#1 Labs shed a lot. A female will generaly blow her coat (shed heavily) 2 times a year with her heat cycle. All other Labs neutered and unneutered males, and spayed females will shed moderately throughout the year and more so as the seasons change. This hair collects on furniture, clothes and blows accross the floor in tumbleweeds. You will be amazed on where you will find the dog hair. As we like to say, "Home is where the dog hair sticks to everything except the dog".

#2 Labs are people dogs. If you have allergies to dog hair, dander or saliva, you will probably have problems with a Lab. The somewhat oilier coat does keep down some dander, but not all of it. Many breeders and owners would be glad to have you visit their dogs to see if you can tolerate being around them. It is never fair to get a puppy then find out your allergies are too bad and you have to tie the dog up outside away from the family for the majority of its life. A Lab should be with people. They should not be left outside away from their people. They will not be happy living that way. Think of what is best for the dog.

#3 Labradors are not clean. If you are a neat freak, you will not like a Lab. They shed. They can dig holes in your yard. Track in mud. Chew on things. Rub up against and leave marks on your walls. Clear off the coffee table with one wag of its tail. If you are a neat freak, and want a dog as a showpiece, don't get a Lab. Get a stuffed dog or one of those new robot dogs.

#4 Labs need a lot of exercise. The Labrador is an active breed. This may not seem a problem if you are in the mood for some exercise yourself. But they need an outlet for this energy every day. That means when it is raining, on days you work late, when you are not feeling good- your Lab will still want to go for a run, walk, play ball, go swimming...whatever you two do. If you do not provide an outlet for his pent-up energy....he may find one!

#5 Labs are prone to genetically linked problems. Hip dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Eye problems, Heart problems, Epilepsy...the list goes on. Do your homework! Ask the breeder about all of these things.

#6 Labs are prone to other health problems. Some of which may or may not be genetically linked. Included but not limited to: Bloat, PANO, OCD, Thyroid problems and other immune system and endocrine problems.

#7 Labs stay puppies for a very long time. You may think great! I love puppies. Well, only their minds stay puppies. Their bodies get big! They remain clumsy, hard-headed, goofy and immature for a long time. Labs are not really hard to train, but you have to be persistent. They do need some form of training. Labs don't really mature until they are 2-3 years old.

#8 Labs can be easy to find. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It means you should be able to find one easily, but also that everybody and their brother are breeding them. Not everyone is doing so properly and paying attention to temperament and health. The reputable breeder's puppies are not cheap. Some people feel they can get off cheaper by paying less somewhere else. Remember you get what you pay for. You may purchase a puppy from an unreputable source just to get a puppy at a lower price, and run into many problems with the pup as he grows. Most good breeders plan 1 or 2 litters a year. They often wait years in-between breeding so they can evaluate what they are producing. Beware of a breeder who always has puppies, or seems to be breeding numerous litters every year. They may be out for their own gain, and not for the overall health of the breed.

#9 A Lab may not be the best dog if you have very small children. Labs are usually good around kids, but like all dogs, they have to be taught to behave around children. A small puppy will naturally bite and chew on, clothing, shoes, hands.... Those sharp puppy teeth can hurt a childs hands without the puppy knowing it. A growing puppy will often knock down a toddler in play. You have to supervise any dog arround small children.

#10 Labs Shed. Oh, did I say that one already? I couldn't see the computer screen through all this doghair.......
adapted from cattski

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