The Labrador Retriever is a strong, intelligent, active dog with a kind friendly temperament and playful personality. Most Labradors are eager to please and respond well to training. The good natured Labrador is well suited for family life. They are wonderful dogs, but this breed is not for everyone. Labradors require regular exercise, obedience training, and lots of companionship. Please carefully consider the following questions before you complete the questionnaire.
1. Do you have enough time, energy, and patience to properly care for a Labrador?
Without training and adequate exercise, Labradors can become destructive and unmanageable. It's normal for a young puppy to nip fingers, bite shoelaces, chew shoes, steal TV remotes, and jump on people. A puppy might dig holes in your back yard and jump up on company with muddy paws. House training a puppy requires close supervision for several weeks. Labradors are athletic dogs that require lots of exercise and companionship every day. A 6 to 8 week obedience course is well worth the effort, but it is time consuming. Dog ownership is associated with extra household chores to remove dog hair and clean muddy paw prints. Puppy proofing is an ongoing chore for a several of years. It takes 6 to 12 months to teach a puppy proper behavior.
2. Can you afford a dog? The cost of a Labrador puppy bred by reputable breeders ranges from $1200 to $1500. The price reflects the health clearances of the sire and dam, quality of the pedigrees, terms of the health guarantee, and care of the puppies. The purchase price is just the beginning. You will need a dog crate, baby gates, good quality dog food, dishes, training treats, a collar, a leash, grooming equipment, and lots of safe chew toys. Veterinary care includes routine check-ups, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and spaying/neutering. The cost of unexpected veterinary care for illnesses and injuries can range for $100 to $5000. The cost of obedience classes, boarding kennels, doggie daycare, pet sitters, and fencing should also be considered.
3. Are you prepared to make a long-term commitment?
Dogs dependent on their owners for food, water, shelter, safety, training, companionship, exercise, playtime, and veterinary care. With proper care, many Labradors live for 12 to 14 years. First, please review my sales agreement. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. Next, complete the questionnaire and tell me about your family, how you plan to take care of your puppy, and the type of Labrador you are looking for. Your responses will help in the selection of a puppy that will meet the needs of your family. If I think I will have a puppy that will be a good match, we can schedule a visit when the puppies are at least 4 weeks old. I would like to meet with all members of the family at least once before the puppy go to a new home. You will be able to meet my canine family and see how I care for the puppies. The puppies must be at least 8 weeks old before they can go to new homes. Thank you for your interest in a Sunset Labrador. |