[Dummies 01] • Labrador Retrievers For Dummies by Walton -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Title Contents Introduction

About This Book Foolish Assumptions How This Book Is Organized Icons Used in This Book Where to Go from Here

Part I : Just the Facts, Ma’am Chapter 1: A Match Made in Heaven: You and a Lab?

What a Lab Can Bring to Your Life What a Lab Can’t Do Determining Whether a Lab Wants You!

Chapter 2: Finding a Lab to Fit Your Life

Two Types of Labs Deciding among Labs of a Different Color (And Gender) Looking at a Lab’s Age and Stages

Chapter 3: Getting the Lowdown on Labs

Basic Grooming and Care Training Basics Your Family Lab Showing, Working, and Competing

Part II : Finding and Living with a Labrador Retriever Chapter 4: Choosing Your New Best Friend

The Breeder Option Choosing Your Puppy The Rescue Adoption Option Animal Shelters Labs from Neighbors or Friends Classified Labs: The Newspaper That Doggy in the Window: Pet Stores

Chapter 5: Taking Care of Your Lab

Lab at a Glance It’s a Dog-Eat-Food World Labs Are Movers and Shakers Some Beauty Is Skin Deep

Chapter 6: An Ounce of Prevention

Finding the Right Care To Breed or Not to Breed? The Importance of Spaying or Neutering Your Lab Vaccinations Don’t Bug My Dog! When Emergency Strikes

Chapter 7: Helping Your Lab Deal with Changes

When You Move And Baby Makes . . . Four? Pet Number Two (Or Three, or Four) Illness, Divorce, and Death

Part III : Training Your Lab with the MRE System Chapter 8: M Is for Management

Managing Puppy Behavior Managing Your New Adolescent or Adult Dog

Chapter 9: R Is for Relationship

Creating a Bond with Your Lab Disciplining Like a Parent

Chapter 10: E Is for Education

Your Canine Eliza Doolittle: Socialization Earliest Lessons How Dogs Learn Lab Basic Training

Chapter 11: Training Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Mastering Good Behavior Getting Your Lab to Listen Finding a Good Trainer Continuing Training throughout Your Lab’s Life Training Your Good Citizen Obedience Competition Is Fun!

Part IV : Your Lab: A Member of the Family! Chapter 12: Involving Your Lab in Your Life

While Surfing the Net When Making Phone Calls On Take Your Lab to Work Day While Eating When You’re in the Bathroom As You’re Grooming While Watching Television As You Run Errands When Shopping

Chapter 13: Traveling with Your Lab

Taking Your Lab around Town Choosing the Right Vehicle Practicing Vehicle Safety Taking Family Vacations with Your Lab Making Arrangements When Your Lab Absolutely Can’t Join You

Chapter 14: Keeping Your Lab — and You! — Healthy

Hike It Up Park It! In the Swim Sporty Labs

Part V : Showing Off and Having Fun Chapter 15: Having Fun with Agility Trials and Competitive Sports

Excelling at Agility Flying High with Flyball, Freestyle, and Frisbee

Chapter 16: Competing in Hunting Tests and Field Trials

Hunting Tests Field Trials

Chapter 17: Doing the Dog Show Scene

Knowing When a Star Is Born Understanding the Labrador Breed Standard Visiting a Dog Show Looking at the Ideal Lab versus the Practically Perfect Lab

Part VI : The Part of Tens Chapter 18: Ten Tips for Training Your Lab to Be a Great Pet

Avoiding Problems Caused by Lack of Training Using Lure-and-Reward Training Rewarding with a Marker Using Pure-Reward Training Avoiding Behavioral Problems Staying Positive Not Expecting Perfection Not Repeating Your Mistakes Avoiding Physical Punishment!

Chapter 19: Ten Tips for Choosing the Right Trainer

Chapter 20: Ten Ways Your Lab Can Make a Difference in the World

Labs as Guide Dogs Labs as Hearing Dogs Labs as Assistance Dogs Labs as Therapy Dogs Labs as Teachers Labs as Search-and-Rescue Dogs Labs with a Nose for the Law Bomb Labs Drug Dogs Plain Old Good Citizens

Appendix: Retriever Resources

Labrador Retriever Clubs Canine Organizations Lab E-Mail Lists Lab Videos Labrador CD-ROMs Lab Magazines Books about Labs