What should i know before buying a puppy?

Question

Labrador Retriever

Answer 1

There are puppy tests that you can do to test the temperment of a dog before you get him/her. You don't want a dog that's too timid or too agressive. In puppies it may be hard to tell, but you can do some simple tests.
1. flip the puppy on it's back and see if it's comfortable. It should be relaxed.
2. open an umbrella swiftley and see if it runs and hides. The puppy should only be cautious a second and then go to find out what it's about.
3. use your car keys or something that will make a loud noise and shake it at the puppy. The puppy should be interested in the sound and not run from it.
4. touch the puppy all over, check it's mouth, pull a little on the tail. See if he/she submits to your touching. Puppy should be okay with you manipulating it.

Make sure puppy is bright eyed and curious. No discharge from eyes, nose and not lathargic. If buying from breeder make sure parents are on site so you can see how the parents temperments are. It will give you a heads up on how the puppy will be as an adult dog.

Remember, having a puppy is like adding a baby to the house. You'll have to safe guard dangers for the puppy and wake up many times at night to let the puppy out. Make sure you buy it good food so it will be a healthy adult.
Also remember puppies make mistakes, they love you no matter what, so forgive them for being puppies!

Otherwise, good luck in finding your next family member for a lifetime of laughs and unconditional love.

Answer 2

If you are going to buy a puppy I would research the breed and their needs such as room to run, shedding , temperment , etc.....
Also you need to match the type of dog with your household, Do you have a big fenced in yard for a Lab to get enough exercise ? Do you have the time to care for a puppy? Remember that puppies like to chew on everything..... They need to be housebroke, this takes a lot of time on your part . I would watch the puppies playing with each other and chose from the one that is very playful not the puppy that is sitting in the corner or hiding under the table . Also puppies are like small children they need good health care , food and lots of attention. If you can give all this best of luck with your new family member

Answer 3

Here is a great list of questions and things to know from a lab breeder:
http://pleasantpinelabs.tripod.com/Puppy_checklist.htm

The personality-type test others have been writing about is the Volhard puppy aptitude test. This is not something the breeder does herself, it should be done by someone else who knows something about puppies. An experienced evaluator makes a big difference.

Here is a look at it:
http://www.volhard.com/puppy/pat.htm

A good book to read as you search is "Before and After You Get Your Puppy" by Dr. Ian Dunbar. It is very comprehensive.

I would also talk to lab folks and get to know good breeders in your area and find out about their lines. See if there are any akc shows in your area (www.akc.org search under events) and walk around and look at the dogs. Or just look online at past events and see which kennel names pop up the most.

This breed is different from others in that many people see Labs as diverging in this country into the so-called "English Lab" and "Field or American Lab". While there is only one breed standard, it seems as though show lines and performance lines have diverged somewhat.

While there are those who breed for performance and show, there many who focus on one over the other.

So you may have a lab with an alphabet soup after their name (performance titles) but not a CH in front. More breed champions seem to come from the so-called "English" type. Some say the stockier "English" type is calmer than the so-called "field."

What does this mean to you? Check out breeds and breeders and see what they have to say about their dogs' temperament, energy level and need to work. See what a one year old/ two year old/six year old lab from their lines is like.

If someone says "field" labs don't need to meet the breed standard---be careful. While a 1/2 inch variation above the breed standard for height is a disqualification in the ring, the dog should not be 3 inches over the standard.

Folks who want to breed for performance and have a great dog that hates the show ring can get a conformation certificate that shows the dog meets the conformation requirements for the breed.

Go here to see more:
http://www.thelabradorclub.com/certificates/cc/ccguidelines.html

There are those who say that you should only buy from a breeder that shows their dogs in breed (conformation) and while I would agree with this sentiment for many breeds, the lab is a place where I would disagree. Personally I would prefer a lab with a conformation certificate and a long list of performance titles and health clearances over just a CH dog....but that is because I would want to compete in agility, obedience and tracking.

Answer 4

Just sit and watch pups for awhile. If you have a certain sex in mind than get the others out of the way. Lets say you want a male then see how they react to each other. Eliminate any that are shy or timid. I assume you are looking for a pet, not a show dog. If you are than do not even look at pups until they are 4 months. A pet should try too make up to you and act cute so he will make a good impression on you. I will tell you what I did and found great pup. I watched the dog that followed his mother around they yard it seems to want to learn. Last thing is to check out breeder and make sure they are not from pup mill. You should see pups and realize they were home raised. They should be comfortable and healthy looking,

Answer 5

Puppies take a lot of time and patience. Potty training is hard, chewing is a problem, and their general energy can be quite high. Labs also have very large heads and tails that can break a lot of things. My cousin's lab actually chewed a corner of the deck off at our cabin. I would recommend getting a few books from the library and speak with a good breader or your local humane society. Good luck and I have a 4 month old blue tick hound I'm raising. Just remember, they are only puppies - it does get better.

