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Got my Labrador puppy last week. He is 12 weeks old. I love him to bits. He is so cute. Very friendly. Great with children. A absolute dream to own this little Beuty.
Only disadvantage is he is like a lot of males he has selective hearing.
He has cryed at night time but this was to be expected as he is a baby and has been separated from his mother and brothers. I have found if I put a radio on at night it settles him.
Anyone thinking of getting a dog I would defiantly recommend a Labrador.
Since the Oscars, and talk of Uggie - the Jack Russell star of The Artist - retiring, I've been wondering if my Labrador could seize the day, were we to ever go to Hollywood. This, then, is a warts and all lowdown of her potential film credits for anyone interested in the breed:
* The Deer Hunter *
"Oh Jesus Christ, Fenton!... Fenton!". The video clip taken recently in Richmond Park showing Fenton, the deer chasing Labrador probably divides people into two categories. Those who simply thought it amusing or got annoyed that a dog was allowed to scare some wildlife, and Labrador owners, myself included, who were thinking "There but for the grace of God". You see Amber would have been right by Fenton's side given the chance. I don't think this is typical of all Labradors but ours is a runner. So much so I'm sure if I trace her roots back far enough I'd find a sneaky greyhound in there somewhere. At the relatively middle age of 7, not only can she still give younger dogs a run for their money around the park but she still bounces after squirrels and rabbits, although totally without success. Often when I've seen other Labradors calmly walking side by side with their owners (some can even carry their own leads!), I've had a slight pang of jealousy.
* Three colours: Red *
It's a misnomer to think of yellow Labradors as being simply yellow. There's a whole rainbow of colours ranging from pale cream to darkish ginger. Yes, ours is ginger which shows up nicely on black clothing. Black Labs are pretty much simply black, but the colour of brown ones can vary remarkably as well. The coat itself is actually two separate coats of fur. The outer layer which is short and slightly wiry and a softer under coat which is a lighter colour with Amber.
One benefit is that the outer coat is fairly weather resistant and traps the heat in meaning they won't feel the cold as much as other breeds, which is why you'll never see a Labrador wearing one of those dog coats even in the midst of winter. They're hardy creatures but obviously you should still use common sense in very cold weather. The flip side of course is that in summer they can overheat easily. The first sign of Amber panting or looking tired and we usually offer her some water (yes we take a little foldup dog bowl and supply of water when out).
* Of Mice and Men *
Most people - even those who dislike dogs - usually find Labradors appealing. It's those big brown eyes and cute faces. Trouble is, appearances as we all know can be deceptive. Loyal, obedient, playful are all commonly thrown around about Labs, and with good reason. But it's a bit like saying all Germans have an innate urge to annex Austria.
The truth is, you can do all the research, talk to other dog owners, and the breeders themselves, but you don't really know what to expect until you are responsible for one yourself. You hope to take home the shining star of the litter. The most intelligent, loyal, sociable one of the litter. The truth is, their personalities probably differ as wildly as those of their owners. For instance, there are two black labs we often see in one local park with their owner. One of those dogs is friendly enough (if a little stupid), the other is downright hostile. The park is his, and he doesn't take well to any other dogs he considers is on his turf.. We try to avoid them. Which brings me to...
* Barefoot in the Park *
Socialising a Labrador as with any dog should be a priority. No matter how gentle natured it is, most behavioural problems dogs have probably stem from a lack of socialisation early on. That means meeting and greeting loads of other dogs (by and large something Labradors will love doing) and also people. Especially little people. Probably that is why Amber now believes people in parks are there for only one purpose and that is to make a fuss of her. If we chance upon a group of people - perhaps friends who have bumped into one another- she'll amble over as if to say, "Hey, whatcha all doing?". If a jogger happens to run past us, then for a while she may jog along too. Sometimes though she can be over confident. We've had a few occasions when she'll bounce over to a little person to say hello, and I can see a look of terror cross their face which is understandable. A swift grab of her collar and we sneak away before anyone starts crying.
* Jurassic Park *
Unlike some breeds Labradors don't need to get their hair cut. They do moult in warmer months though, so it's necessary to buy a decent brush. We usually take her brush with us when we go out and find a nice bench to sit on before we start. That isn't a challenge, but try cutting their nails! I used to attempt this myself but they really are... as hard as nails. We take her to a local pet store cum poodle parlour where they do the business. Otherwise we'd be left hearing the click click click of one of those dinosaurs claws. Not nice.
* Jaws *
One of the earlier issues we had was with our dog biting. Chewing toys is all a part of puppy hood but this progressed to trying to bite people's legs when we were at home. Even as a wee puppy I lost count of the times my shins were bruised when she bit me. This is because they have extremely strong jaws. Someone once told me that the police replaced their use of Labradors with Alsatians because they had managed to break so many crook's arms. I don't know if that's true or not, but if I'm ever faced with a choice of a snarling Labrador and a snarling Alsatian, from experience I may well choose the Alsatian.
On a sobering note, it's worth remembering that in France a few years ago a lady had one of the first partial face transplants. I don't know the full circumstances except that her Labrador was responsible for the injuries. A smaller dog, or one with a less powerful bite may well not have managed to inflict the same injuries.
* Ice cold in Alex *
I'm not a beer drinker myself, but on the evenings when it's cold enough to warrant a hot chocolate there's no better way of warming my feet quickly than sticking them under Amber's tummy if she happens to be lying nearby. One downside of owning a Labrador is that they have bony elbows. If you're trying to get comfortable on the sofa and a Labrador wants to curl up close, having a bony elbow sticking in your ribs is no laughing matter. The only solution is not to let them on the furniture at all, which is just crazy talk. They're not lap dogs, so the only options are to put up with the elbows and fur getting on your clothing, or buy them their own comfy sofa.
* Lastly: Sense and Sensibility *
All this discussion of the dog, but just as important are the qualities of prospective owners. In a nutshell: patience, an ability to be consistent, along with an affable manner and a ready smile are all vital. Patience and consistency are obvious when toilet training the pup but also for ensuring they understand their boundaries (No it isn't okay to snaffle any food I might have left on the worktop when I turned my back).
Labradors (especially pertinent for our one which is from working stock rather than show stock) require regular exercise. Which means a commitment to walking them outdoors regardless of the weather. As obvious as it seems, if I had a pound for every time we go to one of our local parks when it's tipping it down with rain or there's some snow on the ground and we haven't seen a single other dog walker, I would now wealthy beyond my wildest dreams. Invest in decent waterproof gear and boots and there's no excuse. Besides, walking really is a mood enhancer. Many times I haven't felt like going for Walkies, but I'm always glad I do. It's good exercise, and people will often stop and chat who might not otherwise when I have Amber with me.
As for the affable manner and ready smile? Keep them handy. Recently Amber decided to swipe a glove left by a Teenage Boy With Trousers Around His Thighs who was chillin' on a park bench. Having recovered the glove and offered it back, Teenage Boy With Trousers Around His Thighs decided he didn't want the glove back now a dog had slobbered on it. I offered to take it home and wash it, perhaps bringing it back the next day, but he wasn't having any of it. Another time, I recall Amber bounced over to a man talking on his phone in a park who had placed a chocolate muffin next to him. Before either of us had time to react Amber had eaten the muffin whole - still in its wrapper. How do I know this? Because Yours Truly had to dispose of the mess a few days later when it came out the other end.
All said and done they are of course not only intelligent and easy to train, which is why they're used by police as sniffer dogs as well as guide dogs. Choosing any dog is a major responsibility- far too many end up being abandoned - which is why you may find a negative slant on this review. For all her faults though, we wouldn't be without Amber. She's always glad to see us whenever we've been out, and usually fetches us her favourite toy by way of hello which more or less means I forget any other naughtiness
I have a yellow labrador who turned 2 this week. We have had him since he was 10 weeks old. We are so glad that we chose to get a Labrador, he has been a treat. Like all Labradors he is VERY energetic and needs about 1 and a half hours of exercise a day - preferably with half an hours off lead exercise a day. Although he is now starting to calm down a bit over the past few months. He has been very easy to train - I think labradors in general are as they are an intelligent breed - he knows and can perform many tricks (for a treat)!! Labradors are renowned for being chewers however we have found that if we exercise him regularly and stop him from getting bored whilst we are not around (a Kong is perfect for this) then he does not feel the need to chew. Touch wood he has not destroyed anything valuable!
