I am about to get a 6 month old labrador retriever any advice on how to take care of it and things like that.?

This is my first dog that I am going to get.I am about to get a 6 month old labrador retriever any advice on how to take care of it and things like that.?
Two things:





Sign up for a dog training class ASAP, because it'll get you and your dog off to a great start together. Ask your vet for a referral, or contact the Association of Pet Dog Trainers:





http://www.APDT.com





A 6 mont old untrained lab is a lot easier to deal with than a 9 month old untrained lab. Because someone got rid of him at this age, it's possible he may have some bad habits already, so do both of you a favor and get the class going now. it's a lot of fun, and you won't believe how much you'll learn!





The next thing is to get yourself a copy of Labrador Retrievers for Dummies, written by dog trainer and labrador retriever breeder, Joel Walton:





http://www.amazon.com/Labrador-Retriever鈥?/a>





It's easy, fun to read and not just for labs (or dummies!) ;-)





Enjoy!I am about to get a 6 month old labrador retriever any advice on how to take care of it and things like that.?
Congratulations!!!





I have two Labradors. They are brilliant dogs to own, people who say otherwise are bad dog owners who didn't research the breed before getting one.





Firstly labradors are extremely clever animals that need alot of mental and physical exercise.


They were originally bred to pull fishing nets in to boats and so LOVE water. They are bred to work all day long so they need lots of exercise. If they do not get the correct amount of exercise this is wen you'll encounter problems. They also need the right sort of exercise, an hour stroll on a lead will not do. Its so boring, labs need to run run run, swim swim swim. They need to go to new places, see new sights and smell new things.





My dogs have never chewed, never dug the garden or ate the plants. This is coz they are happy and content and importantly mentally and physically tired form the 3 hour walk they get.





Secondly labradors stay puppies until they reach 2to3 years of age. Until then they are big bouncy dogs that just want to have fun. With correct training you will have a happy go lucky dog who lives for the moment. People think of labradors of perfect angels coz there are used so readily as service dogs, they can be angels, if you put in the hard work. Enjoy the first few years of puppyhood.





You have got yourself a brilliant breed, put in the work and you'll have the best dog ever. Enroll her in training classes, socializing classes, when she's old enough take her to agility, obedience classes. There is nothing you cant try with a labrador.





When you first get your lab take her to the vets for an all over checks. She will need to be vaccinated if she's not already, de-wormed, de-flead.





They are loyal, clever and patient dogs who will give you unconditional love.





But remember exercise exercise exercise!!!!
Labs are very smart, and high energy. They get bored easily, hence the chewing and digging. Find something the dog likes...Frisbee catching, fetch, etc. and keep him busy with it! Obedience training is a must. Labs like to please and need to know you are in charge. They are wonderful, easily trained dogs if their needs are consistently being met. Their energy levels need to be depleted on a daily basis.


Good luck, you'll love your dog and all the tricks you will be able to teach him.
If she is a she is she spayed? That is about the age to watch for heat. Lots of love and play, good nutritional food, good brush. Sturdy chew toy, lots of play. Patience she will be so unsure at first, try not to lose it. Is it house broke? Lots of hands on and socialising. Be it's best friend and it will be yours for it's whole life.
wow, well good luck!!





we got a puppy that was an english lab and she grew stronger and stronger everyday, ripped holes in our clothes, bit us, and was really really really strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(we got rid of it!) and now we have a mini schnauzer SOOO MUCH BETTER!!





my dads friend has a lab and said it was the worst thing they ever did, it dug and dug and dug and ruined their whole backyard, and messed up the house, and they tried to train him but it never worked!!





If you are serious about getting this dog, make sure you enrol him in doggie classes, to help !! good luck
RESEARCH


http://petcaretips.net/basics-taking-car鈥?/a>


Learn all you can about good nutrition, grooming, training, and vet care.


