Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

For some reason I will catch Cooper every so often engrossed in watching television. It's seems to be totally random. There doesn't seem to be a pattern in what he seems to enjoy watching. One time he may be watching sports like baseball and hockey and the next it might be a commercial on Mesothelioma lawyers or it could be music videos. I find it quite amusing that he gets engrossed in watching television just like we do. I have always wondered what they see when they are watching, what is it that catches their attention. I did a search on the internet and it seems that tv is missing the one thing that interests dogs and that is smell. They might be interested in moving frames or noises made by the tv but it's not something that is going to keep their attention for very long.

My close friend was looking at doing some travelling over the summer. Specifically he is thinking about doing one of those European cruises. When I asked him what he was going to do with his dog he wasn't sure because he hadn't thought that far in advance yet. Well that is one of those things you have to plan for if you are doing any travelling this summer. You want to make sure you can leave your pooch with a friend or family member that is responsible enough and familiar with your dog breed so they can give them the proper care. Otherwise, you are looking at a kennel. Which is more than fine but make sure you scout out a good one. Ask around to other dog friends you have or go online and read as many reviews as possible.

How much does your labrador retriever love the bath tub? As you can see from this picture that was recently posted at the labrador retriever forums most labs love it quite a bit. When we first brought Cooper home we couldn't keep him out of the tub. He would jump in there and be licking the Grohe faucets like he was waiting for more water to come out. Remember your labrador retriever only needs to be bathed a couple of times a year unless they get into something they shouldn't have. They have special oils in their coats which can erode if they are exposed to too much shampoo.

I have had a few computer issues as of late and apologize for being slow on blog updates. My desktop caught a terrible virus but I was able to fix it after a lot of work. We do have a notebook which is a bit older and is dire need of some extra notebook memory.

This is also the time of year when Cooper and I find ourselves outside getting yardwork done and enjoying the nice weather. It's finally so nice to be outside and getting some much need yardwork done. Cooper is really enjoying the sunny weather and there is dog hair everywhere.

I promise to take some pictures and post them. I finally figured out how to work my cell phone camera.

From MCT News Service

For the 18th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America, according to 2008 American Kennel Club registration statistics. But while more than twice as many Labs were registered last year than any other breed, making it a likely leader for many years to come, the Bulldog continues to amble its way up the list. The breed made news last year by returning to the AKC's Top 10 for the first time in more than 70 years and now has jumped 6 percent, advancing two spots to land in 8th place.

"The playful Lab may still reign supreme, but the docile and adaptive nature of the Bulldog is gaining ground as a family favorite," said AKC spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "It's no surprise to learn that this devoted family companion is still growing in popularity."

According to the American Kennel Club, the most popular dogs in the U.S. are:

1. Labrador Retriever

2. Yorkshire Terrier

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever

5. Beagle

6. Boxer

7. Dachshund

8. Bulldog

9. Poodle

10. Shih Tzu

Source

I am not sure what my other half and I are going to do. We are losing a battle of bed space with a 90 lb chocolate labrador retriever. We were actually looking at sleep number bed online over the weekend just to see what upgrading to a larger bed would be. I don't think it has gotten that bad yet but it's funny how your dog can take over something like your own bed on you. Tonight I am putting his old dog bed on the floor with a little blanket and that is where he is going to stay.

March Break is fastly approaching and I am just sending out a reminder to make sure if you are going away to take your furry friends into consideration. If you are booking a New York City hotel or a condo down south you want to make sure if they take pets or not. You can check with a friend or family member to see if they can do some doggy watching while you are away or even look into a boarding kennel.

If you are travelling with your dog or pet make sure you pack everything you need. Make a quick checklist and make sure you take food, water, blankets for warmth, chew toys for the trip and of course lots of snacks and pet treats.

Personally I think it's cruel and inhumane punishement but some people love to do it. A coworker had a new yellow labrador retriever puppy and she loves to dress the little guy up. She does it througout all of the holidays for some reason. He has a halloween costume, some Christmas clothes and even a little tuxedo for formal affairs. Although I am not sure how many black tie formal affairs a labrador retriever puppy has to go to. He does look cute but I could never get mine to wear anything. He would have things torn up and destroyed in a matter of mintues.

What is your labrador retrievers favourite room in the house? In our house it might be sneaking into a bedroom and climbing into bed but I would have to say it's the bathroom. He loves to get into bathroom and try to sneak into the bathtub or shower if he can. I don't know if he is part fish or not and is attracted to the shiny shower faucets or if it's the lure of the water. I think it's the water. We have to be careful or otherwise he would be in the tub every chance he gets. Lately we have had to keep he door closed when we are in there having a bath or shower. Maybe he is getting cabin fever for spring and can't wait for a swim. I would love to see some labrador retriever photos of your lab sneaking into the tub if you have them.

Have you noticed how many things around the house you go through with having a 90 lb labrador retriever living with you? I would hate to take stock of all of the things that we have had to replace and otherwise would not have had to if our furry friend wasn't living with us. There are the obvious things like chewed shoes and socks but other things like area rugs and towels and even parts of drywall.

The wear and tear of a labrador retriever is quite normal. Don't worry if you think your house is being turned upside down by your labrador retriever. It's normal for all of us owners. It was worse when he was a puppy and now that Cooper is getting older things are back to normal. Once your dog gets through the crazy puppy stages all will be back to normal.