Meet the Lab E-Book

American Kennel Club

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: AKC Meet the Breed Series
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 166

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

Meet the Lab is the first official publication endorsed by the world's leading authority on purebred dogs, the American Kennel Club (AKC) devoted to America's most popular dog, the Labrador Retriever. As the AKC's number-one breed in registration statistics for twenty consecutive years, the Labrador Retriever reigns as America's top companion breed, though the breed's superb athleticism has led it to excel as a hunting and competition dog as well.. Eleven chapters detail the history, characteristics, and special requirements for owning this active Sporting breed, heavily illustrated with beautiful color images of puppies and adults. A chapter devoted to the purchase and selection of the Lab puppy gives the reader specific guidance on how to locate a qualified breeder and to recognize a healthy, sound puppy whether for companionship or sport, or both. Two separate chapters serve as a primer to training the puppy--house-training and obedience work, favoring positive-training techniques as the best and most successful way to educate dogs. Chapters on grooming, feeding, exercise, and home and veterinary care offer indispensable information for new dog owners. As an official publication of the AKC, produced in conjunction with the Labrador Retriever Club, Meet the Lab also explains the many vital programs offered by the AKC to all pet dog owners, including the S.T.A.R. Puppy and the Canine Good Citizen programs, as well as overview to the various dog sports in which Labs excel, including obedience, field trials, dog shows, agility, and more. A detailed resources section offers recommendations for websites, books, periodicals, and club affiliate programs, all of great interest to responsible new dog owners.

Leseprobe

Brought to you by The American Kennel Club and The Labrador Retriever Club.

Lead Editor: Lindsay HanksArt Director: Cindy KassebaumProduction Supervisor: Jessica JaenschAssistant Production Manager: Tracy VogtmanBook Project Specialist: Karen Julian

Vice President, Chief Content Officer: June KikuchiVice President, Kennel Club Books: Andrew DePriscoI-5 Press: Jennifer Calvert, Amy Deputato, Lindsay Hanks, Karen Julian, Jarelle S. Stein

Photographs by The American Kennel Club: 119, 120; Blackhawk Productions (Dwight Dyke): Cover, 4, 21, 33, 34. 49, 51, 59, 62, 66-67, 71, 72, 75, 82-83, 86, 102-103, 104, 108, 110, 114, 118; I-5 Studio: Cover, Back Cover, 8, 10, 17, 29, 38, 42, 45, 50, 53, 63, 80, 94, 124; Close Encounters of the Furry Kind: 4, 26-27, 30, 43, 70, 73, 76, 78, 121; Diane Lewis Photography: Cover, 4, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 28, 31, 36-37, 40, 46-47, 52, 56-57, 61, 69, 80, 81, 85, 91, 92-93, 99, 100, 101, 112-113, 116; Fox Hill Photo: Cover, 11, 25, 32, 35, 39, 54, 60, 64, 65, 68, 74. 79, 94, 87, 88, 89, 95, 96, 97, 98, 107, 117; Mark Raycroft Photography: 1, 3, 6-7, 14-15, 18-19, 22, 33, 48, 55, 58, 98, 111, 115; Noppadol Paothong: 41, 44, 105

Copyright © 2011 The American Kennel Club and I-5 Press

I-5 Press™A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™,3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of I-5 Press™, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The American Kennel Club’s meet the lab : the responsible dog owner’s handbook.      p. cm. -- (AKC’s meet the breeds)  Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN 978-1-937049-00-31. Labrador retriever. 2. Labrador retriever--Training. I. American Kennel Club.  SF429.L3A64 2011  636.752’7--dc23

2011016673

Printed and bound in the United States14 13 12 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Meet Your New Dog

Welcome to Meet the Lab. Whether you’re a long-time Lab owner, or you’ve just purchased your first puppy, we wish you a lifetime of happiness and enjoyment with your new pet.

In this book, you’ll learn about the history of the breed; receive tips on feeding, grooming, and training; and learn about all the fun you can have with your dog. The American Kennel Club and I-5 Press hope that this book serves as a useful guide on the lifelong journey you’ll take with your canine companion.

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed in the United States, in no small part due to the breed’s aptitude to please, even temperament and trainability. Owned and cherished by millions across America, Labs thrive as part of an active family, make great sporting companions, and serve as dedicated assistance dogs, law enforcement K9s, and search and rescue dogs.

