ASK YOURSELF
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELFAre you prepared to ?
1. Take full responsibility for this dog and all its needs for the next 10-15 years? This is NOT a task that can be left to children!
2. Invest the considerable time, money and patience it takes to train the dog to be a good companion? (This does not happen by itself!!!!)
3. Always keep the dog safe; no running loose, riding in the back of an open pick up truck or being chained outside?
4. Make sure the dog gets enough attention and exercise? (Labrador puppies need several hours of both, every day!!)
5. Live with shedding, retrieving, drooling and high activity for the next 10-15 years.
6. Spend the money it takes to provide proper veterinary care including but certainly not limited to: vaccines, heartworm testing and preventive, spaying or neutering and annual check ups?
7. Become educated about the proper care of the breed, correct training methods and how to groom? (There are many good books available, invest the time to read a few.)
8. Keep the breeder informed and up to date on the dog’s accomplishments and problems?
9. Take your questions to the breeder or other appropriate professional before they become problems that are out of hand?
10. Have the patience to accept (and enjoy) the trials of puppy hood, which can last for three years, and each stage afterward?
11. Continue to accept responsibility for the dog despite inevitable life changes such as new babies, kids going off to school, moving or returning to work?
12. Resist impulse buying, and instead have the patience to make a responsible choice?
13. If you answered yes to ALL of the above you are ready to start contacting breeders. Start early because most responsible breeders have a waiting list ranging from a few months to a couple of years. Remember, the right puppy or adult dog IS worth waiting for!!
14. A word about rescue dogs...Rescue dogs may or may not be responsibly bred. However, since they are adults, we are able to evaluate them for any signs of a problem before you fall in love, something that can't be done with a puppy. We consider this only one of the many advantages to adopting an older dog!
Good Luck in Your Search
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