Having reached the Breeders page of our site you are probably looking for a dog – and of course we are all besotted Labrador people so feel our breed is the best of all. However adding any dog to your home situation needs a lot of thought. Before you run out and buy a dog you must stop and look at your own lifestyle. Take a moment and read the following to help you decide if a dog will fit into your life. Some of the major things to consider ….

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME ?
How much time each day do you have to devote to a dog? Are you willing to commit to the dog for the dog's life which for a Labrador can be up to 16 years? Puppies require far more time invested in them than adults. A puppy particularly cannot be left alone for long. Adult dogs cope a little better but still time spent alone is damaging psychologically. Dogs are social group/pack animals and do best when part of the family. With a new puppy you need to make time for classes, training, socializing, and activities. If you cannot devote time to raising ‘baby’, ensuring your dog becomes well trained and socialized for the next ten to fifteen years or more, do not get one. It is important to remember that one puppy class course or obedience class does not a trained dog make. Training and learning lasts the life of the dog. Parents often make the mistake of buying a dog for the children only to discover that as well intentioned as they were the children do not have the time to care for your new family member. It is the parents who have to fulfil the care commitment.

CAN YOU AFFORD A DOG ?
Buying a puppy for $900 is not the big expense. It is what follows that can drain your wallet. Food is the biggest investment, at $1.50 to $3 per day – that adds up to $6,600 to $13,000 over a 12 year lifetime. Then you need to buy dog beds, toys, a crate, bowls, leads, collars, and other necessary supplies. Puppy vaccinations are every few weeks while the puppy is young and training classes (any where from $50 to over $300 depending on where you go) are essential. Dog registration starts at 3 months of age and is an annual fee. Then there is investment in fencing if needed to ensure your dog cannot stray. Annual wellness checks and vaccinations, pet insurance or something put aside for medical emergencies (can easily run to hundreds of dollars if not more) are other costs that need to be budgeted for. All-in-all the dog was the cheap part! Be aware.
 
CAN YOU PROVIDE HOUSING AND FENCING FOR A DOG ?
Chained up most of the time in the back yard with a kennel and water is not proper housing. It contravenes the Animal Welfare Codes in New Zealand. Dogs are social animals and should be part of the ‘family pack’. If you cannot make a dog a family member, spend plenty of time with him, keep him in a safe area when you are not home and provide him with plenty of exercise then reconsider. By law your dog cannot be allowed to roam free – so your property needs to be fenced in such a way that a dog may not wander. Dogs given inadequate exercise and time with their owners are much more prone to become nuisance barkers and bring the ‘Dog Ranger’ to your door because of a complaint.

 WHAT IS YOUR LIFESTYLE LIKE – WILL A DOG FIT IN ?
What is your lifestyle like? Are you an active family that can give a Labrador the exercise, both physical and mental, that they need. They need plenty of walking and free exercise plus they love being mentally challenged – which is why they are so popular as gundogs, guide dogs, hearing dogs, drugs dogs etc If not then may be you should look at another breed. Discuss among the family why you want/need a dog. Everyone should be committed to this new entrant to the family. Think about the changes that may happen to your family over the next 15 years, children, job changes, both adults working, being sent overseas by your employer and so on.

WHAT ABOUT GROOMING ?
Labradors require only a few minutes of going over with a brush once or twice a week as well as regular attention to teeth, ears and nails. All dogs shed to some extent and Labradors are good at it !!! If you are a very neat and tidy person and cannot cope with the extra house cleaning needed, then perhaps consider a lower shedding breed.

FAMILY MEDICAL ISSUES
Are there any allergies or medical conditions in your family that could cause issues resulting in having to get rid of the dog? No breed is truly hypoallergenic. People with serious problems may not be able to tolerate ANY breed. If there are suspected health concerns, consult a doctor before considering a pet.

WHAT ABOUT WHEN YOUR DOG AGES?
Are you prepared to cope with the onset of old age. Can you handle the increased health issues that can go along with a senior dog? A dog will spend his life trying to please an owner and family. The least we can do is make their Golden years truly golden. And at the end there is always a parting for they live shorter lives than ours.
Adding a dog to your life is no small thing. It is time, commitment, money and even heartache. Impulse buying a pup from a pet store (the worst place to look for a pet), buying off internet auction sites or grabbing the local paper and reading the many ads from people breeding for the sake of it can often lead to disaster for you and for the dog.
It is your responsibility as a future dog owner to research your life and decide what is best for you and your family. It is your responsibility to find educated and committed people to help advise you. It is your responsibility to ensure the dog is well trained, well socialized and the safest he can be. Throughout his life he is always your responsibility.
Before you buy, stop and think and think again. Is this the right thing for you. If all these queries are answered satisfactorily and you are happy with your decision to buy a Labrador then you and your family can look forward to years of wonderful companionship, unconditional love and pleasure.