AM I READY FOR LABRADOR OWNERSHIP?A dog requires care and attention every day. If you acquire a Labrador now, will you have the time and be willing to:
1. Walk it for 30 minutes at least 4 times a week?
2. Commit to going straight home from work each night to feed and care for the dog?
3. Get up 20 to 30 minutes early each day to provide care for the dog?
4. Go out at least once each day to clean up your dog's waste? Will these be pleasurable activities rather than burdensome tasks? Will you resent the dog because it ties you down? Or will you derive pleasure from even the mundane tasks such as "poop scooping" simply because they give you an excuse to go outside and spend time with your dog.
Do you rent or own your own home?
Rentals
It is difficult to find rentals which will accept a dog of the size and activity level or a Labrador Retriever. Please answer the following questions honestly before acquiring a Labrador:
1. Does your job require frequent moves?
Will your current landlord allow dogs the size of Labradors? Do you have it in writing?
2. Is there a deposit required? If so, how much is it and have you figured that into the cost of dog ownership?
3. Does your rental have an adequate yard to keep your Labrador in while you are away from home? Things to consider are size, landscaping (which you will need to replace if it is destroyed by your dog), fencing height and strength, shelter and shade, and proximity/disposition of neighbors.
Own Your Home
If you own your home it is easier to add a dog to the household but you should consider the following things carefully:
1. How much do you value a lush lawn and beautiful shrubs and flowers? If you acquire a female be prepared for yellow spots on the lawn at the very least.
Will you be disappointed, enraged, ready to get rid of the dog if it digs and chews its way through the landscaping? Or will you see it as an opportunity to change the yard around a bit?
2. Do you have room and money and will you be willing to install a chain link dog run to confine the dog in during the times when you are gone in order to help maintain the landscaping?
3. Are you the gardener or is another member of the family responsible for this? Will they be tolerant of your Labrador's gardening activities or will this create a family feud?
Neighbors
Consider the proximity of neighbors and their tolerance for dogs, especially those who might be annoyed by barking dogs. If you alienate neighbors, it is not as easy to move when you own your own house since you will need to sell your house first.
Does everyone in the household agree to acquiring a dog?
Sometimes one member of the household wants a dog so badly that they forget to check with other members. If you have children and you think they want a dog -- remember that YOU will be the one responsible for ensuring that it is properly cared for. You will also be responsible for all expenses and will need to interact with it as well since it will be living in the household. If you can't get your children to take out the garbage, thrown their dirty clothes into the laundry, or take responsibility for making their lunches without constant nagging then DO NOT add a dog to the household. Similarly, if your spouse or housemate is not as thrilled about the acquisition of a Labrador as you are then you need to step back and reconsider whether any dog is suitable in the household or if it is just the Labrador which is objectionable. Ultimately, dogs which are placed into households where there is not 100% agreement on whether or not to acquire a dog usually wind up as one of the millions of dogs given up each year because "they just didn't work out." The dog in this situation often pays with its life.
Can I afford a Labrador Retriever?
Aside from the initial purchase price ($400-$600 on average in 1996), there are other expenses which are ongoing and fairly substantial, including but not limited to:
1. Food/Treats—$30 to $40 per month ($360 to $480/year)
2. Routine Veterinary Care (Vaccinations/Heartworm Preventative/Annual Exam)—$200 or more depending on your location. If you have the teeth cleaned annually, add $100 to $200 per year.
3. Non-routine Veterinary Care (Ear Infections/Accidents/Illness)—Allow $500 per year ‘just in case’.
4. Spay/Neuter—$80 to $200 (once in a lifetime expense)
5. Grooming/Shampoos/Flea Control—$20 and up depending on whether a Flea Control Service for yard and house is needed.
6. Miscellaneous Supplies and Toys—$0 and up -- most people probably spend $100 per year on collars, leashes, toys, and Labrador-decorated T-shirts, mugs, etc.
7. One Time Equipment Purchases—Crate $70 to $80, Baby Gates $30 each, Dog House $70 or more, Chain Link Dog Run $200 to $1,000 or more.
8. Replacement Purchases—Budget $1,000 for the first year if you have extensive landscaping and children who don't pick up their toys. If you are diligent in your puppy training, you could probably get away with less than $100 worth of stuff destroyed by your puppy.
9. Grand Total (not including the one time expenses and replacement costs) = $1,380 per year.