The Work
Consider
the following questions:
- Will a Labrador fit into your lifestyle?
- Are you prepared for the work involved with raising a
puppy?
- Do you have the time and patience for a puppy?
- Will you be able to provide a Labrador with daily exercise?
A "perfect" puppy is an unrealistic expectation. It takes time and effort to establish good habits. It takes patience to cope with the little rascal in every puppy. Even with obedience training, your puppy will occasionally forget the rules and get into all sorts of trouble. A puppy might chew your shoes or your furniture or your kitchen floor or your new book. They sometimes dig holes in your lawn and bury treasures in your flower garden. Extra housekeeping chores come with every dog, especially during the first year.
Puppies require lots of time and attention on a daily basis during the first year. Housebreaking and crate training take time. Obedience training requires a daily commitment for several months. Most puppies must be supervised throughout the day. They will need several short walks a day. At first, they should not be left unattended for more than a few hours at a time. It may be necessary to make arrangements for the care of the puppy for several months.
Many families have very busy schedules. In some families, the children are involved in numerous sports and other school-related activities that are time-consuming. If the adults in the household work full time jobs outside the home, the puppy may be alone more than 8 hours a day. Your family may not be able to provide a puppy with proper care and companionship. The family may be spread thin and there may not be enough time for the puppy.
The care of the dog must be the responsibility of an adult. The children's promises to care for the puppy are usually unrealistic. Children are still in the process of learning to take care of themselves. The joys of having a dog may be over shaded by too much responsibility. With guidance of an adult, many children can be very helpful with a puppy.
Puppies and toddlers are a challenging combination. Both require close supervision. Puppies nip and their teeth are very sharp. Puppies also jump and can easily knock over a toddler. Some families wait until the youngest child is in school before bring a puppy into the household.
In some situations, an adult dog should be considered. Some breeders will occasional have young dogs available. There are numerous rescue organizations that have adult dog for adoption.