Cold weather care for your Labrador is something to plan for. Even in southern locals cold weather is possible.
You need to plan ahead for the cold weather months. Your Labrador will need extra effort on your part. This may include some special purchases.
A Labrador's paws will need to be protected from ice and snow. Your local pet shop will sell booties to fit all size paws.
Your Labrador dog may also benefit from pet clothing. Even with a thick coat of fur, extra layers will insulate from severe cold.

Clipping my Labradors' claws always makes me nervous. I take great care not to cut too much away from the nail so that I don't cut into the vein or quick and cause painful bleeding.
A lot of dogs will have claws that are light in color, but with my Labradors' dark claws, it is much harder to see where the vein ends.
I take a small bit off the end of the nail at a time, always watching for the vein and when it starts to show, I move on to the next nail.
I always have a firstaid kit at hand just in case I do cut into the vein. Concrete helps keep the nails dull between trimmings, so I make sure my Labrador spends some time walking on the sidewalk.

I had used the clicker to train my last dog and found that it worked wonders so, when I got my Labrador, I started clicker training with him.
I didn't need to go buy a clicker because I still had lots of them lying around the house; but I'm sure I could have found one at any pet supply shop. I did need a pile of delicious treats though and I cut up some cheddar cheese into tiny bits.
The sound that the clicker makes is the bridge between the command and the desired behavior; it helps the dog understand the exact moment it did something correctly.
For example, whenever my Labrador puppy sat down, I would click as his bottom hit the floor and then immediately treat him. After he did this a few times, I added the command Sit, used the treat to lure him into position, clicked and offered a food reward.

My little Labrador baby did something today that surprised me. He had been busy running all around the yard with Corey, the child from next door, when he suddenly came in and went straight into his crate to lay down and take a nap.

The door isn't closed when we are home so that the puppy always has access to his space. And today, he showed me that he has noticed because when he was tired, in he went. It was so cute the way he just seemed to take control of the space.
I am so glad I listened to Mike and allowed him to incorporate the crate from the day we brought my Labrador puppy home. I have to admit I didn't think it seemed like a very humane solution, but it really did ease the stress of the transition for both of us. I read somewhere that Labradors and other dog breeds have denning instincts and so the crate fulfills those instincts. In this way it is very important to create a living space for our Labrador puppy.

Corey wasn't done playing and tried to find the puppy to get him back outside to play some more but I held my guns. I told him that the puppy was taking a nap and then Corey decided that if the puppy needed a nap he probably did too and curled up on the front room floor to sleep. The next couple hours were so peaceful I was in heaven!

I was coming to the realization that I needed some help dealing with my Labrador and I started looking for a quality trainer that could assist me.
I found that most dog trainers have a sort of openhouse policy, where they invite you to check out a class and see if it suits your needs. By doing this, I was also able to talk openly with other dog owners about their feelings related to the class.
The other dog owners were candid and told me about which trainers to stay away from and which ones they heard were the best. After hearing some of the horror stories, I knew whom not to let train my Labrador.
It took a bit of work, but I eventually found the right trainer for my Labrador. She was kind and personable with a passion for making learning fun!

Unlike a baby, Labrador puppies cannot change the name they are given when they grow up. Therefore be kind to your Labrador, and choose Labrador puppy names that are best for your dog.
You can also look at your dog's colorings when thinking of dog names. A yellow lab might do well with the name Sunshine or Goldie for example.
Remember that dog names should be easily recognizable by your dog so that he or she can learn commands and know when you are calling. If you choose a more complex dog name for your animal, make sure it can be shortened.
Labrador puppy names are so varied, so it should not be too hard to find a name you (and the dog) will like.

It is very important to care for my Labradors teeth and gums just as I would my own. I make sure he has adequate chew toys and bones to help remove plaque and tartar build up and I have found several yummy busy bones at the local supermarket that act as both a nutritious treat and dental help.
By brushing my Labradors teeth though, I can help provide a more thorough dental routine.
When first starting to brush your Labradors teeth, use specially formulated dog toothpaste and begin slowly. It is helpful to use a child size toothbrush or even one that can slide onto your finger. Brush for only a few seconds and gradually increase the duration over several weeks.
Dental care is another opportunity to build up trust between myself and my Labrador.

Caring for your Labrador as he ages can be very fulfilling and it can be traumatic. Depending on the relationship you have had with your dog will determine how well you may handle his care.
Spend time with your dog. Maybe all you can do is pet him. It doesn't matter. Caring for your Labrador as he ages will make his last days acceptable and you can take it all in.
Caring for your Labrador as he ages means making changes so that your dog can still go for rides.
Caring for your Labrador as he ages is the moral and right thing to do. You've all seen the humane society with the fifteen year old dogs in it. How can you do this to a dog that would literally do anything for you?

Traveling by car with your Labrador might be fun as you plan your trip, but there is a lot of extra plans to be made.
While traveling with your Labrador can be a lot of fun, remember that while you might be able to make it till you need gas, your Labrador probably cant.
Because your Labrador needs the extra stops, plan ahead and consider how you will take care of him.
Finally, consider that car travel with your Labrador brings up the decision of how to allow your dog to travel.

I am seeing a clear pattern of what goes into the dog affects what comes out of the dog. Finding the right diet to feed your Labrador is more than just a case of trial and error. There are some definite things you can do to make it easier.
Because the food the breeder uses is so expensive in the retail market, Mike and I have been researching healthy diet alternatives for our new little bundle of joy. We have found some guidelines to help us in making an informed decision.
Check for one or more named meats in the first few ingredients. Look for whole foods in the ingredient listings (corn not corn gluten meal).
Avoid foods that have a lot of artificial stuff in them. You don't want to feed your little guy artificial colors, flavors, chemical preservatives that you can't pronounce, a lot of added sugar or artificial sweeteners, and you surely don't want to feed him things from unnamed animal sources those are just unnecessary fillers.