Thank you for your interest in DFW Labrador Rescue. Our purpose is to find appropriate, permanent loving homes for the labs that come into our adoption program. The following material must be read carefully, as it will help you decide whether a Rescue Lab is the best dog for you to adopt.

Labs are medium size sporting dogs, usually weighing between 60 and 90 pounds and possess a large, strong tail and an active nose. They are intelligent, strong, active companion dogs who require much attention and exercise in return for their unconditional love. Labradors require a major time commitment by the owner. The average life span of Lab is 12 to 14 years. Labs come in three colors-black, yellow (not white or golden) and chocolate and do shed seasonally.

TIME: Most of our rescue labs have been picked up as strays. We can only assume that they are strays because they are escaping to seek the attention they were lacking in their homes. Labs are "people" dogs. They NEED to be around people, because they thrive on companionship, attention and love. Labradors do not do well being left alone for hours in a fenced yard or in an invisible fence. Some of our rescue labs do not do well alone for hours in a crate for the day.

Consider you lifestyle and household schedule-do you work long hours? Are you busy with community and children obligations? Do you need or like to travel frequently? In other words, do you really have the time to give a rescue lab?

EXERCISE: Labs need to have a consistent exercise schedule daily, (Minimum 30-45 minutes AM and 30-45 minutes PM), or they may have trouble adjusting to the "family" dog role. Dogs do not exercise themselves, therefore you must interact with them by walking them and playing with them. Labs that are put out by themselves in a fenced yard or tied out will usually exhibit behavior problems such as chewing, excessive barking, digging and territory aggression. A well-exercised dog is a happy dog. This means seven days a week rain or shine.

TRAINING: We have all enjoyed our friend’s or neighbor’s well-trained lab and this is what may have attracted us to the breed. THAT lab did not come trained! The owners have provided consistent structured training and rules to have a well-behaved dog. DFW Labrador Rescue does not get two year old, yellow, obedience trained females. The majority of our dogs are 1 and 2 year old untrained males and females. They are kind, loving and eager to please, however no one has provided much training and guidance along the way. With time, training and attention they become proud pets. Our adopting families are special in that they understand this need and are eager and capable of giving our labs the chance they so needed to grow into family pets. We highly recommend obedience classes to teach you and your dog the skills needed to co-exist happily. Training is an investment for a good future together.

TEMPERAMENT: All labs are evaluated for temperament, as this is a major consideration in our matching process. We do not accept any dog with a history of biting or aggression, as this is not the typical lab temperament. Their personalities can range from headstrong to submissive. We encourage our applicants to make temperament their top priority, NOT color or sex. If you are applying for a certain lab, i.e. blocky head, yellow female, English type etc.-your wait could be long. Male labs are just as caring and affectionate, if not more so than females.

GROOMING: Labs are considered a wash and wear dog, but they do shed seasonally. They also need to have their toenails cut regularly and their ears checked for infection or cleaning. Labs can carry fleas and ticks. They usually love to swim and enjoy the outdoors in the company of their human family. If you require a perfectly neat home DO NOT get a lab. Labs are willing to donate hair, paw prints and puddles of water to your décor.

HEALTH AND CARE: Labs like all breeds are prone to certain hereditary conditions. Labs can be prone to allergies (food,skin), joint problems, and hip problems. We try very hard to find out if a lab has any major health problems before coming into our adoption program. We do not screen for hip dysplasia unless it warrants it while the dog is under our care. Routine veterinary expenses can cost $200-$300 a year. Feeding one medium size lab a high quality dog food can cost $300-$400 a year. Does your budget allow for these expenses?

AGE: The average life span of a lab is 12-14 years. We realize many adopters are considering a rescue lab due to the death of their family lab, however a young lab does not guarantee a long life. The young lab’s activity level and attention needs are much more intense than the older mature lab you may have owned. Therefore, please consider a lab between the ages of 4 and 5 or even older. A four to five year old lab should be much steadier and over the "very active" stage and going onto "prime time" years. They still have plenty of life left, in fact they usually settle into family life quite readily. We seldom get in puppies.

CHILDREN: A fenced yard is required with families with children. The dog and children must NOT be allowed to interact unsupervised. Families with children 6 years and younger need to consider if they are ready for another child. This is what it is like adopting a young lab (1-3). If the family has many commitments to job, sports, school there is probably not enough time include exercise and care for a lab. Let’s be realistic about getting a dog for the family. Mom is usually the main caretaker and if she is not ready for this time and energy commitment it’s doomed for failure from the start. Our commitment is to place the rescue labs in permanent homes, this is not a "let’s try and see" proposition. Most of our dogs are strays and live in foster homes that do not have children. Please check out the following websites: www.canismajor.com/dog/kidsdog1.html and www.canismajor.com/dog/kidsdog2.html

FENCING: Experience is the best teacher and it has taught Labrador Retriever Rescue that the safest environment for a Rescue Lab includes a fenced yard or area. Generally speaking, second-hand dogs need limitation because they do not have the benefit of having bonded with their new owners since puppyhood. We feel VERY STRONGLY that dogs allowed to wander unsupervised are dogs that are unloved because they are at risk of getting lost, stolen, poisoned or struck by a car. Dogs that run loose are also at the risk of exposure to rabid animals, potentially bringing this fatal disease home to the family. We do place a few dogs in homes without fencing, however these homes have someone home during the day and excellent Lab experience. We will NOT place rescue labs in a home with children unless there is a fenced area adequate to hold a Lab in place on the property.

The fenced enclosure is intended to guarantee a secure outdoor exercise area for the dog, but it is NOT intended as a place for the dog to live. Experience has taught Labrador Rescue that most of our labs will not be content to be left alone in a fenced yard too long, and if so, will very likely try to escape. Labs are highly social, people-dogs and need to be with you to be happy.

We typically prefer a wooden stockade fence that is at least 6 ft. tall. However, other type of fences such as chain link or heavy gauge wire (not barbed wire) with wooden or metal posts are accepted on a case by case basis. A securely fenced yard means there are no loose or rotten boards, gates are lockable and attention is given to the security of the fence along it’s bottom in order to prevent dogs from digging out.

The fenced area should be installed so it is directly accessible to the house, so it will ensure increased measure of safety for your dog and prove a convenience for you. The fenced area should be large enough to provide the dog with comfortable space in which to be played with, get some exercise and fresh air and eliminate.

Invisble fence systems and portable pens are accepted on a case by case basis. Major limitations of the invisible fence system are: any dog or rabid animal may come onto your property, not all dogs can be trained to obey the system, any people coming onto your property do not have the benefit of a physical barrier between themselves and the dog, and dog friends’ or enemies cannot come over to play or fight inside a fenced area.

The use of tie-outs or overhead runners is not safe or allowed for a Rescue Lab. Dogs on tie-outs may become tangled or choke and are not able to adequately defend themselves from other dogs or animals that may enter the yard. They are easy targets for thieves, are usually not very happy dogs and tend to bark a lot.

While a secure fence is the goal of our fencing policy, a fence does not automatically make every home a good home for a Rescue Lab. A fenced area is just a safe place for the dog to be off leash and to get some fresh air, to play… it is not a place for the dog to live! We regret that this policy may eliminate some homes, but our first concern must be the safety of the dog in which we have been entrusted. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.