When you are trying to choose the best dog for you, it is important to consider all aspects of dog ownership. One of the factors that is the most important to determine is whether the dog is high maintenance. While the Labrador retriever dogs are an excellent family dog, you will need to determine if having one of these dogs will require more work than you are willing or able to do. When it comes to Labrador retrievers, the breed is definitely high maintenance in some areas, but not so much in others. Therefore, it is important to know which areas so you can determine if this is the right breed for you.
Grooming
Grooming is an area of dog ownership in which Labrador retriever dogs are not high maintenance. In fact, the breed actually requires very little, if any, professional grooming. In general, Labrador retrievers only require you to brush them on a regular basis with a bristle brush. This brushing will help to remove the loose fur from your dog’s coat and reduce the amount of shedding your dog experiences. Giving your Labrador a bath can seem like a big job, but it will help keep your dog smelling clean and looking nice. In addition, you will need to keep his nails trimmed. Labradors should not need a haircut.
Energy
The energy levels of Labrador retriever dogs are one of the areas in which the breed is definitely considered high maintenance. These dogs have an incredible amount of energy. They love to be outdoors to be free and run. Labradors require at least an hour of exercise a day. Taking these dogs on frequent walks and perhaps a weekly run or two at the dog park is an absolute must. Therefore, if you live in an apartment or have an extremely small yard, you may want to rethink the idea of owning a Labrador retriever. You will need to give your dog plenty of exercise to keep him occupied. If you can’t provide the proper amount of exercise, you may need to consider a different breed.
Separation Anxiety
One of the biggest issues with Labrador retrievers is their extreme separation anxiety. While each dog has his own personality, the breed in general has a tendency to experience severe separation anxiety when you are not around. This means it can be disastrous if you do not crate your dog while you are gone. Labrador retriever dogs are likely to become destructive when left alone as well. The breed is prone to chewing, even beyond the puppy stages, which is a bad combination once you leave the house. Leaving your dog out to roam free in your home while you work or run errands often means you will come home to many chewed items in your home. The remedy for this is to crate your Labrador whenever you leave and provide him with plenty of toys or bones to chew on.
If you are considering a Labrador retriever for your family, it is important to know exactly what you are getting into. Even though Labrador retriever dogs are listed as an excellent family dog, you have to be able to meet his needs too. Therefore, understanding that your dog will likely be high maintenance is a requirement before you decide that a Labrador is the best dog for you. The last thing you want to do is adopt a dog only to take him back a couple of weeks or months later. This is hard on your family and the dog.