Answer 6

Wow, lots of things. First: really think about whether you should have a dog at all. Second: so you've decided on a breed I see, but you should think about whether you really want a puppy or if an adult dog would better fit your lifestyle and needs. Third: Research the breed! Many people set their mind on a breed for random reasons like they saw one in a movie and think they're cute, or they know 1 and like it. You should definitely do as much reading as you can on labs before you actually get the dog (try dogbreedinfo.com and nextdaypets.com). Fourth: If you really have you heart set on getting a lab puppy you need to look up a "bringing home a dog" checklist of things to have before you get the dog (leash, food bowls, toys, etc.). You also need to read as much as possible (there's endless amounts on the internet) on puppy training. Have fun!

Answer 7

**Whether or not you will honestly have enough time to take care of a Lab puppy (and lab in general), is a start. These dogs are working dogs and have a high exercise demand. If they do not get enough exercise, they usually develop many behavioral problems (chewing, etc.). Many labs need a good run a few times a week and 1-2 45min walks every day.
**You are also going to want to make sure that you have time for obedience training (or training at home 3-5 times a day 10-15 minutes each session). Once again, labs like to know what's going on, and obedience training is nearly necessary for breeds like this so that they know who's in charge and how to behave.
**Whether you can honestly afford vet bills (shots, neutering/spaying, check ups etc.) especially if, God forbid, something happens.
**If you will be home enough to housebreak your puppy. Before 6 months of age, a puppy needs to be let out of their crate or taken outside every 3 or so hours (they will have to eliminate 8-12 times per day).

Also,
*You will also want to research the temperment, and how big it will get. You can do this on various websites, and through many books. Then consider how much food it will eat. You will probably need to buy good-quality food (if you want to take care of your dog's nutrition properly) and this can be expensive for bigger dogs. Any health problems your dog may have. Things like that..
*Look at the breeders in your area (unless you are going to get it from a shelter or rescue group). Check out the living conditions of the puppies and look at the parents (so you know what to expect).
*Patience. Puppies require tons of patience. High exercise demand puppies require even more patience (even though they learn quickly, they do some things you may not like --- chewing).
*Labs chew. They chew a lot. You might want to take some stock in Nylabone now, because you'll find nylabones to be incredibly helpful.
*What kind of toys are appropriate for a lab (some breeds of dog should not be given certain types of toys). Puppies need lots of stimulation and fun things to do.
*Grooming requirements. How you will clean up excess hair, etc. Labs shed year-round, meaning, they will let off a lot of hair (which can mean lots of cleaning). Labs are short haired but they still need grooming.
*Invest in a nice, sturdy crate (preferrably mesh with a divider that can be moved as the dog grows so that you don't have to buy multiple crates).

Answer 8

That is comes from good lines, that you have seen and liked the temperaments of the parents or at least the dam, and that the lines particularly the sire and dam have had OFAs and CERFs done for their hips and eyes.
Bellow is a searchable site for breeders who are in good standing with the Labrador Retriever Club of America the AKC parent breed club

Answer 9

It depends on what you want.

If you want a pure breed puppy go to a competent breeder that can provide you with the Pedigee Papers. These dogs are breed to better the breed by using a genetic grid to get the best combination of traits.

If you want just a mongrel check out pet shops, newspaper ads, and look for signs on telephone polls. Don't pay any attention to the AKC registration cause most of these dogs are just pet quality and are not good examples of the true breed standards.

Answer 10

the best advice i can give you is to do your reaserach on this breed. they are very active they need to be stimulated EVERY day need plenty of toys and chewies and lots of room to run and to be exercised every day with either a good long walk or a good jog. they are very loyal and inteligent breeds. they are usally good with kids and other animals if socilazed properly and early!!! training is key with these dogs and most other breeds. they tend to do best if you train in aglity and water sports and respond well to training when they have done something good if you reward them with a good ole tennis ball. you do need to see how this dog will fit in with your lifestyle. if your active and love walks or a good jog this is a good dog for you. if your work alot (more then 40 hours a week) you might want to look into something not so high matince. they dont need to be brushed every day but give them a good brushing (20 mins or more) atleast every week. there are plenty of books and resorses out there for you and this breed. also talk to local breeders and other people who own this breed they can be the most helpful to you. also another thing i would not recomend is purchasing from a pet shop as they sometimes have pups from puppy mills and they dont allways do the vacs the right way which means they will get sick. i working in a vets office have seen this too many times with pet shop pups. also do you research on the breeder too. ask if you can talk to some of the owners that have there pups. but other then that it is up to you to do your research on what you need to do befor bringing this new loved one in your home. they are just like children and you need to puppy proof your house. good luck