Joel Walton

Article / Updated 06-06-2023

Adopting a Labrador Retriever from a rescue organization is a great way to find a lovable companion. Many Labrador Retrievers are waiting patiently for new homes in breed rescue programs. Many of these dogs are adult dogs who are wonderful, devoted, well-trained family members who just got the short end of the bone for one reason or another and no longer have a place to go. An older Lab can be the ideal dog. Older Labs generally require far less work than puppies and are likely already trained in good behavior. Sure, an older Lab may not have the lifespan ahead of her that a puppy would, but the years she does have left can be filled with joy for both of you. Please consider adopting an older Lab who has lost her home. Labrador Retriever rescuers — all of whom are volunteers — love the breed and are committed to finding appropriate homes for Labs found at shelters or abandoned by individuals who can no longer keep them. And all too often, Labrador Retriever rescuers take in dogs that have been cruelly treated or otherwise neglected. If you're interested in adopting an older Labrador Retriever, consider contacting one of the following organizations: Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.: The club's Web site includes a page of links to Labrador Retriever rescue groups from all over the United States. Petfinder: This national online database of pets that need homes lists Labrador Retriever and other breed rescue groups from coast to coast. The Petfinder Web site also allows you to search directly for a Labrador Retriever by zip code — although most of the hits you'll get will be Labrador Retriever mixes. Internet Search: Try doing an Internet search under the keywords Labrador Retriever rescue. Like adopting through a shelter, expect to fill out a detailed application and answer a lot of personal questions. Remember rescue workers want to ensure that the dogs are going to be going to a great home. They may even want to come to your home to make sure that is suitable for a Labrador Retriever. After the Labrador Retriever enters rescue, the group assigns the dog to a temporary home — or what rescuers call a foster home. While there, the dog receives any necessary medical care and is observed, so that any deficiencies or behavioral problems can be identified. The rescue group then takes steps to deal with those issues. Before you take on a rescued Lab, spend some serious time getting to know the dog. Work with the rescue group to determine whether you and your potential pet are a good match. If the dog seems to have serious problems, enlist the help of a good canine behavior consultant. Be persistent. A good rapport can be an important step in overcoming problems.

Article / Updated 05-31-2023

Your Lab loves to eat! As a responsible dog owner, your job is keep your Lab at a healthy weight. This list is a group of healthy additions you can add to your Lab’s high-quality dog food. Limit the eggs and oil to no more than once a week — and only for active Labs who aren’t overweight.) Small pieces of raw or cooked carrots Small pieces of raw apples One or two tablespoons of plain, nonfat yogurt Half of a cooked egg One teaspoon of canola oil

Article / Updated 05-31-2023

If you’re considering hiring a dog trainer because your Labrador Retriever just isn’t behaving the way you expect, use these guidelines to find a good trainer who uses positive methods and can help you establish effective communication with your Lab: Ask for recommendations from friends, neighbors, and relatives who have friendly, well-behaved dogs. Ask the opinion of pet professionals, such as veterinarians, vet techs, groomers, boarding kennel managers, humane societies, and rescue groups. Call the Association of Pet Dog Trainers at 1-800-PET-DOGS to ask for the names of dog trainers and canine behavior consultants who use positive training methods, such as lure-and-reward and clicker training. Expect a good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant to understand how dogs learn and to communicate with you — in terms you understand — about how to manage and train your Lab. Ask about experience and ask for references. And check them! A good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant will have extensive experience educating owners and their pets. Ask about correction styles. A good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant doesn’t advocate or use physical punishment (shock collars, choke chains, prong collars, leash jerks, or hitting). Expect fun! A good dog trainer/canine behavior consultant gives you the feeling that training will be fun for you and your Labrador!

