How Do I Care For A Pregnant Labrador Retriever?

Us Labrador Retrievers do require a lot of care, even more so if you have the wonderful opportunity to care for a mother-to-be of Labrador Retriever puppies! However, it's very important not to forget that caring for a pregnant Labrador Retriever is a huge responsibility, since you are responsible for the well-being of the unborn puppies as well. A Labrador Retriever will be very appreciative of your care, and we will do much better if you research the best care methods. If you learn about how to care for a pregnant Labrador Retriever, you will be able to dramatically improve the quality of life for her future puppy litter.

Female Labrador Retrievers are very similar to human females, as they will give many key signs that signal they are pregnant. Your Labrador Retriever may seem listless, and she might not show as much enthusiasm at mealtimes. Decreased appetite is a common sign that a female Labrador is experiencing the early stages of her pregnancy. Of course, this will make you worry, so it should be a good opportunity to visit the veterinarian! This is the equivalent of "morning sickness" in a pregnant female Dog, and normally will disappear some time after the first trimester. During this time, it is highly recommended to start giving your pregnant Labrador Retriever some prenatal vitamins.

Swelling of the tummy is another key sign that your female Labrador is pregnant. This seems like a fairly obvious sign, but many people mistake it for their Dog becoming overweight. During this time, some Dog owners even stop feeding their female Labradors their normal food, or begin a weight loss program. This can harm the unborn puppies! Even if your female Labrador Retriever has been spayed, it's still possible for her to become pregnant. The spaying operation is usually very successful, but should not be assumed to protect your Dog 100% against pregnancy. If your female Labrador Retriever is beginning to become a bit chubby around the middle, be sure to take her to the veterinarian first, before making any assumptions of whether or not she is pregnant.

During the second and third trimester of your Labrador's pregnancy, she may begin to engage in a behavior commonly known as "nesting". This is the same type of behavior that some human mothers experience before giving birth. With this behavior, your female Labrador Retriever may begin to constantly rearrange or paw at her bedding. She may also carry some of her favorite toys or treats over to her bed area. It's best to let her alone when she does this, as she is simply preparing her sleeping area for giving birth to her puppies. Most female Labradors will display nesting behavior soon before giving birth.

When you have confirmed your female Labrador Retriever's pregnancy with your veterinarian, there are many important prenatal care steps that should be followed. Since your Labrador is now also supplying nutrients for her unborn puppies, it's highly recommended to start giving her a prenatal vitamin. Try to give her the best prenatal vitamin that you can find, since cheap or poorly formulated prenatal vitamins can actually be deficient in important vitamins needed by your dog and her puppies. A good prenatal vitamin can be purchased online, from a pet supply store, or prescribed by your veterinarian.

After your female Labrador Retriever has gotten over her "morning sickness" of the first trimester, she'll begin to eat... a LOT! The average pregnant female Labrador will consume from two to three times her normal food amount. It's much better to divide her meals throughout the day, to ensure the maximum absorption of the nutrients found in the food. At this time, it is also wise to switch to a premium high-nutrient dog food, of the best quality that you can comfortably afford. Remember, your female Labrador is supplying nutrients for the proper development of her puppies, and it's your job to help her get all of the nutrition she needs.

Since Labrador Retrievers are very affectionate, we will need additional attention when going through a situation such as pregnancy. Try to keep your female Labrador as comfortable as possible, and don't forget to schedule regular check-ups during her pregnancy with your veterinarian.

This article was brought to you by Sean Green, at Pet Care.
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The Perfect White Golden Retriever Puppy

You have combed through pictures of all of the breeds of Dogs. With a stroke of luck, you found a picture of a white golden retriever puppy. Deciding on this adorable Dog was an easy choice. So, how do you find one? What is a white retriever anyway? How do you prevent being sold some white colored mutt at a high price? This is a guide for finding the perfect cream golden retriever puppy.

First it is important to understand that the Breed Standards for American and European golden retrievers are slightly different. That is why American goldens have a different look to them. The American dogs are a little taller, more slender, tend to have a longer coat, and may often be a darker shade of gold. The European Breed Standards allow for a lighter shade of gold in the breed. White is actually not allowed, but a very pale cream color is acceptable. So, the 'white' golden retriever is actually a European golden who has a very light cream colored coat. They can be also called British, English, cream, blonde, and platinum. The good news is that they are legitimate goldens and have all of the same great characteristics of the breed. Great family dogs, they are also intelligent, friendly, always willing to work, and highly trainable and capable. So an authentic cream golden retriever should conform to a European Breed Standard. You can find the British Breed Standard at thekennelclub.org.uk, the official site for The Kennel Club (KC).

