Labradors + Follow

Just as no two people are the same, no two Labradors are either. But whilst each one of them is unique, there are still many common facets that Labradors share, which make them awesome family pets. Wonderful parts of their personality, as well as their distinctive look, ensure that this breed will always be dear …

When we take a Labrador into our lives, we know at the back of our minds that they won’t be with us forever. When they are young and full of energy, I find it’s easy to ignore this feeling. But if they fall ill, or just get older, the reality becomes more prominent in our …

So you want a puppy? Should you adopt From a breeder? What do you need to know before you start your quest?  What are the pitfalls to avoid? Also:  You’ve found the perfect “furbaby,” now what? Discover the best way to navigate the waters of welcoming a new canine family member. The information in Insider Secrets to Adopting the Right Dog allows you to experience a smooth, peaceful transition for you and your new addition. Insider Secrets includes sections on puppy training, how to choose a breeder, how to choose an individual dog, how to house-train, and socialize your new …

Animal behavior has been formally studied since the early 1800s. It’s amazing how many different (and often conflicting) ideas we have about dog psychology. Psychology refers to the science of how the brain works and behavior. So dog psychology includes how dogs think, social interactions between dogs, and how dogs bond with each other and …

Training a well-behaved dog can be hard. Training a dog to mind his manners even when he’s off his leash is even harder. So, you might think that training a highly motivated, high energy, high prey drive dog to leave other animals alone while off his leash is downright impossible. It’s so tempting to go …

Dogs and babies sure make for the cutest pictures when they are together, but things aren’t as straightforward when you step inside the photograph. I’ve been training dogs for a long time, and I’ve also raised a child alongside two bouncy German Shepherds. So I’m confident I can help you to safely and happily navigate …

I’m Elsa Blomster, a postitive reinforcement dog training expert. And today I’m really excited to tell you about how I clicker train fetch. Because retrieving using the clicker philosophy means that we put the spotlight on the correct behavior, rather than upsetting and confusing our dogs by punishing behaviors we didn’t want to see. My …

It is a lot of fun shopping for your new Labrador puppy, but puppy gear can be expensive! I’ve made a quick checklist of the supplies you really do need. These are all items I make sure I have in my home for every puppy I raise.  Please note that the Labrador Site is an …

When I first wrote about post puppy depression some years ago, I think people were much less aware of the importance of good mental health. I coined the term ‘puppy blues’ because so many people told me that they felt inexplicably sad or overwhelmed after bringing home a new puppy Puppies don’t need to be …

This is Bonnie. She’s just over a year old, and food is her life!  And I mean her whole life.  I like to think I’m more important, but who am I kidding?  So why are Labradors always hungry? And what can you do to take their mind off food for a few minutes? Well, there’s …

“My dog has never enjoyed being left alone and has had a tendency to whine and make a fuss when I leave the house, but over the last year, her anxiety seems to have become unmanageable for her. I often come home to find that she’s destroyed some thing, chewed a cushion or shoes to pieces. I get an almost hysterical welcome when I come in. She doesn’t have to be left a lot, because I work at home, so my absences tend to be for two or three hours in the evening. Can I make things easier for her …

Some adolescent dogs become much more assertive in behavior and become a little more difficult to manage when they hit bout the eight month point. I always warn people that puppies go through an “adolescent phase” somewhere between 8- 18 months old. At those periods a time it becomes necessary to review all of your past training and reinforce it. Maybe a little more assertively. What we’re not prepared for sometimes is the assaults on visitors legs… Or your own  (I have my own story on this!). Of course your male dog knows there’s no female dogs, so why does …

I had a friend who said that their dog has always been rather barky and excitable at the front door, but recently he’s been nearly unmanageable when someone calls. He’ll barge in front of them, bark and jump at visitors, and generally be a menace. Worse, although his excitement is mercifully, good tempered, the noise levels and his pushiness mean that some of our less animal friendly visitors are becoming frightened of him. Why does he do this? And how can they get him to behave like a civilized member of the household? BUT–they gave me this WONDERFUL training method …

This is far more common than people might think. Not all Labs like water, at least not to begin with. But all Labradors enjoy swimming if helped to overcome their initial fear or reluctance to enter the water. If you have an older labrador that has never swum, getting them swimming might take quite a long …

How do I get my dog to stop barking annoyingly?  There are multiple reasons why a dog barks. Dog’s may bark because they’re curious, warning others of danger, prompting you to play and to discipline the young. These forms of barking are short-lived. They talk while playing. They talk to each other—not in English (oh how we wish!) but they do! I bet your Labrador even has his own “voice!” Right? Reasons why dogs may bark excessively:           Physical needs This can mean they’re; hot, cold, hungry, thirsty or lacking in exercise, or even attention. When a …

Some people look down their noses at those that teach their dogs tricks. I know because I used to be one of them. Not any longer I used to think it undignified and pointless teaching dogs to ‘ape’ humans with a handshake,  or roll on their backs on command. I now understand that there is …

Try to teach him something new. Keep a basket of chew toys on every level and rotate them often. Hide new toys underneath the old toys and let him discover them. Make sure his chew toys are enticing and remember to switch them up often so they are new and interesting. I hope nobody sits around and watches their dog destroy potentially dangerous property knowing it can harm them. I’ve made suggestions to keep the dogs in their crates when away for hours in case your dog gets bored and destructive. It’s impossible to protect them all the time from …