Article / Updated 05-31-2023

Understanding the anatomy of a Labrador Retriever will help you know your dog better and talk more specifically with your veterinarian. This figure gives a complete outline of your Lab’s body parts:

Cheat Sheet / Updated 05-31-2023

If you’re looking for a qualified dog trainer to help out with your Labrador Retriever’s behavior, follow some recommendations to find the right fit for you and your Lab. To keep your dog in good shape, try adding some healthy food alternatives to your Lab’s high-grade dog food. Get to know your dog better by studying the body makeup of a Labrador Retriever; your knowledge will also help when you’re talking to your veterinarian.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

While Labrador Retrievers tend to be healthy, some genetic disorders do occasionally occur. These are some of the more common genetic disorders in Labrador Retrievers: Hip dysplasia: This is the most common orthopedic problem in Labs (and in many larger dogs). Although not congenital (it isn't present at birth), hip dysplasia is probably due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. If your dog develops hip dysplasia (the condition can be seen on an x-ray), she may suffer no symptoms at all. Or she may eventually experience severe pain and even lameness. Some Labs require no treatment, but if your Lab develops hip dysplasia and does require treatment, many excellent management strategies, treatments, and surgical options exist. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): This degenerative eye disorder eventually results in your dog becoming blind. A board-certified canine ophthalmologist can examine your dog's eyes if you suspect she is having any vision problems. If you buy your Lab from a breeder who is diligent about eye testing, you probably won't encounter PRA. PRA is a genetic problem involving a recessive gene. If a puppy receives the gene from both parents, she will develop PRA. If she receives the gene from only one parent, she will be a carrier and should not be bred to another Lab that is also a carrier. The location of the gene that involves PRA has been determined in Labs, and a blood test has been developed to determine whether a Lab is affected, a carrier, or clear. Epilepsy: If your Lab has epilepsy, that means she will have seizures. Epilepsy can be due to environmental or genetic factors and will probably show up relatively early if inherited. Seizures can be frightening for your Lab and for you. The most important thing to do for your Lab during a seizure is to keep her from hurting herself. Talk to your vet about the best strategies for managing seizures if your Lab has epilepsy. Depending on the frequency and severity of the seizures, your vet may recommend medication.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

If you're moving to a new home, one of the best ways to prepare your Labrador Retriever (or any dog) is to keep everything as normal as possible. Take a break from moving preparations to engage in your normal grooming, training, and play sessions. Busy as you are, continue to feed your dog at the normal times, keep his water bowl full, and take him on his walk. Keep bedtime about the same if you can. Even if your Lab seems healthy, take him to your vet for a checkup a week or two before you move, and make sure he is up-to-date on all his vaccinations, tests, and heartworm pills. (You may even need a health certificate when moving from one state to another — check with your vet.) While you're there, ask your vet about anything that should concern you about moving with a dog. He or she may have some additional suggestions that will apply to your individual Lab and situation. He or she may even be able to recommend a good vet in the area to which you're moving. Practice stress management for yourself! If you're getting too stressed out, your Lab will think something's wrong. He'll worry. Really! Labs are perceptive, and if you're suffering, your Lab will suffer right along with you. Enjoy stress-reducing walks in the fresh air with your Lab. Take time out to just sit on the couch for ten minutes and pet your Lab. Remember, the more organized you are and the more you plan ahead, the less everyone in your family — your Lab included — will feel the strain. Continue to take your Lab to different places. Socializing and traveling with your Lab (both locally and on longer trips) will make the move much easier on him. If you haven't been taking him to various locations and introducing him periodically to new people, it's time to start. Ideally, you will begin training him in various locations and getting him used to riding in the car at least several months before the move. Make it as important a part of your moving plans as changing your phone service or booking the moving van. A Lab who's a veteran traveler will take a move to a new location in stride, especially if his routine remains relatively intact and you remain relatively calm about the whole affair. If your Lab is feeling good about the move, he'll be a source of comfort to you when you get to your new destination, too. Exciting as moving can be, it sure is nice to have a familiar and well-loved friend along! When you're giving away stuff you don't use so that you don't have to move it, make sure you don't toss any of your Lab's things into the giveaway pile. Your Lab's doggy den, dog dishes, chew toys, retrieval objects, and even bedding — no matter how old and ratty they're getting — will be sources of comfort and reassurance for your Lab in your new location.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

