The dog is a true friend of man, faithful and loyal. How many lonely hearts dogs warmed, not allowing them to become hardened and disappointed in life. Communicating with this most ancient human assistant ennobles and awakens the best feelings in the soul, saving us from indifference and cruelty. Many people, not owning spacious private estates, have adapted to keep dogs in cramped city apartments. Is this content acceptable for large dog breeds such as Labrador? What are the pros and cons of a Labrador in an apartment? Which one is more?
Dog content in the apartment
The breed is very large and powerful. It has a very attractive exterior, very popular among dog lovers. Therefore, the maintenance of the Labrador in the apartment is a rather relevant topic. These dogs are unpretentious in everyday life and care, very accommodating, have a good disposition and excellent character. They are obedient and well trained, very devoted and loyal friends. But the qualities that she was given from birth are not enough to be a well-bred and decent dog, which is especially important in the cramped conditions of city apartments. With any dogs you need to train at least at the most primitive level, but most of all this is required for special dog breeds.
For the Labrador, the daily routine is important!
Labrador is a very large specimen of a domestic dog, which, although it is distinguished by great intelligence and understanding, still has some needs due to the characteristics of the breed. It will be best for him in a private house, where there is a lot of space where you can frolic in the open. A labrador in the apartment can also settle down well if the owners organize the right care for him and begin to strictly follow the daily routine. The Labrador is very active, for health and normal development, he needs daily long walks, during which he can not only meet the natural needs of the body, but also run free to play, play and frolic, which cannot be done in the apartment.
In addition, this is a very delicate dog that cannot be kept on a leash - it needs the attention and care of the owner, his patience and endurance. They do not require any special care, especially when they become adults, but still they will have to devote a lot of time. Wool should be combed thoroughly periodically with a rubber massage brush, which is useful for proper blood circulation and allows you to remove excess hair. In addition, they should be washed regularly without the use of shampoos, ordinary water. Dogs should have a strict nutritional schedule, and since the breed is prone to overweight, a lot of attention should be paid to proper diet.
What is needed for a normal life of a dog?
When starting a large breed, you should be aware that the Labrador in the apartment is not a toy, you should seriously deal with it, and this requires discipline and organization from the owner. You will have to take care of providing the dog with a balanced diet and a daily walk of 1.5-2 hours at any time of the year and in any weather. You can feed it with natural food in the form of meat, cereals, dairy products, high-quality dry food. Meals twice a day at the same time.
If you are ready to strictly follow the rules throughout the life of your pet, then before you get a dog, weigh all the pros and cons. Labrador in the apartment is a serious step, and if you have a dog, it will be impossible to win back. Keeping a dog is a very responsible matter, they need to be taken seriously or not at all.
Pros of a dog of this breed in the apartment
What are the pros and cons of a labrador in an apartment? Now we will deal with this issue in detail.
The maintenance of the Labrador in the apartment is practically no different from its maintenance in a private house, if the owner correctly organized the dog walking. And caring for them is not too burdensome when the pet is welcome and beloved. At the same time, there are still some advantages and disadvantages of the Labrador in the apartment. The positive aspects of the presence of a dog include their friendliness and love of love - they are always near the owner, they miss them very much and show sincere joy when you come home from work.
Dogs sleep near the owner’s bed, they are very obedient and restrained. They do not need complicated care, Labradors are very amenable to training, even if not professional, but domestic. In addition, the tough regime and the need for constant walking of the dog disciplines its owners, providing daily exercise in the fresh air, which is very useful for maintaining human health, too. However, there are certain disadvantages of the Labrador in the apartment.
Minuses
The labrador’s shortcomings are not caused by his innate qualities - they are the result of a careless attitude of the owners to raising a dog. So that too energetic and very active puppies do not harm your apartment, you need to walk with them for a long time, play active games, let them run freely, because this breed needs space and a wide field for activity. If this is not provided, under the distribution will fall home furniture and personal belongings of the household. The disadvantages include the high cost of Labrador food, as feeding a large dog twice a day is not a joke. It is recommended to feed the dog with dry food, in which microelements and vitamins are already balanced. Food should be high-quality, which requires a lot of money, and feeding with natural products is not cheap, because the Labrador’s diet contains meat, eggs, cottage cheese and other expensive products.
The obvious disadvantages include the period when the small labrador in the apartment undergoes adaptation to the environment and is accustomed to the rules of behavior. Puppies do not differ in cleanliness, therefore, due to their bad manners, they can harm the interior of the apartment. The task of the owners during the training period is to remove the carpeting and to clean the area of things as much as possible. For some time to limit movement around the apartment use the playpen. True, one should remember the animal’s craving for space and not abuse this forced measure. While the puppy is small and untrained, try to keep it in your field of vision and stop attempts to damage property from the beginning. The organization of regular walks and training also bring some inconvenience and take quite a lot of time.
Is it worth keeping such a dog in the apartment?
But all these difficulties mean nothing in comparison with the happiness that the Labrador gives in the apartment (we examined the pros and cons of the breed above). Any problems in behavior can be easily corrected, and loving and caring owners can achieve a lot in raising their pet. The undoubted plus is that the friend from the Labrador is excellent, loyal, faithful, fearless. And what immense love splashes in his eyes! This more than compensates for all the inconveniences and troubles.
Features of the education of a Labrador. Dog handler tips
What do the owners of the Labrador write in the reviews? In the apartment, the dog gets along well in limited conditions, but you need to create a comfortable microclimate for it to live normally. All potential dog owners should realize that the dog is not a toy, and the hassle with it is no less than with a child, so what kind of education you provide to her, you will get such a pet. Dog handlers give the following recommendations:
- be patient and take the process of education very seriously;
- never beat a dog or scream at her;
- give commands clearly and measuredly, without emotions and humanization of speech;
- conduct training from simple to more complex;
- always praise for correctly executed commands;
- if the animal does not fulfill the command, show discontent immediately and only in intonation, so that the dog understands what the owner is not happy with;
- make each training session interesting and moving;
- be patient and fair, understand that any inaccuracies in the pet are the result of your poor education;
- apply swimming and playing with a ball when walking;
- always remember your responsibility for the dog.
Tips from experienced owners
What do the owners say in their reviews about the Labrador in the apartment? What do they advise? Experienced dog lovers share their personal experiences with beginners and urge:
- Do not transfer your punctures to the animal in its training, moreover, do not scold him for this, but take note of the flaw and take it into account during further education;
- remember that the basis of successful dog training is unlimited patience, a clear sequence of actions and simple human affection;
- not treat the dog as a person, the animal has completely different functions and needs, a different worldview and intelligence;
- Do not neglect regular examinations by a veterinarian; do vaccinations in a timely manner;
- provide your darling with high-quality nutritious food.
Conclusion
It is quite possible to keep a Labrador in a city apartment, if you seriously and responsibly treat his upbringing and maintenance. Just love this little ball of happiness, and when it grows up into a beautiful powerful dog with excellent skills, it will become the subject of your pride and envy of friends.