As a result of their versatility, Labs excel in many AKC events, including conformation (dog shows), obedience, rally, agility, tracking, hunt tests, field trials and more. Thousands of Labs have earned the AKC Canine Good Citizen certification by demonstrating their good manners at home and in the community. We hope that you and your Lab will become involved in AKC events, too! Learn how to get involved at www.akc.org/events or find a training club in your area by searching www.akc.org/events/trainingclubs.cfm.

We also encourage you to connect with other Lab owners on the AKC website (www.akc.org), through our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/americankennelclub), and via Twitter (@akcdoglovers). Also visit The Labrador Club (www.thelabradorclub.com), the national parent club for the Labrador Retriever and an authority on the breed, to join the club and learn from reputable exhibitors and breeders.

Enjoy Meet the Lab!

Contents

1 DO YOU ADORE THE LABRADOR?

2 RECIPE FOR A RETRIEVER

3 FINDING THE PERFECT PET

4 WELCOME HOME, LAB!

5 TRAINING YOUR LAB PUPPY

6 POTTY PROCEDURES

7 BASIC TRAINING BOOT CAMP

8 MEAL DEALS FOR LABS

9 GROOMING GUIDELINES

10 HEALTHY HABITS

11 AN ACTIVE LAB IS A HEALTHY LAB

RESOURCES

If there is one thing Labrador Retrievers do best, it’s retrieving. Labs love to fetch stuff and carry something—anything—in their mouths. You’ll be amazed at the Lab’s obsession with retrieving. If he’s not carrying a bird, then sticks and socks will do. You can usually tell if a person owns a Lab by the number of sticks and branches piled up at his back door! So don’t blame your Labrador when you can’t find your shoes or the remote. He can’t help it; that need to retrieve is in your dog’s DNA.

It’s in the Genes

What does it mean that retrieving is in a Lab’s genes? In the early 1800s, an Earl in Newfoundland, Canada, bred a specific type of dog with long legs and short hair who was good at running and swimming. These qualities, in addition to a fun-loving and energetic personality, are perfect for retrieving.

Must Put in Mouth

Chewing goes hand-in-hand with retrieving, and Lab puppies are miniature chewing machines that often leave telltale marks on furniture and woodwork like handrails and baseboards. How can you stop your Lab from chewing? Provide lots of colorful chew toys and teach your Lab pup what he may and may not chew. You must closely watch your Labrador to train him not to chew, or you will end up with an adult Lab that continues to destroy your home!

The Lab is super friendly and will not be happy unless he can hang out with you. He loves being part of an active family that includes the dog in everyday activities. He enjoys fun outdoor games, which are the best way for him to channel his energy and enthusiasm. And Labradors are just as comfortable in the water as they are on land. Swimming is their favorite sport (after retrieving, of course).

A Labrador Retriever needs exercise, so take him on one or two long walks every day and spend some quality time with him. Exercise and time with you will keep your Lab from getting bored or lazy, which usually leads to your Lab destroying things!

Lab puppies are very energetic, so be careful when you’re playing with and training your pup. Take lots of breaks, especially if you see your puppy getting too excited!

What to Expect

The Lab is an “easy keeper.” His short coat requires little grooming and upkeep. But Labs shed twice a year and drop a little hair all year long. You’ll find Lab hair on the floor, your clothes, the furniture—everywhere. Be prepared to vacuum regularly, but your best pal is worth the 15 minutes of vacuuming a week, right? Of course, he is!

Although the Lab excels in lots of doggy activities and competitions, he is known to want to do things his way. Labrador Retrievers are as strong-willed as they are eager to please, so there can be challenges in training. The best time to teach your Lab good doggy manners is when he’s a puppy before he gets too big to handle!

Is a Lab Right for You?

Before you start calling Labrador breeders or rescue groups, your family should decide how a dog will fit into your lives and the kinds of activities you want to do with him. If you want your dog to hunt and retrieve, look for a Labrador from field-bred parents. If you want to try to win blue ribbons at American Kennel Club dog shows with your Lab, then look for breeders who show their dogs and breed the ones that win awards. If you just want a fun and energetic pet, look for a healthy combination of energy and loyalty.

Mr. Popularity

The Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog in the United States for the past twenty years, according to the American Kennel Club. That’s one popular dog! To register your Lab with the AKC, fill out the Dog Registration Application you received when you bought your puppy and simply mail it to the AKC in North Carolina or register online at www.akc.org.

Labs are high-energy dogs. If you get one, be prepared to spend a lot of outdoor time with him.

