When making the choice to get a Lab, one of the important things that you need to also consider is where to buy a Labrador Retriever.
After all, getting a Labrador and committing to take care of them is a serious choice.
It is not something that you can do out of impulse and should be a decision that you ought to properly think through.
Remember that you are taking care of a living being, and they will have needs and wants that you have to provide.
That said, even the first steps to getting a Lab, which includes asking where to buy a Labrador Retriever, will need heavy consideration.
To help you with that, this article will talk about where to buy a Labrador Retriever or adopt one.
With enough knowledge, you should be able to make a positive decision about whether to take in a Lab or not and where to best buy one.
Things to consider before buying a Labrador Retriever
Before we launch into the ways you can get a Labrador or adopt one, let’s talk about the many considerations you have to think about first.
While none of these rules are absolute, it’s good to have benchmarks in mind in case you need help with decision-making.
1) Time
First and foremost, you have to have enough time to care for a pet. That means having the time to take them out on regular walks and playing with them at certain times.
You should not have to choose between work or taking care of your pet. On the contrary, it should be a fine balance between the two.
2) Budget
Owning a pet is also a financial responsibility. You need to set aside costs for pet care, quality food, vaccines, and miscellaneous things like mentally stimulating dog toys.
Hence, make sure that you are financially ready to take on the responsibility of setting aside money for your pet.
3) Housemates/Family
It goes without saying that the people you live with should also be on board with your decision to get a Labrador.
Talk it out with them first before making any firm decision.
Additionally, it would be best if you had a house that has a backyard to give them some breathing room to roam around.
However, a spacious apartment will do just fine.
Where to buy a Labrador Retriever
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to jump into where best to buy a Labrador Retriever.
Availability and prices may vary depending on your area, and there may also be limited options in a lot of places.
However, here are some of the best places to consider:
1) The shelter
Adopting a Lab from the dog shelter is a good choice not only for you but also for the Labrador that you are rescuing.
It is incredibly unfortunate that despite the high demand for Labs, there is a significant number that ends up in dog shelters due to neglect and abuse by their owners.
Here are some advantages to adopting a Labrador from a shelter:
1) You are doing a good deed.
According to this study, the number of adoptions from shelters has increased in the last few decades.
Your choice to adopt from a shelter will be part of this positive phenomenon that will hopefully continue to rise over the years.
When you adopt from a shelter, you will be giving a Labrador another shot at a good life, which is something that they may not have had in their time with their past owners.
2) You’ll know if your Lab has any hereditary illnesses.
One of the risks in buying a Labrador puppy is that they may have some hereditary illnesses that will crop up only when they are already an adult.
Even if you get assurance from the breeder that the puppy carries no risks, that assurance still isn’t 100%.
In fact, the chances of these illnesses manifesting during adulthood are high.
Thus, you have a good chance of choosing a physically healthy Labrador from the shelter.
Of course, this is barring any other circumstance that the Lab may have gone through with their previous owners.
Nonetheless, despite the positive things that come out from adoption, you have to know that you are also up for more responsibility.
To be specific, you have to be ready to nurture your Labrador.
Many of the dogs that end up in shelters ended up there because they were abandoned—or worse, abused by their owners.
Because of this, if you are planning to adopt, you have to get ready for the possibility that your Labrador Retriever may not be immediately ready to interact with you from the start.
It will be a journey, and some dogs bear invisible scars from previous abuse.
This is something that you have to determine if you can deal with. If not, adoption may not be for you.
Do not adopt a dog just to leave them behind and do the same thing to them all over again.
That said, problems like that with adoption do not always happen.
Sometimes, you can adopt a Lab that is perfectly suited for you with no problem at all.
The idea behind preparing for adoption is so that you don’t end up blindsided by the additional needs of your Labrador.
2) Breeders
One of the most reliable ways to buy a Labrador is through a reputable breeder.
However, you should still be cautious about it and be able to know when to tell if they are a good breeder or not.
Despite the obvious label of breeders indicating that most of them produce. Litters as part of their professional work, may not be as dedicated to Labrador health as you assume.
One of the things you should ask for when buying from breeders is the guarantee. That your Lab puppy is free from potential illnesses and that the parents have no hereditary sickness.
After all, health is one of the top priorities when picking a puppy from a litter.
The first step to ensuring your puppy’s good health is to make sure that you are buying from a breeder. With an excellent reputation, or better yet, someone whom you actually already have experience with.
Breeders are excellent choices for those who can wait. Since Labradors are high in demand. There is usually a waiting time before you can actually get your hands on a puppy.
This is because the breeder may do a routine background. Check just to ensure that you are fit and capable of taking in a Lab puppy.
This is a good thing since you know that your breeder is seriously invested in the Labrador’s care.
The bottom line about breeders is that your first priority is to make sure that you are getting a Labrador puppy from the best breeder.
3) The pet store
This section is here to dissuade you from purchasing from pet stores. It has been a long-standing argument that pet stores are not the most ethical way to source your puppies.
The reasoning behind this is that pet stores somehow mass produce their puppies.
And that certainly is not a way to treat living beings.
Without the proper nurturing and interaction when they are younger. It could easily set a dog for a life filled with aggression.
Of course, not all puppies from pet stores turn out bad. The issue only lies within how pet stores do not properly take care of their puppies. The fact that many pet stores make profit their most important factor inbreeding.
Take a look at this study, for example. The means of producing puppies in pet stores or puppy mills seem to be stressful to the puppies themselves and generally do not result in a positive environment.
This results in puppies that are more likely to have undesirable behaviours.
All in all
There are a lot of places you can choose from when it comes to where to buy a Labrador Retriever.
However, if this is the first time that you’re bringing home a Labrador. There are a few other things that you have to consider before making the final decision to purchase a Lab.
Check out this post to determine if getting a Lab is right for you.
