Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever is a medium to large sized breed of dog with a gentle and lively personality. It is highly intelligent and friendly towards humans, making it a very suitable breed for guide dogs or other working dogs, and is one of the three most non-aggressive dog breeds, along with Huskies and Golden Retrievers.

Labrador Retriever currently has the highest number of registrations in the American Kennel Club.

Labrador Retrievers do not come from Labrador, as their name suggests, but from Newfoundland.

In Newfoundland, Labrador Retrievers gradually disappeared due to heavy dog taxes. According to British restriction laws, these heavy dog taxes actually stopped the importation of dogs to Britain. Afterward, many Labrador Retrievers and other types of hunting dogs were crossbred, but luckily the unique characteristics of the Labrador Retriever prevailed. Finally, breeders wanted to stop this crossbreeding and establish a standard to prevent the interbreeding of this dog with other hunting dogs.

The Labrador Retriever was recognized as a distinct breed in 1903 by the Kennel Club in Britain. In Britain, no Labrador Retriever can become a show champion because it is not eligible unless it has a working license that clearly proves its qualifications in this field. In the United States, Labrador Retrievers became the primary trained and retrieving dogs. In 1931, hunters and breeders established the Labrador Retriever Club and exhibited their bred dogs at shows and achieved remarkable success[2].

Labrador Retrievers are suitable for dog lovers with certain economic conditions and time.

1. Dog Infectious Diseases

Dogs are prone to infectious diseases, the most common of which are canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical manifestations include: fever, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked claws, etc.

Generally, this type of infectious and fatal disease is more common in dogs during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies are more susceptible and have a lower cure rate, and are prone to leaving sequelae.

How to prevent:

When bringing a dog home, it is recommended that the owner choose a dog from a regular channel, vaccinate the dog on time, do regular disinfection in the house, do not take the dog out for a walk before completing the vaccination, do not contact unfamiliar dogs, and do not let others touch the dog's mouth and nose at will.

2. Dog Skin Diseases

Because dogs often go for walks outside, they may accidentally contract various skin diseases. If dogs are infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi while outside, once infected there is a risk of long-term difficult recovery. Therefore, all owners must pay attention. The clinical manifestations of dog skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulceration, suppuration, hair loss, scabs, etc.

How to prevent:

In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, and avoid dark and humid environments. In addition, regularly disinfect the dog's living environment, do internal and external deworming for the dog, use special dog bathing liquid, comb the dog's fur regularly, and supplement vitamins and fish oil.

3. Dog Parasites

Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which often cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs, and may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting their quality of life and physical development. Generally, dogs with parasites are mostly thin and lackluster.

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How to prevent:

When feeding, the owner needs to be careful not to feed the dog unsterilized raw meat or unknown meat sources. Deworming inside the dog's body should be done every 3 months, and external deworming should be done once a month. When going out, prevent the dog from eating and licking indiscriminately and going into the grass. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.

Newborn period: 1-30 days

The newborn period is when the puppy is just born and relies mainly on mother's milk for survival. The body cannot regulate its temperature and needs the mother to provide warmth. In the first day, it has no hearing or vision and can only find the nipple through weak touch. Around day 13, the eyes open, and hearing develops around day 15, followed by teething around day 20. From days 21 to 28, the amount of milk becomes insufficient, and the transition from liquid food to semi-solid food begins. This can easily cause diarrhea and constipation, so lactase, probiotics, or goat milk powder/pet milk powder should be provided. In case of constipation during the use of milk powder, a small amount of vegetable oil can be fed, and massaging the abdomen can help with defecation. Deworming begins at 14-28 days old.

