Labradors were created and developed to use the power
of their jaws just like a strong hand. During practically
every waking moment they feel the need to put something
in their mouths, and without the presence of a bird
or other small animal, they will grab onto anything
they can. This is fantastic for people who love playing
fetch with their dog but it's not so good for those
dog owners that hate when their pets are constantly
putting items in its mouth.
Labs Have An Oral Fixation
Many families run out and buy a puppy without doing
an ounce of research as to what type of dog they are
getting involved in and how the animal will behave based
on its genetic make-up. Labrador Retrievers, for example,
literally have an oral fixation due to hundreds of years
of breeding specifically for grabbing fallen birds into
their mouths when hunting. This behavior most definitely
carries over into their daily lives.
An educated Lab owner understands that any object within
their dog's reach is considered fair game and they would
never dream of scolding the dog for such behavior (except
for biting of course). Bad Lab owners consider this
behavior destructive and will scold or even hit the
animal in an attempt to get the dog to stop grabbing
stuff in its mouth.
Of course there is a fine line between letting your
Lab express its inner retrieving needs, and letting
the animal absolutely destroy anything in the house
it can eat. This is where specific training and obedience
lessons come in. These dogs are natural chewers and
you must take provisions for their tendency to chew
by using a crate and dog proofing your house.
Constant supervision and creating daily playtime sessions
with your Lab is a requirement for both you and your
dog to be healthy. If you choose not to participate
in the proper upbringing and training that a Lab requires,
more than likely you are going to be frustrated and
unhappy while your dog becomes increasingly bored and
destructive.
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