Labradors are famous for their unpretentious life support, simplicity and ease of care. The most important part of hygienic and aesthetic grooming (a set of care measures) is the sanitation of the ears: a Labrador’s ears are a real “weak link”. The reason for the weakness is simple: Labradors are a fold-eared breed that is prone to various inflammatory diseases. The absence (or unprofessional implementation) of grooming procedures provokes ailments in the pet and initiates severe ENT diseases.
In the material we will consider the theory, practice, necessary tools and possible problems in the use of Labrador ears.
What is the breed standard
A dog breed standard, including a Labrador, is a set of characteristics and physical attitudes for an animal that must be preserved for the purity of the breed and the health of the breed.
The standard was approved in 1987 for two varieties of breeds - American and English Labrador . The standard includes not only the exterior, but also the characteristics of the dog’s temperament.
In dog breeding, it is customary to focus on the English standard of the Labrador breed, because it was adopted somewhat earlier than the American one.
The American breed standard is not much different from the English, this mainly concerns the temperament of dogs - “Americans” are more active than “English”.
Who else do they cross with?
In addition to such a breed as the Labradoodle, there are several more where a Labrador is crossed with a dog of another breed.
With a shepherd
No less popular is the Labronemese. This is a cross between a Labrador and a German Shepherd. Everyone knows that German Shepherds are the most loyal animals, they perfectly protect their owner, and are also easy to train.
Therefore, many people are looking for such a mixed breed, because it contains the best qualities from both the Labrador and the German.
With husky
A cross between a Labrador and a Labrador retriever looks very beautiful and gentle. This breed has short hair of any color and blue eyes, like a husky. Some people simply adore this mix of animals and purchase them with pleasure
With Shar Pei
The mixed breed of Labrador and Shar Pei also looks funny. It looks very funny, as if the Labrador has a huge number of folds. The dog looks very unusual, but they can be seen very rarely.
With large breeds
Large breed dogs are often crossed with each other. Since it is believed that they are more friendly and adapted to living in a family with small children.
If you combine dogs of small breeds with each other, you are likely to get a real little nightmare.
Small breed dogs are already wary of small children, because they are not yet fully aware of how to behave with a dog and can harm it. In turn, the dogs begin to snap and sometimes even bite.
But is it really necessary to know the breed of your dog if these devoted eyes are looking at you?
Recently, the fashion for breeding various “designer” dog breeds, crossed from completely different parents, has become increasingly popular. The Labrador mix became exceptionally famous in this regard.
Acral dermatitis
This disease occurs as a result of compulsive licking of different parts of the limbs. Such actions lead to the development of an inflammatory process and thickening of the skin. If the dog does not leave the affected area alone, then redness, swelling and abscesses appear on it.
To diagnose licking granuloma, the veterinarian not only performs a visual examination, but also prescribes culture, scrapings, or skin biopsy. Treatment of this disease requires an integrated approach. First of all, you need to force the animal to stop licking the affected areas. To do this, the skin is lubricated with a special liquid that has an unpleasant taste. To stop the development of a skin infection, the dog is prescribed antibiotics. If the licking has a psychological basis, then the veterinarian may recommend antidepressants.
What does a dog look like according to the RKF?
- Torso . The Labrador's back line should be straight, the croup should be short and strong. There should be no hunchbacks. Labradors have a wide chest, barrel-shaped ribs, well-defined withers, and a medium-length tail, wide at the base and tapering towards the end. It’s hard to imagine Labradors without such an otter-like tail. It should be located horizontally to the lower back. In the active state, it can be slightly raised, but a crescent shape or bend behind the back is not allowed.
- Head and muzzle . Labradors have a large and massive skull, which stands out a little from the whole image. The cheeks are dry, not fleshy. The muzzle is slightly wide, not too long. Narrow or short is not allowed. The nose is large, with wide nostrils. Labradors' ears are in a hanging position and slightly behind the head. Should not be too long or heavy. The eyes have a friendly and intelligent appearance; only dark shades and medium-sized irises are allowed. The bite is scissor-shaped and the upper jaw completely covers the lower jaw. The neck is dry, long and without folds.
- Fore and hind limbs . The general appearance of the limbs is strong and muscular, located parallel to each other. The length of the forelimbs is equal to half the length of the animal at the withers. The pasterns are in the same plane as the forearm, the hock joints are clearly visible.
- Wool. Labradors have short hair, often short. It is hard to the touch, with a dense and dense undercoat underneath. The main feature is water resistance.
Expert opinion
Kozhevin Semyon Kirillovich
Expert dog handler.
“I think the main feature is the tail. This is what they look at, this is due to its specific shape. Another distinctive feature is the ears. They are located as if behind the head. It is also easy to check how purebred a Labrador is by looking at its undercoat. It is especially thick in this breed and also performs water-repellent functions. Well, basically Labradors look like strong and muscular dogs, their movements are smooth, cutting through the air.”
Labrador mixes - what are they?
