Best dog breed for the 'outdoors'? (For new dog owner too)

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Originally Posted by GoingPostal

You can download Ian Dunbars books for free, I believe they are just titled "before" and "after you get your new puppy" and they cover a lot of the basics for training and socializing.


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Thanks! I'll look into it!

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Originally Posted by HVani

Treats are more rewarding than pets for most dogs. You want to use something your dogs loves as a reward during training. You need to really motivate them.

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Gotcha. When do you wean them off treats and when (or if) do you stop giving treats in general?

And what can be used for treats? I was told that small bits of cheese can be given and also the treats you buy at the stores, but everyone says not to give more than a few. However, when I watch a a video, like this one, they give quite a bit more than a few. How many should I give per session? Is there any specific brand you can recommend?

Once they really get the command you can start backing off on the treats. For training treats you want something pretty small that doesn't need to be chewed. When I'm going to be training I mix bits of hot dog, freeze dried liver and kibble. I like using a mix since I can either save the really good stuff for really good behavior or rotate them so the dog never knows which he will get next which can make him work harder.

For brand I use a lot of single ingredient freeze dried treats. Ex liver, chicken,turkey. My current dog has a pancreas condition and can't handle most treats so I try to stick to limited ingredients.
For other dogs usually the stinkier the better lol. I'm a big fan of Zukes treats.

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Originally Posted by HVani

Once they really get the command you can start backing off on the treats. For training treats you want something pretty small that doesn't need to be chewed. When I'm going to be training I mix bits of hot dog, freeze dried liver and kibble. I like using a mix since I can either save the really good stuff for really good behavior or rotate them so the dog never knows which he will get next which can make him work harder.

For brand I use a lot of single ingredient freeze dried treats. Ex liver, chicken,turkey. My current dog has a pancreas condition and can't handle most treats so I try to stick to limited ingredients.
For other dogs usually the stinkier the better lol. I'm a big fan of Zukes treats.

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Gotcha. I'll try using cutting up those items!
I've heard of Zukes! But I also heard by friend complaining about them since they sold out to Purina and now she says it isn't properly sourced (?).

Also, I know puppies require a 'puppy food' but when is it okay to start mixing in adult food into the mix? Will it cause runny stool? Or is it okay to ask the breeder to mix it in so that when it comes to me it'll be easier to do so? How do you do it?

When Purina bought out Zukes, it was said they would still be made in the US, not sure if that is still the case.

Lots of other options out there, lots of dogs like Charlie Bears. There are also a nice line of soft treats out by Wellness. Fruitables are also good.

I would feed puppy food for at least a year. For larger breeds some recommend 18 months. Then you start slowly mixing in adult food with each meal. Depends on how he stomachs it for how fast you go. But I would say after a week and a half to two weeks your dog should be on their new food.

I love this site for dog food. I aim to feed my dogs food that fall in the 5-4 star range. I use grain free due my one of my dogs having health issues. ALso consider a raw diet. I just plain don't have the time to feed raw but it can be a really good diet for some dogs.

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Originally Posted by HVani

When Purina bought out Zukes, it was said they would still be made in the US, not sure if that is still the case.

Lots of other options out there, lots of dogs like Charlie Bears. There are also a nice line of soft treats out by Wellness. Fruitables are also good.

I would feed puppy food for at least a year. For larger breeds some recommend 18 months. Then you start slowly mixing in adult food with each meal. Depends on how he stomachs it for how fast you go. But I would say after a week and a half to two weeks your dog should be on their new food.

I love this site for dog food. I aim to feed my dogs food that fall in the 5-4 star range. I use grain free due my one of my dogs having health issues. ALso consider a raw diet. I just plain don't have the time to feed raw but it can be a really good diet for some dogs.

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Is Purina that bad? I always see it on advertisements and I always thought it was pretty good.

Thanks, I'll look into those! And if I go the more hotdog way, I know to cut it up in really small pieces, but you should never feed more than 1/4 of the hotdog in total right?

