I got this from a lab rescue that I do some work with. They pass is out to people looking at adopting.

I think its important considering how many people buy puppies as Christmas presents only to bring them to the pound a few months after.

I AM YOUR PUPPY

I am your Puppy, and I will love you until the ends
of the Earth, but please know a few things about me.

I am a Puppy, this means that my intelligence and
capacity for learning are the same as an 8-month-old child.

I am a Puppy, I will chew EVERYTHING I can get my teeth on.
This is how I explore and learn about the world. Even HUMAN
children put things in their mouths. It's up to you to guide me
to what is mine to chew and what is not.

I am a Puppy, I cannot hold my bladder for longer than
1 - 2 hours. I cannot "feel" that I need to poop until it
is actually beginning to come out. I cannot vocalize nor
tell you that I need to go, and I cannot have "bladder and
bowel control" until 6 - 9 months. Do not punish me if you
have not let me out for 3 hours and I tinkle. It is your fault.

As a Puppy, it is wise to remember that I NEED to go potty
after: Eating, Sleeping, playing, Drinking and around every
2 - 3 hours in addition. If you want me to sleep through the
night, then do not give me water after 7 or 8 p.m.
A crate will help me learn to housebreak easier, and will
avoid you being mad at me. I am a Puppy, accidents WILL
happen, please be patient with me! In time I will learn.

I am a Puppy, I like to play. I will run around, and chase
imaginary monsters, and chase your feet and your toes and
'attack' you, and chase fuzzballs, other pets, and small kids.
It is play, it's what I do. Do not be mad at me or expect me
to be sedate, mellow and sleep all day. If my high energy
level is too much for you, maybe you could consider an older
rescue from a shelter or Rescue group.

My play is beneficial, use your wisdom to guide me in my play
with appropriate toys, and activities like chasing a rolling ball,
or gentle tug games, or plenty of chew toys for me. If I nip you
too hard, talk to me in "dog talk", by giving a loud YELP, I will
usually get the message, as this is how dogs communicate with
one another. If I get too rough, simply ignore me for a few
moments, or put me in my crate with an appropriate chew toy.

I am a Puppy; hopefully you would not yell, hit, strike, kick or beat
a 6-month-old human infant, so please do not do the same to me.
I am delicate, and also very impressionable. If you treat me harshly
now, I will grow up learning to fear being hit, spanked, kicked or beat.
Instead, please guide me with encouragement and wisdom. For instance,
if I am chewing something wrong, say, "No chew!" and hand me a toy I
CAN chew. Better yet, pick up ANYTHING that you do not want me to get
into. I can't tell the difference between your old sock and your new sock,
or an old sneaker and your $200 Nikes.

I am a Puppy, and I am a creature with feelings and drives much like
your own, but yet also very different. Although I am NOT a human in
a dog suit, neither am I an unfeeling robot who can instantly obey your
every whim. I truly DO want to please you, and be a part of your family,
and your life. You got me (I hope) because you want a loving partner
and companion, so do not relegate me to the backyard when I get bigger,
do not judge me harshly but instead mold me with gentleness and
guidelines and training into the kind of family member you want me to be.

I am a Puppy and I am not perfect, and I know you are not perfect either.
I love you anyway. So please, learn all you can about training, and puppy
behaviors and caring for me from your Veterinarian, books on dog care
and even researching on the computer! Learn about my particular breed
and it's "characteristics", it will give you understanding and insight into
WHY I do all the things I do. Please teach me with love, patience, the right
way to behave and socialize me with training in a puppy class or obedience
class, we will BOTH have a lot of fun together.

I am a Puppy and I want more than anything to love you, to be with you,
and to please you. Won't you please take time to understand how I work?
We are the same you and I, in that we both feel hunger, pain, thirst,
discomfort, fear, but yet we are also very different and must work to
understand one another's language, body signals, wants and needs.

Some day I will be a handsome dog, hopefully one you can be
proud of and one that you will love as much as I love you.

Love,
Your Puppy

____________________________________________

So You Think You Want a Lab


You’re probably imagining yourself and your new best friend taking a walk on a beautiful spring day, playing fetch in the park, or laying around the house. These are all parts of dog ownership – some of the most important parts, too – but there is more to the total picture. Before you get a Labrador retriever, you should be aware of what you’re getting into. Along with the numerous joys of dog ownership come significant responsibilities. Meeting some of these responsibilities may require you to make changes in your lifestyle. Are you willing to take the responsibilities along with the benefits? Are you able to make the lifestyle changes necessary? Are you capable of meeting the needs of your new Lab? For help in answering these questions, read on.
Things to Consider

How big will the dog get?
How old will he be before he acts like an adult dog?
How protective will the dog be?
How often will the dog need to be groomed?
How will the dog get along with other animals?
How long can he be left alone at home?
How much exercise does the dog need?
What are the best training methods for this dog?
What possible health problems might this dog develop?
Do You Know How to Care for a Lab?

Caring properly for a Lab takes a significant amount of dedication. Learning about proper nutrition and general care takes time and effort. The information is not hard to learn, and there is a wealth of resources available (including several helpful web sites), but you have to take the time to do the learning.

Learning to train your Lab deserves special mention. You should recognize that well-mannered dogs to not come ready “out of the box.” Labradors can be rambunctious and very strong. Training is the key to a well-behaved dog that will be a pleasure to be around. There are many good training methods available to you, but whichever one you pick will require dedication. Further, training is a combination of art and science. Being a good trainer requires knowledge, experience, gut instinct, and a lot of love.

Can you be a good trainer? Very likely, yes. But there are those people for whom training presents a very serious challenge, and these people should think twice about dog ownership. While it’s hard to determine ahead of time your potential for being a good trainer, you should do as much as possible before you get your Lab. Read books, magazines, and research the Internet. Visit obedience-training classes and talk to the instructors – most training instructors are more than happy to offer help and advice.

One Person Must be Owner

While your whole family may divide the responsibilities of dog ownership in daily practice, it’s important that one individual be established as the guardian of the Lab. This person should hold ultimate responsibility for the welfare and behavior of the Lab. There are pragmatic and behavioral reasons for this. Having a single responsible owner will ensure that none of the dog’s needs get overlooked, that the dog still has a home in the case of a significant change in the family situation, and that one individual is ultimately financially responsible. However, from a behavioral standpoint, it’s also important that a single individual be clearly recognizable to the dog as “pack leader.” This will do a lot to help your Lab find his place in the family hierarchy, and he’ll be happier for it.

A Ten to Fifteen Year Commitment

Remember as you consider the points made in this article that dogs live, on the average, from ten to fifteen years. When making decisions about owning a Lab, make sure not only that you are currently willing and able to care for a dog, but that you will remain willing and able for the dog’s lifespan. Nobody can predict the future, but we all make plans. If you bring a Lab home, he should be part of your plans for a long time to come.

Does everyone in the household agree to acquire a dog?

Sometimes one member of the household wants a dog so badly that they forget to check with other members. If you have children and you think they want a dog -- remember that YOU will be the one responsible for ensuring that it is properly cared for. You will also be responsible for all expenses, training, and exercise. If you already have an overwhelming domestic routine, DO NOT add a dog to the household. Similarly, if your spouse or housemate is not as thrilled about the acquisition of a Labrador as you are, step back and reconsider whether a Labrador, or any dog, is suitable for your household. Ultimately, dogs, which are placed into households where there is not 100% agreement on whether or not to acquire a dog, usually wind up as one of the millions of dogs given up each year because "they just didn't work out." The dog in this situation often pays with its life.