I would recommend labradors to anyone looking to buy a dog, their advantages are: very affectionate and loyal dogs/ easy to train/ keep you fit/ great with children and other pets/ very easy to groom (just need occasional baths and brushes).
Some disadvantages: expensive to feed!/ require a lot of exercise/
Definitely a breed to consider if you enjoy exercise and want a furry companion!
Labradors are a breed of gun dogs. They usually make excellent swimmers and live on average between 10 to 12 years. Labradors are loyal loving dogs and are well known for their friendly and gentle characteristics. Female Labradors should weigh between 25 and 32 kg. Male Labradors should weigh between 29 and 41 kg.
The Labrador retriever comes in long hair and short hair varieties. The only difference between the two is the coat. The long hair retriever needs regular brushing where as the short hair type only needs brushing occasionally.
The Labrador retriever is the most popular breed in the world for family pets. This is due to their easy going nature. Labradors by nature are gentle with children and other pets and extremely loyal to their owners.
Labrador Retrievers are also known as very playful dogs. They usually enjoy tug of war, ball games, seeking games. They have a very good sense of smell and absolutely love food so treat reward games are always a hit. They will eat almost anything which means you must keep a close eye on their weight as they can easily become too heavy. They will often eat food from the streets or parks unless you can train them well to leave.
Labrador Retrievers are intelligent dogs and are therefore very easy to train. They also enjoy learning new tricks and usually pick commands up quite quickly.
Labradors need quite a lot of exercise, at least 1 hour a day, but they do better with more. They can use energy quickly on playing, running or swimming and they can maintain stamina on a long country walk as well. They are very sociable animals and enjoy being part of a pack, so they more family they have, human or animal, the better.
When they are puppies like most breeds, they can be quite destructive. This will become worse during a bitches season. Do not worry, this phase is short lived and with plenty of exercise and the right training you will have a wonderful dog by about 10 months old. Whilst my Labrador was having her first (and only) season, she ripped up my entire bedroom carpet, ignored me on the dog walks and chewed everything she could get her teeth on. She also temporarily stopped going to the garden to go to the toilet. My point is this can be a difficult phase with a female Labrador.
You can get Labradors in 4 colours, Black, Yellow (Golden), Chocolate and Red. The first three are common and can be found quite easily via the internet or papers. The Red Labrador is actually a dark ginger colour and is not quite so common, but can be found. There is no difference in characteristics for each colour, only appearance.
Labradors are medium to large size. They have webbed paws which makes them good swimmers. They usually have a round rib cage and stomach and if they are a healthy weight, their waistline should go slightly inwards just above their rump. They have floppy ears and can shed regularly and significant amounts so don't get a Labrador if you like your house to always be spotless.
Labradors can suffer from leg and shoulder problems and are prone to getting arthritis. They can also suffer from bloat so avoid any exercise immediately after they have eaten.
They usually cost between £350 and £500.
They can eat almost any balanced diet, wet or dry. I personally feed my Labrador raw meaty bones to ensure healthy teeth. If you want to feed your dog this, do some research online first.
Summary: Labrador Retrievers suit a variety of people. They get along well with children so can join young families. They are usually gentle with other animals and friendly to all adults. The more exercise they can have the better, so if you have no time to walk them then don't get this breed. They love cuddles and human attention. The more they get the happier they are. They can sometimes before fearful of other dogs and need lots of socialising from a young age to avoid this.
This is probably the friendliest breed of canine you could get and if you want a four legged best friend, then this is the breed to get. I have only met two unfriendly Labradors whilst walking my dog and hundreds of friendly one's. Any negative behaviour in this breed is usually due to the owner and training classes can fix this.
I think this breed makes the perfect family pet and because of their characteristics will remain the number one breed of dog for the unforeseeable future.
My mum bought me a black labrador when i was 11 years old, id gone on for ages about how much i wanted a dog and promised to walk it every day before school but that never happened!
We got our Labrador, who was named tessa when we got her and we stuck with it, from an animal shelter. She was with about 5 of her brothers and sisters and she was the smallest one and the others kept trampling on her! She deffinately was the best choice!
Labradors are very loyal and very affectionate. They only have one owner which in our case is my mum, as i have moved out now. It was always my mum who fed her and took her for walks and now she absolutely adores my mum. She goes crazy if she she sees anybody hug my mum!
Labradors are beautiful dogs, they can be white, black or chocolate colour. Tessa is a black lab with white markings on her.
They are not the cleverest of dogs, for example, when we throw a ball for her it will land on the grass, and she carries on running for it as if its still in the air!
They can be very naughty as well, and they always know when they have done something wrong. Tessa loves to raid the kitchen bin! You always know when she has done it as when you come home and she doesnt greet you, she is always hiding upstairs looking sheepish!
She puts on a sad look and you cant help but hug her, she is so cute!
Labradors are full of energy and need lots of attention. They need walking everyday, and can walk for hours and not get bored. My mum always takes her out when the soaps go off at night, and as soon as tessa heres the corrie sound tune she jumps up all excited! She knows shes about to go for walkies!
If you are going to get a labrador, consider getting two as tessa loves other dogs company. She gets very sad and depressed when she can tell you are going out as she hates being on her own, she must get so bored when my mums out at work all day. My mum has got her a number of toys to keep her occupied, including one which is a ball, which you put dog treats inside. There is a small hole in the ball, and tessa has to push the ball round the house and try and get the treats out of the hole. It gives her something to do while shes all alone!
Our labrador is also great with other animals, we have a cat and they love to sleep on the bed together. We also had two rabbits and we used to leave the dog out in the garden with them and she never bothered with them! It was so funny to see the two rabbits, dog and cat all in the garden together in the summer, none of them bothered the others!
Labradors can be a little unpredictable, they are very soft and love affection, but if you go near their food or their owner they can be very possessive. They can growl and show their teeth to warn you away, and a couple of times she had gone to bite people.
I would be wary of having a Labrador dog near small children, especially as kids tend to torment animals some times.
Labradors can be very greedy with food! Once my mum had 3 packs of rolos in her bag for her, me and my brother. We came home one day to find tessa had eaten all 3 packs of rolos, foil and paper aswell! She has taken countless loafs of bread of the worktop! She has eat boxes of muffins, anything you leave out she manages to get it!
Tessa is now 11 years old, and all the hair on her face is going white now, bless her! She still loves playing with toys though, going for walkies or just sitting on the sofa having a cuddle.
I would deffinately consider having another labrador dog again, they are so much fun, not just as puppies, as adults too!
Willow and Freya were my two beautiful black and yellow labradors. Both girls. I lost them both this year. Freya on 1-05-2009 aged 12 1/2 and Willow three days ago on 13 1/2. They were absolutley wonderful dogs and I am heartbroken to have lost them both within such a short space of time.
Willow came to live with us first in May 1996 and she was such a cute little black puppy that just wanted to curl up and sleep on your lap, or nibble your fingers or generally chew any possesion that you valued. She did so much damage that we felt that she must be lonely when we were out at work (a period of only 4 hours at the most each week day) so we decided to get her a friend and went to choose another Lab. We chose Freya a cheeky little yellow pup. Once she joined the household in November 1996 the destruction doubled, extending to a hall and stair carpet, jeans, a welsh dresser and various shoes. Now Willow had a willing pupil in her quest to eat our house.
Willow and Freya bonded together so well it was like they were litter mates. Willow was extremely gentle and affectionate. She loved to sit on your lap (despite the fact that she did not fit and you would not be able to walk properly afterwards). Freya was also very affectionate, but much more lively, more like an exorcet missile on speed. She liked to lie next to you on the settee stretched out on her back with her legs flopped wide displaying her bits for all to see.