Labradors are even crossed with poodles, resulting in comical puppies with a characteristic color, with curly hair, and outwardly reminiscent of mongrels. Of course, such a pet will be, so to speak, unique, inimitable and very attractive to outsiders. But such a dog can cause a lot of trouble for the owner himself.
Experienced dog handlers and experienced dog breeders know admirably that every breed of man’s most loyal and loyal four-legged friends has a specific disposition, thinking and way of life. Let's say that hunting dogs are extremely courageous, agile, resilient, stubborn and incredibly charming.
And poodles are wise, calm, objective, loyal and obedient. What can happen if you cross these two breeds? That's right, it will turn out to be a mixed race.
But, alas, he will be a mixed breed, not only externally, which means that the behavioral characteristics of the pet will become extremely unpredictable.
Labrador puppies often have the exact features of an adult dog, that is, a mestizo can easily be confused with a purebred dog. The sale of such “living goods” is often carried out by devil-may-care breeders. You can only guess what a seemingly purebred puppy will grow into in the first months of its life. And the owners who sold you the baby may deliberately hide the pedigree of its parents, or wishful thinking.
Animal lovers and defenders will probably say, “What’s so terrible about that? What role does breed play if you wanted a dog? But for some people, the presence of a pure breed is solid, and not at all because of ambition, but because of the need for certain personal qualities of the newly-minted pet. How can one distinguish a Labrador from a mestizo, and what “crossed” breeds exist today?
Independent “examination” of the authenticity of the breed
The Labrador is one of the most famous dogs in the world, which is what the devil-may-care breeders profit from. Now we are not talking at all about getting a “designer” mestizo, because in this case two purebred dogs are crossed. We are talking about those cases where they vigorously sell you a cross between a Labrador and a mongrel, energetically passing him off as an honorary attorney of a pure breed.
It is quite primitive to distinguish a Labrador from a mestizo, however, beginners may have a lot of questions about this. And it’s not just about the color or condition of the coat. The main thing is to be able to monitor the behavioral patterns of the newly-minted pet in the house in order to realize how much they correspond to the classic personality traits of the breed.
Let's start with the fact that the Labrador is probably the most good-natured and affectionate dog in the world. Any aggression, solely without a reason, is completely absent from it.
These pets are extraordinarily playful and active, very curious and sociable. They try to make friends with everyone and easily come into contact with any person.
They are also excellent nannies for babies, which is extremely important for those families with a child.
Imagine - you take a Labrador in order to make him your child’s favorite, and he begins to show aggression, which is more typical of a hunted, wild mongrel! Is this gratifying? We assume not.
How to distinguish a genuine purebred dog from a “fake”?
- Pay attention to the overall appearance. Real Labradors are “strong” even in puppyhood. Their jaws are medium in size, as are their eyes. An elongated nose is not typical for them. Each middle third of the muzzle has angular rather than rounded features;
- The ears of a genuine Labrador are drooping, of medium size, set far behind the front of the head, tightly adjacent to it;
- The Labrador's tail is somewhat reminiscent of an otter's - it is quite wide and dense at the base, and systematically tapers towards the tip;
- The puppy's hair is quite dense, the hair is short, as if “velvet” to the touch. In golden retrievers, it shimmers with the corresponding shade onto the luminary. By the way, experienced dog breeders say that golden and chocolate Labradors are especially savvy and intelligent;
- The color of a Labrador is uniform, therefore, if there are spots on its body, most likely every one, the breed is not pure. The exception in this regard is the barely invisible pale spot on the chest of golden-colored individuals.
Characteristic personality traits can also appear in dogs from puppyhood. Small Labradors are quite playful and mischievous, which, however, is typical for all puppies.
However, along with these normal qualities, a small pet must exhibit the following character traits:
- Responsiveness;
- Tenderness;
- Equilibrium;
- Kindness;
- Weasel;
- Attachment to the owner;
- Agility;
- Obedience.
When crossbred with a mongrel, character traits can manifest themselves in the most unexpected ways, and even though they are not always acceptable to the owners.
It is also worth paying attention to mixed breeds with fighting breeds, say a cross between a Staff and a Labrador. Staffy and Labrador mixes may exhibit unexpected behavioral factors that may be inappropriate when interacting with a child.
Possible diseases
Dogs of this breed can be carriers of the following hereditary diseases that arose during the breeding process: diseases of the eyes, bones and joints. Some people experience dysplasia of the hip and elbow joints, which appears due to improper care of the baby.
Dysplasia occurs from an excess of calcium, phosphorus or due to obesity. Retinal atrophy - loss of vision in the dark or complete loss of vision, occurs due to heredity or can be acquired.
On average, pets live about 10 or 12 years. For a dog this is a relatively short period of time. Short life expectancy is also associated with a susceptibility to cancer.
Shade and color
Three shades of color are allowed for Labrador Retrievers:
- Solid black;
- Pale yellow;
- Chocolate (brown or liver).
Fawn can range from light cream and golden to fox red. It is acceptable for them to have a small white spot on their chest.
Solid color means that the coat should not contain any other color or pigmentation. On the other hand, tan dogs may have a darker back than the rest of their body.