Puppyhood: 1 month to 2 months old

The puppy's digestive system is not fully developed during this period, so it needs careful care from the owner. Generally, the puppy should be fed at least 3 times a day, with small meals according to the puppy's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or goat milk powder and feed it gradually. Do not overfeed, or the puppy may have poor digestion. Remember to provide the puppy with drinking water instead of milk. Milk can cause diarrhea. Probiotics can be given daily to regulate the intestine. During this period, the puppy has a weak resistance to viruses and bacteria, so it should not be taken outside or in contact with cold patients to avoid getting sick. Immunization starts at 6-7 weeks old, and ends at 3 months old. It is best to bathe the puppy after immunization. In the early stage, dry shampoo can be used. Teething starts at 19-28 days old, and all deciduous teeth are fully grown at 2 months old. They have a certain learning ability and can start toilet training.

Adolescence: 3 months to 6 months old

During this period, puppies can gradually transition from soaked dog food to dry dog food. Adjust the puppy's feeding schedule slowly, and try to make it regular. They still eat dog food and drink water. However, during this period, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly. They need a lot of protein and calcium, and their fur gradually changes to adult fur, which is a critical period for maintaining beautiful fur, but it may also be an awkward period. The puppy also starts to develop dominance and tries to establish its own territory and dominate the owner. Its destructive ability increases. At this time, the puppy's body length and height develop rapidly, and the baby fat disappears, so it needs daily exercise to maintain its growth.

Sexual maturity: 8 months to 14 months old

During this period, the puppy enters sexual maturity and experiences its first heat. Hormonal imbalances can easily occur during the first heat, leading to heat disorders. Continuous heat, no heat, or false pregnancy during the first mating can result in a low conception rate and a high rate of difficult delivery. It is necessary to supplement nutrients that promote reproduction: vitamin E, organic chromium, folic acid, etc. It is important to note that mating should not be carried out during the first heat. Attention should be paid to hygiene during the heat period to prevent infection. If the puppy is not going to be bred, it can be neutered after the heat ends.

Adulthood: 1 year old to 6 years old

A dog is considered an adult when it is 1 year old, and it is almost fully grown at around 1 year old. There will not be much change in its body size after that. At this stage, it is still normal to eat dog food, and there are no excessive dietary taboos. However, it is still important to supplement nutrients appropriately and avoid feeding chicken and duck bones, as it can lead to poor bone development. If necessary (such as poor nutrition, weakness, picky eating, etc.), some nutrient supplements can be added. Based on the puppy's actual situation, choose supplements of vitamins, calcium, protein, or hair care nutrients. Do not be too greedy and do not supplement large amounts of nutrients all at once out of concern for the puppy's well-being. It is important to make slow adjustments and take care of the puppy's health in the long run. At this time, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly, requiring a large amount of protein and calcium. They are curious, have strong cognitive abilities, and have a good memory. It is the best period for learning.

Senior years: 8 years to 18 years old

For dogs aged 8 years and above, it is equivalent to being over 50 years old in human age and enters the senior stage of "dog life". During this period, the dog's organ functions decline, and age-related diseases such as diabetes, liver and kidney dysfunction, skeletal and joint diseases are more likely to occur. It is especially important to supplement calcium. Options include eating more soy products and cartilage, or using calcium supplements available on the market. Getting more sunlight and exercise, paying attention to hygiene on a regular basis can help extend the time you spend with your beloved dog.

1. Do not bathe frequently

When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog should depend on the dog's hygiene conditions. In hot weather, bathe the dog a few more times, and in winter, reduce the frequency by one or two times. But in general, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!

2. Brush regularly

Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more intense. To grow good hair, brushing regularly is an important step. Pet owners can use special pet combs to help the dog clean naturally shed hair and prevent tangles. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes each time is enough.

3. Sunbathe

Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier hair.

4. Deworming

Poor hair condition is closely related to parasites. Parasites will absorb a large amount of nutrition from the dog's body, robbing nutrients. Therefore, deworming is essential. When deworming, it is recommended to do internal and external deworming together. Deworming medicine can cause great harm to the dog's digestive system, so it is recommended to feed probiotics regularly to alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort.

5. Pay attention to diet

In order to have beautiful fur, dogs must have a good nutritional foundation, so pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a type of dog food that is suitable for the dog and is rich in nutrients to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can also feed the dog with a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.