For all their typical lab behaviour the did eventually settle down (sometime after the age of 3 when we no longer had anything worth chewing). They were both brilliantly well behaved when on walks, always coming back when called. Freya's only failing was to bark at people who did not have dogs, as if she could not understand why anyone would want to walk without a dog.
Early on (within the first year) Freya damaged her cruciate ligament and had to have an operation. This meant missing a mortgage payment, but the results were marvellous and lasted the rest of her life. She had hip displasia which only caused her problems in the last few years of her life. Willow did not have any major problems till she was 9 years old, when we discovered an ominous lump on the side of her chest that just kept getting bigger and bigger. When they xrayed they found a large quantity of fluid in her lungs - pleural effussion- in the space between the outside of the lining of the lungs and the inside of the chest cavity, where there should be no space. £10,000s, 1 thorsoscopy, 2 CT scans and numerous bloodtests later and both my vets and the Royal College of Veterinarians could only say yes she has got a lot of fluid there, but we don't know why!!! We never did find out why. They drained the fluid and she came home and took a few days, but bounced back to normal again. She always had a cough after that, but it was controlled by steriods and she lived another 5 years after that.
I think we finally realised that they were getting much older last year, but they still enjoyed their walks and playing ball. Then things started to go downhill for Freya in April. She was put on some tablets to help her circulation and they seemed to be working, but on 30-04-2009 her back legs failed her and we knew it was time. We took her to the vets on the 1-05-2009 and stayed with her till it was over holding her in our arms and then went home feeling empty and lost, but also comforted that she was no longer suffering.
Willow seemed ok for a while, but then in October her legs seemed wobbly and she suffered from the most awful diarrhea. The vet put her on some tablets for this and gave her corvental to help with the breathing. We took her back in Late November and got more covental because they seemed to work, although the vet noted that she had cushings disease from the steroids she was on. We started to reduce the steroids and the diarrhea returned and she very quicly got worse. In the end she just did not want to go our for walks anymore and just lay on her chair (when she could jump up) and slept. We knew that it was time again to make that dreadful trip. Again we stayed with her to the end and the feeling afterwards was awful.
I miss them both and hope they are together in heaven playing together. We have 3 Cavalier King Charles dogs which makes things easier. How we would have coped if we had had to go home to an empty house I don't know. I do know that both my husband and I miss that boundless fanatical joy that Labradors bring into your house. We will love them always and miss them forever.
I think when they were handing out brains; the black Labrador must have been fairly near the back of the queue. That said, maybe he slipped out of his place in that queue to go and collect extra loving, gentleness and faithfulness. As the only other male presence in the household (although at times we have our doubts as to his masculinity), he is a loyal presence, a faithful freind and a bringer togetherer of family.
I am determined not to make this a collection of cutesy tales of our snukems (and no he is not really called that), instead I will try to give opinion on the breed, and some tips that worked for us. It will not be a Haynes workshop manual of the lab - Wikipedia is your friend if you want dimensions or the history of the breed... Oh go on 1 small historical fact; they were originally bred to retrieve fishing nets. Thank you doggy top trumps for that Steve-Wright-esque factoid.
So we bought ours as a pup from a Kennel Club registered breeder. This should be considered a sensible route to go by as certain breeds - Labs especially - are susceptible to hereditary problems. For Labradors, hip problems seem to be all too common. Kennel Club provide 5 generations of proven blood line with hipscores, elbow grading, eye tests & DNA screening for the parents. To an extent it helps go towards ensuring a healthy pup with the best chance of a long, happy life ahead of him/her. Kennel Club is not essential, and I would assume translate to a higher price (cannot vouch for this fact though) but in my opinion it is a good, responsible way to start your puppy's life.
Our dog cost £500 + VAT. Interestingly enough, we were told if we planned to eat him, we would have avoided having to pay VAT. Luckily for him, we are not into canine cuisine, although not a day goes past where I don't weigh up that 17.5% versus barbequing the little rascal with some onion relish and some sweetcorn chowder. (That's a joke before someone reports me to the RSPCA).
We also, at the time, opted for purchasing a crate for him. That's not a cage, but a crate. Which looks a little bit like a cage. But is most definitely a crate. Reasons for this: Firstly it gives him his own secluded area which nobody else can go. Or shouldn't go. Secondly dogs love a crate. For a human, with our superior brains (well most of us), we would treat a crate as a cage, restricting us from everything out of the cage...er crate. To a dog however, with a brain the size (and intellect) of a tennis ball, a crate is like a bedroom filled with I-pod , DVD player (Lassie 1-17), Sky TV, magazines (play-dog, sniffies monthly etc), a Wii, Xbox & Ps3 and a four poster bed etc. Thirdly, it is an invaluable step in teaching what we big boys like to call "self control". Dogs despite being filthy creatures in the sense they will roll in god knows what, jump in stagnant ponds and eat anything with a stench, are inherently clean animals - they do not want to mess on their own patch. A crate helps them differentiate between outside for toileting and inside for not toileting. From day 1 we had very few accidents inside, and of those we did, I put full blame on the previous owners of our house who laid a green carpet evocative of grass. Even I have nearly been caught out in the past.
The other thing I would recommend at an early stage is puppy training - teach them young and the principles will stay for life. A good trainer will not only teach the dog the key dog skills of heel, return, sit, lie, stay, leave, fetch + more advanced stuff if you desire, but they should also teach the owner; how to assert yourself, and given a dog is essentially a pack animal - ensuring YOU are top dog, not the other way around. We were taught to close doors in his face, make him wait until last before entering the house. Make him get up and move if you need to walk where he lies. All these ensure he knows that he is at the bottom of the pecking order. I am a firm believer that problem dogs are rare, it is problem owners that cause...well problems.
At the beginning one mustn't walk a Labrador for long - their hips are still developing. I think until they are 6 months - short walks only. And only after a year old should you go on major hikes. Also - and this will come very hard to a Labrador whose small vocabulary is dominated by the word 'Fetch', it is essential to limit the 'back and forth' retrieving for the first year as the constant change in momentum can also affect bone development.
Once your Lab has reached that year 1 milestone, he or she will essentially be nearing full size. Although it will be another 2 years of marginal growth before they are classified as fully grown. Actually one could argue that they never fully grow up, but that's another topic for discussion
A pedigree Labrador is a medium sized dog. But from my experience they need the level of exercise associated with a larger dog. They are an incredibly enthusiastic, energetic breed who will put the Duracell bunny to shame with their desire to go on and on... and on. I would put money them wearing you out long before you could exhaust a Lab. They adore running, retrieving (the clue is in the name) and swimming. A lot of the Labs I have experienced have been cautious even timid of water for the first 6 -12 months of their life, but it will come, and once they are in it, you will begin to cherish those 'dry' days when he circumnavigated a puddle. For us, he was terrified of water until he cracked through a large ice covered puddle on the New Forest. After that he was Swimmy McSwimmy and water became his second domain. Except bathtime. Explain the logic in that.
A Labrador is a perfect family pet. For us oldies, the kids, and more recently the babies. He is very loving towards all and puts up with absolutely everything. At crawling stage, the babies would be climbing all over him, pulling themselves up on him, hugging him, patting him, poking him, trying to be gentle but often failing. He put up with it all, probably secretly delighted with the attention. There isn't an aggressive bone in his body, but at the same time can be protective if encountering an antagonistic dog. The only time our Labrador ever barks is if there is someone or something at the door or walking past the property. Again this could be construed as protective. From a burglar. Or an old lady. Or a squirrel. Or a leaf. As a guard dog he may make a lot of noise, but I highly expect he could be readily disabled with a gravy bone.
Overall I can't praise this breed enough. For us he is the perfect family pet with a perfect temperament. Although he can be a bit dappy at times, he also can be highly intelligent when he wants to be (usually around finding his tennis ball).
And remember people; a dog is for life, not just for Christmas. Dogs are not cheap, they require a LOT of work, they can be messy and smelly. They require commitment for up to 15 years of your life. And children's enthusiasm for walking etc will diminish over time, especially in the dark, cold, wet & windy weather.
