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Choosing A Labrador Retriever
by Kelly Marshall - Guest Author
When you are in search of a dog, there are many choices that need to be made. The choices are not always easy. You want to make sure you take your time so that you get the dog that you and your family want. The first thing you will want to do is narrow your choices down to which breed of dog you would prefer to own.
Choosing which breed of dog you want may be difficult, or it may be easy if you have always wanted a certain breed. The choices do not stop here though, in fact, they are just beginning. You have a lot of choices, and a lot of work ahead of you in order to get the right dog.
Now that you have decided that a Labrador Retriever is the dog you would like to own, you have some more decisions to make. You will want to decide if you want a male or female, or possibly both. You will need to weigh the advantages of each gender before making your decision. This decision will need to be made with the purpose of the dog in mind. If you want a hunting dog you may want a male so you don’t have to worry about the female being in heat.
Next, you may want to think about what color of dog you would like. Some people prefer certain colors over others, while some owners don’t have much of a preference. Some people look for all the other things they want in the dog and worry about the color last. Some of the choices you have are black, chocolate, and yellow.
After you have an idea of what you want, you will want to start your search. This can be a long process, so take your time to find the right dog. If you are spending the money to get an AKC registered dog, you want to make sure you are getting what you want. You also want to make sure you are spending your money wisely.
One good way to find quality breeders is to go to dog shows. At a dog show, you will find many people who know a great deal about dogs. Talk to as many people as you can and get as much information as you possibly can. This is a great place to ask questions and get honest answers. You may want to think about doing a little research before you start talking to people so that you can ask intelligent questions.
Next you will want to start visiting breeders. Make sure you visit more than one breeder, so you have a better idea of what you are looking for. Don’t just get the first dog you see; this may end in disappointment if you later find a dog that was more what you wanted. Visit the breeders and tell them what you are looking for and see if they can help you out. A good breeder will help you find what you are looking for, even if it is not from them.
Before you visit the breeder, you will want to talk to other people who have gotten dogs from them. Talking to other owners will give you a better idea of what you are looking for and they can tell you which breeders they liked. If you hear a lot of great things about a certain breeder, you will want to make sure you go and visit them.
Article by Kelly Marshall
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