Labrador but there are several things to bear in mind the most important is exercise, we are lucky to have a large garden whose flower beds are full of holes(I can live with that, no problem) my husband who is retired and very fit takes the dog out four times a day for a minimum of five miles each time, our vet tells me Charlie’s heart is very strong due to all the exercise. Labradors are funny, loyal and loving but do need time and commitment.

  14. I found our labrador puppy very hard work. She seemed to need so much attention. She is 11 months old now and its getting easier. I think I was accidently rewarding her for being lively. Anyway the shedding is manageable, she is now very good on walks, needs 4 a day. Chews if left for more than an hour or so but that can be managed by very long walk first and kong. Barks a bit too much but am working on that. Otherwise lovely dog.

  15. I love labs and want one very badly. However, I want to ensure that I’m going to be a good owner. I’m good with everything in this article, but I am a musician (drums being 1 instrument that I play). I play in my house a little bit every day, and it can sometimes be loud. Would a Lab be able to deal with drums and music in the house every day? I appreciate any feedback.

  16. Hi pippa.
    I got a lab female. She is now 8 weeks old.
    But she is not healthy enough just 1.75 kg.
    I want to know about her meals.
    What feed should I give her(royal canin or other)
    What should be the time interval between meals and what quantity?
    Seeking a reply as soon as possible 🙂
    Thanku for such a beautiful and helpful website.

  17. We have a 9 month old Dudley lab that stays home for 5 hours at a time and does great. We do leave her in a wire very large crate. Can’t trust her quite yet with our 2 cats. She just loves to play! I will also say they need lots of exercise. I didn’t know how much until we got her. After having her, we will always have a lab! We love her!!

  18. Hi Pippa,
    I’m thinking about getting a lab. I want an intelligent dog but also one who won’t mind being on his own for upto 5 hours a day, 4 or 5 times a week. Apart from this, walking for an hour a day and longer 2 or 3 times a week as you recommend shouldn’t be a problem. What do you think?

    • i had choc lab for 15 yrs. i was single for 11 of those. shadoe was left alone for 10 hrs a day…when a puppy he destroyed the place, but at age of 1 yr..he was wonderful by himself

  19. My wife and I had two labs, one with papers and one taken from a pound by a family when she was a puppy and put back into a pound when committed the crime of growing up. These were two dogs with the best traits of any dog. I would say they are the best dogs possible, taking into account brains, loyalty, gentleness, dependability, being protective without being badly agressive, fun, loving,

  20. I have a 70 days old male lab and he just bite every one in family. he just dont listen to us and to toward the stranger how came to home. I just dnt understand that why he is not playing with us else he play with ever stranger 🙁

  21. Very sound advice – my labs taught me much of this. Can I just add a contrary opinion? All the pros and very few of the cons are present with the German shorthair. When my last lab went up the Golden Stairs I was too upset to think of another one; the memories were too strong. A friend had a gsp and I tried one of those. A fantastic companion. So, if the article has put you off – look at the pointer as an alternative

  22. Nobody seems to have mentioned the absence of lie in’s…not sure if it’s Lab related but if you like a snooze on a weekend forget it. Get up, let me out and give me my breakfast – then he goes back to bed for an hour while I down several coffee’s and try to come round for our 8am walk!

    • My labs alarm when he came home with us at 9 months from a rescue was 5.30am!!. Luckily I have managed to push it back to a slightly more realistic 6am:). If I want a long lie I need to get up, dressed and hike him for an hour then make his breakfast and me a cup of tea go back upstairs and then he’ll quite happily snooze by the bed while I get back into bed and try to pretend I’ve had a long lie

  23. A couple of things that have come as a surprise for a first time lab owner are (i) separation anxiety (a big problem & probably life long), (ii) Leo does not respond to treats, in fact if there is any such thing as a diet conscious, calorie counting lab, then I have him – Leo!! He has his set portions of food and does not eat a morsel in excess of that even if it is meat, (iii) They are very very smart dogs, when I tell Leo to go out, he sits where he is, I tell him to come, he runs in the other direction, I tell him to sit and he goes to some other place and sits – I’ve started using reverse psychology nowadays, he has a deliberate defiance / disobedience streak in him.

  24. Namaste, I am rakesh from india. I have one year old black lab. We give him food twice a day but he always look hungry. is it okay or he needs to be fed thrice a day. Although he is healthy and little bit overweight.