Generally the best place to find a cream golden is through a breeder. There is a strong demand for these dogs, so finding one through adoption or at a pet store could be a difficult task. There are a lot of white mixed breeds that are sometimes passed off as 'white goldens'. The best way to attain a healthy, purebred cream golden is through a quality breeder. Do not jump at the first breeder you come across. Make sure you do business with someone with a responsible, quality breeding program. Visit the grounds if possible. A good breeder will let you spend time with all of the dogs, the parents of the litter being the most important. The dogs should be registered with the KC, or the appropriate Kennel Club. A good breeder will have a record of 3 to 5 generations of purebred goldens, and you can check the registration numbers with your Kennel Club. Cream goldens sold in America should be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), because imported purebreds can be reregistered with the appropriate national Kennel Club. A good breeder will tell you which dogs in the line were imported and can show you their European paperwork.

Golden retriever health is also an important part of finding the perfect puppy. The most common health issues in goldens are all related to genetics. Over-breeding of this popular breed has led to a number of health problems: hip and elbow or knee dysplasia, cataracts and other eye issues, cancer, and heart and thyroid diseases. The best way to prevent these ailments is to test the parents of each litter and their ancestors. Quality breeders keep records of certification for all of these health issues with the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) and CERF (for eyes). Also, it is not responsible to sell puppies until they are at least 7-8 weeks old.

The last step in finding your perfect puppy is to visit the breeder in person. Now you can spend time with the dogs and see firsthand how healthy they are, talk with the breeder, and see the conditions they were raised in. Prepare a list of questions for the breeder. He or she should be knowledgeable about the breed, be passionate about breeding them, and have a strong regard for the dogs. Also ask about a puppy guarantee in case you are not satisfied for some reason. Spend some time with the parents of the litter, so you can have a good picture of your future dog. Spend time with the whole litter so you can gauge the different personalities of the puppies. Finally, spend some time alone with your puppy and see how comfortable he or she is with you. Good luck!

Laurence Burrows is a golden retriever lover, and trainer. Click here for more great tips on Cream Golden Retriever Puppies, and visit here for more Golden Retriever Info.

DIY - Tips on Labrador Retriever Training

Labrador Retriever training is not as difficult as some people may think. It is never too late to change your canine into an obedient Dog. The thing you need to know about labs is that they are highly intelligent Dogs. Granted, it may be just a bit more challenging to break your older Labrador Retriever from their habits then it would be to train a puppy but the task is not impossible. There are many tricks you can teach your lab as well as to be obedient. Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed in the United States today and are an excellent addition to any family household. These animals are very talented and have many natural abilities to do many great things. If you take the right approach you will have your lab trained in no time at all.

Tips on Labrador Retriever Training:

1. You are going to want to start out with the smaller commands like sit, down, heel. Then gradually move on to the more difficult ones.

2. Be consistent with your commands and do not let up. Keep saying it and motion for them to do what you are asking until they follow trough with it. Dogs do not understand our commands until they are taught them.

3. Reward their good behavior right away. I you will reward the good behavior you will indeed see this behavior repeated because they know it is going to be rewarded.

4. Keep a watch on your Labrador Retriever so that you are able to correct bad behavior on the spot. Have a firm voice. This will let them know that what they just done was not a good thing. They will eventually understand this concept.

5. It is very important that you keep your cool and have patience with your dog. Nothing is going to change over night. Though, day to day you will gradually see a difference in your Labrador Retriever's behavior.

There are many places to find tips on labrador retriever training. You can search the internet, there are books out there you can buy, there are even doggy daycares you can take your dog to and receive help with this training process. You can hire professionals to come in and take over. This is usually the approach a person may take when they do not have the time to train their dog. Also, when the dog is just so set in their ways you have to get someone to help.

For more free tips and information about doing your labrador retriever training, I recommend this article. This article not only offers free tips, it also offers a guide that comes complete with plans, professional tips, and more. Dont spend so much on obedience school, when you can do it yourself and save money. More importantly, why let someone else build a bond with your labrador retriever, build it yourself!

For more information, view the article here.

Questions For Potential Labrador Retriever Breeders

Take a list of questions for a Labrador Retriever breeder written ahead of time when you visit them. This list will also be handy if you are going to be meeting a lot of Labrador retriever breeders at a Dog show. If you meet a breeder online, you are still going to want to ask a lot of questions. You will be overwhelmed by all of the cute furry faces in order to trust your memory to recall the questions you need to ask.