Black Labradors have a different undercoat color - it can be gray or reddish brown . This is due to the fact that any color can have its own shades.
For chocolate-colored Labradors, the tan that sometimes appears on them cannot be considered a solid color.
A dog's color may also change before and after shedding, but not significantly..
Popular Labrador mixes
The most popular and in demand today is the Labrador and Husky mix. This amazing artificially bred breed is extremely beautiful. The dog takes its whitish, expressive, typically northern eyes from the husky, and its body and color from the Labrador. In this case, the pet’s fur may be somewhat uneven and spotted. Sometimes they have different eyes: one is light blue and the other is brown.
The character of such dogs is generally moderate, although sometimes their somewhat stern disposition, taken from the husky, can still slip through in everyday behavior. Such four-legged pets are smart, logic prevails in them in every action (except for games). They are also responsive, quite friendly, and attached to their owner. They can become aggressive when approaching or facing danger. They are quite gentle and patient, find a common language with children, love to play at any age, are active and sometimes noisy.
Labrador mixes and huskies have approximately the same set of qualities - both visual and behavioral. Externally, they usually have a light color, and characteristic pointed ears that are raised up for the husky. The character is moderate, very active. These dogs are excellent for hunting. Negative qualities may include typically “barking” willfulness, touchiness and independence. However, the typical qualities of a Labrador can soften and neutralize the morals of the Far North.
Mixed breeds of Labrador Retrievers and Shepherd Dogs are considered very remarkable in terms of breeding. As you know, the German Shepherd has a set of qualities for which this breed is famous throughout the world. First of all, it is the mind. These four-legged friends are extremely curious, vigilant, brave, confident in themselves and their abilities.
They are wholeheartedly devoted to their only owner. Moreover, if a puppy ends up in a large family, he, as a rule, chooses the owner on his own.
Dogs are probably one of the most diverse human-made species on the planet. Thousands of years of selective breeding have created a wide range of distinctive breeds with varying colors, coats, conformations and sizes. But what happens when two breeds produce a successful crossbreed that combines the most noticeable characteristics of its parents? You can get an adorable dog that combines the best of both breeds.
The debate about who is better, mongrels or purebred dogs, will probably never be settled. Purebred dogs have a predictable set of characteristics, such as size, color, and personality. However, breeding animals tend to be more susceptible to genetic diseases. Mixed breeds tend to be healthier in this regard, but they may have behavioral problems. Additionally, if you, for example, want to get a Shepherd mix puppy, then you may have little idea how big he will grow.
Conservatism won
The British were the first to recognize the Labrador Retriever breed. They also defined the first standard, which was refined several times. Today the description made in 1988 by the English Kennel Club is relevant. Six years after this, American dog breeders also set their standards. Later descriptions of breed qualities partially absorbed earlier ones.
In fact, evolution happens all the time with all standards. Indeed, in the process of development, a dog of any species acquires some new qualities or may lose those that become unnecessary. Accordingly, previously recognized standards are changing.
Continuing the comparison, you can notice that in all descriptions the dog has a wide skull, powerful loin and croup. However, Americans emphasize unwanted fleshiness on the scalp, considering it a drawback.
Until 1993, according to their standard, it was considered acceptable for a Labrador to have a level bite. This is currently unacceptable. The bite should only be scissor-shaped, that is, the upper incisors must tightly overlap the lower ones. It turns out that the conservative English view still prevailed.
Coat type
As already mentioned, this breed has short hair with a dense undercoat . It should be hard to the touch, dense and without bald spots. There should be no fringes or curls on it.
IMPORTANT!
The undercoat has water-repellent properties.
The undercoat is never the same color as the center coat . Its peculiarity is fat, which should be noticeable if you run your fingers over it.
Dysplasia
This is a common and quite serious joint disease. It is becoming more common in Labrador dogs. Therefore, before using an animal for breeding, it is advisable to take x-rays of it. According to experts, this pathology develops under the influence of several different factors. It can be triggered by genetics, excess weight, an unbalanced diet, high levels of calcium and phosphorus, excessive exercise or limb injuries.
This paw disease in Labradors is accompanied by limping and swaying when walking, swelling or swelling of the joints. Symptoms characteristic of dysplasia also include pain in the elbows or hips, body asymmetry, unusual lying posture, stiffness of movement and fatigue.
This pathology can be diagnosed through radiography, but the only way to get rid of it is through surgery. To alleviate the condition, a sick dog is usually prescribed maintenance therapy, which includes a whole range of medications. As a rule, veterinarians prescribe chondroprotectors, antispasmodics and anti-inflammatory drugs to four-legged patients.
Pet behavior
The Labrador Retriever's temperament has the following characteristics::
- This breed is distinguished by excessive intelligence and intelligence, which is what their look should indicate;
- They always try to be useful to a person, become attached, try to become a true friend for them;
- Get along equally well with adults and children;
- They have a high level of learning ability, because of this they are easy to train and amenable to education;
- They are friendly, kind and non-aggressive. Aggression is a disqualifying sign.