    • Hi Rakesh, it is normal for Labradors to be hungry. They are greedy dogs. If he is overweight do not be tempted to increase his food. You can divide his daily ration into three if you wish, but it probably won’t stop him looking hungry. Check out How to feed a Labrador
      Pippa

      • I feed mine whenever the bowl is empty. Sometimes he eats once a day, sometimes thrice, sometimes not at all – which makes me believe the neighbors Border Collie has knocked a garbage can or he and the hound ate “fresh” meet that they caught. Which of course makes me thin of the time they cornered a raccoon next to my front porch. I made my lab come in the house and the hound wasn’t dumb enough to take on a ‘coon alone.

  25. We have had our black lab, Molly, for a year now, from a pup. I don’t think anyone or anything prepared us all for the world of dogs!!! We love her so much and is part of the family, but she chews, not to bad on fur shedding, barks, loves attention all the time, recal not the best (prefers jumping in lakes or chasing rabbits)!, pulls on lead (so takes us for a walk), luckily we got insurance as she’s had a knee problem which prevented her from walking for about 4 months when she was a pup!! Just getting back to normal now! You can put her food down and she walks away but loves eating the horse poop in the paddock!! The rule if its on the floor it’s the dogs is true!! We have been through numerous pairs of shoes and she frustrates the hell out of us. But saying all that I wouldn’t be without her and her doggy ways x

  26. I have a wonderful black lab of three years old, She is a joy to have except for one thing we can not stop her eating other dogs feaces when we take her out for a walk. We live in the country and i dont want to have to keep her on a lead all the time any suggestions would be very welcome !!!!!

  27. Labs are beautiful dogs and are easy to train, but repetition is the key.

    As a puppy we took Pepper out every 2 hours for a wee and to the same place every time. Obviously you can lengthen the time as they get older until they tell you when they need to go. We hung a bell from the back door and rang it every time we went out with her, now she does rings it with her nose so we know she needs to go out.

    Take them out in the car from an early age. They won’t get frightened or sick as they get get used to travelling.

    When she’s was young we had her sit or stand and we checked her paws eyes tail and teeth every day, and then gave her a brush. Use a soft brush at first and you’ll find they really love to be brushed. Pepper loves the pampering now!

    Always have toys available, they will not chew the house up if they’re not bored. Have lots of toys but only give them two or three at a time and rotate them with other ones every few weeks. This keeps them from getting bored with them. Also, always have something available to keep their teeth and gums healthy like a natural deer antler. They will chew for hours on this especially if you have to go out.

    We give Pepper a chew every lunch time but we hide it in the house. She sits and waits until its hiden then we tell her to go find it. It may take her half an hour but she absolutely loves it. Go easy at first though!

    Most important for me was that we have a good mannered dog. So no snatching, or being possessive and Pepper must sit and wait while her food is being prepared before she can have it.

    Oh. Don’t forget exercise and love too!

  28. Oh forgot to mention she’s obsessed with tennis balls, we bought her a box of 50 once for Christmas and tipped them out onto the bed, she went crazy!

  29. We inherited a beautiful black labrador, originally a working dog, she has adapted really well to becoming our pet and took the birth of our first child in her stride. Fern was our first dog and surprised us with the amount of exercise she neeed(up to 6 hours day). She’s knocking on a bit now and we get away with 2 hours now, and 4 on a weekend. She’s a wonderful dog and by far the best friend I’ve ever had, great with the kids and 5 years on playfull as the day we got her! I love her to bits!

  30. We have just got a 9 month old lab from a rescue centre. She is absolutely adorable & loving but very mischeivious. She loves nothing better than to pinch absolutely anything & run off. I must say that is the only thing that we really need to try & stop her doing. We are so glad we got her & our Poodle cross loves her

  31. I have a black lab cross….He is just the most wonderful, loving, playful dog. I think the movie should have been name Eat, Play, Love….after my sweet boy. I will say, however, he is water and food obsessed. We had to buy a life jacket for him because he will swim in the pool until he is so exhausted he starts to go under. In addition, he is food obsessed. Had to buy a locking plastic bin for the dog food because if he has any access at all, he will eat himself to death. He also likes to counter surf, so no food on the counters without an adult present…ever! Other than that, he is a fabulous addition to our family…he, the GS/Akita and the cat….all rescues. It’s a happy, hairy household and I will absolutely adopt another lab or lab cross in the future!

  32. We have 2 black labs that are totally different, the older one comes from a line of working dogs and is calm, laid back, never chewed, hates muddy puddles, loves lakes and rivers and was a dream to train. The younger one comes from show lines, and is hyper, chews everything, rolls in every muddy puddle she can find, pinches socks, underwear, towels and has wrecked the garden, also training is a nightmare with her, she just turns a deaf ear but, in her favour she is the most loving dog I have ever come across so, like us they all have their characters and you can never assume that all labs have the same temprement.

