How to Keep Your Labrador Retriever Happy and Healthy

Amongst all the cute-looking dog breeds – Labradors Retrievers are the most preferred house dogs. Dogs are known for their unconditional love towards humans. When you are seeking a large four-legged pet in your house, then Labradors are the first choice because of their fun and active nature.

These are very happy and affectionate breeds suitable for families with children. Easy to train, care and make friends with – these are some of the basic qualities of Labradors. However, when caring for your fur friend, it is essential to understand what makes them happy.

8 Simple Ways to Keep Labrador Happy and Healthy

1. Grooming:

Labradors are a categorically hairy breed and call for a certain amount of maintenance. Brushing off the shags not only ensures untangled appearance but will also reduce the shedding during autumn and spring. Brush using a special dog comb. It will make them happy and show attachment to the owner.

Dogs appreciate this kind of gesture. Gentle but continuous brushing keeps the dog groomed as it stimulates the natural oils from the skin, brings luster to the coat, and stimulates blood circulation in the body.

2. Activity:

Labradors love outdoor activities. It is, therefore, significant to plan their walks, exercise, playtimes, and physical actions to keep their energy levels high.

It becomes easier for large dogs to gain weight due to a sedentary lifestyle that leads to dangerous health problems. You can plan a dog walk in addition to one hour of exercise daily.

Running, jumping to fetch, use of staircase are some basic play activities suitable for a fully-grown Labrador. Younger dogs may have underdeveloped bones. So, you can have a shorter exercise for 5-15 minutes, depending on their age.

3. Healthy diet:

A healthy and nutritional diet plan is ideal for keeping a happy dog. Labradors are food lovers; therefore, you can check with the vet to plan a complete meal. Do not overfeed as they can manipulate with their cute looks.

You do not want an obese dog with health issues due to overeating. Look for dog food rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

It supports the age, size, and activity level of your dog. You can complement the primary food with treats high in fish oil to serve Omega-3 fatty acids. Fish supplements are beneficial and help maintain the dog’s healthy skin, hair, and bones.

Read Also: Difference between Golden Retriever & Labrador Retriever

4. Professional training:

Labradors are naturally active dogs. Hence, it is imperative to find a training regime for good behavior. You can hire a professional trainer to ensure your puppy does not become an aggressive housebreaker.

Or you can self-train at an early age with proper voice commands, hand signals, and tapping sounds. These are very intelligent breeds; therefore, they learn very fast. Make your training session a fun activity and accompany it with appreciation treats.

5. Dog toys:

When you welcome a fur friend home, it calls for other requirements. Getting a Labrador is like bringing a naughty child, so you must get some cuddle toys, chewy-resistant toys that are large (choke-free), and some squeaky play items for fun indoor activity.

You cannot always take your dog outdoors. Hence, choosing a bunch of toys for your pet will be a smart indoor solution to keep them busy.

6. Being social:

Dogs are very social, but it is significant to let them experience this by moving out more around different people. You can initiate social behavior by planning dog walks in open spaces like parks where there are elder people and toddlers.

Always use the dog leash so that your pet doesn’t go out of control out of over-enthusiasm. Start this social environment exercise early (when your pet is a puppy). You can take them to shopping areas to ensure they are happy to interact and well-behaved.

Read Also: How Much Exercise Does A Labrador Require?

7. Shower affection:

Labradors show ten times of love and affection than what they receive. These are possibly some of the most loving, caring, and friendly breeds. You can feel connected with them when you share a back rub, neck scratch, cuddle, or even a treat.

Treat them like family members and keep interacting with them. These are very smart breeds who can even sense your emotions.

 

8. More to care for and love for 

Simple as it sounds – keep your dog happy and healthy, but it takes lots of effort and planning. You can plan swimming activities and water sports for your dog. Labradors are natural swimmers and love being in the water.

Inoculation of dogs is crucial to guarantee a healthy life. You cannot avoid the medications (if they need any) and must regularly check with the vet to plan the calendar for vaccinations.

Keep the resting or sleeping area of the dogs very clean. Regularly wash the blankets and food bowl to keep a healthy dog. Remember that taking care of a pet is like raising a child.

So you cannot avoid their routine baths and hair washing. Check your pet’s paws – those are the most sensitive spots for getting any health-related problem. Trim the nails and clean their eyes regularly.

When large dogs turn older, they develop arthritis – look for signs and seek medical help in case of any imperative changes in their activities like limping. Add healthy bone supplements to their diet to ensure an active older dog.