Tips for the Care and Feeding of Your Pet Labrador Retriever

Learn How to Feed & Care for Your Pet Labrador Retriever

Caring for your pet Labrador retriever will take effort, but it is not complicated. A Lab needs to be fed well, have plenty of exercise & get good training to keep it happy & healthy. You won't need to go out and spend a bunch of money on your new pet, but there are a few basic items you will need to have right away to make sure your pet Lab is being cared for properly.

This article will also cover things you should do to and for your pet as well as when these things should be done. If you can get on some sort of a schedule it will be easier for both you and your pet Labrador. It will insure you take of your pets needs and will have a calming affect on the pet as they will get into a routine

Some of your pet needs can be filled from items around the house rather than buying ones right away. It's nice to have special food and water dishes but not necessary in the beginning. Food is one thing you will need right away, though. You should find out from your new pet's previous owner/pet store what brand it's been eating. If you wish to change brands, do so gradually, and not immediately. A new environment is stressful enough without adding a diet change on top of it.

I would suggest you check on making food at home for your pet Lab. This way you will know they are getting the best meat and vegetables available without harmful fillers or ingredients. It probably won't cost anymore to make food for your pet. If you can't make the food buy the best you can afford and make sure it has natural ingredients and won't be harmful. Make sure your pet has plenty of fresh clean water at all times.

It's useful to stock up on some dog treats in a variety of sizes as well, especially if you plan to train your pet Labrador retriever yourself. A collar and leash for walking and training your dog is also going to be necessary. Choose a collar that fits around your dog's neck with enough room for you to fit two fingers between the collar and his neck. It should slide a bit, but not fit over his head.

You should also have a few toys for your new friend. A good start might include a squeaky toy or two, a plush ("cuddly") toy, and a few tennis balls, Labradors are retrievers, after all and they do love to chase and bring back balls.

Feed your lab twice a day once they are adults. Puppies need to be fed three times.Your breakfast and dinner times, if they are predictable, work well. You should allow your dog to go out and "do his business" shortly after eating. If you are walking them outside your home you should be sure to pick up after them. Always have a bag handy when out with them.

If you don't have a yard for you pet Lab to run in you need to walk it daily. A well-exercised dog is more likely to be a contented and well-behaved dog. If you have a fenced yard, a few games of fetch will also help you bond with your pet. This is also a good time to get in some training. Get dog training books or videos to help you unless you plan on professional training.

When you are not home, your dog will miss you. You should leave him some toys to play with while you are gone. Rawhide chews will entertain him, as will any of the large rubber toys that are designed to be filled with food, treats, or peanut butter. These also challenge its intellect, which can go a long way toward keeping your pet out of trouble. If you will be gone all day, consider "hiding" several of these toys in different places if you allow him to roam the house while you're gone. He should also have it's own bed or blanket to lie on. If you routinely keep it's toys on this bed, your pet will learn that it is their place to rest and to feel safe. If you choose to crate your pet Labrador or confine it to a certain room while you are gone, be sure it is a large enough space for it to move around in, and be sure your pet has ample food and water available.

Your pet Lab will need occasional visits to the veterinarian. Routine vaccinations will help it live a long, healthy life. You should visit the vet as soon as you can after getting your pet. Be sure to take along any records that were passed on to you when you got it. I would suggest you try to find a holistic veterinarian who advocates the use of natural products and cures for your pet

With proper care your pet Labrador retriever will quickly become a loyal companion as well as a working or protection dog. This breed of dog will be most happy with an active family who makes sure it will get a lot of exercise. Find some water for your pet to play in and it will really be happy. Be sure your pet has ample food, water, exercise, and interaction with you and you'll be rewarded with much tail-wagging for years to come.

If you are a pet owner or thinking about becoming one you should go to the website at Natural Pets Health to get more information on natural pets health foods, products & cures. You will also find general information such as the pros & cons of owning along with the caring for & feeding of all types of pets from dogs to snakes to fish to exotics.

Your Pet Golden Retriever Deserves the Best in Care & Feeding

Learn the Best Ways to Feed & Care for Your Pet Golden Retriever

Because golden retrievers are relatively large dogs most people consider them outdoor dogs. While this works fine if you have a backyard it doesn't if you live in a apartment or condo. Golden retrievers love being around people and interacting with them but at times they like to have their privacy. Outdoors dogs will probably have their own house while the indoor pet will have more of a problem finding a private place.

The way to solve this problem is to crate train your pet golden retriever. After you train your pet to go into his crate to be alone, then when you need to leave or have guests you can fasten the pet in without any problem. Don't use the crate to punish the pet but reward them when training them to use it. Put their favorite toys and bedding in the crate to make them feel comfortable. In time this will be your pet's place of refuge from anything that may be bothering it. If you live in a harsh climate it may be good to have an indoor place as well as their outdoor one.

Frequent grooming is a must for your pet golden retriever especially if they come into the house. They have a double coat and shed throughout the year. Their undercoat is thick and helps protect them from cold weather. When winter ends they start shedding this coat so its good practice to brush them everyday.

Every other week or so, you need to groom and bath your pet to keep their coat and skin healthy. Start by brushing them all over while checking them for fleas, ticks and other skin problems. At the same time check your pet's ears and trim their nails. Unlike many dogs your pet golden retriever will like to be bathed. Only use a dog shampoo as human shampoo will dry your pet's skin out. If possible you should use a natural type of dog shampoo.

Feeding your Golden homemade food would be the ideal situation. It doesn't take much time to do this when you follow a recipe. The cost is normally not more than you would pay for a premium dog food. Choose recipes that feature different meats and vegetables so your pet doesn't get tired of them. If you can't prepare home made food for your pet then purchase the best you can afford. Make sure it doesn't contain artificial ingredients or cereal fillers.

Its recommended that you have a schedule to feed your golden retriever puppy. It should be three times a day for 20 minutes at a time. If they don't eat all the food at that time take the bowl away. It won't take long before they realize they need to eat all their food. At this point you can start increasing the food amount. After 12 to 20 weeks take the same amount of food and divide it into 2 feedings a day. Twice a day feedings are recommended for the rest of their life.

Here's an easy way to figure out how much you should feed your adult pet golden every day. Take their body weight and multiply it by 0.4. This number will correspond to the total number of ounces of food your pet should be eating in a day.

Don't over feed your pet golden retriever. If you can't feel their ribs without poking them they are probably over weight. If they are house pets rather than working dogs make sure they get plenty of exercise. If you don't have a large area for them to run in try to find a dog park or somewhere you can let them off their leash.

Always have clean fresh water for them. Make sure their bowl is always full. If they are both indoor and outdoor dogs it's a good idea to have 2 water sources. A doggy door will facilitate them getting to another source when one is dry. It's also a great thing to have if they like to go into the yard a lot especially at night.

Taking care of your pet golden retriever is not that difficult as they aren't really that picky about where they live. Still you need to make it as comfortable as you can. Make sure they have a private place. Try to feed your pet natural home made food if possible but if you can't get the best you can afford. Be sure they always have fresh water. Do these things for your pet and they will reward you by becoming your best friend.

If you are a pet owner or thinking about becoming one you should go to the website at Natural Pets Health to get more information on natural pets health foods, products & cures. You will also find general information such as the pros & cons of owning along with the caring for & feeding of all types of pets from dogs to snakes to fish to exotics.