The questions that will tell you the most about any Labrador Retriever breeder will be what kind of contract do you require, when can I visit the kennels and are there any health warranties. If your potential breeder refuses to let you visit the kennel, say goodbye and move on. They may have something to hide. If your breeder doesn't do contracts, also move on, because they definitely have something to hide.

You can tell a lot by what a Labrador Retriever breeder is like when you visit their home and kennel. Are they messy? Did they even remember you were coming? And does the place stink of Dog poop? The place should be reasonably clean, smell okay and the Dogs should appear clean, happy and friendly. It is normal to see some living outside most of the time in covered kennels. If you don't like what you see and smell, move on.

You also need to ask what the breeder considers a good home for one of his or her puppies. If they don't seem to care, then they certainly do not care about dogs. They are just after your money. A good Labrador Retriever breeder will go on and on about they kind of owner he or she wishes all Lab puppies could go to. They will also quiz you about your store of Labrador information to see if you are anywhere close to being their idea of a good Lab owner.

Although there are no certainties in the dog world, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting a raw deal and a sickly puppy by obtaining certain paperwork from the Labrador Retriever breeders. You need to see the health certificates of both of the puppy's parents, especially their hip dysplesia scores. If the breeder doesn't know what you are talking about, say goodbye. Hip dysplesia is the most common ailment among Labs and is carried by genes.

A contract also can help eliminate a lot of future headaches. It should list what the breed is responsible to provide and what they are not. They might even have clauses such as you having to go to them first if you are no longer able to keep the adult dog. You won't get your money back, but at least your dog will have a good home. Assume nothing. Great Labrador Retriever breeders will bring all of this up if you forget to ask.

Brooke Sunderland has experience dealing with canines and understands how important learning about a breed's history really is. Not only is the Labrador an attractive, statuesque dog but they also have a very long and complex history. The Internet is one of the best available resources when it comes to finding out further Labrador information regarding the history of Labradors.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever - Maryland's State Dog

In the frigid waters of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, an English trading ship faced imminent doom. The sailing vessel had crashed and was sinking fast. The fearful sailors on board were soon to meet with hypothermia from the icy bay waters below, but an America ship called the Canton arrived just in time to rescue the crew and two puppies. The English sailors from the sinking ship eventually made their way back home to England with no profits in their pocket and a bit of shame from their failure. However, shame would not be in the Dogs' bright futures. The two puppies were left to make their home in Maryland. They were given to two separate households. The new owners of the male pup named the Dog Sailor. The happy owners of the female pup gave her a name to honor the brave rescue ship, Canton. This event happened in 1807, and although the dogs were not called by the following breed name at the time, Sailor and Canton were each Maryland's first Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

Chesapeake Bay offered a harsh, icy climate for the new canine inhabitants, but they were little bothered. Living in separate households, both dogs grew up with the same hard-working, courageous nature. As loyal companions, the dogs would hunt with their master and fearlessly face the frosty water proving to be excellent bird-dogs. Without a second thought, Sailor and Canton would easily break through ice and use their strong jaws to retrieve water fowl. Their wooly undercoat and their wavy, short-haired top coat both proved to provide an excellent balance for the water; it was almost as if the water slipped off of their backs the way a ducks feathers work to keep them dry. Furthermore, these Chesapeake Bay Retrievers seemed to have enough natural oils in their skin to keep them warm in the harsh weather. 

Nobles from other lands heard of the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and came from far and wide to take a turn to hunt with these intelligent creatures. Soon the Carroll Island Gun Club was formed as well as a serious breeding plan. The dogs were important work dogs and the breeding was approached with a serious hand.

In breeding the Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, it was most important to have a great sporting dog. If a dog could not keep up with the work load or the harsh climate, it would die on the job. Eventually, only the strongest and smartest survived thereby naturally developing the breed into the strongest possible dog for its purpose. When the dog started being breed for fun rather than for working purposes, a variety of qualities and color changed. 

Today, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is still a fantastic sporting dog. Usually, the dog is brown (like the environment in which it hunts). His coat of thick, short hair is wavy on his neck and back and is water friendly. He is still known for his courageous, loveable, easy-to-train attitude. He is a fun, family dog as the breed is generally patient with children. He has good sense, is affectionate, and loyal. He has medium eyes, small floppy ears, a muscular neck, a straight or slightly curved tail, webbed feet, and a powerful yet effortless gait. They are beautiful dogs and great companions.

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was eventually established as Maryland's state dog, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County even chose the dog as its mascot. The people of Maryland can be proud of the history of this courageous, loveable, and hardworking animal.

Andy West is a writer on a variety of topics, including dogs. Like the Boston Terrier, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever takes its name from an important region in its history.