Purchase rules
Before choosing a puppy, you should decide why you need a dog. If you plan to represent your friend at shows, then you need a dog with ideal characteristics. And if you just need a smart, loyal four-legged friend, you don’t have to buy a puppy from champion parents.
Nobody buys or sells newborn puppies. The optimal age for an animal to find new owners is 3-6 months. At this age it is already possible to at least approximately determine what the dog will be like when it grows up. If you decide to purchase a Labrador, try not to save money, since the risk of buying a sick puppy at a low price is very high. The nursery should give you a veterinary passport and a kennel club card. In addition, the breeder provides all the necessary recommendations for caring for the animal (choice of food, antihistamine treatment, vaccinations). A responsible breeder advises that if any problems arise, you should contact him.
approximate cost
How much does a Labrador puppy cost? The cost of these babies can be very different: they are sold at both quite reasonable and exorbitant prices. You can buy a baby without vaccinations, certificates and a veterinary passport for 5–15 thousand rubles. If the puppy has a passport, you can purchase it for 20–35 thousand rubles. Although with such dogs you are unlikely to win at the show.
If you purchase a Labrador for the purpose of participating in exhibitions, purchasing such a dog will cost you 40–60 thousand rubles. Such a dog, as a rule, has excellent characteristics and all the necessary documents.
Similar article: First heat and rules for mating Labradors
Can a dog change as it ages?
Like any other creature, your Labrador's behavior and appearance can change with age.
This is most evident in changes in character traits.
Aging Labradors now perceive separation differently; they become susceptible to separation from their owner and react to it especially acutely . When meeting, they can be violent, rejoicing at the return.
They also become less receptive to commands, and their activity decreases.
You can also notice changes in appearance - they look haggard, move slower than usual, the coat becomes more faded.
Mixed Corgi and German Shepherd
This crossbreed is another strange hybrid, but at the same time quite balanced. The hybrid is significantly smaller in size than the standard German Shepherd.
Welsh Corgis, despite their size, tend to be dominant, so you need to be prepared for this and let him know who's boss in the family. If given a chance, the pet will become dominant over its owner, and in this case, training will be useless. So, a mix that combines the dominant nature of a Corgi with the stubbornness of a Shepherd can be a recipe for disaster unless you have a dominant, strong will.
Girl or boy
Who to choose - a boy or a girl? This question is often asked by people who want to buy a dog. The difference is insignificant, but there are some nuances that require description.
Related article: How to train and build muscle in a pit bull
The main problem that the owner of a girl may face is estrus. Its consequences can be both damaged furniture and unwanted pregnancy. But Labradors are fairly clean dogs, so there shouldn’t be any problems with dirty furniture. To avoid unwanted pregnancy, it is necessary to closely monitor the dog during heat and drive away the yard "gentlemen". In general, girls are considered easier to train and have a gentler disposition than boys.
The boy is slightly larger than the girl and is more difficult to train. In addition, when meeting a female dog who is currently in heat, it can be very difficult to control. However, when choosing a male, you can rest assured: no one will bring you puppies in the lap.
Mixed German Shepherd and Akita Inu
Akitas are known to be good family dogs, great with children, but can be somewhat stubborn. Combined with the German Shepherd's stubbornness, this will be an even more difficult case, so you must take a fairly confident and consistent approach to training them.
Being large dogs with high energy levels, they need a lot of exercise. With proper training and socialization, you will end up with a smart and well-trained dog that will love you and your family.
Perhaps there are other hybrids or mestizos of the German Shepherd? Please let us know in the comments!
Very often, many people want to buy a dog, but at a low cost.
At the same time, they want it to be very similar to the breed that they like.
Therefore, it is very common to find mixed breeds instead of Labrador.
In this article you can learn about what a mestizo is and with whom the Labrador is most often crossed.
Mixed breeds are dogs that were born from two different breeds.
The word itself suggests that this is a mixed breed.
Most often this term is applied to such dogs, since it is impossible to find out their pedigree and gene affiliation.
Often the parents of such dogs are purebred representatives of their breed.
They can even be champions and winners of world exhibitions.
It is believed that a mestizo is an improved version of a particular breed, since the baby takes only positive aspects from its parents.
Due to this or that breed, negative qualities in the breed can be compensated.
It all depends on which breeds are crossed with each other. This is usually done between large dogs. For example, shepherds, huskies, etc.
When this happens, the owner can be sure that he will receive a dog with long strong legs, straight ears, and a long, slightly curled tail.
It’s better to know everything about the dog in advance if you decide to bring it into your home.
.
Her not very good qualities may appear not in the genetic field, but in the events that she experienced. She may have been under a lot of stress before.
Metis differ from other dogs in that they are very smart and friendly, and have a stable psyche.
Such dogs will quickly and easily learn all your commands.
.
They have high immunity to various diseases. The owners of such dogs spend less on expensive medications, and their pets live longer.
If one of the breeds that was crossed had a tendency to certain ailments, then the mestizo will not have this.
As for nutrition, they do not have to buy expensive food. They can easily tolerate and.