The Need to Retrieve

Your Lab wants to do the one thing he does best—retrieve! Try playing Frisbee at a local dog park or go to the beach and have your Lab play “catch” with his favorite tennis ball. And while you’re enjoying the sun and surf, give your Lab a chance to roll in the sand and swim in the ocean. Your dog will love you for it! Always check the local ordinances regarding whether dogs are permitted on the beach or in the park before going.

Did You Know?

The movie Marley & Me required the casting of twenty-five different Labrador Retrievers to portray the naughty yellow Lab at different ages. Most of the dogs were used to film the puppy scenes.

You Must Commit, Too!

Getting a dog is exciting, but it’s also a huge responsibility. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself on all that is involved in being a good pet owner. As a part of the Canine Good Citizen Test, the AKC has a “Responsible Dog Owner’s Pledge,” which states:

I will be responsible for my dog’s health needs.

I will provide routine veterinary care, including check-ups and vaccines.

I will offer adequate nutrition through proper diet and clean water at all times.

I will give daily exercise and regularly bathe and groom.

I will be responsible for my dog’s safety.

I will properly control my dog by providing fencing where appropriate, by not letting my dog run loose, and by using a leash in public.

I will ensure that my dog has some form of identification when appropriate (which may include collar tags, tattoos, or microchip identification).

I will provide adequate supervision when my dog and children are together.

I will not allow my dog to infringe on the rights of others.

I will not allow my dog to run loose in the neighborhood.

I will not allow my dog to be a nuisance to others by barking while in the yard, in a hotel room, etc.

I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste in all public areas, such as on the grounds of hotels, on sidewalks, in parks, etc.

I will pick up and properly dispose of my dog’s waste in wilderness areas, on hiking trails, on campgrounds, and in off-leash parks.

I will be responsible for my dog’s quality of life.

I understand that basic training is beneficial to all dogs.

I will give my dog attention and playtime.

I understand that owning a dog is a commitment in time and caring.

Labradors make great family pets. They are the most popular dog breed in America today.

Labradors are happiest when they get to stretch out their legs, run at top speed, and play in the water. Throw in another canine companion or two, and your dog will be in heaven.

All puppies can be a handful, but a Labrador Retriever is extremely high-energy with a crazy zest for life that can be overwhelming, even for the most well-prepared family. Because the Lab is so popular, many people don’t realize that, while highly trainable, these dogs require lots of training. Your Lab wants to please you; he just needs to learn how to do it. Puppy training programs and other obedience training can work wonders in transforming a “wild and crazy” Labrador into a well-behaved, happy canine good citizen.

A Big Decision

Getting a dog is a huge decision and should be based on what’s best for you, your family, and the dog. Don’t rush into it! Have lots of talks as a family about how a Lab will affect your lives and everyday activities. With the right preparation, you and your Labrador Retriever can live happily ever after.

Meet the Lab and More!

A great place to see Labradors and more than 200 other dog and cat breeds is at Meet the Breeds, hosted by the American Kennel Club and presented by Pet Partners, Inc. Not only can you see dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens of all sizes, you can also talk to experts in each of the breeds. Meet the Breeds features demonstration rings to watch events with law enforcement K9s, grooming, agility, and obedience. You also can browse the more than 100 vendor booths for every imaginable product for you and your pet.

It’s great fun for the whole family. Meet the Breeds takes place in the fall in New York City. For more information, check out www.meetthebreeds.com.

At a Glance …

The first thing that a Labrador Retriever owner must understand is the breed’s need to chew. Providing chew toys, dog-proofing the home, and training your Lab for what not to chew are essential.

Labs love their people and need to be included with the family in all activities.

Great with kids, easy to groom, and super friendly, the Lab offers many wonderful pet qualities.

Labs can get a little crazy, especially as puppies! You must commit to a training program—this can make the difference between living with a great pet or a troublemaker.

Look beyond the breed’s popularity to determine if a Labrador really is the right dog for you, and if you are right for a Lab!

Why do all Labradors look the same? Have you noticed that a black Lab looks exactly like a yellow Lab or a chocolate Lab, except for the color? That is not an accident: it’s what makes a purebred dog different from a mixed-breed dog.

This “sameness” from dog to dog is the special “type” that defines a breed, and the recipe for this type is called a breed standard. The breed standard is simply a written description of all of a dog’s body parts, including his head, legs, paws, and tail, and even his character and personality.

Chocolate Labrador Retriever puppies have an allure all their own. Regardless of color, your Lab puppy should be healthy, alert and friendly.

