How I See It . . . . . 

One of our Labrador retriever puppies is named Abby. Her registered name is Abby-normal, which comes from the movie Young Frankenstein, one of my all time favorites.
Source: www.goldentrianglenews.com

NH dog and owner vying to be on Milk-Bone box 
Toby, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever, likes to follow his owner, Mike Malynowski, wherever he goes.
Source: www.unionleader.com

9 Common Terms Used In Labrador Retriever Training

1. Bait: A treat used to get your Labrador Retriever to give you his attention.

2. Collars: A “puppy” collar is a buckle collar made from a wide piece of cotton or nylon fabric. A slip or chain “choke” collar is made from cotton, nylon or chain. The best chain collars are brass with very tight, small links.

3. Cord or Long line: A piece of cotton or nylon cord, very lightweight and small in diameter (in relation to the size of your puppy or dog) with a snap at one end and a handle at the other.

4. Correction: A physical or verbal restraint to the dog.

5. Free: Without restraint.

6. Leash or Lead: A leash is a six-foot leather line with a handle at one end and a snap at the other. It should be small enough in width to comfortably fit in your hand.

7. Praise: Positive physical or verbal reassurance to reward your Retriever.

8. Reward: An edible treat or tossable toy.

9. Show leash or Show lead: A lightweight lead. This type of leash comes in different materials, fabrics and lengths. Some show leashes have built-in collars while some are to be attached to separate collars.

Adventures in the outdoors have given St. Jacobs man plenty to write about 

Larry Mueller never thought he could make a living by writing about hunting and dogs, but 10 books and a lifetime of columns and feature stories for outdoor magazines and newspapers later, he’s done just that. More…

According to historians, British troops stopped at the mouth of Black Creek to load fresh water onto their ships as they made their way up the Hudson River toward Kingston 229 years ago to burn the city. More…

It may be a dog-eat-dog world, but when it comes down to psychological warfare, rabbits rule. More…

Last weekend we were out running errands, and stopped in a local shop to pick up a few Christmas presents I had my eye on. More…

Rescued dog will take a bite out of crime

Riverside Press Enterprise - Soon, the Labrador-golden retriever mix will be sniffing for accelerants as she heads off for training to become an arson In addition to her breed — most arson dogs are Labrador mixes — Koster said he had a feeling that the dog would be a
Source: www.pe.com

Sun Valley dog treats get national attention
Twin Falls Times-News - People magazine spotted the healthy fortune cookies for dogs in Los Angeles, and told local owners Lyn Stallard and Stallard, who tested recipes on her yellow Labrador retriever Cody for more than a year until she hit a formula that worked, said
Source: www.magicvalley.com

election scorecard
Slate - But the trend toward jumbo dogs doesn’t quite explain why the Labrador retriever is far more popular than other big breeds. The simple answer is that dog owners are mimics: Instead of studying up on breeds that might meet their particular needs, they
Source: www.slate.com

8 Tips To Help Prevent Pica: Which Is When Your Labrador Retriever Has A Compulsive Disorder

With some Labrador Retrievers, meals aren’t the only source of oral intake they have. Wool and other fibers, non-digestible plant material, rubber, plastic, wood, and even their own hair are just some of the things a dog may choose to ingest. Called pica - the drive to consume material that is not generally considered food - is what animal behaviorists call a compulsive disorder.

In a human, a compulsive disorder may be repetitive, such as frequent hand washing or pulling one’s hair out. In dogs, these disorders can include excessive licking and spinning in circles. Compulsive disorders are competitive, nonfunctional, nonbeneficial behaviors. Although the exact cause of compulsive disorders is unknown, animal behaviorists feel that they are often caused by stress brought on by environmental conflicts such as competition with other pets, changes in the home, constant punishment, or confinement to small areas such as cages or crates.

Lack of socialization or too much attention may bring about a compulsive behavior as well. A nutritional imbalance can also lead to pica. A dog with a compulsive disorder loses control over his ability to initiate and stop these negative, repetitive actions. Often the compulsive behaviors are oral in nature, causing the dog to eat things he shouldn’t.

Controlling Your Labrador Retriever’s Disorder

1. The first step in treating a compulsive disorder is to identify the cause and eliminate it. For example, if your dog is crated for a large portion of the day, allow him outside the confined space to help get him on the road to recovery.

2. Don’t reinforce the behavior by paying attention to him while he is engaged in it. Providing good quality time on a set schedule is preferable and more effective than petting, stroking, or verbally consoling your dog in the midst of repetitive activity.

3. Do not reinforce the behavior by punishing your dog for the compulsive behavior or for other inappropriate activities. It may make the problem worse.

4. Spray household objects your Labrador Retriever likes to chew with cayenne pepper, essential oils in citrus, cinnamon, or eucalyptus scents, spray deodorant, or perfume that is not your own.

5. Spray favorite chewables with a pet repellent to deter your dog from sticking non-food objects in his mouth.

6. Keep dangerous objects such as yarn or string out of your dog’s reach to prevent him from chewing and swallowing them.

7. If your dog is chewing his hair, he may have an allergy. Discuss the problem with your veterinarian before embarking on a behavior modification program.

8. As a last resort to solve a compulsive eating disorder, discuss drug therapy with your veterinarian. Drugs that increase serotonin levels, like Prozac and some antidepressants, are used for treating compulsive disorders, including compulsive eating.