Labradors + Follow

Dogs, especially young dogs, sometimes swallow stupid things. In some cases, taking the right action immediately can save your dog’s life.  Sometimes it’s difficult to know what is an emergency and what is a ‘watch and wait’ situation. It’s better to phone your veterinary professional for advice and risk looking a bit silly, than to …

 While breeding purebred dogs has been the focus of our lives, we also love ALL dogs and animals, and in fact, we (Jonathan and Donna) are very involved with dog legislation in their state, even being involved at the Capitol, talking with lawmakers and advising committee members and lawmakers. We’ve owned rescue dogs ourselves. Along the way, sadly, we have found some disturbing facts that made us get more involved. THIS made us lose sleep at night. If you truly believe “ALL DOGS MATTER” please keep reading:  THESE RESCUES ARE NOT REGULATED. What that means for people adopting from a …

The English Lab has ancestors bred for pet and show life. This chunky dog has a long broad muzzle, wide head, floppy ears and a barrel chest. Their otter tail sticks out straight and bold, and their thick double coats come in three main shades of black, chocolate and yellow. Most English Labradors still have …

The Australian Labradoodle is a mixed dog breed, with Labrador, Poodle, English and American Cocker Spaniel, Curly Coated Retriever, and Irish Water Spaniel ancestors. The aim of the Australian Labradoodle was to produce a new purebred with its own breed standard and with predictable traits than a first-generation Labrador Poodle cross. Your adult Australian Labradoodle …

vc_rowvc_columnvc_column_textThis post is a day late, but really every day around here is Labrador Retriever Day, right? We really cherish our EML families and loved seeing extra pup posts in our Facebook group yesterday! They were so smile inducing that we thought we’d share some of that joy here! :)/vc_column_textvc_empty_space/vc_column/vc_rowvc_rowvc_columnvc_gallery images=”15077,15076,15075,15074,15073,15072,15071,15070,15069,15068,15067,15065,15064,15063,15062,15058,15061,15060,15059,15057,15078,15066″/vc_column/vc_row

The benefits of a dog crate include protecting your possessions from those sharp puppy teeth, simplifying your potty training progress, and keeping your puppy safe when unsupervised. There are downsides to dog crates though. I remember when crates first appeared on the scene thinking putting a dog in a cage was a horrible idea.  Here’s …

I’ve been hesitant to write this article as so many people have and love their doodles, but I get asked a lot what the difference is. In order to discover this, I had to ask the EXPERTS (not the backyard breeder or puppy mill just making a buck and not at all concerned with genetics) This statement caught my eye and made me look further. Apparently, the man who “invented” the labradoodle now feels he’s made a terrible mistake, and regrets ever creating the breed. The reason given is basically due to the overwhelming popularity of having a dog with …

The best age gap between dogs is between two and six years. Buy a pair of puppies is tempting, but early bonding, training and socialization require a lot of individual focus. If you can’t give your new puppy your full attention, they can become more attached to their canine friend than their human family. Likewise, …

Stay command training is an extension of the sit or down command. To teach a dog to stay you need to first establish a sit position, then pair that sit with a cue or command like the word ‘sit’ or a hand gesture. The stay command should initially be taught in small durations, using positive …

The best Labrador food is high in fat and protein, but low in carbohydrates. Great diets avoid fillers, and are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. Working out how to feed a Labrador isn’t just about picking the perfect menu though. You know Labs are enthusiastic eaters and prone to weight gain, so getting the …

Puppies can go outside from 8 weeks old in your backyard for potty training, exercise and play. But visits to public places is trickier, as new puppies need to be protected from infection too. Vaccinations take time to build a puppy’s immunity. Meanwhile puppies need to meet people in their community! Especially if they are …

If you’ve ever had a dog run away or even worse, stolen, then you know the heartache that comes with that feels beyond repair… I’m sure any pet owner would agree that it is certainly as hard as losing your own child. There are more and more reports of stolen dogs, especially purebreds, and also commonly in urban areas. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn and many people strapped for money, dog thefts, and more so, purebred dog thefts, are on the rise, especially the ones that are most popular at the top of the AKC highest registration list, such …

DOES YOUR PET SHAMPOO CONTAIN THESE CHEMICALS • D-trans Allethrin – from a class of synthetic chemicals called pyrethroids, derived from natural chemicals found in chrysanthemums. Synthetic varieties are significantly more potent and persistent than naturally-occurring products and can cause allergic responses. Also a suspected endocrine system disruptor. Veterinarians caution against using pyrethroid-containing products if there are cats in the home. • Resmethrin – also from the chemical class called pyrethroids. Very toxic to cats; should not be used in a household with cats. • Pyriproxyfen and S-Methoprene – Considered relatively safe with low toxicity. However, data is lacking about …

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!!  To be a lab that is… Labradors LOVE the snow!  They will play, play, play all day long in this fluffy white stuff if you let them! With that thick undercoat–they are insulated unlike most dog breeds, for frigid weather, but there are still precations. It can be TOO cold for your labby to be outside occasionally–and to prevent frost bite to exposed skin… and there are certain safety standards you should always follow in the wintertime. Water supply Make sure your lab ALWAYS has access to drinking water while spending time …

