by A. L. Sugden

Created on: August 13, 2008

I've had the pleasure of personally knowing five labradors: three black, one yellow and one chocolate. Would I recommend labradors? Absolutely. Would I recommend them to just anybody? Absolutely not.

As a kennel worker and dog sitter, I can tell you that there are thousands of labradors in homes not suited to them. I can also tell you that there are plenty of homes where a lab would thrive and be a joy to the people. Let's look at a few common characteristics of the average labrador retriever.

LABRADORS ARE ENERGETIC
We're talking through-the-roof, around-the-moon-and-back energy. Labradors need be very active. They need to burn their energy with healthy, productive exercise. A large yard or frequent trips to the park are ideal. If the lab isn't provided with a channel for the energy, she will find one. And you won't like it. Neither will your furniture, flower beds, laundry, trash cans, fences, gardening tools or hoses. Trust me.

Another reason they must have productive exercise: if a labrador doesn't lead an active life, she will lead an obese life. Too many labs are over fed and under worked. It's a serious health problem that sends too many labs to the vet with hip and heart and other health issues.

LABRADORS ARE SOCIAL
Every dog is said to be man's best friend. Labradors want to be man's shadow. A happy lab is never far from his person. He is constantly looking to the person for praise and adoration. Labradors are brilliant and can be trained better than many breeds. And they're deathly loyal to their trainers. That's why they're so often used in police work.

If a labrador cannot be a person's shadow all the time, he might be satisfied with another companion. If there are children in the labrador's home, sending them outside to play with the labrador will benefit all parties. If the children do not play outside on a regular basis, a doggy companion is often an acceptable substitute. As a dog sitter, I have to beg you to please take your labrador with you when you choose his companion. If you just bring home the first cute puppy you find, you could be asking for trouble. That's true of any breed, by the way.

One curious note is that many labradors have a special fondness for cats. None of our labs chased our cats, but the yellow one would actually play rough and tumble with our kitten. You should introduce any cat to your lab before placement of either one, to be sure there won't be scratch marks later.

If you take your dogs to places with other dogs, know that your lab will probably want to say "hi" to every Tom, Dick, Jane, Fluffy and Spike out there. Always ask the owner if their dog is dog-friendly and keep a close eye on the two for any signs of suspicion (raised fur, halting moves, tail not wagging full speed).

LABRADORS ARE CURIOUS
Because labs are so brilliant, they often look for things to amuse and confuse them. They're snoopers par excellence. You will need to child-proof your home: keep all chocolates (especially dark!) in the top cupboards, take out the trash often, keep the cat's litter box under lock and key, ask your veterinarian about all house-hold plants and otherwise prevent disaster.

Labradors are the best family companions if you can provide for their needs. Give them lots of good exercise to burn that dangerous energy, help them out socially and protect them from their curiosity, and they'll give you years of friendship.

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