Ever since I was young I wanted a dog and when I moved out my partners dog came to live with us, Henrys a very sociable dog who does love company either from another dog or people. My youngest Labrador Bella, entered our lives 5 years ago and boy did she change things. We already had a German Shephard and our male Labrador but we didn't realise Bella came from working lines, this basically means shes a sleek, speedy girl who needs to use her brain to tire her out as not amount of exercise seems to (we did a 12 mile walk and she was still bombing around like no tomorrow). We have completed the good citizen scheme, bronze, silver and gold and started competing in agility about 2 years ago. She might not be as quick as a collie but she'll give them a good run for their money and enjoys barking at me the whole way around. My other Labrador Henry is 11 and a half but seems to think hes still 2, his eyes and hearing might be starting to fade and has a bit of athritus but for a dog his age hes still going strong. The key for long life in this breed is to ensure they don't put on too much weight as they are terribly greedy (they chewed through a cupboard door to get into the sack of food!!) The best thing to sum up a lab is fun loving with a great zest for life who fit into a family very well.
Warning - this review is heavily biased! There is however nothing at all I can do about that as the owner of Lily, a one and a half year old black labrador who is my absolute pride and joy. When our faithful Welsh Springer Spaniel died about two years ago we vowed we would never get another dog as we couldn't replace her and it was too much work etc etc. It didn't last long as we are basically a doggy household and missed the presence of a canine companion just too much!
So we decided on a Labrador. Their reputation as friendly, intelligent, loving, playful dogs really sets them apart among breeds - it's easy to see why they are the most popular breed for a pet in Europe and North America as they are generally so good natured and easy-going. That they are used as seeing and hearing dogs for people with sensory impairments again is an indicator of their nature - they are intelligent and reliable companions.
We bought Lily from a breeder for £350. For inexperienced dog buyers - always ask to see the parents! The puppy breeding trade can be ruthless and cruel with dogs imported in horrific circumstances, and genuine breeders usually will let you see the parents. Also check for relevant documentation if you are going for a pedigree dog - Kennel Club registration and history of the dog's bloodline.
So, after a deperate dash to Pets at Home for puppy essentials (we literally had five minutes until closing time) we took Lily home. She settled in incredibly quickly, playing with us and being boisterous and friendly immediately in spite of having limited contact with people before she came home with us.
It hasn't all been plain sailing with Lily - the usual toilet training issues meant several puddles on the carpets but she really did learn amazingly quickly for a dog who had lived outside for 2 months. She does require a lot of walking - when she was really young she was difficult to settle and constantly wanted to be out. This drove me to tears on several occasions. Even though she was being walked three times a day it wasn't enough. I had a dissertation to write and she needed constant attention.
While this was a difficult period it didn't last that long. It really is to be expected when puppies find themselves without other dogs to play with in a strange place. Lily settled after a couple of months and now is the laziest dog ever when she is in the house!
Another area we have had issues was with walking on a lead. Where possible we take her somewhere she can be let off and she is good at coming when called - except for a massive football fetish which has led to some amusing incidents! However, when on the lead she pulls and after trying a harness which made little difference we discovered the canny collar which is a noseband designed to train dogs not to pull - I'd recommend this to anyone training a labrador as they are so energetic and curious without some kind of control walking them can become a massive chore!
Lily suffered from separation anxiety when she was younger, and this limited our lives somewhat for a few months. This is apparently common for Labradors as they are such sociable dogs. Having tried all we could think of including leaving the T.V. and radio on to keep her company we eventually invested in a cage. I hated the idea, thinking it was cruel. However it turned out to be the best thing we have done for Lily! She absolutely loves having her own space, and we can leave her in there for a few hours and know she will be happy. It's not like we have to force her in - she lies in there through choice often and really loves it. I was dead against training her to be in the cage but it has been brilliant for us and Lily.
I feel like I have done nothing but pick faults with owning a Labrador - let me make it clear that any problems we have had are far outweighed by the sheer joy of having her in our lives. Labradors are basically just excellent companions, who love your company and are always good for a laugh. The do some barmy things and are so playful that you can't help but fall in love with a Labrador!
They do suffer from some health problems in later life, mainly due to their size in larger examples of the breed. However, in my experience having known Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfounlands and other large breeds Labradors are much better off and suffer much less than some other large breeds. They are expected to live on average 12-13 years, again brilliant for a large breed dog.
All in all, my experience of owning a Labrador has been overwhelmingly positive. I wouldn't change a single thing about her, and as a breed I would recommend Labradors to anyone!
i use to have a black labrador called bess who was in the family since i was born , she was a very friendly calm dog who was a great dog.
if you are looking to buy a labrador dog you must have a spacious backgarden and living area as they do grow to be quite big, about a medium size dogs they are. you need to be willing to take them out on daily walks as they do like to keep active.
my dog loved to play with toys and balls always carrying them in her mouth and she loved to play catch with the ball ( obviously not throwing back to me but loved fetching it back to me to throw it again)
so ensure you have a lot of toys for them to be kept entertained.
my dog was very friendly and a great family dog, the same goes for my aunties labrador. she was great around me when i was little and she was like my best friend through my younger years
although my dog didnt breed if she did she would of had around 8-10 pups
and my dog lived until she ws 18 years old which my mum said is quite long for that dog.
we paid around £300 for my dog but they do go for alot higher prices. which can be annoying if you do not want to pay that amount for a dog but want a nice dog as you can buy from unlicensed dog breeders which i wouldnt reccomend as you do not know if they have been wormed , or if they have flees i know these can be treated easily but can be very annoying if you get flees around your home, also doing this you do not know the whole truth as if they say the dog is pedegree then it might not bee if you get it from a dodgy place, aswell as not knowing if it a cross between anything.so paying that little bit extra is always worth the while.
do try and get pet insurance too as with my dog she did have a few things that happend as she got old , which old age did cause for example bad aruritus , bad eyesight and she started to not be able to control her bowls and because we couldnt afford the opperation to help this whe had to have her put down as it was not fair on her.
these dogs are lovely dogs and are great if you are looking for a good family dog who will be great around children aswell as being your best friends.
my dog was not agressive and did not bark all the time only when she herd nosies which she didnt not know like strange loud bangs as she did guard our house so this is proroberly why,
i would reccomend a labrador to anyone my dog was the best dog in the world and was soft as a brush these dogs are great but make sure you do have time for them like ya do with any dog.
We have a Honey living with us who is the most adorable yellow Labrador who does not have a nasty bone in her body. We have always kept dogs but this is the first labrador we have owned and I wonder how we have done without one for all this time. Honey is six this year and getting a little grey around the muzzle but still has her puppy moments. She asks for very little, just regular food, a little exercise and a huge amount of love and attention. Labradors are notorious for the length of puppyhood they go through, Honey was still chewing shoes, chairs, door frames (anything made of wood) until she was well pass her second birthday and they do take devotion to get them trained. Our dog trainer used to call Honey a salad dodger as she would do anything for food and then ignore you once she knew she had eaten it all. I would recommend this breed for anyone who has young children as they love to play and do not mind being pulled around.
Thinking of getting a dog but unsure which breed to go for ?
well, let me tell you about the labrador retriever.
Labrador retrievers originate from Canada.They were originally bred as gun dogs.During the 17th century they used to swim across frozen lakes to get fishing nets for the fishermen.
Labrador Retrievers come in three colours : Black , Golden and Chocolate. Male labradors' average weight is between 27-36kg. Females average weight is between 23-32kg.They are medium sized dogs.They have smooth coats. Labradors have 'good heads'.
They have strong tales.They have tails like otters and web feet which is the reason why they're good swimmers.They were also bred to be gun dogs that can swim well.
Labrador's eyes are most of the time brown or hazel.
Because of their large floppy ears which trap warm moist air , labradors are prone to ear infections.
Eye and knee problems are also common in labradors.
Labradors tend to eat a lot hence the reason why obesity is often associated with them.
Overweight labradors are prone to athritis.
Labradors' life expectancy is 9-15 years.
Labradors should be wormed from about the age of four weeks.
Labradors are not fussy eaters and will eat anything.