Not only do all Labradors look alike, but to a marked degree, they act alike, too. By definition, Labrador Retrievers are eager to please, kind, outgoing, and obedient. In other words, Labradors are designed to be family dogs! As the retriever part of their name indicates, they also make great hunters, able to retrieve ducks, geese, quail, and other game birds in the field.

Every dog breed registered by the American Kennel Club has a breed standard, a written description of the ideal specimen, which includes not only the physical traits but personality characteristics, too. That’s why Labs look and act like Labs and Chihuahuas look and act like Chihuahuas.

What is a Parent Club?

Breed standards are written by experienced breeders across the country who belong to that particular breed’s parent club. The American Kennel Club then officially approves the standard. A parent club is a national organization recognized by the AKC that represents a particular dog breed. The Lab standard was written by the Labrador Retriever Club, Inc., which is the AKC parent club of the Labrador Retriever breed. You can learn more about the Labrador Retriever Club at its website, www.thelabradorclub.com.

Labs Work Like Dogs!

The Labrador is one of the best breeds to become guide and search-and-rescue dogs. Labs are often used as Seeing Eye dogs, therapy dogs, and police dogs. Did you know that, in England, no Lab can win a show competition unless he is a certified working dog? It’s true! Labs really do work like dogs!

The Lab in Brief

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Canada (Newfoundland province)

ORIGINAL USE:

Fisherman’s working dog and waterfowl retriever.

GROUP:

Sporting

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN:

12 to 14 years

COAT:

Double-coated with a short, straight, dense outercoat, and a soft, water-resistant undercoat.

COLOR:

Solid black, yellow, or chocolate. Small white chest spot allowed, but not desired.

GROOMING:

Brush daily during twice-yearly periods of heavy shedding; otherwise, weekly. Bathe only when necessary (i.e., if coat smells). Clean ears and teeth, and check nails once a week.

HEIGHT/WEIGHT:

Males, 22½ to 24½ inches and 65 to 80 pounds; females, 21½ to 23½ inches and 55 to 70 pounds.

TRAINABILITY:

High

PERSONALITY:

Cheerful and outgoing, keen to please, active, and adaptable.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:

High, especially when young.

GOOD WITH OTHER PETS:

Yes, with proper socialization and introduction.

NATIONAL BREED CLUB:

Labrador Retriever Club; [email protected]; www.thelabradorclub.com

RESCUE:

Labrador Retriever Club; [email protected]; www.thelabradorclub.com

Labradors were bred to retrieve, as the name reveals. Play a little catch with your dog every day, and he couldn’t be happier.

So, who writes these standards anyway, and who uses them? Each dog breed has a national club called a parent club that protects and promotes the specific breed, and for Labs, the parent club is The Labrador Retriever Club (www.thelabradorclub.com), a member club of the American Kennel Club.

Every time a Labrador competes in a dog show, the judge uses the breed standard to decide how closely each Lab matches the breed standard. The judge will select as the winner the dog that conforms to the standard the best on that day.

That’s why dogs that win ribbons at shows are bred—to continue a line of dogs that closely matches the breed standard. In fact, the true purpose of a dog show is to compare breeding stock. Breeders use the breed standard as the guideline to create the next generation of Labs.

For as long as people love Labrador Retrievers and the breed standard is used, Labs will be Labs forever!

What a Sport!

The Labrador Retriever isn’t the only retriever. The AKC recognizes six retrievers in addition to the Labrador: the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Curly-Coated Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Golden Retriever, and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. All of these retrievers belong to a group called the Sporting Group. This group of dogs includes all the hunting dogs—not just retrievers, but spaniels, setters, and pointing dogs, too.

A PIECE OF HISTORY

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Labrador Retrievers were initially used to work alongside fishermen, helping pull in nets and catch fish that escaped from fishing lines.

Throughout the breed’s history, the Labrador Retriever has been drawn to the water and worked alongside people.

The AKC-accepted colors for Labradors are black, chocolate, and yellow (as shown here). Anything else you may find is not a true Labrador coloring.

Retrievers, like the Lab, retrieve downed prey (such as ducks, grouse, and pheasants) and return them to the hunter. Spaniels flush game out of dense brush, while setters and pointers find prey and either set (crouch) or point to them.

All Sporting breeds have lots of energy and are easily trainable. They need lots of exercise every day, so be sure to take your Lab out a couple of times every day for good, long walks. It’s good for him and for you!

A Bona Fide Lab

The Labrador Retriever was bred in Newfoundland (a city near Labrador in Canada) as a hunting dog. Because of this, the Lab breed standard describes all the reasons that make the Lab perfect for hunting and retrieving.