Is it a lot of work to take care of a Labrador Retriever?
by Administrator
Filed under Labrador Q & A
I really, really want a Labrador but my mom doesn’t think I’m responsible enough. If any of you guys own a Lab, could you tell me what you have to do and if it is hard?
Depends on what you call work. If obedience training, lots of walks, lots of premium food, lots of toys, and dealing with the occasional (unavoidable with a lab!) crisis sound like work to you, then yes, they’re a ton. If you’re like me, and this sounds like all part of the fun, then consider it. I have a 3yr. old mutt and a one year old lab, and work, and am a full time law student, and not everyone envies my lifestyle. To them, the amount of money and time I spend on my dogs (in spite of work and school, they get everything they need- always) sounds like a burden. To me, it’s an enjoyable part of dog ownership. Some people play a sport, some people travel a lot, some people skydive- I train and care for my dogs.
Typical day with a lab: this waking up
- Woken up for a walk- whether I want to sleep in or not. This "waking up" consists of 70lbs of happy lab on my chest. He will wait there until I get up- it’s not usually too long.
- 30 min+ walk- before work, before school, before anything.
- Feed the boys- food is $50 for 30lbs of food. The lab gets 2cups. The mix gets less than half that.
- Brush up on obedience skills for about 10 minutes.
- Lunchtime walk around the block
- Evening walk or trip to the park: 30+ minutes if at the park, longer if walking.
- Dinner time- 2 cups for the lab.
Add formal obedience class on Saturday mornings every week, plus monthly trips to the country for swimming and retriever training.
Sound like work or fun to you?