Labrador's are good natured and kind. They're intelligent and very energetic.They love to eat ,and will eat anything. They love to please their owner.They're very gentle dogs.They're very easy to train.They have a low level of aggression.Labradors make a great family pet but remember never to trust a dog with children.Labradors usually get on fine with other dogs and animals.They're not very good watch-dogs.
*Exercise *
They're very energetic and therefore need lots of exercise.Labradors love swimming and retrieving.
*Labrador Facts*
New-born puppies cannot not see or hear.
When giving a dog a command say his name first e.g "Lad , Sit"
In my opinion I think Labrador's make a great pet as they're very loyal and gentle animals.
Hope you've enjoyed learning about the labrador! Thanks for Reading!
I have always grew up with dogs and the one I have now I love to pieces.
She's a labrador called Summer who will soon be four, she's abosolutley gorgeous, she is the yellow colour (there are also brown and black ones) and she has the hugest brown eyes you could ever know. Theres something so human about them that you know exactly what she is thinking and what mood shes in!
She's quite a tall dog as most labradors are but shes a bit skinneir then most her age as usually by then there starting to put on a bit of weight not are dog though she could eat and eat but how hyperactive she is I dont think she could ever put any weight on!
When we first got her as a puppy I can remember thinkng she seemed so quiet and lazy, she was tiny (exactly like those andrex puppies non the advert) but she made no noise at all and would just sit on your lap. When she did get up and run it was rathr amusing to watch as she galloped around the garden in a way whivh reminded me of Bambi! It wasnt until we had her a few months she got her voice and barked, it made the whole family jump!
Now though she's a bundle of energy terrorsing her way around our house when she's in one of her hyperactive moods running from upstairs to downstairs and back again slipping and sliding as we have wooden floors!
Since she's found her voice them many years ago she knows how to use it barking for food and walks, the most funny part though is whenever someone comes in through the front door, automatically she'll pick up her blanket in her mouth and carry it to the door making the most unusual sound that of what I can only describe as a camel!
She can be a naughty well more cheeky dog I suppose...Often then not she'll stand on her hind legs trying to get to food which is on the side in the kitchen swiping bowls and such with her paws. She even managed to figure out how to open the cabitnet draws in the kitchen where our bin as kept to get any remmanants of food their maybe, to stop this we ended up having to put a child lock on the door!
She's also constantly eating underwear if she finds it..I know its disgusting the amount of times we've cleaned up sick to find a pair of pants we've been searching for for ages! I often wonder if theres more in her stomach!
She's an incredibly loyal dog and when walking her she'll never go to far ahead, always coming back to you with whatever toy she has that she will keep dropping at your feet untill you pick it up and throw it back to her.
Labradors especially our dog Summer our hard work they have an unlimitited amount of energy or at least it seems like that sometimes, and they'll be times you wish you could control them more (you proberly can if you train them but Summer doesnt listen!), but every bit of energy you put into them is worth it as at the end of the day she jumps up and lies her head on your lap and those big brown eyes look at you and she opens her mouth her tounge hanging out as if shes almost grinning and it's like she's saying 'We had a good day today didnt we?' and that is just something I couldnt do without!
I'm going to split this review into two sections, the first about Labradors generally and the second about one specific Labrador, my pet Honey. (Some of you will have read a little about her in my 'Most embarassing moments' review.)
Labradors were bred originally as retrieving dogs. They are soft mouthed (when they want to be!) which makes them ideal for bringing back game without damaging it. They like to work. They like to play too and in my experience of all the dog breeds, Labradors are the ones that stay like puppies the longest.
They are easy to train and they can learn a huge amount of commands. They are ranked in intelligence with German Shepherds and Poodles. ie. About as bright as a dog can get!
The downside of their high intelligence is that they can get bored easily and a bored Labrador is a destructive Labrador. Two friends of mine left their eight month old dog alone for the day and when they came home it had chewed the leg off a bed, a dressing table and a chest of drawers. All pine and all brand new from Ikea! (I took the dog out for a walk whilst they calmed down!)
Inbreeding has created a problem with hips and they need to be checked before purchase. A few years ago I met an unusually ill tempered black Labrador and it's owner told me that it was becoming a problem, again with inbreeding. I don't know if this problem has persisted with some Black Lab's.
Generally speaking Labradors are completely trustworthy with children and act as four legged nannies. They will endure any amount of prodding and poking, dressing up and mauling about from toddlers. Usually with a long suffering look on their faces.
Most of them are extremely good with other breeds but will be protective of their 'pack' particularly small children. Mine used to get between the kids and other dogs as a matter of course. Not threatening the other dogs, just very there!
They are bad at knowing when they have had enough to eat. In fact the concept is not even on their intellectual horizon. If they were humans they would occupy the waste bins at MacDonalds 24/7. I have never known any other animal with such a capacity for food. As a consequence of this, their incredibly appealing begging antics and soulful eyes, a lot of them end up overweight, this shortens their life spans and puts pressure on their hips which can already be a weak spot.
They are water dogs and their double coat insulates them from the cold. It also insulates your carpets, furniture, bedding and clothes if you don't groom them rigorously. (and even sometimes when you do!)
They need a lot of room and a lot of exercise. If you forget 'walkies' you are likely to be presented with the lead and a lot of slobbery kisses until you get the message. Labradors are experts at 'Mither power!'
They are the most faithful and loving of dogs. Of all the breeds that I have met and loved, Labradors remain my favourite.
My dog, Honey.
Honey was the grand-daughter of a dog I grew up with. Her Grandsire, Rusty, was owned by a neighbour and was a working dog. Rusty used to present himself at our front door at 4pm every afternoon for a jam butty. If I was very good I was allowed to take him for walks across the fields. Having Rusty around was what made me fall in love with dogs in general and Labradors in particular.
Honey came to me aged eight weeks and was a bundle of loose skinned, blond furred, adoration. Rusty's owner Mr Kerr, had promised me when I was a child that he would give me a dog when I had my own house and space for one.
I was visiting my Dad and Stepmum shortly after I was married and Mr Kerr arrived holding something in a bag. "Your wedding present Gill." he said, handing it over. That's all he said. In the bag, fast asleep, was Honey.
That was the start of an incredible journey together. Honey was with me for five years until a mistake by a vet took her from me.
In a way, Honey prepared me to be a Mum. She was certainly a very demanding baby! I learned patience as I trained her, I learned that her needs came first even when I didn't want to make the effort, she taught me so much about loyalty and forgiveness of mistakes. She was my constant companion even going to work with me. I loved her deeply and she very obviously loved me too.
I'll just give a couple of little anecdotes about her. I trained her to fetch items I wanted. There were twentyfour seperate things I could send her for. I used to say "Honey, go and fetch my ciggies please." and off she would go and find where I had left them, often upstairs on the dresser. She never failed to find them. If she found them and couldn't get them, say, out of a pocket, she would come back and let me know by standing at the door and woofing gently. then she would lead me to them.
Sometimes if she was feeling a bit cheeky she would get an empty packet out of the bin. She knew it was empty because she would look at me from under her brows, Princess Diana style! She had a sense of humour which I would not have believed a dog capable of if I hadn't seen her playing tricks on me.
She didn't like fetching hairbrushes and would throw them down the staircase and nudge them them to where I was, using her nose.
I trained her to put the kid's toys in the toy basket. If the kids were ignoring her she would drive them crazy by putting their toys away when they were still playing with them. It was so funny to watch!
If we went to the shops she had to carry something home. I usually gave her a can of soup or something like that. I gave her a Frey Bentos pie to carry once and after a few yards she stopped, put it down and looked at me with a "Who do you think you're kidding?" look on her face. She got photographed a lot and once the local paper did an article on her. She was a one off!
When our first child was born, Honey used to station herself outside his bedroom or under the pram. If Mark woke, Honey would come and tell us. If we didn't go to him immediately Honey would whine and get anxious. I waited once to see what would happen if I just stayed put. Honey took my wrist in her mouth and gently but very firmly started to pull me to the pram. I got the message!
