Labrador Retriever – owner reviews of the breed, pros and cons

Author of the article: Dmitry Boyko | Updated: 12-09-2020

Labradors were bred for hunting, but are now used primarily as companions and family dogs. Smart, good-natured and playful dogs get along well with children, and sometimes even play the role of “sitters”. They are ideal for a private home, but they can also be kept in an apartment - you just need to know in advance about possible maintenance problems and how to solve them. So let's study all the pros and cons, and also find out how to care for a Labrador in an apartment.

Adaptation of a pet to an apartment

When a little Labrador appears in an apartment, he will need maximum attention and careful care. There should always be someone from the family nearby. You need to play with the baby and treat him with treats. Pick up only when necessary, carefully but firmly grabbing under the chest and seat. You can’t pull, let alone lift, by the paws - they can easily be damaged. If the floor is slippery, choose an inexpensive pile flooring.

A puppy cannot be kept in the dark for a long time - this will upset the psyche and cause a number of diseases, including rickets.

When feeding in the first days, place a bowl with a small amount of food in front of the puppy and, as he eats, report it: he should see that food appears from your hands, this will increase trust.

To raise a mentally balanced dog, do not scold and especially do not punish the baby in the first days, even when he does shit. Now it is more important to establish contact! Just hide anything he might chew on (wires, shoes, hanging curtains, etc.) and remove carpets.

Similar article: Rules for raising and training a Labrador from the first days

We choose a place away from heating devices and drafts, not on the aisle. Labradors love heights, but for the puppy it should be small so that he does not fall. If possible, buy bedding in advance and before picking up the puppy, ask the breeder to keep it in the dog room for several days: feeling the smell of the family, the baby will be less bored.

We recommend this article:

Weight of a puppy and an adult Labrador by month

Possible diseases

Over time, the puppy may develop osteochondrosis, dysplasia or paraproctitis. Eye diseases and food allergies are possible.

Do not try to treat your Labrador at home; if there are any symptoms of illness, immediately show it to a specialist.

Before all vaccinations have been completed, the puppy should not be taken outside. Outdoor shoes need to be hidden at this time - he can catch an infection simply by licking them.

First days at home - what should you do?

Before the puppy appears in a private home, you need to purchase a number of necessary things:

toys;
feed;
bowls for food and water;
dog bed or mat;
brush.

Puppies don't know how to endure . Therefore, it will not be possible to avoid puddles, but the animal can be trained to go in a diaper or in a litter tray - you need to take care of the place in advance.

How to teach cleanliness

The most important question when keeping a Labrador in an apartment: how to stop a puppy from crapping and peeing at home?

At first, the baby cannot be taken outside, and physically he is not able to endure it for as long as an adult dog. Place the tray and put the puppy in it 5-10 minutes after eating and after a change in activity (woke up, stopped playing, etc.). It may also be a sign that he begins to spin and sit down. Praise and pet him for success, and even more when he realizes to go to relieve himself. But get ready that in the first months he will still shit in the wrong places: the intestines and bladder are still weak.

When the opportunity arises for walking, first do it at the same time as in the case of the litter box. Actively reward your puppy for relieving himself outside and scold him more and more severely as he gets older if he craps in the apartment. On average, puppies of this breed begin to consciously ask to go outside at 4 months. Such “requests” must be fulfilled immediately, otherwise the reflex will not take hold.

We recommend this article:

Can a Labrador live in an outdoor enclosure in winter?

What to prepare for when living in an apartment

Labradors are active and playful, so care includes active games and walks for at least 2 hours a day. They are very affectionate and prefer to spend almost all their time with people, so if everyone in the family works and the dog will have to spend most of the time alone, you should choose a different breed. They prefer to sleep next to their master's bed. Keeping them in an enclosure or on a chain is absolutely not suitable for Labradors.

Similar article: First heat and rules for mating Labradors

They slowly mature psychologically, essentially remaining puppies until they are three years old, so owners need to be prepared for pranks and pranks.

Coat care is important - it needs to be combed with a massage brush. You can bathe your dog regularly.

Proper maintenance implies a balanced diet (the breed is prone to obesity).

How often should you go for walks? How long should you walk?

Retrievers were bred as hunting dogs, capable of following a person on a hunt for a long time. Run after shot game over a long distance, overcoming any obstacles in your path. These large dogs are distinguished by their endurance.

Therefore, it is advisable to walk your dog two or three times a day.

In the morning, this can be a jog with your pet or an active game, which will give the animal energetic relief.

Duration of at least half an hour . Better is more. A tired dog will not smoke while the owner is not at home.

Evening exercise should be combined loads. The dog must be given commands while walking. Exercises for endurance. Running behind a bicycle or practicing sports equipment (agility, Frisbee) makes the walk exciting.

Labradors love to swim . Swimming does not put a lot of stress on the joints, but it is active physical work for the dog.

