Labrador Retrievers

Children's Literature - Barbara L. Talcroft

Crabtree's "Pet Care" series offers advice to middle readers on choosing and caring for many popular pets, including four dog breeds. Easy-to-read text describes each breed and relates a bit of history. Potential dog owners learn about the characteristics of the breed and are challenged to consider their commitment to the time-consuming care needed to keep a dog healthy, happy, and safe. White pages of large text are sprinkled with colored photographs of kids and dogs; pet-lovers can read about feeding, housebreaking, grooming, exercising, and visits to the vet. Labradors, they will find, were originally used by fishermen to help pull in nets full of fish and by hunters to retrieve, though now they're often trained as guide dogs. Each breed has its special needs: Labs are big dogs with lots of energy; they need space, exercise, and toys to play with. Their short coats need less brushing and fewer baths than some dogs', but grooming must be done on a daily basis. Swimmers may be thrilled to find that a lab will readily take to water, helped along by its oily coat and the webbing between its toes. Other tips apply to all breeds—chocolate and raw meat or eggs are not good foods, gentleness and patience are required for training, warning signs of illness mean an instant trip to the vet. Caring for a dog is a big responsibility. Children (and their parents) will want to consider this information carefully before deciding to become labrador owners.