If you are going to be getting a chocolate Labrador, then it is important to understand exactly how chocolate Lab puppies (or adults) need to be cared for. While many of them can be similar to other Labs in many ways, dogs can be very unique creatures with their own distinct personalities.
What should you know before you have to deal with a chocolate Lab all by yourself, and how should you prepare?
Training
Training your new Lab can be an important part of integrating them with the rest of your family or enabling them able to settle down at your home. It is also a major part of getting to know them and being able to identify the way that they react to things, as well as their personality.
Always be prepared to train your chocolate Lab once they arrive. Most Labs are fairly smart and can be easy to train, but it will vary heavily depending on the personality and upbringing of the specific chocolate Lab puppy that you end up with.
While Labradors are friendly, they still need to be trained to make the most of that tendency. That means focusing on keeping them social, making them follow the rules, and maintaining their good temperament. Poor training can easily make them a hassle in later life.
Remember that most Labrador puppies need to be social and expend energy, too. They can learn boundaries by interacting with other dogs or being taught what not to do around the house, but they also really need to have their energy burnt off to avoid getting restless.
Personality
A chocolate Lab will usually be fairly casual and laid back, making them easygoing dogs. However, their energy reserves are quite high, and they might want to go on long walks that smaller dogs could get tired of easily. Too much energy can make them hyperactive and hard to control, though.
Since most Labs are smart and fairly social, they can usually integrate well with most owners and families, but they need to be treated right. They will also be very enthusiastic, so try to avoid reinforcing bad habits by accidentally praising them when they have done something wrong.
For example, if you feed a chocolate Lab after it barks for food, then they might try the same thing again. Negative reinforcement will not be very effective, so you need to give praise when they do things right – which can be a lot easier than it actually sounds.
Labradors can sometimes enjoy certain kinds of exercise more than others. Many are good at swimming and might enjoy splashing around in the water when they can, so do not be afraid to let them get wet once they have grown a little bit older.
Seller
Finding chocolate Lab puppies for sale (or adoption) can be easy enough, but you want to be sure that you are getting them from a good source. Depending on the kind of breeder or shelter that you are getting your pups from, there are going to be some that have not had an ideal upbringing.
This is not necessarily a bad thing – many people choose these dogs specifically to help give them a good life – but it can be an important thing to consider. They are likely already housebroken and trained fairly well, but they could come with additional personality quirks that you did not expect.
For example, some Labradors may have separation anxiety or refuse to engage with certain breeds of dog, avoiding them quite dramatically. There can also be some with health problems or dogs that can develop those health problems in later life if you are not careful.
Always be careful of online scams, too. While they are not very common if you take legitimate routes, you should always try to meet the breeder and puppy before you commit to anything. Lists of professional breeders and shelters can be a good way to avoid any risky third-party sellers.
Adaptation
There is always a chance that your chocolate Lab will not be quite how you expected or that there will be other difficulties that you did not consider. It can be tough to know exactly how you are supposed to adapt at first, but once you get your pup settled in, you need to plan the necessary details out.
For example, if your pup has a lot of energy, you may need to find more ways to tire them out without straining them too much. If they have separation anxiety, can you put their bed somewhere that allows them to socialize with more people in your home? These can be important steps.
There can also be personality quirks, like greedy Labs or Labs that get clingy and follow you around, that can only be partially solved. Properly training them can help, and you are rarely too late to re-train your dog in an effort to correct these odd habits or find a roundabout solution to them.
Future Advice
Once you have a chocolate Lab in your home, they can be a wonderful part of your family and an excellent companion no matter what. Getting them comfortable can seem tough at first, but as long as you treat them well and do not neglect them, they can settle in quite comfortably.
Always look for reliable advice if you are not sure what your Lab might need. This could be websites, professional tips, or even booklets that you might have received with an adopted Lab. It is important to get your information from the right sources and to avoid misinformation.
For example, sites like the one at this link offer a lot of different methods for bringing up your chocolate Lab puppies, as well as how to choose chocolate Lab puppies for sale that are coming from a legitimate seller. This can be a great way to prepare yourself ahead of time.
Double-check everything and leave nothing to chance. If you take shortcuts with your Lab – even with how you feed them or the kind of exercise you give them – then you may end up doing more harm than good and potentially end up giving them health or behavior issues.
