Cheetahs, the world’s fastest land mammal, and Labrador Retrievers share a lasting bond when raised together. That’s what the Columbus (OH) Zoo and Aquarium has observed over the years of pairing young Labrador puppies with cheetah cubs to give the latter confidence.
Not all reputable breeders offer a standardized contract for sales of older puppies and/or adults or even for stud dog services. But they all agree they want their prospective buyers to know they’ll take back their canines should the need arise. And they all carefully screen female dogs (and their owners) before allowing their males to be used at stud.
Canine liver disease experts, who have observed a rise in copper toxicosis (CT) in purebreds and mixed breeds, recommend less copper in commercial dog foods. On other CT fronts, Dutch researchers continue their CT studies in Labrador Retrievers, and state-side researchers conduct clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of one drug used for treating this often fatal disease.
One young California couple fortuitously decided to buy insurance for their young Labrador Retriever pup and saved nearly $15,000. But pet insurance isn’t for everyone: it’s expensive and may not cover much of your pet’s medical expenses. If you opt to purchase insurance, carefully read and compare different policies which often significantly differ from one another.
Good news may be on the horizon for Labrador retriever breeders and owners who understand the potential heartbreak of copper toxicosis, an often-deadly disease that attacks some purebreds as well as mixed breeds. Dutch researchers will soon release a study about a controversial DNA genetic test and are working on a biomarker in blood to predict whether an individual dog has the disease.
Copper toxicosis can kill purebreds and mixed breeds. Its onset may occur in young puppies and adults of any age. Learn more about this devastating disease, and how breeders and owners alike of Labrador Retrievers can use a recently developed DNA test to learn if their dogs are more at risk for the disease than others, and, if so, what steps they can take to try to keep the disease at bay.
Buyers Beware: Dog registries, including the AKC, and the Labrador breed standard worldwide, recognize only three colors of this family-friendly breed: black, yellow and chocolate. Read more to learn why a silver-colored dog isn’t a Labrador and what to look for when searching for a purebred Labrador.