My cat Percy used to rule the roost, occasionally he battered Honey. Honey never fought back even though she could have made mincemeat of him. However, Honey got her own back. One day Percy was asleep in front of the fire and Honey came in, looked at us, walked up to Percy very quietly, turned around and plonked her bum down on the poor unsuspecting cat. I'll swear she was grinning all over her face. The cat stalked out furiously and Honey lay down in her place. I wish I had a video of it. We cried laughing!
Once in a local cafe (where we had staff meetings) Honey was asleep under the table. (or so I thought!) There was a tap on my shoulder and a man was stood behind me looking a bit baffled.
"Excuse me," he said."I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but I think your doggy just stole my cigarettes. They were in front of me and the next minute they had gone and the dog is the only thing that's been near me!"
The poor man was terribly embarrassed to be making such a seemingly mad accusation. Honey chose that moment to drop a packet of Benson and Hedges onto my lap. She looked very pleased with herself! After that, the owner of the cafe used to 'borrow' Honey to play tricks on his new customers whilst the regulars looked on with glee! (As pets and cigarettes are not allowed in cafes any longer it's not a thing that could happen now!)
I was delighted to hear that a few months after this event, the man who had had his ciggies pinched went out and bought himself a Labrador.
Anyway, that's enough for now about Honey. They were just a few tales of hundreds I could tell about her. I was lucky to have such an extraordinary animal.
Thank you for letting me reminisce.
Unfortunately my pet Labrador max recently passed away aged 11 the grief was almost like loosing a family member which is one thing off putting about getting another. Would I get another lab? Absolutely. I have had dogs all my life and without a doubt the best tempered, most loving of them was my lab. Labs are widely known to be intelligent dogs and I definitely found this the case. Mine was sometimes too clever when it comes to opening doors and stealing food which brings me on to my next point. Labs are probably the greediest breed of dog I have ever owned, they will eat anything from half defrosted fish to sheep poo they are disgusting in that respect. This can lead them to gain a lot of weight if you are not careful and this can damage their health, but just try looking at their begging face and saying no.
Labs are obviously bred to be work dogs and love the outdoors, mine loved the hills and was a great hill walking companion, but they can also be incredibly lazy if you let them. They are fantastic with kids as they do not flinch even when kids annoy them by poking and prodding them. My lab was very much a people person who just loved attention, sometimes to a fault, especially when you are getting fed up with stroking him. He didn't always get on with other dogs but that manifested itself in him just avoiding them and not playing, rather than aggression. In true cartoon fashion he also despised cats chasing them out the garden whenever he saw one.
Overall labs make a great family pet but care should probably be taken if you already have a pet.


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CLASS LOCATION - Our classes are held at several locations; be sure to double-check the location of your class. Prenatal classes are offered at the following locations: Columbus Regional Conference Center at Midtown Medical Center and Columbus Regional Lactation Center and Boutique at 500 18th Street Suite B-30 in Columbus, Georgia 31901. Classes at Northside Medical Center are located at the hospital or the Hughston Foundation on the campus at 100 Frist Court, located off Veterans Parkway. Classes at the John B. Amos Cancer Center, located at 1831 Fifth Avenue in Columbus, are located in the Community Room on the 2nd Floor.
QUESTIONS? If you attempt to register for a class that is already filled or the registration deadline has passed, you will be asked to select a different class date. If you have questions about content or registration of the prenatal classes or, please call Debra Miller at (706) 660-2693 for prenatal classes.
This is for testing only. Please do no register for this class.
The Better Breathers Support Group meets the third Tuesday of each month from 10-11 a.m. Please note, this is a date change. Better Breathers is sponsored by the American Lung Association and supported by all the area hospitals. It is designed to bring people with lung disease together to learn together and share helpful practical information on how to cope with their conditions. Anyone with a chronic pulmonary disease, such as asthma, emphysema, COPD, bronchitis or pulmonary fibrosis is encouraged to attend. Below are upcoming meetings dates, topics and location.
2014 Meeting Dates:
Meetings are held at the Columbus Regional Education Center - 6298 Veterans Parkway, Main Street Village next to Merritt TV
A "dad" instructor certified by Boot Camp for New Dads teaches expectant fathers the ins and outs of supporting your expectant partner and caring for your new baby. Time for practice with dolls and babies in the techniques of baby care and asking questions of these "seasoned" fathers is provided. This class is by dads for dads! NO WOMEN ALLOWED!
Basic information about the womanly art and science of breastfeeding is covered in this class. The advantages to mother and baby and the realities of breastfeeding are discussed, as well as techniques to get off to the best start, combining breastfeeding and a busy lifestyle and handling common concerns. This 3 hour class on Wednesday evenings OR on Saturday morning is taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and is held in the Columbus Regional Lactation Center & Boutique. Fathers/Partners are encouraged to attend with mom!
**For class, please enter Lactation Center at back side of the building. Parking is available immediately in front of the rear entrance.
*No refunds are given for prenatal classes unless there is a medical reason for the inability to attend. We will be happy to transfer your registration to a different date or another class of equal value.
Diabetes is a disease that knows no age. Millions are affected each year. Join others who are going through this process by attending monthly programs sponsored by Columbus Regional's Community Benefits Department.
Class are held the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the Conference Center at Midtown Medical Center.
Led by Certified Diabetes Educators, this foundational diabetes self-management class offers effective ways to help participants lean how to manage their diabetes, focusing on basic meal planning, medical management and lifestyle.
8 classes
Meets once a week for 8 weeks (various days & times)
This series of 8 (2 1/2 hour) classes prepare a mother and her support person for the goal of natural childbirth. As instructors, we believe in the natural childbirth principles taught us by Dr. Michael Odent, Ina May Gaskin (midwife), Drs. Kennel and Klaus, Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze, Dr. Robert A. Bradley in his classic book, "Husband Coached Childbirth", and many other birth professionals.
Included in the series is support and instruction for the active participation of mom and her partner as support, good nutrition for the healthiest pregnancy possible, relaxation and natural breathing as pain management tools, breastfeeding as ideal infant nutrition and good communication with your healthcare providers. A comprehensive workbook is provided for each couple and classes are small to insure individual attention. Please register to begin classes by your 6th month. Register early; classes may be canceled if minimum registrations are not met by registration close date. You may register and pay later to hold your space.
The Natural Childbirth Series should be scheduled to begin from 16-28 weeks of pregnancy. If the class is taken early, couples are welcome to return to the next series for no additional charge as a refresher until the baby is born. If you have special circumstances, please call us at 706-660-2693 for guidance.
** Again, please register early - classes under a certain participant level may be canceled.**
*Instructors certified in Natural Birth Techniques
**No refunds are given for prenatal classes unless there is a medical reason for the inability to attend. We will be happy to transfer your registration to a different date or another class of equal value.
This class gives basic information on what to do if your baby chokes, infant CPR and safety issues. Safe sleeping and how to child proof your home is also covered. Starting in April, 2014 - included is safe use of your infant car seat taught by Safe Kids Columbus. There will be door prizes and a raffle-must be present to win!
*No refunds are given for prenatal classes unless there is a medical reason for the inability to attend. We will be happy to transfer your registration to a different date or another class of equal value.
New Baby Day Camp for Siblings is a fun and interactive day at "camp" that helps children prepare for the arrival of a new baby. This program is focused on families who are expecting a baby and have children ages 3-10 (recommended ages) at home. There will be a tour of the Family Centered Care and Nursery areas of Midtown Medical Center is included. This class is a free offering of the Columbus Regional Prenatal Education Program.
Each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Columbus Regional Lactation Center & Boutique
Mondays: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Contact: (706) 321-3765 or (706) 660-2693
The first weeks and months of motherhood are full of questions and concerns. This informal group for mothers and babies meets weekly with our lactation professionals (IBCLC or CLC) to address common breastfeeding questions and issues. A scale is available for checking baby's weight to reassure mom. This group is designed to provide information and support to the breastfeeding mother from professionals and peers so that she can continue to provide nature's best nutrition to her infant! For more complete, individualized breastfeeding assessments, an appointment with one of our IBCLCs is suggested. To schedule a private consultation, please call 706-321-3765.
