Having a pet in the family is not like owning a toy. A dog is a living, breathing being that deserves your love, care and attention. And as any dog lover will tell you, the love that they give back is immeasurable.
You may be thinking of getting a dog of your own. Perhaps your choice is a Labrador Retriever, especially after hearing about their popularity and just what great family dogs they are.
The best way to know what it’s like to own a Labrador is to learn from people who do have a Lab in their household.
In his reply to the same question on Quora, Arup Saha is quick to point out the costs of taking care of a Labrador Retriever, which would include dog food, monthly vet visits, treats, and supplements.
He also advises first time Lab owners to purchase more of the cheaper toys than the expensive ones because they are likely to get destroyed.
Saha also has this important reminder, “(Labs are) very susceptible to diseases in the first year. In fact, the first summer and the first winter are the hardest for a Labrador. My vet instructed me to keep (my dog) in a crate for first 60 days.
He won’t like it, but it is good for him. You need to train him for the crate as well and make sure he likes it. Make a comfortable bed for him there, fill it with his favorite toys, and be ready to change it when he soils your effort.”
According to Sneh Sharma, also on Quora, “This breed is susceptible to rambunctious and skittish behavior. You should avoid over exciting them and making them nervous. Be a confident leader to your dog. Confident non-verbal behavior helps you establish yourself as pack leader for your dog.”
Of course, this rambunctious behavior can lead to memorable funny moments in one’s household.
NGCarpenter narrated this story about her Lab Daisy in The Labrador Forum, “I was practicing (the) down-stay (commands) in the living room…with all three (of my) dogs. I walked around a big comfy chair and called Daisy, blithely assuming she’d trot around the chair on the floor, but noooooo! She leaped onto and over the chair, crashing at my very surprised feet, along with (a) poor lamp, and sat beautifully, waiting for her treat!”
In another story from Kristi in Midlands, UK in Metro, “My Labrador Holly was a bit of a hooligan when she was a pup. I was walking her once and she spotted a class doing a bootcamp style workout in the next field in the middle of doing press ups at the time. Holly thought it looked like great fun and charged over jumping on top of the people doing the press ups. Most of them laughed but the leader in the military style outfit didn’t look amused.”
Perhaps the most famous Labrador Retriever is Marley, owned by author John Grogan. His book Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog and the subsequent movie Marley & Me documented Grogan’s life with Marley, a delightfully rambunctious and uncontrollable Lab with a heart of gold whom was speculated to have a form of mental illness.
In one famous quote in his book, Grogan said, “A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty.”
If you are planning to get a Labrador or any dog for that matter, just remember these words from John Grogan. “A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water-logged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn’t care if you’re rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he’ll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?”