You may be sure that you're ready for a dog, but are you the right kind of companion for a Labrador Retriever? To thrive, these energetic dogs require exercise, space, companionship, and good health care (can you say vet bills?). Got the energy? Labrador Retrievers, unlike some other dogs, require as much energy as time. If you're a certified couch potato, your Lab may adjust, but inactive dogs (like inactive people) are less healthy, and Labs that aren't provided outlets for their energy may become destructive. Labs aren't small dogs and can't get sufficient activity running back and forth across the living room like a Chihuahua. Well-trained Labs that get sufficient exercise shouldn't be hyperactive and can certainly adapt to different levels of activity, but your Lab will need to be walked at least once a day, taken for occasional swims, and given the opportunity to do lots of retrieving, the thing they love best. If you aren't up to the physical challenge, consider a less active or smaller dog — or perhaps, a cat. Got the space? If you don't have the living space for a large dog, don't bring home a Labrador Retriever. The ideal situation is a single-family, detached house with a fenced yard and dog-friendly neighbors or a country home with lots of fenced land. Other situations can work, too, especially if you walk your Lab religiously and train her well. However, if your living space doesn't allow dogs or your apartment walls are paper thin, if you live in a tiny apartment with no yard and can't walk your dog every day, or if you like your home immaculate and value your collection of ceramic figurines or glassware or antique china above all else, please consider another type of dog. Labs need lots of exercise, puppies can sometimes be loud in the middle of the night, and those Lab tails can be downright destructive if your house isn't Lab-proofed. Got the money? Purchasing a Labrador Retriever through a breeder can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000 (more if you want a quality show or field-trial dog). And if you do adopt a Lab from an animal shelter or through a rescue group, you may think that the dog will be cheap — even free. But the cost of acquiring a dog is insignificant compared to the cost of keeping a dog healthy and well-behaved throughout its life. The cost of health maintenance, including vaccinations, heartworm preventive, parasite control, and regular check-ups, plus the cost of good food, a quality kennel or other enclosure, a supply of chew toys, obedience classes, trainers and/or behaviorists, and any emergency medical costs or treatment for serious health problems or accidents can add up to quite a sum. If you can barely afford groceries or medical bills for yourself and your own family, don't bring any dog, Lab or otherwise, into your home until you're on a firmer financial footing.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Get your home ready for your new Labrador Retriever by dog-proofing it. Preparing a home for a new Labrador Retriever requires just as much diligence as it does to child-proof a house for human kids. By dog-proofing your home and yard, you keep your pet safe and healthy. Neutralizing poisons One of the greatest dangers to Labrador Retrievers is poison. Keep common household poisons away from your Lab, by moving them to higher shelves, putting baby locks on your cabinet doors (yes, Labs can figure out how to open cabinets), moving your plants from the hearth to the mantle, and making the garage a dog-free zone. If you dog, gets into any of these items, immediately follow the directions we provide. Some of the most common poisons dogs ingest are the following: Antifreeze: It leaks onto driveways, smells and tastes good, and can quickly kill your dog. Induce vomiting and take your dog to the vet or emergency pet care center immediately. Rat poison: Induce vomiting and take your dog to the vet or emergency pet care center immediately. Insecticides: If your dog has insecticides on his skin, wash his skin with water and vinegar and take your dog to the vet or emergency pet care center immediately. Chocolate: Some dogs can take chocolate, but it is highly toxic to many dogs. Induce vomiting and call your vet. Lead: If your dog ingests lead by eating lead paint, for example, induce vomiting and give your dog a laxative if it has been over two hours since the lead was swallowed. Human medications: These may be helpful to humans but are bad for dogs: Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, or Midol) is particularly dangerous. If your dog swallows ibuprofen, induce vomiting and take your dog to the vet or emergency pet care center immediately. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also dangerous for dogs. If he swallows acetaminophen, induce vomiting and call your vet. Poisons or inedible substances in the garbage: If you don't know what your dog has eaten but he's acting as if he is poisoned, take him to the vet. If he has eaten spoiled food and is vomiting, call your vet. Common household and garden plants. The Humane Society of the United States has a listing of common poisonous plants. Household cleaners: For soap or bleach, induce vomiting and call your vet. For ammonia, give your dog a spoonful of vegetable oil to block absorption of the ammonia and take your dog to the vet immediately. For furniture polish, induce vomiting or use a laxative if the polish was swallowed more than two hours before and take your dog to the vet immediately. For any other cleaners, call a poison control center and do what they say. If you don't know what your dog has swallowed but he's showing signs of poisoning, such as