Minuses
:
- have no pedigree or documents;
- have shortcomings in external data;
- cannot participate in various international dog shows.
At the moment, the most popular breed remains the Labrador, but not everyone can afford to buy a real, purebred Labrador.
Therefore, they are trying to find mestizos that resemble this breed.
Very often similar dog breeds are mixed together.
This is how they try to remove the shortcomings in one of the breeds and emphasize the advantages.
The most common is a cross between a Labrador and a poodle. They got the name Labradoodle.
Not so long ago, this breed was specially bred
. And she began to be called the Australian Labradoodle or Cobberdog.
This dog is a guide dog. This mix works great even with the most complex cases of disability.
The dog will be an excellent companion for people with disabilities, as well as for those who are allergic to animal fur, as they are hypoallergenic.
A breed like the Cobberdog will be better than any nanny, so large families simply need this dog.
Unfortunately, these dogs cannot be definitively considered mestizos, since they were specially bred.
But there are a huge number of dogs that were born thanks to the crossing of a Labrador and a poodle, without any selective intent.
Now you can hear such a phrase as a design idea.
This means that everyone is completely different.
That is, some of the puppies will take a lot from a Labrador, and some from a poodle. And no one knows what the puppy will be like when it grows up.
Labradoodles can not only have different coat types, but they can also be completely different colors.
:
- gold;
- apricot;
- chocolate;
- coffee;
- black;
- silver;
- creamy.
And this is not the whole list. Many breeders of this breed want it to be officially recognized.
Some of them continue to cross two different breeds, while others prefer to cross purebred Labradoodles with each other.
They can also vary in size
:
- miniature;
- standard;
How to distinguish a Labrador puppy from a mixed breed
It will not be difficult for an experienced owner to distinguish a Labrador from a mongrel, but beginners in this area may have questions:
- Any manifestation of aggression, even in a puppy, should alert you: Labradors do not have this quality.
- Labrador puppies have a slightly larger head than the rest of their body. They are somewhat robust, with medium-sized eyes, and their noses are not elongated or pointed.
- The ears should be completely hanging and not too long. Located behind the head.
- Another distinctive feature is the tail, similar to that of an otter.
- Dense coat, thick undercoat. It should be somewhat harsh to the touch, even for puppies.
- The color is solid, without spots or pigmentation. Only a white spot on the chest is allowed.
Pay attention to the puppy's behavior.
He should be active, but at the same time listen to your words . The look is conscious, interested and friendly.
How to determine if a puppy is a purebred Labrador
There are 3 main indicators of this breed:
- wool,
- tail,
- facial expression.
When standing, the dog must be well balanced. The tail is straight. It is thick at the base and should taper towards the middle.
Labradors have a wide head, the transition from the forehead to the nose is well defined, and the eyes are set far apart.
Even a small puppy’s coat should not be sparse, the outer layer should be hard and even rough to the touch, the undercoat should be dense, but soft and silky.
What should be most confusing is the lack of undercoat or very long hair. If so, most likely you are not looking at a purebred Labrador.
Labrador puppies video:
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is a very active and agile large dog with a strong build. Labradors are very intelligent and easy to train. They love to fetch objects. Dogs of this breed are very active and require sufficient exercise. Labradors come in three colors: fawn, black and chocolate. The fawn color can range from light, almost white to cream and bright red. The character of these dogs is friendly; Labradors are absolutely devoid of aggression. They will not be able to protect the owner if something happens, so they are not a guard. Labradors easily find contact with people of all ages and adore children. This is a wonderful companion dog. They also love to swim, they have webbed feet that help them move quickly in the water, and an otter-like tail that acts as a rudder in the water.
Chocolate Labrador with a puppy
Golden Retriever (Golden)
The Golden Retriever is a dog with a balanced character, calmer than the Labrador Retriever and has longer hair. Golden retrievers range from light, almost white, to bright red. Dogs of this breed are distinguished by grace, beauty, they are very friendly and welcoming. The coat is thick and long, so this dog is not very suitable for people who are allergic to wool. In this case, a Labrador is a more suitable breed. Goldens are very versatile dogs; just like Labradors, they can be taken hunting, they also love to swim, and these dogs are often used in the rescue service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Golden Retriever
Flat-Coated Retriever (Flat)
Flat is an active, strong dog of medium build, self-confident. The character is good-natured and friendly. Flat-coated retrievers are very smart, they are easy to train, have a strong nervous system, but unlike other retrievers, they are more sensitive. Therefore, with flat trading you need to be more restrained and patient. Flats come in two colors: brown (liver color) and black. The coat is thick and of medium length. Flats need long walks and sufficient physical activity. Flat-Coated Retrievers do not require much grooming. It is necessary to periodically comb the fur with a brush or furminator and, as with other lop-eared dogs, they need to clean their ears once a week.