Your garden variety tomatoes contain a range of nutrients that are good for dogs. But tomatoes also contain a chemical called tomatine, which is toxic to your dog in high concentrations. Tomatine levels are lower in ripe tomatoes, and smaller varieties. Your dog can eat morsels of ripe cherry tomatoes, but tomatine levels are dangerously …

In Is Your Dog Drinking A Lot Of Water, Pippa looks at the causes of excessive thirst in dogs. And how to recognize if your Lab is drinking too much Dogs get thirsty and drink more for the same reasons that people do. Feeling thirsty is a very basic animal reaction to becoming dehydrated. Maintaining …

What can dogs not eat? We separate the facts from the myths so you can have peace of mind. There are many substances that are poisonous. We keep them out of reach of our dogs and babies from day to day. However, there are some surprisingly common human foods that can be highly toxic to …

I’m Pippa Mattinson, a writer, and British trainer of hunting dogs. I am the author of the original Total Recall dog training program published by Quiller Books in 2012. I wrote Total Recall to help the large numbers of people that struggle to get their dogs to obey them outdoors, when there are exciting distractions …

Hartford Animal Hospital ***Note: “Veterinary conference almost over so I will be heading home and back to work tomorrow. Sorry but I won’t be able to answer any more questions, but I refer you to the Tufts Vet Nutrition website! At a cardiology conference this morning I learned that the nutritional information I have been giving my clients is accurate. Nothing new was revealed, but it is important to ensure that my information is correct. Canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a potentially fatal heart disease, has been occurring/recognized in low-risk breeds of dog since 2015. It was discovered that many of …

The Husky Lab mix joins two intelligent, active, large dog breeds into one goofy yet protective canine combination. The Siberian Husky and Labrador Retriever breeds aren’t the most natural cross. They have very different heritages, temperaments and characteristics, which play out in a variety of ways when you scramble them together. To really get to …

The benefits to your dog of the great taste, teeth cleaning capabilities, chewing benefits and nutrients need to be weighed up against the potential risks. Lamb bones, especially cooked ones, can chip your dog’s teeth. In rare cases bones splinter, and pieces can block or damage your dog’s insides.  Contents Feeding bones to dogs is …

From a health and safety perspective it makes perfect sense to wash your hands after handling a pet. But our dogs usually live amongst us as family members and we have to be realistic about what that means.  It’s an interesting fact that normal life and perfect safety are rarely entirely compatible. I have three …

The average Labrador Retriever lifespan is 12 to 12.5 years. Although a recent study suggests chocolate Labs live shorter lives averaging 10.7 years, significantly less than black and yellow Labradors. Factors influencing lifespan in Labs include diet, healthcare, management and inherited diseases. Changing these factors can enable you to help your dog live longer. Contents …

vc_rowvc_columnvc_column_textMany people ask me what age they should spay/neuter their dog.  DO NOT pass by this blog…it could mean life or death for your animal if you don’t know the facts. Many of you know that we recommend against spaying or neutering at an early age.  Most pets are spayed and neutered at or before 6 months of age.  Below is an extremely educational, and emotional, video from Dr. Becker, a widely known veterinarian, on the truths about de-sexing your pets. It is incredibly worth your time as a responsible and passionate animal-loving pet owner to watch this very moving video …

Big dog names are a classic way to name your giant puppy. But they are also a fun way to find a unique name for a smaller dog.  A majestic name can match the enormous attitude of your personality packed pupster, or elevate your diminutive dog to unexpected levels.  These awesome big dog names range …

Your new black puppy deserves a name as awesome as they are. My Labrador and Cocker Spaniel mad family have named a lot of black dogs over the years. Our preference for puppies of any fur color is short, snappy human names.  Our black dog names have included Jack, Ted, Tig and Molly. All traditional …

Your Goldador has a noble heritage and a modern purpose.  Originally two intelligent, trainable hunting breeds, the cooperative Golden Retriever Labrador hybrid surged in popularity just a few decades ago thanks to service dog charities. In fact, the first Goldador I met was a seeing eye dog puppy, being socialized by a family friend.  Goldadors …

The best boy dog names have that feel good factor. But it can be challenging to come up with original ideas for your new puppy. And to get your family members to agree!   Why not get everyone in  your household to write their favorite names down on a piece of paper, and stick it to …

Ireland is an incredible place. From the metropolitan cities to the open landscapes, it’s always been one of my favorite regions to visit. I spent some of the most memorable days of my childhood there, messing about in boats and chatting with the friendly locals. Irish dog names are a lovely way to give a …

The Cocker Spaniel Lab mix is a designer dog that has been around for a lot longer than that term has been popular. They are almost the antithesis to the modern trend for hybridization, combined historically by gamekeepers wanting an all purpose hunting and retrieving companion for long days out in the fields. And these …