The group meets at our new Columbus Regional Lactation Center and Boutique located at Doctors Medical Park 500 18th Street Suite B-30 Columbus, GA 31901. Please join us there!
Three weekly meetings are held:
Every Monday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Every Wednesday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Every Thursday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
NO REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY! All nursing moms & babies who gave birth at any location are welcome!
*Due to the concerns about children and illness, please do not bring children with fevers to attend the New Nursing Mom's Support Group. This is to protect our young babies and new mothers.*
This 2 hour class will help you with the skills needed to parent your newborn infant. You will learn about feeding, diapering, bathing and comforting your new infant. You will also learn what is normal and when to call your baby's doctor.
Attend class once a week for five weeks
This series of 5 two-hour classes provides an overview of what to expect during childbirth: signs, symptoms and stages of labor, pain management techniques, medications and birthing options available at Midtown Medical Center. This is an important and informative class, especially for first time parents. PLEASE NOTE LOCATION OF CLASS WHEN YOU SIGN UP. CLASSES ARE TAUGHT AT THE CONFERENCE CENTER @ MIDTOWN MEDICAL CENTER.
The Pursue Your Healthy Birth series of classes should ideally be scheduled to be completed within 2-6 weeks prior to the mother's due date. If you have special circumstances, please call us at 706-660-2693 for guidance.
*No refunds are given for prenatal classes unless there is a medical reason for the inability to attend. We will be happy to transfer your registration to a different date or another class of equal value.
This course is designed for expectant couples who are unable to attend the 5 week series due to work schedules or time restraints. The Prepared Childbirth (5 week) Series is more suited to first time parents. The Quick Course is abbreviated but will briefly cover the following: anatomy of pregnancy, nutrition in the last trimester, signs of labor, hospital admission, stages of labor, postpartum, cesarean section, medications and medical interventions, your choices/options, and your newborn. Please plan to attend this class in the last trimester of your pregnancy.
This free early pregnancy class will be offered every other month on the first Wednesday. This class introduces parents in their first and second trimester to the early stages of pregnancy, from conception to the sixth month. Baby's growth and development, the physical and emotional changes that occur during pregnancy, optimal nutrition, exercise and relaxation will be discussed. Signs and symptoms of preterm labor and other complications will be discussed, as well as your questions answered. An overview of Midtown Medical Center Women's Services is included with discussions about policies, LDR & delivery and amenities.

subset: commoncrawl


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County employees packed the Harford County Council chambers Tuesday night as several union representatives urged the council to support a 4 percent raise for all of them.
Those employees loudly applauded every word of support that came their way.
During his presentation to the council on Harford County Executive David Craig's proposed 4 percent merit increase, human resources director Scott Gibson said the county reopened negotiations with both of its unions. He noted outside agencies, like the sheriff's office and the public library system, may award them differently, such as a cost-of-living increase, because they have many employees who are contractual or part-time.
The increase would be retroactive to July 1.
The council held a public hearing on the measure, but did not vote on it.
Bel Air resident John Mallamo praised the idea and said if the raise did not happen, employees might pick up and go elsewhere. He got a loud round of applause from the audience.
He also asked for the employees to get the money prior to the Christmas holiday and asked for them to get the maximum amount possible, and "that they don't see an increase in taxes, pensions, health care, parking fees, water bottles or whatever else."
Ryan Burbey, the new head of the Harford County Education Association teachers' union, also congratulated the workers for negotiating a raise and said he hopes to have a "transparent" budget process moving forward.
Mike Hiob, speaking on behalf of the MCEA (Maryland Classified Employees Association), said he also supports the bill, as did Kevin Thomas of the Harford County Deputy Sheriff's Union.
Property tax credits
The council also approved property tax credits for several Havre de Grace and Aberdeen properties in "enterprise zones."
The sites include 301 S. Juniata St. in Havre de Grace, owned by Toy Thym Properties LLC, 1300 Revolution St. in Havre de Grace, owned by Cytec Engineered Materials Inc., and 1013 Beards Hill Road, owned by WCT & Sons LLC.
Economic development director Jim Richardson said the projects are "excellent" because existing sites will be redeveloped, and Councilman Dick Slutzky commended the possibility of rebuilding on the Aberdeen site especially.
"This is a beautiful addition. This kind of project can't do anything but uplift the community, bring jobs to the area and bring the kind of jobs we want in Harford County," Slutzky said.
Public safety committee
Council President Billy Boniface said he received Craig's executive order to create the new public safety committee.
Boniface said he wants a briefing on the executive order and he wants it to be made publicly on Dec. 4.
"Mind you, the council has due diligence to look at these executive orders," he said. "If we do not take action to deny it within 60 days, then it becomes codified in law."
"Since this is a change of directions, not a confrontational one, let's make sure everyone is aware" of what the executive order entails, Boniface said, adding he would allow for some public comment that night.
Craig issued the order after the council voted down his proposal of the public safety committee.


text: An off-duty Rockdale County sheriff's deputy is being hailed for his heroic actions after rescuing a woman from a burning building after his shift ended.Deputy Tim Kutsch saw flames coming from Choice Care Senior Living Facility on Thursday night and didn't hesitate to help an unresponsive elderly woman."It was just covered in smoke. I mean, smoke was just rolling out of the entire house," Kutsch said. "I'm assuming that's why she was passed out because of the smoke."The house is located on Highway 20 in Walton County. Kutsch says he didn't think twice about entering the burning building even though he was on his way home to his wife and three children."Our job is to go home every night, yes. But I just have the mindset, you know, if you need help, I'm going to help you, you know, we'll worry about the consequences later," Kutsch said. The senior living facility was nearly destroyed by the flames. It's one of the reasons Sheriff Eric Levett was proud to give a lifesaving commendation award To Deputy Kutsch."It is such an honor for him to take the time out to think about nobody else but the community – no matter where he was at -- even though he was outside the county," Levett said. Kutsch says he was just fulfilling his duty as a Rockdale County sheriff's deputy."I just thought I was doing my job, you know. I've always been the kind of person to help people or try to help people," Kutsch said. "I really didn't expect this. They needed help. So, I tried to help them."Kutsch came to work the very next day even though he was treated at the hospital for a cut to his arm. His dedication to the job is one of the reasons the sheriff' decided to surprise him with the lifesaving commendation on Friday.


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In the process of rebuilding their tuning empire after the devastating loss of Gemballa founder, Uwe Gemballa , the company has arrived at the 2011 Top Marques Monaco with two new packages: the Tornado based on the new Cayenne and the 2011 Mistrale based on the Panamera sedan. Both models are defined by the most impressive design, cutting edge technology and the finest materials.
For the Mistrale, Gemballa is offering two stages of engine updates. In stage one, the twin-turbo V8 engine has been tuned to deliver 610 HP and a peak torque of 626 lbs-ft. Stage two takes power to a more incredible 700 HP and 737 HP. This significant output is achieved through the use of larger turbochargers, a modified intake system, high efficiency intercoolers, sports exhaust, free-flow catalytic converters and bespoke ECU remapping.
"We have significantly reduced weight, but without compromising strength, safety or comfort," explained Andreas Schwarz, CEO of GEMBALLA GmbH. "Rather than cutting into the steel panels and bonding on new parts, as is common in the aftermarket industry, we completely replace entire panels with bespoke carbon-fiber ones that use the original mounting points," he said. "These new panels, which include the bonnet, front wings, doors, front and rear bumper/valance, save a total of 70kg."
Gallery Porsche Panamera
Exterior and Interior
As you may have already guessed by the looks of the vehicle, the Mistrale is not only about getting more power under the hood. Gemballa also did their best to improve the car's aerodynamics and reduce weight by about 154 lbs. To accomplish this, the tuner is offering a carbon fiber bonnet, front wings, doors, front and rear bumper/valance, a new set of 22-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, new high performance Brembo brake system, and bespoke interiors with perfectly color coordinated upholstery fashioned from the finest leathers and Alcantara.