  33. I have 4 yellow Labs, two 5 year old girls,one -4 year old girl and one- 2 year old boy all are rescue apart from Daisy who we had as a pup. Am i the only lucky owner to not have smelly Labs !!! no one says my house smells, and one visitor was surprised to see my dogs return from a walk with my other half she said ” but your house doesn’t smell”, i have wood floors downstairs which helps general cleanliness and odours from wet muddy feet and all my dogs are fed a natural RAW diet, no kibble in our house! this i think is the main reason for my dogs not smelling i dont get trouble with ears, or coat condition and they get bathed as needed which during the winter is at least twice a week when a nice muddy puddle is wallowed in. Hair, ok is an issue ,well i do have 4 but i use a Furminator for undercoat and a zoom groom rubber brush for top coat, once a week everyweek and when in seasonal molt twice a week ,my Dyson gets a good work out lol. Our garden is also lovely as ive taught all 4 to toilet on an area of patio at the bottom of our garden which can be hosed off and disinfected everyday, this i must say has been the best thing i ever trained them to do as i can enjoy my lawn without burn marks or at worse just mud which is what it was getting like a few years ago, it was’nt too hard to teach them to toilet where i wanted as our numbers grew from 1-4 i just wish i had done it from scratch with Daisy from a pup, it would have saved several years of trying to seed the lawn every few months. I would always have more than 1 dog at any given time but maybe not two pups at the same time as training needs to be focused on, we had our second lab when Daisy was 11 months, Jess was 11 months herself when we got her, Daisy and jess were 3 when we adopted Inca after fostering her and our boy Finlay was 5 months when we chose to adopt him after having fostered him for a rescue i volunteer for . In all 4 dogs we have only had 1 remote chewed, a pair of sunglasses nibbled and 1 dog bed nibbled on, lucky again ? nope if you dont want it chewed dont leave it lying around! crate training is a must with pups and exercise tailored correctly to the age of the dog, not too much when young as no matter how great the breeding standard of your pup if you over exercise up to 12 months you will have environmental induced conditions such as OCD a pre cursor to Arthritis or even muscle and ligament problems. Over all enjoy your dog and dont make it like hard work, put into place things to make your life easier like big old bath sheets by your back door for wet feet, a good boot liner to the boot of the car to save the interior, good strong leads, good quality food ( if not RAW then research the best you can afford), and most of all include them !! you had them for a reason, they will love you unconditionally forever even if your breath smells you are guaranteed lots of kisses.

  34. We have had two Labs and two retrievers.I have never had a destructive Retriever and only our first Lab was a bit of a pain to train.That was because she was our first and we were unsure.I have now got my last boy .He is sixteen months old and a real gem.He has never barked and is gentle and quiet.He doesnt chase after other dogs and doesnt have one ounce of aggression in him.We have always kept him well excercised and never leave him for more than a couple of hours at a time.Ours is a Fox Red.he really is a joy to us and I am sure he will give us a good few years of loyalty and companionship.A truly fantastic breed,I am not that fussed about the hair and he is worth getting the vac out!!

  35. Chewing ! Labs experience the world through their mouths ! It can take time especially with puppies to reinforce the fact that the skirting board/door/banister is not for them to chew. Our house still bears the scars from our chocs chewing when young. That said our fox red never chewed …but be prepared .

  36. Great article – a few things I would add are:
    my labs shed fur year round. Yes it’s worse in Spring but because they are indoor dogs and I keep this house quite warm there is ALWAYS hair being deposited everywhere. Also coats do vary – I have one lab whose hair is quite coarse so it doesn’t stick to clothes, the other has the sort of fine hair that takes a lot of brushing off so just because you’ve had a lab before don’t automatically assume you know what to expect from the shedding!
    What no one told me about was the dust. If you’ve never owned a dog before you prepare yourself for hair but not the black dust that makes the house look grubby all the time. I keep my dogs in the kitchen and have to wipe down surfaces at least twice a day and certainly before I use them.
    There really is a lab smell, I thought it was dog smell when I first got Barney and it reduced a lot when he was neutered but when I went to Crufts I could tell I was in the lab section by the scent!

    • Yep, I can usually tell the minute I step through the door if a labrador lives there. And good point about the dust, I think spaniels are even worse for this, their longer coat traps more particles and then sheds them when the wriggle or scratch! No point us being houseproud is there. 🙂

LEAVE A REPLY