And thanks again, I'll look into it! I wanted to do a raw diet, I still would, but heard it's a quite a bit more expensive aha

Most of the heavily advertised dogs foods are actually crap. Purina uses animal by products, corn and other questionable ingredients. They make a food called Beneful that has been linked to many sick dogs and some deaths.
I feed my girls Taste of the Wild. I also really like Earthborn. There are many other good brands out there that are not eukanuba, purina, pedigree and other sub standard dog foods.

I'll be the first to admit I'm a dog food snob.

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Originally Posted by HVani

Most of the heavily advertised dogs foods are actually crap. Purina uses animal by products, corn and other questionable ingredients. They make a food called Beneful that has been linked to many sick dogs and some deaths.
I feed my girls Taste of the Wild. I also really like Earthborn. There are many other good brands out there that are not eukanuba, purina, pedigree and other sub standard dog foods.

I'll be the first to admit I'm a dog food snob.

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Haha, I would be too. I want to make sure everything is perfect, as you can tell by all my weird questions haha. I'll look into those dog foods!

Would it be wrong to ask a breeder how often do they breed Chocolate labs or what their plans are in the next three years?

I see no problem with it. Something I see as a good sign of a good breeder is if they don't breed individuals too often and give their moms breaks. Many good breeders already know or have a good idea of what future pairings will be.

Take your time looking for a breeder. Labs are really popular which means some people jump into it with no thought of genetic issues and temperament. In my opinion the popularity of a breed makes it tough to find a good breeder.

Someday I want an Irish Wolfhound. They are not very common and only a handful of breeders are out there. I've still been researching to make sure when I am ready and I get a healthy, happy animal. ♥

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Originally Posted by Pampho85

Thanks!

I've noticed that some breeders don't test for EIC or Heart Health but they do have OFA and CERF certifications, should they be crossed off the list if they don't have the first two tested?

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If you're not in a huge rush just yet, I highly recommend that you get and read Pukka's Promise. It will cover a lot of what you're looking for in a lab, and it's a GREAT read as well.

I'd also recommend that you find a labrador retriever focused forum, and go there and ask for breeder referrals and tell them you're looking for field line pups. Most of them can recommend who to consider and who to steer away from (if it's anything like the golden retriever forum I'm on).

With GR's, you look for clearances on hips, elbows, heart and eyes. Not sure with labs if OFA clearances are as important on elbows as hips, since I didn't research labs when we got our Noah.

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Originally Posted by HVani

I see no problem with it. Something I see as a good sign of a good breeder is if they don't breed individuals too often and give their moms breaks. Many good breeders already know or have a good idea of what future pairings will be.

Take your time looking for a breeder. Labs are really popular which means some people jump into it with no thought of genetic issues and temperament. In my opinion the popularity of a breed makes it tough to find a good breeder.

Someday I want an Irish Wolfhound. They are not very common and only a handful of breeders are out there. I've still been researching to make sure when I am ready and I get a healthy, happy animal. ♥

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Okay thanks!

That's what I was thinking, so I checked on a lot of lab clubs, and made a pretty big list of breeders.

One of my friends really wants one of those! She saw a breeder have one for around $2,000 and slowly passed up the offer haha

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Originally Posted by rabernet

If you're not in a huge rush just yet, I highly recommend that you get and read Pukka's Promise. It will cover a lot of what you're looking for in a lab, and it's a GREAT read as well.

I'd also recommend that you find a labrador retriever focused forum, and go there and ask for breeder referrals and tell them you're looking for field line pups. Most of them can recommend who to consider and who to steer away from (if it's anything like the golden retriever forum I'm on).

With GR's, you look for clearances on hips, elbows, heart and eyes. Not sure with labs if OFA clearances are as important on elbows as hips, since I didn't research labs when we got our Noah.

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Thanks! I'll read that when I get home!

I tried looking into some forums, but they're pretty dead. I joined a dogforum so I'll be asking a fair bit of questions on there haha

I heard that GR's have a bit more clearances than Lab's, and I saw it on a few breeders where they're tested for more things (forgot what they were tho).