Flat-coated retriever (flat)
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was bred to work in difficult weather conditions in the water and hunt waterfowl. This breed of retriever is better suited to working in cold water than others. Unlike other retrievers, this is a more serious dog with a strong-willed character. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is devoted to one owner and is monogamous. This is one of the few retrievers who have a developed protective instinct and distrust of strangers. The dog must be socialized from an early age to avoid the development of aggression. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever comes in colors ranging from all shades of brown, grass-grass (straw) to golden red. Due to its dominant nature, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is not suitable for beginners or people who have no experience with large dogs.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Curly Coated Retriever (Curly)
Curly is a strong and independent dog, smart, friendly, and self-confident. It comes in black and brown colors and has curly fur. Unlike other retrievers, curly-coated ones are less sociable and can give the impression of being withdrawn. Curly is one of the few retrievers who are capable of guarding. They are wary of strangers and can show aggression in case of danger. This breed of retriever is not very popular in Russia. They are mainly distributed in England, Australia, the USA and Canada. The dog is stubborn and self-confident, so for people who have no experience in training large dogs, the Curley is not suitable. This category of retrievers is not recommended to be kept in an apartment. Their desirable content is in a fenced yard where the dog can move and run freely.
Curly Coated Retriever (Curley)
Nova Scotia Retriever (Toller)
This breed of retriever was developed in Nova Scotia. It was originally used to attract waterfowl. The dog is medium-sized, powerful, compact. They are significantly smaller in size than other retrievers. Their height at the withers is 47 - 51 cm, males, females - 45 - 49 cm. Weight: males - 20 - 23, females - 17 - 20 kg. The Nova Scotia Retriever comes in one color - red with white spots on the chest and paws. Tollers are reserved and hardy. They have a need to fetch objects, which makes them indispensable in their work. Unlike other retrievers, tollers are a little more difficult to train. Training should be varied, as they cannot stand monotony. In a family, the toller usually chooses one owner. Distrustful of strangers. In Russia, tollers are not yet so popular; they are difficult to find.
Nova Scotia Retriever (Toller)
Nutritional Features
This is one of the most important factors affecting a dog's health. Improper and poorly balanced nutrition often leads to the development of serious diseases. Labradors that do not receive all the necessary minerals from their food begin to gradually lose their health. First, the condition of their fur, teeth and claws deteriorates, then their immunity decreases and their ability to resist infections is lost. To prevent this from happening, you need to provide the dog with proper nutrition.
The animal's diet can consist of industrial or natural food. In the first case, preference should be given to super-premium or holistic-class products produced by trusted global manufacturers. It is important to ensure that it does not contain wheat, corn, legumes or preservatives. In addition, the serving size should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Systematic overfeeding is fraught with rapid weight gain and then you will have to put your Labrador on an obesity diet.
Those who decide to give their dog natural products need to understand that the basis of such a diet should be raw meat. It could be beef, lean lamb, turkey or chicken. Several times a week, it is advisable to replace the meat component with sea fish and offal. It is also recommended to diversify the dog menu with rice, buckwheat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese, curdled milk and kefir.
Having dealt with the main permitted products, you need to find out what you cannot feed your Labrador. Like any other dogs, representatives of this breed are prohibited from being treated to chocolate, sweets, baked goods, tubular bones and river fish. Smoked, salted, pickled and fried foods should be permanently excluded from the menu of these dogs. Animals should not be fed legumes, grains, citrus fruits or pork.
How to choose a thoroughbred?
- Buy a puppy not “from hand”, but from nurseries and boarding schools that specialize in breeding them;
- Check the puppy's pedigree through a special database. There you will see his parents too;
- The puppy's appearance should be well-groomed and well-fed. There should be no discharge from the eyes, mouth or ears, the stomach should be free of rashes and not swollen;
- Look at the parents and ask the breeder in more detail about them: where they were exhibited, what titles they have, if the conversation goes well, then you can even ask for the relevant documents confirming his words;
- Look at the puppy's documents. They should contain information about the registration, his parents, the brand number that matches the one on the puppy;
- Check with the vet. a passport where all vaccinations given to him should be recorded;
- Compare the puppy with the standard indicators.
NOTE!
If you want to purchase a real purebred Labrador, you will have to spend a long time studying all the documents that the breeder provides and be extremely attentive to the details and his words.
Labrador and his toy terrier
Appetite of a 9 month old Labrador
Usually my husband walks his dogs in the morning: a Labrador and a toy terrier, but on this day I decided to let him sleep, and I’m on vacation. For some unknown reason, the dogs wake me up first, and I push my husband in the side and kick them out for a morning walk.
On this day at 6 am I was woken up by the hot, rough tongue of Kimi (a Labrador), which demanded a walk. I got up, took half of the remaining slippers from the Labrador and went for a walk. I take turns walking the dogs, but I can’t cope with two at once. Kimi, a 9-month-old 37-kg boar, always tries to get tangled in the leash of 3-kg Moni.
Well, we went out, took a walk, played tag. Kimi jumps on me with her whole fat body and takes away the leash. We peed and pooped and returned home. A crazy toy terrier was already running amok at the door, jumping in all directions, jumping on the chair, on me, on the Labrador. I put on a leash and take him for a walk. At this time, Labrik was kicked out of the kitchen with the words “I’ll be right back with Monya, I’ll feed her.”