The Labrador as a breed is famous for their appetite. And there is a genetic reason why many Labs are greedy. Unfortunately the Lab’s affection for eating can sometimes extend to inedible and very inappropriate items.   Almost all puppies and many young dogs, will chew up soft toys, blankets and other bedding, and anything you …

I understand how tempting it can be,  especially if you are struggling with your Labrador, to send them away to ‘boarding school’ and let someone else solve your problem for you. For most people sending the dog away to be trained is not a decision they take lightly. And people who ask my advice on making that decision have …

Having your  male Labrador castrated is a common choice. Many veterinarians recommend you have this procedure carried out on your pet at a young age. As a general rule, I prefer not to castrate my own male dogs. I’ll explain a bit about that below. There are benefits and downsides to neutering both male and …

Many pets get these fatty lumps and bumps as they age. In this new ‘episode’ we’ll be discussing why pets get fat deposits and what you can do to prevent it from happening. I know, those unsightly lumps and bumps can sometimes be common in some Labrador lines, and are referred to as lipomas. Just like with humans, we carry genetics that do weird things. Most are not cancerous, and are harmless as long as they are not impeding the movement of the dog (such as a foreleg, ie), or near the spine. Most vets are hesitant to take them …

One thing every dog owner hates is picking up a slimy poop on the sidewalk or a watery mess–even worse–ANYWHERE….right??? You pay a lot for an EML and benefit from 4 decades of careful breeding and screening of my bloodlines… the last thing I want is for your food choice to degrade the health and wellbeing (physically and emotionally) of your pet and your family. Professionals make professional recommendations. So for the long-term health of your pet at all stages we require a pet food of our choice (as well as treats and supplement) to ensure that it’s the best …

PROPOLYNE GLYCOL in pet foods causes destruction of red blood cells, cancerous growth, seizures, anxiety, and more. (Educate you and your VET!) Propylene gycol, found in Nestle Purina’s BENEFUL food as well as numerous other dry dog food brands (check your label! And may be hidden as other ‘glycols’) -also used as automotive antifreeze- causes destruction of red blood cells and is one of the most poisonous substances found REGULARLY in pet foods– canine veterinarians and nutritionists are starteld!!! AND may add to the growth of cancerous lesions (considering it causes waxy build up in your Lab’s body, you can …

What with all the recalls, warnings, and seizures regarding Rx flea/tick meds, we get so many requests about what people can do naturally, effectively, and won’t break their banks! Plus, don’t you freak out when your kid buries his face RIGHT in the spot you put the flea/tick treatment? Ugh. I know… Fleas, ticks, and internal parasites are some of the many enemies you sign up for when being a pet owner. There are multiple flea and tick preventatives out there, but as always here, we like to try a holistic approach if available… Diatomaceous Earth is a product that …

Want a smarter, more empathetic, possibly healthier child at ALL ages? It may come as no surprise that having a family dog can benefit your child’s emotional intelligence, confidence, and empathy. And so much more. Here are seven ways kids who have a pet in the home have a leg up on those who don’t: They have higher self-esteem When given tasks to complete, such as helping with the care of a pet, kids show an improvement in self-esteem. The tasks should be age-appropriate, though, the authors say, such as allowing a 3-year-old who is too young to walk a dog put the water …

vc_rowvc_column/vc_column/vc_rowvc_rowvc_columnvc_column_text What’s Your Favorite Color Lab? /vc_column_textvc_empty_spacevc_column_textThe Labrador Retriever breed comes in three recognized colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. The yellow can range from a light creamy color to a toasty typical yellow coat, to a reddish tone many call “fox red”. But still, these different shades still fall under a yellow coat. Yellows should have a black pigment around their eyes and nose. Chocolate may range from light to dark (though a nice dark chocolate coat is the proper chocolate coat) with liver pigment around the nose and eyes. And then of course, the original… the black Labrador./vc_column_text/vc_column/vc_rowvc_rowvc_columnvc_single_image image=”12897″/vc_column/vc_rowvc_rowvc_columnvc_column_textWe …

We independently researched  and evaluated all recommended products and services.  As you read you will find the right product for YOUR dog and YOUR use! There’s no worse feeling than when your dog goes missing — something celebrities like Paris Hilton have even experienced. If you worry about your furry friend wandering off, you can give yourself peace of mind by outfitting them with a GPS tracker. The best dog GPS trackers provide real-time location updates directly to your phone, allowing you to quickly find your pet and bring them home safely if they wander out of your yard or …

The Mastiff Lab mix is a large designer cross breed, combining the English, Spanish or Bullmastiff with the Labrador Retriever. This breed combination surprises some as they have historically very different purebred ancestors. One designed to protect property and the other to fetch game in the field. To drill down to the realities of life …

You say, “That’s not possible.” And after almost 4 decades of having Labrador pups around almost all the time, I can 100% tell you, IF you correct your puppy on the way home (1-12 hours for most–day # 1) the way we tell you, for the first day, (Use this link for technique) there should be no jumping or biting after that. Still sound impossible? Well, I’m a small person. I have thin skin (literally!) and I can’t be bleeding or be knocked over (I have back problems already) so my decision when I train a Lab pup is:  biting …

Nothing starts a lively conversation among Labrador fans quite so quickly as the topic of silver Labs! Silver Labradors are basically chocolate Labs with a twist. They have a gene that dilutes that rich chocolate fur and turns it into a pale, silvery grey color.   Where that gene came from, how it got into Labs …