Labrador Retreiver Rescue, Inc. 978-356-2982

Thank you for your interest in Labrador Retriever Rescue, Inc. Our purpose at LRR is to find appropriate, permanent loving homes for the Labs that come into our adoption program. The following material must be read carefully, as it will help you to decide whether a Rescue Lab is the best dog for you to adopt.

Is A Rescue Lab The Right Dog For You?

Labradors are intelligent, strong, active dogs that thrive on attention and regular exercise. They come in three colors — black, chocolate, and yellow (not white or golden).

TIME: Many of the Labs that come into our adoption program were given up because the former owners decided they did not have the time to spend with their Lab. Therefore, one of the important requirements is that the new adopter(s) have time everyday to spend with a Lab. Labs are "people" dogs; they NEED to be around people, because they thrive on companionship, attention and love. Labs do not do well alone in invisible fence or placed out for hours in a fenced yard or in a crate for the day. Consider your lifestyle and household schedule-do you work long hours? Are you busy with community and children obligations? , Do you need or like to travel frequently? In other words, do you really have the time to give a rescue lab? Today many people are out of the house the entire day and find the benefits of a dog walker well worth the expense ($10-$15 per visit). We would much prefer a responsible family member to be home part of the day. Many of the dogs offered to us have already been proven unable to tolerate being left alone for the average work/school day! If you don't have the time, don't do the crime of adopting a Lab.

EXERCISE: Labs need to have a consistent exercise schedule daily, (Minimum 30-45 minutes AM and 30-45 minutes PM), or they may have trouble adjusting to the "family" dog role. Dogs DO NOT exercise themselves; therefore you must interact with them and go for a walk or play. Labs that are put out by themselves in a fenced yard or tied out will usually exhibit behavior problems such as chewing, excessive barking, digging, and territory aggression. A well-exercised dog is a happy dog. This means seven days a week rain or shine. Dogs left in invisible fence do not get sufficient exercise and should never be left out if you are not at home.

TRAINING: We have all enjoyed our friend's well-trained and socialized Lab and this is what may have attracted us to the breed. THAT Lab did not come trained! The owners have provided consistent structured training and rules to have a well-behaved dog. They have also socialized the Lab with other dogs and people. LRR, Inc. does not get two year old, yellow, obedience trained, female Labs. The great majority of our dogs are 2-6 years old untrained males and females. They are kind, loving and eager to please, however no one has provided much training or guidance along the way. Labs are capable of being trained at any age. Our adopting families are special in that they understand this need and are eager and capable of giving our Labs the chance they so need to grow into a fine family member. We highly recommend obedience classes to teach you and your dog the skills needed to co-exist happily. Training is an investment for a good future together. Check for a trainer in your area at www.apdt.com (Assoc. of Pet Dog Trainers)

SIZE: The average lab weighs between 60-90 pounds.

GROOMING: Labs are considered a wash and wear dog, but they do shed seasonally. Yellows tend to shed more than the other colors. They also need to have their toenails cut regularly and their ears checked for infection or cleaning. Both jobs are easy for the dog owner to do. Labs can carry fleas and ticks. They love to swim and enjoy the outdoors. If you require a perfectly neat home DO NOT get a lab. Labs are always willing to donate hair, muddy paw prints and puddles of rain water to your decor.

HEALTH AND CARE: Labs like all breeds are prone to certain hereditary conditions. Labs can be prone to allergies (food, skin) joint problems, and hip problems. We try very hard to find out if a lab has any major health problems before coming into our adoption program. Veterinary care for good health is a major expense the pet owner needs to be prepared to pay. Feeding high quality dry dog food is another expense, but directly helps the dog's health.

AGE: The average life span of a lab is 12-14 years. We seldom have puppies in our adoption program. Our young Labs are usually energetic and requier lots of exercise and attention. Mature Labs, 4 to 7 years old, are over the active stage and are in the prime of their life. Senior Labs are usually calm, gentle and affectionate. Mature and Senior Labs usually settle into new homes quite readily.

TEMPERAMENT: All Labs are evaluated for temperament, as this is a major consideration in our matching process. We do not accept any dog with a history of biting or aggression, as this is not typical lab temperament. Their personalities can range from headstrong to submissive. We encourage our applicants to make temperament their top priority, NOT color or sex. If you are applying for a certain Lab, i.e. blocky head, yellow, female, English type, etc.- your wait could be long. Male Labs are just as caring and affectionate, if not more so than females
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CHILDREN: Families with children under the age of 10 must have a fenced yard (see fencing, section 4) there are NO exceptions to this rule. The dog and children must NOT be allowed to interact unsupervised. Families with young children need to consider if they are ready for "another child" as this is what it is like adopting a young lab (1-3 years old). If the family has many commitments to job, sports, school there is probably not enough time to include exercise, training and care for a Lab. Let's be realistic about getting a dog for the family. Mom is usually the main caretaker and if she is not ready for this time and energy commitment it's doomed for failure from the start. Our commitment is to place the rescue Labs in permanent homes, this is not a" let's try and see" proposition. Not all Labs in our adoption program are suitable for placement in homes with children under the age of 6. We do not place Rescue Labs in homes with young children unless the Lab is well socialized and has a positive history with children. The number of Labs available to go into these homes is very limited, while the demand is high. Families with young children may wait for 6 months or more for a suitable Labrador.