Walking with Monya, despite his 3 kg weight, takes more time and effort. The dog very carefully chooses places to poop, as if he is playing a game with me: “Guess, mistress, will I poop here, where I just sat down.” About twenty times this pot-bellied little thing sits down, curls up into a donut, pushes, and it seems to you that an important operation to remove poop from the puny little body is about to take place. But no!
Monya suddenly jumps up and runs to cut circles around another bush. Finally, the bush was selected, along the way, marks were left in 30 places, and in the last 15 they simply lifted the paw for order.
We return, and what then? Labrik decided to save me from what he thought was unnecessary work: heating the porridge in the microwave. Pedigree was stolen from the kitchen cabinet. In the center of the hall there are pieces of packaging of 1 kg of dry food, which we use only for training as treats. A smart, independent dog decided to feed herself breakfast!
I try to remove the remains of the packaging, while simultaneously pushing away the dogs, who for some reason decided that I was playing with them. And everyone strives to grab the stub faster than me and rush off with it behind the chair.
I feed Monya. The big one sits and lets out a long saliva (we have a rule - a Labrador will never approach a toy terrier’s feeder until he has eaten and until he hears the command “You can!”). I tell him: “Kimi, shame on you, 5 minutes ago you ate half a kilo of dry food.” He looks at me with large, moist black eyes, wags his 50-centimeter tail, and presses his ears down. That is, with all his appearance he shows a tiny, but very hungry dog.
Monya doesn’t finish eating and leaves; the Labrador plays at being a starving dog even more than ever in order to get Monya’s leftover food. Without any request on my part, performing the actions “sit”, “lie down”, “die”, “crawl”, and crawling towards Moni’s cup, she looks at me humbly and pleadingly. Well, how can I not allow it! Ok - “It’s possible!” In a second, the contents of Moni's feeder move into Kimi's mouth.
***
The idea comes to pamper your loved one with pies with eggs and green onions. While I’m cutting and peeling eggs, a big hungry dog periodically comes and begs for pieces of eggs.
I fried the pies, covered them with a towel, and made tea. I went to wake up my husband. The little one runs with me, runs around the bed on the owner’s belly, then I join him: waking up my husband is not an easy task. The big one is missing!
I tell my darling: “Get up, I fried you some pies for breakfast. The owner of the house immediately jumps up, gets dressed, goes to wash, unhooking the little one from his pants along the way. No big one! I’m making the bed, I hear my husband’s questioning shout from the kitchen: “Why did you talk about pies in the plural?”...
I approach: a single pie flaunts alone on the platter! The big one crawled under the coffee table, smiling, as if he didn’t know where the others had gone. Having heard from my husband that it was her own fault, and that the 37-kg doll had nothing to do with it (the plate should have been placed higher!), I promise that by the evening I will bake an apple pie. We had breakfast with sandwiches.
We're going to the market. (Yes, yes, a real oriental bazaar called Kuylyuk in the glorious but wildly hot Tashkent). We bought scraps for the dogs, various rubbish and, of course, apples for the evening pie. When we arrive, I put the scraps into bags and remove the cottage cheese and sour cream. Here the big one asks to go for a walk. I stop shopping and go. At the corner of the house I meet my neighbor, a cat owner, Zoya Mikhailovna, who at this time is feeding all the yard cats with liverwort. She has known Kimi for a long time. Joyfully greets the Labrador. They have a wonderful friendship: from the very beginning, she tries every day to convince herself that he is a big cat.
ZM: “Kimushka, dear, are you hungry?” I categorically answer: “ZM, you don’t need to feed the dog!” I don't have time. A huge piece of liverwort is already being chewed by hungry dogs from Africa. I have difficulty getting him away from the cat feeding area. Let's go back.
***
The husband sat down to work on the computer. I let the big one go, take the little one, and let’s go for a walk. We tend the traditional 30 bushes and head back. I'm clearing the food from the table. My husband and I notice that there is an empty bag on the floor. We don’t understand why it’s there: everything seems to be in place.
I start washing, I take my shoe from the big guy who came into my bathroom and sat in the corner. Or rather, the fact that he remained with her. The shoes are new, velvet, worn a couple of times. I get angry and sprinkle red pepper into the remains of my shoe. I offer it to the big one. She sniffs, sneezes offendedly and goes to her husband. Thank God I fell asleep! By the way, the toy has been sleeping for a long time.
I’m cooking borscht; my husband and I are washing the car in the garden. I look out the window. It is not clear who or what the spouse is washing. Labrik, happy as hell, climbs under the stream of the hose. Then - a race for Monya throughout the garden. To my shouts of “Caution! Daisies, roses!” zero attention. I don’t understand who is happier – my husband or his beloved Kimi. Both dogs are lying in the flower beds, dirty as hell. Three people get a beating - Kimi, Monya and her husband. I drag the dogs to the bathroom for a bath. With the little one it’s quite simple - if the big one didn’t try to get into the bath with him and didn’t take the shower hose away from me.
