Labrador in an apartment: pros and cons, maintenance rules

The Labrador is a fairly common breed of dog purchased for keeping in an apartment. However, before buying, you should definitely find out all the pros and cons of such a transaction, and also understand whether it will be possible to create optimal conditions for the pet.

The Labrador in the apartment, judging by the reviews of numerous owners, does not create any special difficulties for the family. The character of the dog is very light and friendly, and the description of the breed itself contains only positive points. It is worth starting a retriever, even if a person does not own a full-fledged house, but a one-room apartment - in any case, the dog will sleep either next to the owner, or near his feet.

For a Labrador, keeping in an aviary or in a booth on a chain is contraindicated. The obvious advantages of this breed include the simplicity of caring for the animal, its kind character, the ability to obey and the wonderful appearance of the pet.

The disadvantages of retrievers are, in principle, common to most pets. Young individuals are distinguished by increased activity and force the owners to arrange regular vigorous walks for them. Small puppies can ruin things in the apartment if they are not provided with a suitable alternative well in advance. Plus, eating a Labrador, especially an adult, costs money.

A Labrador can be kept quite successfully even in a one-room apartment, but the main condition will be its regular and long walk. Retrievers get along well with children and other animals, so there should be no conflicts. There is a small chance with birds living at home, since the dog may have a hunter's instincts, but you should not worry too much about this. When purchasing a Labrador puppy, it is important to be prepared for the fact that up to the age of three it is still considered a child, which means that it constantly stains the floor. It is better to prepare for this in advance by clearing the apartment of carpets.

Again, in the early years, the dog has increased activity and the need for constant movement, which can lead to injury if unsafe items are not removed first.

In the first 2 weeks, you will have to take special care of the puppy, since at this time the baby misses the mother and other dogs with whom they used to live. It is necessary to communicate at this time in a calm voice, not screaming or swearing, stroking more often and spending time together. In addition, it is important to give him the opportunity to get to know the house - to show him where the water is, where the bowl of food will fit, and where the puppy will sleep.

To train your puppy to walk on the litter box, you will need to follow a certain pattern. About a quarter of an hour after eating, the pet simply lands on the tray. This procedure should be carried out in the first months.

During this period, the dog should receive a reward for good behavior and punishment, respectively, for bad behavior. It is important to mention that in order to sleep, the dog needs to allocate an elevation, for example, a chair, pouf or a special bed, located away both from windows and doorways, and from batteries and other heating devices. The floors in the apartment should not be left slippery, otherwise the puppy's limbs may begin to form in the wrong way. The dog should be brushed every week. During the molting period, this procedure becomes everyday.

For ches, a regular rubber brush will work. Washing a Labrador is allowed with a special shampoo or even regular soap. The bath procedure ends with a thorough wiping. It is important to inspect the ears of a Labrador from time to time for the presence of parasites.

A young dog will have to feed 5 times a day, and an adult has enough a couple of meals a day. The easiest way to get ready-made premium food, which is balanced and contains all the necessary vitamins and other elements. If the food is purchased at a cheaper price, then you will have to attend to the purchase of vitamin supplements in addition. It is important not to forget that retrievers are quite obese and therefore should be fed with very low fat foods.

From natural products, veterinarians recommend choosing raw or boiled beef, fruits, fresh or boiled carrots, dairy products, as well as fairly common cereals - oatmeal, buckwheat or rice. Their use is indispensable in case of Labrador allergy. The dog should not be given any pasta, as well as combine food and ordinary products in the same meal.

The frequency of walking Labradors is determined based on their age. During walks, especially the first three years, it is important not only to play with the dog in the fresh air, but also to teach the simplest commands and shape the pet's behavior. In other words, time in the fresh air should be accompanied by a certain amount of stress. It is important for a puppy between the ages of 3 and 6 months to take a walk every 3 hours, and immediately after eating. Labrador retrievers, whose age ranges from 6 to 9 months, must visit the street 3 to 5 times a day.

The age interval from 9 months to a year allows you to reduce the number of walks to 2 or 3 times a day. Finally, when the retriever celebrates its first birthday, the walk is reduced to a stable 2 times a day. The duration of each walk should vary from an hour to two, so when purchasing a dog of this breed, you should think about this aspect as well.

In the sixth month, walks are accompanied by the beginning of training. First, the puppy should be taught the commands of prohibition and beckoning, and also taught to respond to the nickname. From eight months, you can already set more complex tasks, for example, teaching teams "Sit" or "Place".

For a Labrador living in an apartment, it is important to create a safe environment. The pet must have its own space where it can rest. It is better to separate part of the room for him, but not the master's bedroom, and place a spacious and soft lounger in the corner. Numerous puppy toys can also be placed here. For a Labrador, wooden sticks, and rag men, and rubber figures, and bones, and much more are suitable. By the way, it is not recommended to arrange a Labrador's recreation area on a glassed-in balcony, as the dog can simply jump out of the window after the bird.

The feeding place is located in the corridor or kitchen area. Usually a couple of bowls are enough - for water and for food. The only condition for this corner is that the dog must have free access at any time of the day. As for the cage, the retriever can be kept in it. The dog does not feel any inconvenience and does not perceive this design with a negative connotation.

The comments of the Labrador owners are mostly positive. They are called not only beautiful, but intelligent and loyal animals. Keeping a pet even in a one-room apartment is not considered difficult, since it is completely unpretentious. Some owners, however, report the severity of caring for the puppy, which, in principle, disappears as the animal grows. You have to walk the dog often, for quite a long time and actively, but everything is compensated by the kindness and affection of the pet.

See below about caring for a Labrador in an apartment.