The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador or Lab for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. The Labrador is widely considered the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world, and is by a large margin the most popular breed by registration in the United States (since 1991), the United Kingdom, and several other countries. It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia, and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities.
Historically, Labrador Retrievers were bred for retrieving in water environments, and as companions in waterfowl hunting. As a breed, this is still evident in their near-universal love of water. They are exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic and good natured, making them both excellent companions and working dogs. Although somewhat boisterous if untrained, Labrador Retrievers respond well to praise and positive attention, and are considerably "food and fun" oriented. With training, the Lab is one of the most dependable, obedient and multi-talented breeds in the world. (From Wikipedia)
I personally have owned labs all of my life. They are by far the best dogs (my personal opinion) for companions and family dogs compared to any other breed that I have ever owned. They are easy to train and will absolutely adore you. They live for your approval and affection. Labs want to be where you are. I should have named our lab Shadow instead of Phoenix because wherever you are, there she is.
Now dog ownership isn't without it's responsibilities. You must be prepared to invest the time necessary to work with your dog. Labs love to work. They will eagerly follow your instructions with lots of praise and a little food. In my experience, consistent training on a nightly basis, even if it is for just a few minutes works wonders. Like Cesar the Dog Whisper says, "Be the pack leader". Below are some hints and tips and tidbits of information that have assisted us the raising and training our dogs.
Crates:
I am a firm believer in crate training. It is not cruel or mean to train your dog to use a crate. All of my dogs have been crate trained. I do not advocate using a crate as a form of punishment. Dogs like to have a place of their own. A crate is a safe haven for your dog when you need to be away for periods of time. I do not recommend leaving your dog in the crate for excessive amounts of time, but you should be able to get to the point where your dog is very comfortable staying in the crate for the length of a business day. Be encouraging when you put your dog in the crate. Use praise and love. Your dog will grow to feel very comfortable in its domain. I typically use the crate for our dogs up to the age of about 2. Then I start to test the waters by leaving the dog out of the crate while we step out for short periods of time. Do not be surprised if at bed time the dog runs right into its crate and lays down. Leave the crate door open when you are home so the dog can come and go as it pleases. Make sure the crate is big enough for the dog to move around without be constrained. Labs are large breeds, even the shorter, English stock of labs that we breed. If you are getting a puppy from us it is ok to start with a smaller crate, just be sure to upgrade as your dog grows. There are several types of crates out on the market. There are solid plastic, wire and fabric mesh crates. I have had the best of luck with the open wire crates. They do not restrict the dog's view or air flow. All of our puppies leave our house with basic pen training. You should have no problem moving the puppy right into a crate.
I'm still working on compiling a lot more information to post here. So check back often!
More information to come...