Good Luck with your new addition
All I have to say is get them socialized at a early age and teach them to not jump up on you. Because it becomes harder with age and more weight to deal with. Happy puppy hunting!
keep all little things off the ground or low shelfs
my cousin lab... it always full of energy...and need lots of attention.... walks and stuff... takes a little work to train... there great for outdoors type....
I use a crate* to potty train with, but only for potty training and then I break it down and store it. I put blankets and a small food and water dish in the crate. Dogs don't potty where they eat and sleep. When they are first little, I only expect them to hold their potty for 4 hours, and then 6 hours, then 8 hours and so on. So when they are first little, I set a timer or alarm clock to wake myself up at night to take them out. I only allow my puppy in the bedroom* or the living room, only one room at a time. They have to graduate to more space. If I allow them to have full run of the house, it will overwhelm them. I take them out the same door each time. I tie a dinner bell to the door handle. Do not use a jingle bell as they could get their toe caught in it. So when they are little, I ring the bell for them, and then open the door to go outside to potty. When they get bigger, I take their paw and whack the bell and open the door to go potty. Eventually getting to the place where the puppy will ring the bell and let me know when they need to go potty. Dogs want to please you, so it is your job to let them know what behaviors please you and what doesn't. So when my puppy goes potty, I give her a treat*, and clap, and make a fuss and praise her. So she learns that going potty outside makes me happy. If she has an accident I use a word like ';shame'; and take her out right away. When correcting, I use a stern, firm voice, but I never yell* or spank* my puppies. Take them out when they first wake up, after they eat or drink, or when they are sniffing around. Some puppies go pee right away, but may not go poop until 10 minutes later, so wait for the poop. I have a little play time here, because sometimes I think they are done, and they are not. Puppies train at their own pace. While I may have a puppy that hasn't had an accident in several weeks, I don't let my guard down. I don't expect my puppies to be ';fully potty trained'; until the 6 to 8-month-old time frame, and depending on the puppy, one-year-old. If they have a setback, shake it off, and start over. I only have my puppies in the crate when I am not watching them. When I am sleeping, cooking, ironing, doing chores, basically when I am not watching her. All other times, she is out of the crate practicing being a ';big girl.'; This is the time I train her how to behave in the house. So we are practicing ';no barking';, 'no biting';, ';no jumping';, and ';don't eat the furniture.'; I also have to practice ';playing inside'; so she doesn't knock over things. Some puppies can sleep through the night around 3-months-old, but their bladder is grown around 6-months-old.





REVISIONS:





*I use a crate to train with. It is the method I prefer, compared to other methods I have tried. While personally, the crate traumatizes me, (it looks like a doggie jail), my puppies do better in the crate. They like it, I guess for the den like feeling, but I noticed that if they are in the crate, while I am doing chores, they are o.k., because the crate allows them to see me and be re-assured. The crate can also be a comfort when stored in the basement for dogs who live in areas where thunderstorms and tornados are an issue. It is a safe secure place for them. However, use the method that works best for you.....a laundry basket, a cardboard box, a woof-woof house, child gates......whatever works for you.





*Bedrooms, I use the bedroom and living room for training, because it works for me. Choose rooms that work for you, but watch for rooms that are damp, or drafty. While my puppies sleep in the bedroom during training, once they are trained, I let them sleep where they want to. They don't have to sleep in the bedroom forever.





*Treats. While I use treats for training, you don't have to. I like Charlee Bears for training (a little cracker for a little mouth,) I use them for training, but once they are trained, I cut back on them. Although I use them to give pills too. I used different treats for different things. We use one bone at bedtime to let the dogs know it is time to go to bed. We use a big rawhide for when we go on long trips, so they have a bone to amuse them, and they will be expected to hold their potty. When they get the rawhide, they will not eat their food and water, until we get home from our trip. (dogs are funny) Do what works best for you.





*Some puppies will go potty in the same spot each time. Some puppies have to be told to go potty. A command like ';go out'; for #1, or ';go finish'; for #2 might work for you. This is a good thing to train if you travel with your dogs. By using commands, the puppy won't get confused when you are visiting someone, on vacation with you, or when you get to a new home. The command will tell them what you want them to do in an unfamiliar place.





*Yelling. It is not a good idea to ';yell'; or ';spank'; your puppy and then take them outside when they have an accident. They may get confused and think that going outside is punishment. While you want to correct them, if you are extreme, they may not want to go outside again.





*Sometimes it seems like you take your puppy out 5 million times a day. You can sit on a bench, or folding chair, or a 5 gallon bucket turned upside down to stay in the shade. I use an umbrella for shade too. You can always tape your favorite tv shows. In the winter I microwave a gel pack heating pad, (sold at walmart in the pharmacy, made by Kaz, I think.) I put the heating pad under my jacket so I won't freeze to death. In the summer, I freeze bottles of water, so we can grab one real fast on our way out the door. I have a mini back pack by the door I can just grab with doggie treats, a flash light, a rubber band for my hair when the wind is bad, etc. Do what works for you.





*Time lines. Keep it real. Puppies train at their own pace, so while your last 2 dogs may have trained faster, this puppy might take longer. Training is all about routines, and repeating yourself. It is about rewarding good behaviors, and correcting bad ones. If you have a setback, shake it off, and keep going. Good luck.