Pros of content

Get such a dog, and you will get a faithful friend, always ready to rush to the rescue of the owners. The reliability of the breed is evidenced by the fact that Labradors are often used as guide dogs for the blind.

The breed is friendly and non-conflicting, obedient, easy to train, and relatively easy to care for. A properly raised dog will never litter the house. A Labrador is also good for an apartment because it does not bark without a reason and does not disturb the neighbors. You can leave him with children (without abusing this, of course) - as practice shows, harm can be caused to the dog.

This is an excellent pet for fans of a healthy lifestyle: you can run with it in the morning, swim, play ball or Frisbee.

Cons of content

It takes a lot of time to train and walk in any weather. Homebodies should not own a Labrador, nor should people who spend almost all their time at work. You should not buy such a dog to motivate yourself to go for walks - experience shows that the owner’s sedentary lifestyle will take over, and the dog will go to other people.

If you do not allow your Labrador to release its energy, there is a high probability of property damage. You need to understand that in the first months the puppy will crap in the apartment.

Some people get tired of constantly caring for their dog's long hair. Other disadvantages (expensive food, smell, regular checkups with a veterinarian, etc.) are similar to any other dog breed.

As you can see, the pros and cons of keeping a Labrador retriever largely depend on the character of the owners themselves. The same playfulness that energizes some people with positivity will soon begin to bore and irritate others. You should think three times before getting such a dog, but by doing it consciously and responsibly, you will get an intelligent and loyal friend for many years.

We recommend this article:

How long do Labradors live at home?

Disadvantages of the breed

There are no ideals. And Labradors are no exception. Even such wonderful dogs have a number of disadvantages. There are far fewer of them than there are advantages. But still, before you get yourself a Labrador, you should familiarize yourself with this list.

Physical activity is a must for dogs. You can't miss a walk with an animal. In any weather, you will have to go for a walk with your pet. Otherwise, an inactive lifestyle will affect the dog’s health.
Dogs eat quite a lot. Every day they eat about 0.5 kg of food. If you purchase premium food, then get ready to spend a lot of money. After all, the Labrador will eat it very quickly. For many, such expenses on an animal may seem unaffordable. But you shouldn’t feed your dog cheap food, as it is often not of high quality. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the financial costs of your pet.

Video “All about Labrador”

From this video you will learn about the most interesting and incredible facts about the Labrador breed.

Similar article: Standard and non-standard Labrador color varieties

Labrador Retriever - owner reviews

Of course, such a dog is an example of selfless friendship and love. They love to spend time actively, especially somewhere outside the city. The Labrador in the apartment also behaves quite energetically, therefore, when left alone, it finds toys and entertainment among the owners’ things.

Review of Labrador

, writes Lena

“I bought my Labrador after 10 years of dreaming. Exactly this breed, exactly this color. She named him Tamerlane. My husband and I went to the nursery to pick him up. Tamer was the smallest in the litter; they took him away just before New Year. For the first few hours, our newly acquired pet did not understand where he was, cried and was afraid to even move. Over time, the dog got used to us. I’ll skip all the stages of growth and talk about an adult animal.

Tamerlane needs to be given a lot of time. Walking the dog at 5 am is our sacred duty. In any weather and temperature, condition and desire/unwillingness. You will have to take care of your things, otherwise you will be left with chewed items. Food will have to be measured and weighed - Labradors tend to overeat a lot. Remember that you are taking the dog for yourself, and not for your child, since all responsibilities for walking and feeding rest on your shoulders.

Labradors require training from 2-3 months of age. The pet must know the commands, and this, again, is the cost of the courses. They get sick often, get ready to treat them. You can also organize a toilet right in the house. And you will also have wool everywhere. If all this doesn’t scare you, then the Labrador Retriever will become a good friend.”

There are a variety of reviews about the Labrador breed. There are polar opinions, but owners point out the same disadvantages for their dogs. Negative reviews are also not difficult to find. One of them is given below.

Review of Labrador

, writes Inna

“I only dreamed of this breed from a very young age. The plush puppy brought me to tears. There were already problems with the purchase: the puppy cost a lot of money, and later we also spent money on treatment (eneritis and dysplasia). But then everything seemed justified. My husband really enjoyed walking with him. The dog is very friendly, playful, loves children. Everything seems to be fine, but... When a Labrador is left at home alone, you know that a disaster is coming. For example, our pet destroyed a huge number of things, including expensive equipment.

Photo shared by Yulia Polyakova.

Just because he needed something to chew on. The dog is very noisy and snores loudly. Constantly asks for food, even when he has already filled his belly. Labradors really love water. Therefore, not only rivers and seas, but also all puddles will be his. Garbage bags are a favorite pastime. Be prepared to clean up broken items and scattered trash when you come home. No matter how much I am attached to my pet, I know for sure that I will never take a Labrador again.”

The Labrador, reviews of whose owners are published above, is a breed that requires a lot of attention. Future owners should take this into account. Without giving the dog proper care, the owner risks not only getting a spoiled pet, but also suffering quite serious financial and material losses.