About Lab Pups

Mr. Wood has spent a great many years breeding Labrador Retriever puppies. Formerly a commercial airline pilot, Wood began breeding Labs for his two young sons. “Early on in my career, it was a way to supplement our income. In the long run, we ended up spending the proceeds towards research for the health and nutrition of Labs and Goldens,” he says. But spending the money didn’t take away from his love of dogs. He continued breeding puppies and, as a pilot, was able to personally deliver the dogs to new owners in many cities. “I gained a lot of knowledge in shipping dogs,” he says. Since September 1999, when he started LABPUPS.COM, that knowledge has come in handy. He has shipped puppies to such distant locations as Thailand, Aruba, Russia, Greece and Germany. Wood advises that those interested in welcoming a new puppy into their home consider several key factors before deciding on a particular breed. “Consider the length of time you’re home during the day,” he says. “Do you have small children, and need a dog that is patient with toddlers? And finally, decide what is more important to you: the dog’s looks or its temperament.” There are also factors to consider for those thinking of bypassing the hassle of house-breaking and a closet full of chewed shoes by adopting an adult dog. “A puppy will adjust to fit into your life,” says Wood. “Think about how willing you are to fit into an adult dog’s life.”

No matter how carefully bred, choosing the perfect dog for your family doesn’t stop with picking the right breed. Once you’ve chosen your new puppy, training will be a very important part of the equation. “Training gives the dog discipline and opens her up to new learning experiences,” says Wood. He also begs dog owners to reconsider the popular practice of crate training. “Most training books are written for show dogs,” he explains. In addition to being ineffective, Wood cites the dog’s spirit as a reason to avoid the crate. “An intelligent dog will be broken with crate training—he may never be the same again.”

So, you’ve done the research. You’ve chosen the right breed for your family. What will you need to have on hand for your new puppy? That’s easy. Wood recommends excellent food and non-chlorinated water. But you don’t have to buy out the local grocery store’s stock of bottled water. Wood says tap water is fine if you let it sit for a couple of hours before it goes to the dogs. He also recommends providing a stick to chew on. Yes, a good old fashioned stick—the kind that literally grows on trees.

When your puppy is at least four months old, you can purchase pig’s ears from the pet store if you like. Wood adds that there are some things you should not have on hand for your new puppy, including chew toys from the pet store that can harbor germs from other dogs. He also advises to hold off on pet treats until the puppy is four to five months old. Finally, you may want to consider microchipping your dog. A microchip, which contains information about the dog and his owners, is implanted just under the skin on the dog’s shoulder. Veterinarians and animal shelters equipped with the proper devices can scan lost dogs for a microchip, and use the information to contact the dog’s owners. Wood, who microchips all of his puppies, tells the story of a late evening phone call he received from a pound. They had a Lab that was about to be euthanized, when they discovered the microchip. The dog’s owner had not registered the chip with their contact information, but it was still registered with Wood’s. He agreed to come and pick up the dog before 11:00 the next morning. Just one catch—the pound was located in Florida. After an all-night drive, the Lab was saved and eventually reunited with its owners.

Excerpts taken from FrontDoor Magazine - Opens a PDF in new window [Full Article]