Labrador Retriever

How did the Labrador Retriever become one of the top 5 most frequently abandoned pets? Easily. Most people think Labs are gentle, loving pets that naturally know how to behave. Nope. Labradors are sporting dogs that love exercise and become the best dogs when they have the best training.

When pet owners relinquish their dogs at the shelters, one of the reasons they give is that their dog acts like a puppy and chews everything. Unfortunately, chewing long past puppyhood is a normal activity when intelligent, active dogs are left with nothing to do. To keep busy, they’ll chew anything with interesting textures and smells, including shoes, unlaundered undies, sofa pillows, and chair legs.

Another reason given for relinquishing Labrador Retrievers is that they require too much exercise. Labs are happiest if they are exercised hard and left with an appropriate chew object,. While they want to be an integral part of the family, they also want to spend time outdoors stimulated by wind, birds, grass, gravel, and animal activity. For some families, providing sufficient exercise and backyard space for a large, healthy dog becomes an overwhelming burden.

The best families for Labrador Retrievers have lots of energy and lots of room. They have an active lifestyle that makes the pet thrive so there’s no need for a string of negative commands, “No!”, “Get out of there!” and “Put that down!” They have children or friends who engage the dog so it isn’t abandoned all day while the caregiver is working. Families that are successful with Labs provide fun chew toys, healthy food and supplements high in Omega 3 fatty acids. With this input, Labs excel at being the best of family pets, shining examples of why every family needs a dog.