severe vomiting, diarrhea, muscle trembling, and increased salivation, immediately take him to your vet or emergency pet care center. If your Lab does ingest something harmful call your vet immediately or call the ASPCA (the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Spotting other dangers Labrador Retrievers can get into a world of trouble. The trick to protecting them and your house is to figure out what they might want to get into before they do. Want to know what's going to catch your Lab's eye? Crawl around on all fours and pay attention to what you see. The following are just some of the possibilities. Places to get stuck: For example, a hole in the underlining of your box spring. Electrical dangers: For example, a tangle of electrical cords and cables behind your couch. Falling objects: Look for Wobbly or unsteady furniture, low-hanging table cloths or runners, or anything else that if pulled could send knick knacks or furniture itself tumbling over on your Lab. Dangers in the yard: Look for dangers in your yard, such as holes or gaps in the fence, wobbly woodpiles, and unstored garden supplies. Swimming pools can pose special dangers to Labs. Labs love water, but if they don't know where the stairs are, they can run out of steam before they find the way out and drown. Preventing damage The best way to protect your belongings is to put them away and out of reach of your Labrador Retriever's exuberant attention. Shoes? In the closet. Kids toys? In the toy box. For those items you can't put away and close the door behind — like drape hems, chair rungs, and so on — consider spraying them with a dog repellant, such as Bitter Apple, a harmless concoction that most dogs find utterly, well, repellant. A mature Lab is less likely to chew things up than a puppy. Nevertheless, all dogs are different; don't assume that you don't need to prepare your home just because your dog is older. A dog of any age can get himself into trouble or even hurt.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Is the Labrador Retriever the right breed for you? This relatively simple question is vitally important. Too many people get a Labrador Retriever on a whim — without any thought as to how that breed will fit into their lifestyle or home. This is one of the primary reasons why there are so many dogs in animal shelters. Maybe you've always pictured life with the perfect lab. Maybe you imagine the two of you jogging in the park, your dog in a perfect heel, watching out for your safety and enjoying your company. But when it comes to living with a breed, you have to take more than just the fantasy into consideration. You need to think about the pros and cons of Labrador Retrievers and whether they are a good fit for your family. Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed of dogs in the world. They were cute and lovable and wonderful companions. Aside from their sweet nature, Labs are excellent retrievers for hunting purposes and great all around working dogs. If you keep him out of trouble, teach him the basics of what you want him to do, and make his good behavior rewarding for him, he will compensate you with years of devoted friendship. Before deciding on a Lab take the following into consideration: Do you have the time? You may feel ready to take on the responsibility of a dog, but you may not realize how much time a Lab requires. Your Lab will need daily training sessions, lots of purposeful socialization as a puppy, and time to simply hang around with you. If you aren't home very often or have too much on your plate when you are home, enjoy a friend's Labrador Retriever now and then, but don't take on your own. Do you have the energy? Labs require as much energy as time. Your Lab will need to be walked at least once a day, taken for occasional swims, and given the opportunity to do lots of retrieving, the thing they love best. If you're a certified couch potato, your Lab might be able to adjust, but he won't be as healthy, and Labs that aren't provided outlets for their energy may become destructive. If you aren't up to the physical challenge, consider a less active or smaller dog — or perhaps, a cat. Overweight Labs are unhealthy. Try using halved baby carrots or small broccoli florets as treats rather than dog biscuits, which are often too caloric to be used daily. Do you have the space? The ideal situation for a Lab is a single-family, detached house with a fenced yard or a country home with lots of fenced land. Other situations can work, too, if you walk your Lab religiously and train her well. If you don't have the living space for a large dog, don't bring home a Labrador Retriever. Likewise, if you live in a tiny apartment with no yard and can't walk your dog every day, or if you like your home immaculate, please consider another type of dog. Do you have the money? Purchasing a Labrador Retriever through a breeder can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,000 (more if you want a competition-quality dog), although adopting a Lab is less expensive. That being said, the cost of buying a dog doesn't compare to the cost of keeping a dog healthy and well-behaved throughout its life. If you can barely afford groceries or medical bills for yourself and your own family, don't bring any dog, Lab or otherwise, into your home until you're on a firmer financial footing. Some people dream of getting a dog for all the wrong reasons. Every dog and every Lab is different. Before considering a Lab, it is important to remember that Labs need training, attention, exercise, veterinary care, and a regular routine. They are active, boisterous, large, and sometimes overly affectionate animals.