Training Your Labrador Retriever. September Morn

or animals are problems that may require assistance from a professional. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a trainer experienced in working with difficult behavior.

      Caution: Don’t let Buddy play with too many friends at one time; it’s fun, but it can be dangerous for a mob of dogs to wrestle.

       To Breed or Neuter?

      Unless Buddy is part of a well-planned breeding program, neutering is the most logical option. A neutered dog is usually more steady because no fluctuating sex hormones take over control of the dog’s brain. Neutered dogs also tend to live longer because they are protected against cancers and diseases that attack the reproductive system.

Neutered males do not tend to fight with other dogs as intact ones do, saving injuries and social embarrassment. Spayed females, obviously, do not become pregnant. Pregnancy and reproductive disease are far more serious health risks than spaying. Some spayed females experience urinary incontinence because of hormone imbalance, but this problem can be corrected with medication.

      A mother Labrador nurses her litter.

       Where to Find a Lab

      All Labs are not created equal, so buyer beware! Quality may vary tremendously from source to source and price does not always accurately reflect a dog’s value. Learn all you can before you select a dog. Information is your ally.

       Breeders

      There are knowledgeable breeders for whom Labradors are their life’s passion and who breed primarily to produce increasingly better dogs. Unfortunately, not all breeders are concerned with quality. There are disreputable people who cash in on breed popularity, producing pups with unsound bodies and temperaments. How can you sort the good breeders from the not so good? It’s actually easier than you might think.

      A reputable breeder’s dogs will be certified clear of serious joint and eye defects and will have proven their quality in the field and/or show ring. The dogs’ ancestors will also have worked and/or earned titles in competition.

      Reputable breeders will ask potential owners many questions about home, family, lifestyle, and other pets before agreeing to place a dog with them. They will offer a written contract spelling out the responsibilities of buyer and seller, including a provision arranging the fate of the dog should the placement not work satisfactorily. An experienced breeder will send home pages of instructions with each dog placed and will maintain contact with buyers, offering help and advice throughout the life of the dog.

      The reputable breeder’s dogs are carefully bred, healthy and sound, immunized, well groomed, and socialized. When you obtain a dog from a reputable breeder, regardless of the price tag, the dog is a bargain.

       Breed Rescue

      Labrador breed clubs organize volunteers to rescue Labs from homelessness, neglect, and abuse. Responsible breeders who support these efforts often chair the rescue groups, and volunteer much private time, money, and kennel space to help the dogs.

      Lab Rescue takes in dogs of all ages, but usually has fewer pups than adults. If you are a little flexible about the age of your new dog, Lab Rescue may have the perfect Lab for you (see Useful Addresses and Literature, page 142). Dogs placed by Rescue are neutered, and many receive rehabilitative training and care before they are ready for new homes.

      Rescue Labs may or may not come from titled ancestors, but adoptive owners are treated the same way as buyers for show pups. If you adopt from Rescue, be prepared to answer personal questions about yourself, your home, and your family. Rescue groups want what’s best for the dogs, and volunteers will do all they can to make certain a new home works out right.

       Shelters and Pounds

      Many stray or unwanted Labs sit in shelters awaiting adoption. Sometimes, well-loved dogs are rehomed through shelters; others end up there when irresponsible owners tire of them. Some have been abused and neglected by the time they are dropped off at the “pound.” Although some shelter dogs bounce back easily from earlier hardship, others have behavior problems that will require time and training to correct.

      Most shelter dogs make wonderful companions once they learn to trust new owners. Though they may require extra patience and care at first, most shelter adoptees give back a thousandfold in devotion to a loving family.

       What Influences a Dog’s Temperament?

       Environment

      Early life experiences affect a dog’s ability to trust people and handle stress. A good environment is one that provides positive social experiences and teaches a pup to make friends with people and animals. Quarters should be kept clean and the pup’s mind stimulated with toys and household sounds, sights, and smells. Positive socialization enables a pup to confidently adapt to new situations.

       Heredity

      Most people realize that size and color are hereditary, but fewer understand that temperament and working ability are also passed through the genes. Pups can inherit such temperament problems as shyness or aggression. For this reason, you should try to meet the sire and dam of any pup you consider for adoption. If you cannot meet the parents or close relatives, at least study the pedigree carefully.

       Interpreting a Pedigree

      A pedigree is a genealogy chart, the written record of a dog’s ancestry. Pedigrees are arranged by generation, with the sire’s name listed above the dam’s. Included with names of ancestors are their show and working titles. Some pedigrees also list colors and health clearances or certifications. Simply having a pedigree does not necessarily mean a dog is the product of careful breeding; it merely means the dog has a traceable lineage. To know whether a dog’s pedigree is good you must know how to interpret it.

      ■ At the left of the document, on a line by itself, is the name of the dog whose pedigree you’re examining. To the right of that are his sire and dam. To their right are his grandparents, and so on, back through the generations. The farther to the right a dog’s name appears in the pedigree, the less genetic impact it has on your pup. The same dog may appear several times in a pedigree, multiplying that dog’s genetic influence.

      ■ The letters before or after the names in a pedigree are abbreviations for titles earned. Championships are listed before the name, and performance titles after it. Take a hypothetical example: DUAL CH. Buddy Ombudsman O’Budd, CDX, TD. Translation? Buddy has earned both Field and Conformation Championships, the Companion Dog Excellent obedience title, and the Tracking Dog title. From this we may gather that Buddy is a wonderful allaround Lab—beautiful, sound, smart, and obedient. We know this because he could not otherwise have earned those letters.

      There is an old saying: “Breed the best to the best, then hope for the best.” That’s what responsible breeders do, and that’s what to look for in a pedigree. Not every Lab with titled parents and grandparents turns out to be a star, of course, but the odds are far better with a background of champions and performance dogs than with unproved stock.