Characteristics and Temperament

   The main characteristics of Labradors are their coat, tail, head and  temperament. They have a double coat: a soft, downy undercoat that  keeps them dry and warm in cold water and a hard outer coat that helps  them repel water. Their tail, described best as an otter tail, is  thick at the base and tapers to a narrower point. It should not be  carried over the back nor should it have a curl to it. It should,  however, be at exactly coffee table height and always be ready to  swipe one clean. Their head is clean cut and somewhat broad, with  hanging ears. Their expression is alert and intelligent and conveys a  kind, friendly temperament.
  
   Their best feature is their temperament. Labs are loving, people  oriented dogs. They are happiest when they are with you. Labs are  retrievers and will bring you things they find laying about your house  or yard. They tend to be quite patient with children and wonderful  family dogs. They are not guard dogs. They may bark protectively, but  will generally not act more aggressively. Labs are wonderful people  dogs, more likely to lick someone to death than hurt them. They tend  to be stable, not easily upset by strange things or occurrences. They  will take many things in stride.

Some people have a problem deciding how to choose a puppy.  Here are a couple of things to consider when looking

NEVER buy a puppy from a breeder who doesn't have the correct paperwork unless you are not concerned with
registering the puppy or you aren't concerned with the puppy being a purebred dog.  A reputable breeder will have
the paperwork ready to go with the puppy.

MALE OR FEMALE  This is usually a huge decision.  Some people will only  consider a female or a male. 
Obviously if you are thinking of breeding and having puppies you will be looking for a female.  Both sexes make
good pets. In general, male Labradors are more dependent and females are somewhat independent. For example,
if you are at home working on your computer, your male Labrador will probably sleep right under your feet while
your female will probably sleep in the other room and just come in and check on you periodically. If you are looking
for a family dog that will be neutered, generally speaking, the "neutered" male is a great family pet.  He won't be
distracted by "females"; he will get along well with other dogs; he won't put on a lot of extra weight and he will be far
more energetic than a fixed female may tend to be.  Fixed females tend to carry more weight and may possibly be a
little lazier......for some people this is ideal.  If you have kids the "neutered" male lab may play a little harder and take a little more "rough" play than a female.  It is a matter of preference.

DO THEY BARK A LOT? Bored Labradors can, but excessive barking is not generally typical of the breed.
Labradors often give a warning bark in response to an unusual event that they feel needs your attention, such as
"Hey, a car pulled into the driveway!"

HEALTHY HOMEWORK   A responsible breeder should do their "homework".  As a buyer you should look for a puppy that comes with their 1st shots, have been de-wormed regularly since birth and has a health guarantee so you know exactly what you are getting.  It is always best if the parents are Hip Certified.  We choose to have the dew claws removed as labs are active dogs and this small claw can get caught on things and torn off.  This is not an absolutely necessary procedure.  We also choose to have our puppies "vet checked" prior to leaving the farm.  We have found that there is nothing more heartbreaking than losing a dog or having one with serious health problems.

HOUSE BREAKING  Each dog is different.  NEVER let your puppy roam the house unattended.  They will not learn where to go potty.  Watch your puppy when you first get him to learn his habits and personality.  If laying quietly and he gets up, looking around or sniffing - GET HIM OUTSIDE.  If he is waking up after a long nap - GET HIM OUTSIDE.  if he is cuddled up with you watching a movie and decides to get up - GET HIM OUTSIDE.  Basically, anytime your puppy isn't focused you, the cat or something and is "in motion" - GET HIM OUTSIDE.

Helpful Links:   Housebreaking Your Puppy     

THE 1ST NIGHT  Everyone has a different idea of how they want to handle the 1st night.  If you have another dog that is tolerant of the puppy the transition will usually be easy.  If you don't have another dog we have found that heating a towel in the microwave prior to going to bed or even a heating pad ON LOW will help your puppy to sleep good at night.  We (personally) have put the puppy in a box next to the bed so when they get whiney at night we can pet them and reassure them during the night without getting out of bed.  Some people like the "crate method" which we haven't used.  Our puppies are also used to the radio playing all night.  We also withhold food and water after 8pm to help avoid any "accidents" during the night.  We have found the puppy will usually spill the water and dump the food when in the dark.