What Will the Labrador Retriever Puppy Become

That eight pounds of warm and fluffy puppy will eventually grow up. When that happens you will have something, while still warm and fluffy, that weighs in somewhere between seventy and one hundred pounds. The big spread in size is due to variations in the breed. If you have knowledge of the parenting you can pretty much know what the offspring size will be. And as you may expect, males are usually larger than females. Don’t let the size put you off. They are still gentle in nature and full of affection.

Labs are full grown in nine months but usually fill out mature muscle only after a full year. Unfortunately the puppy high-jinks lasts for almost a full three years. So what you have is a very strong, fast, and agile buddy who wants to play a lot. They are not destructive but you better play and tire them out if you know what’s good for you. They are obedient but not when it comes to their playtime. Always remember – a tired Lab is a good Lab!

One of the first things you will notice about Labs is the intelligence behind the eyes and what is called an “apple-round head”. The ears fold over but are alert and the snout is in perfect proportion to the face. Bottom line, they are very handsome animals.

The intelligence you see in that face is real. Every day of their lives they study you and learn more. Theirunderstanding of vocabulary becomes extensive and after awhile you will find yourself spelling words you don’t want the dog to understand. Guess what? Very soon the damn thing learns to spell too.

There is an up side to the rapid understanding of words. They train quickly and will follow instructions. Hand gestures are also quickly picked up if accompanied by words. Very shortly you will not have to speak along with the hand gesture. They get it and will comply with your sign.

Even though you will have to wait for that third birthday (read – pray for that third birthday). You will completely enjoy this dog. From day one he will be your best pal and demand nothing more from you than a friendly head rub or back scratch. They love and need physical contact. Their pack mentality and etiquette is very strong. You will be greeted when you wake up in the morning, come home from work or the store and even if you have only been gone tem minutes. They have to say hello and welcome you back. It’s a dog thing, but especially a Lab thing.

There are a few other things about Labrador Retrievers that is very high on their list of things to do. First, they love to eat. You must have the discipline to feed them proportionally and properly. Given to their own devices they would eat chocolate donuts all day long. Thank God they do not have a thumb to open the refrigerator door.

Number two on their list is sleeping. Well, not just sleeping but also getting real, real comfortable when they do it. If they are not allowed on the couch or bed they will know it. However, when you are not around I can assure you the dog has gone to sleep on one of them. You probable won’t catch them at it but smart as they are wrinkled bedspreads and warm spots on the couch are a bit beyond their reasoning ability.

The last big one is water. Most of them love it. As a puppy they will splash in their water dish (get one that is not easily tipped). Once grown and outside the garden hose and sprinklers are just the thing. Large puddles and, of course, streams, rivers and the ocean are just too tempting. And if they can combine water and comfort they have reached the pinicle.

Over all, if it’s a dog you want, you cannot go wrong with a Lab. Good natured, friendly, very tolerant of children, and a great buddy. Oh, I almost forgot, they are genetically bread to retrieve – Duh. So if you throw the ball, guess who will bring it back every time?