The little one is ready: bathed, dried, released. As always, after a bath, Monya begins to rush around the apartment, sofas, and armchairs at breakneck speed. My husband and I drag the big one into the bath. Mine, I brush Kimi, all this time trying to snatch either the comb or the shower from his mouth. I don’t have time to dodge, I’m standing all wet, as if I was taking a bath: Kimi decided to shake himself off!
I spend a long time persuading the lab dog to leave the bath: he doesn’t agree. He twirls his tail, dropping all my shampoos, conditioners, and creams on the floor. Insanely happy.
My husband came with a piece of chicken. The wind blew the labrica out of the bathtub. I feed my husband and swear a lot. He, thinking that I don’t see, under the table feeds his beloved Labrador with pieces of borscht meat and pieces of fried chicken. The little one on the sofa, with his whole appearance, shows that he has nothing to do with it, and generally does not understand how much he can eat: in order for Monya to eat, you need to dance a lezginka in front of him and sing a song.
***
My husband and I are watching a movie. We got ice cream. The big one is courting my husband: he knows that I am useless. He does everything according to the rules of a loving dog: first he licked his feet, then his face. The husband can't stand it and shares it with Kimi. I shout that I will throw them out into the street: dogs are not allowed sweets. Offended, Kimi goes into another room. We calmly watch the film.
After the movie I go bake the promised apple pie. The husband goes into another room. From there comes a crazy, nervous laugh: the offended dog ate the wire from the laptop. My husband gets ready and goes to the Malika to get a new one.
I made shortbread dough and put it in the refrigerator. I'm looking for one and a half kilos of apples there. I can't find it! I understand: the bag we saw on the floor was from apples! Apples have been digested in the Labrador's stomach for a long time. I decide to bake a pie with cottage cheese. I put it in the oven. All this time, the black bastard is hovering around the kitchen, because he was warned: if he comes in, I’ll kill him!
My husband arrives. He takes away the chewed TV remote control. The complaints are not against your beloved Labrador, but against me: why didn’t you watch? He decides to go get the remote control tomorrow. And he also teaches Kimi that you need to have a remote control and a cable from the laptop at the same time, so as not to spend money on gasoline and not drive the Malika twice. I report changes in the menu and the apples eaten. Laughs. Gently ruffles Bolshoi's scruff. He says that he is still a doll. Ready to kill both of them.
***
Let's go for a walk to the park to see the dog walkers. First of all, Kimi rushes into the canal, where she bathes with feeling and inspiration. Then he runs around with the dogs all over the clearing. At this time, the toy terrier Monya, 3 kg, is trying to “adopt” the seasoned Rottweiler Berg, 60 kg. They are great friends. Monya climbs the back, head and neck of a huge beast. Berg's tongue carefully licks Monya. Each “lick” covers half of Moni. All dog lovers are rolling around laughing.
Having run until they are stupefied, the dogs return home with us. I feed my husband dinner. I kick Big One out of the kitchen. I go into the bedroom, the “touch” putty is stolen from the chest of drawers and eaten. Kimi with a white mouth, nose and paws hides behind the bed. I scrub the putty-covered floor. I swear. For everyone. Swearing. I feed the dogs. Kimi finishes eating for Monya. Evening running around the house of two dogs, playing tug of war. That's it - the dogs are asleep, hurray! Now you can give your husband attention at night. 
Osteochondrosis
This is a severe pathology, accompanied by joint damage and cartilage degeneration. It occurs in dogs of different ages and leads to irreversible consequences. Most often it affects the hock, knee, elbow and shoulder joints. But sometimes the pathology spreads to the spine.
Osteochondrosis develops gradually. In the initial stages, the dog is reluctant to stand up and moves carefully after getting up. In some cases, the four-legged patient experiences an increase in the affected joints. The animal experiences severe pain and rarely changes body position. In severe cases, the dog loses control of the limbs but retains sensation.
This pathology begins to develop as a result of injury, excess weight, hypothermia, increased physical activity, excess calcium and rapid weight gain with insufficient bone strength. In addition to all the above reasons, Labradors have a breed predisposition to osteochondrosis. Heredity affects the degree of development of capillaries located around the joints and the elasticity of cartilage tissue.
Treatment of osteochondrosis should be carried out by an experienced veterinarian who can correctly assess the condition of the animal and the degree of damage. Therapy for this pathology is aimed at eliminating inflammation, restoring cartilage tissue and reducing pain. For this, four-legged patients are prescribed a special diet that involves minimizing calcium intake and increasing foods containing zinc, manganese, omega-3 and omega-6 unsaturated acids.
To stop attacks of pain, the dog is prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, first in injections, and after a couple of days - in tablets. To improve the condition of the cartilage, the dog is given ascorbic acid and B vitamins. For the same reasons, he is prescribed complexes that contain glucosamine and chondroitin.
Good results can be achieved using hormonal drugs, massage and darsonvalization. Osteochondrosis can be successfully cured in the initial stages. Therefore, if you notice the first symptoms, such as a slight limp or stiffness of movement, immediately make an appointment with an experienced veterinarian.
