1. Good. Training a dog is not a race. Just spend time now, bonding with the pup and going for daily walks -- preferably out in fields, forests etc.

2. Here is a list of the most common genetic tests currently recommended for Labradors (on the parents):
OFA on Hips (some folks also do OFA elbows)
CERF (eye exam from a Vet Opthalmologist)
PRA (blood test for Progressive Retinal Atrophy)
CNM (centro nuclear myopathy)
EIC (exercise Induced Collapse)

3. There is only one way to see if a dog has dysplasia or not and that is with xray, so unless you have xray vision, you don't know.

4. All of the above


.

one that i see most is HIPS.

i talked to vet and he says,MOST OF THIS CAN BE AVOIDED IF ONLY WEIGHT WAS KEPT OFF DOG.even if dog has the heridity thing.

women will make dogs FAT,i said that not vet.

i give my dog a pill a day of COSQMAIN which is glusomine stuff for his joints.

tobys joints CLICK on the front joint near his paw,i guess you could call it his WRIST.

that stuff stops clicking and if i dont use it, HIS WRISTS CLICK.

I just can't imagine why anyone would recommend Wolters books, THEY SUCK! Do do yourself a favour a get a good training book or DVD. Wolters is the worst training reference out there bar none. Personally I like the Lardy manuals. And the Jackie Mertens DVD "Sound Beginnings" is a must.

i cant stand most of books,i cant seem to learn.

but give me tape or dvd, sproul is one happy camper.

Heck Yes. Hunting for a dog is like little league, gymnastics or dance for a child. Hunting is what a dog wants/likes to do because its fun for them. My hunting dogs primary purpose is to be a furry cuddle bear for my wife, which he does quite well. He loves children and playing with other dogs and retrieving socks from the laundry basket. But hunting is a big fun game for him and it adds so much to his life I started bird hunting because my dog wanted to, he lives a great life.

Hunting is what your dog wants to do. Being the family pet is also what your dog wants to do. Getting to do both is priceless in his eyes.

I used Retriever Training for the Duck Hunter by Robert Milner. It goes step by step and always works for me. There are other great books too which will be helpful because sometimes it takes a different idea to train a dog.

But a lab should retrieve from the start, just do not do too much, sitting to get food is also easy to train. Making it heel at this point seems a bit early to me butI think it is something that is mandatory in dog training.

I think the key is to never give a command you are not in a position to enforce such as calling for a dog when they are not on a lead and can run away.

But this book and many others push that you keep the dog in the house because it makes for a tighter bond as well as in a sense allows you to train them every day.

.

I believe that before you breed dogs there are genetic test done so that you are not passing on bad genes. I believe hip, joints and eyes are all tested for in labs.

I also use Cosequin DS for the joints along with vitamin E. Helps my lab out and you can notice the difference.

yes,use ESTER C,i take a pill cutter and cut a 500 gram one in half,thats 250.

too much C will cause diareaha