Depending on how much power you want to squeeze from your Panamera, Gemballa is offering you two different levels of engine updates, both based on the twin-turbo V8 engine. In stage one, the power has been increased to 610 HP and the peak torque to 626 lbs-ft, while in stage two it goes up to an incredible 700 HP and 737 lb-ft. This significant output is achieved through the use of larger turbochargers, a modified intake system, high efficiency intercoolers, sports exhaust, free-flow catalytic converters, and bespoke ECU remapping.
Gemballa has not revealed prices for their conversions just yet.
We've lost count on how many tuning packages for the Porsche Panamera there actually are. The latest kit comes from Project Kahn and is called the RS600 . The package includes a pretty impressive exterior update, but the engine was pretty much left unchanged. An even more impressive package comes from Edo Competition . Next to a long list of exterior modifications, the package also takes the V8 engine's output to a total of 750 HP. With this new output, the Panamera will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds and will hit a top speed of 211 mph.
- Comes in two level of engine updates
- Amazing exterior color combination
- Even sportier interior
- The package is only available for the Turbo version


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The Foscam Module makes integration of Foscam IP cameras fast and easy. Size it to fit any size remote handset, and it has optional pan/tilt controls that take no additional screen real estate. You no longer have any reason to put off adding a security camera to your control system!
For more about iRule, see the pages on how iRule works and on iRule Builder, or Try or Buy iRule today!
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Understanding the FNC Elections
As we draw close to the FNC Elections, with a little help from our friends at YouGov Siraj, we decided to take a look at attitudes towards the event.September 21, 2011 4:08
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Turkey's Agaoglu plans to raise $300 mln via Islamic bonds
Post-war counselling awaits Gaza children going back to school
Fresh sanctions will freeze big foreign oil projects in Russia
Abu Dhabi Aug inflation edges up to 3.5 pct y/y
UAE bank lending growth slows to 7.1 pct y/y in July
Dubai's Emaar looks to raise $1.58 bln from malls unit's IPO
Jordan's August inflation rate drops slightly to 3.16 per cent
Australia says may raise terrorism threat level over Iraq, Syria
Abu Dhabi National Energy Company's (TAQA) chief financial officer Stephen Kersley has resigned
U.S. House formally condemns Obama for Guantanamo prisoner swap
As we draw close to the FNC Elections, with a little help from our friends at YouGov Siraj, we decided to take a look at attitudes towards the event.September 21, 2011 4:08
"I think the we should know what our limitations are, as FNC hopefuls. We don't want to ignore what other people have done prior to our appointment" says this FNC candidate.September 21, 2011 1:23
This DPG employee says: ""If I was elected to the FNC I would focus on ... women, the new generation, disabled people. "September 20, 2011 2:30
"I understand the concerns of the community when it comes to issues like jobs, schooling, healthcare and, of course, our national identity. I am running for office because I believe can make a contribution in each of these areas" says FNC hopeful Nasser Hassan Al Shaikh.September 19, 2011 5:40
Eva Fernandes speaks to FNC candidate Adil Al Fahim to find out more about why he is running for office and just what he is running for.September 18, 2011 1:11
So you don't have to read the local press on the issue, Kipp has compiled this handy and simple guide of all you need to know about the FNC Elections, peppered with a few tweets from the communities Tweeps.September 7, 2011 3:45


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From the shores of Yaam to the back alleys of downtown Berlin, the underground street art movement in Germany has never been hotter. Recently, we had the chance to hang out with the enigmatic SAM Crew, a collective of street artists throwing up some of the coolest murals in our city, and were treated to a rare insider's look at how they make their mark. Scaling the scaffolding with them as they put the finishing touches on a four-story wall in the Wedding borough, we saw first hand how these guys operate like true after-hours teammates — working together on every project, each crew member adds his own mark to the piece. Their aesthetic, which combines illustrated figures, typography and cryptic structures, is perhaps one of the most recognisable in the city.
After several hours weathering some serious heights, we sat down with the guys for an oral history of SAM Crew and why exactly Berlin is the epicentre of street-art cool.
PUMA SOCIAL: Who are SAM Crew?
SAM Crew: The current members are John Reaktor, Hazard Hope, Duke Cuke, Billo and Fogel Junge. The classic graffiti writers and forming members are Kain, Zink and Big Daddy Nec.
PS: How did SAM Crew get started?
SC: The SAM Crew started 10 years ago as a 'traditional' graffiti gang in Schwerin. The graffiti business here is big game, and you need to risk a lot to be 'successful'. Some of us did traditional pieces, bombings and roll-ups, but John Reaktor did things another way. He painted a new illustrative style, used untypical surfaces and hidden places. He got into the young, growing network of Berlin's urban artists and began to create the street art section of SAM Crew, recruiting new members. We're related by our collective passion, our aesthetic philosophy and the faith that acting in a crew gives better potential for great work, like a baseball team or a rock band.
PS: Berlin is a really vibrant city for street art. What's it like being involved in the culture here?
SC: It's a paradise. There's a possibility of personal fulfilment here, and it's the place with the best vibrations in Germany – we've got cool spots, ruins, a nice infrastructure. There are many people with a similar philosophy, but 'exotic' lifestyles give the city a unique taste!
PS: How has Berlin's street culture changed since you started?
SC: I guess we got into street art about five to seven years ago, when Berlin's urban art movement was at its peak. It was a time in which some (mostly east Berlin) artists changed their style in innovative ways. They broke with the tradition of hip-hop-style writing and entered new forms and mediums. It was a great time; you saw revolutionary pictures every day. We guess this was the zenith that gave Berlin its image. The movement has gone mainstream in the last few years. On the one hand this is cool, but on the other hand we've got lots of arbitrary crap, which doesn't give a f--- about Berlin's tradition.
PS: What is the future of street art in Berlin?
SC: Theoretically, you need to unite street art and graffiti in the term 'urban art,' because in practise it is one. It's standard for many youngsters to express themselves artistically, like they do with skateboarding or music. Graffiti has a relatively long and extreme tradition in Berlin. It will only die out when society radically changes, so street art as an intelligent version of graffiti will survive as long as people are open minded. Never forget that urban art existed even in Pompeii 2000 years ago!
A history lesson from street artists? Only in Berlin. Tell us about your city's street art culture in the comments!
Top two photos courtesy of SAM Crew. Bottom photo courtesy of Louise Brailey.


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Headline News WGBH Options Best-Selling Children's Series 'Pinkalicious'
Boston-based public broadcaster and producer to develop the bestselling children's book series by Victoria Kann into an animated television series for 3- to 8-year-olds.
Boston-based public broadcaster and producer to develop the bestselling children's book series by Victoria Kann into an animated television series for 3- to 8-year-olds.
Peyton Reed's 'Ant-Man' adds John Slattery, Judy Greer, T.I. and Neil Hamburger; principal photography begins in San Francisco for July 17, 2015 release.
Seventeen NFB films are selected to this year's festival, including documentaries on Norman McLaren and Canadian cartoonist Seth.
'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy' easily remain atop the North American box office this weekend as 'The Expendables 3' debut underperforms with just $16.2 million.
FOX's 'Bob's Burgers' wins the Emmy for Outstanding Animated Program; HBO's 'Game of Thrones' wins its third-consecutive Emmy for Outstanding Special and Visual Effects.
Austin-based production company Rooster Teeth sells its anime-styled CG-animated web-series 'RWBY' to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment for distribution in Japan.
Autodesk releases a video detailing how the artists at Cinesite created their short film, 'Beans,' which led the Computer Animation Festival at SIGGRAPH 2014.
The Scientific and Technical Awards Committee announces 21 scientific and technical achievements selected for further awards consideration.
Shout! Factory releases the official U.S. trailer for 'Thunder and the House of Magic,' opening domestically on September 5 in select cities including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
On the heels of this week's news that VFX house LOOK Effects has closed its doors, moving staff and projects to MassMarket, a group of former employees issues an open letter in order to explain their side of events.
Massive 7.0 features more efficient character animation with Massive for Maya, big improvements in rendering, animation and user interface, Arnold support, 4x rendering speed up, V-Ray displacements and hair, a more flexible IK, and more.
FXX releases a trailer for its marathon of 'The Simpsons,' beginning at 10 p.m. August 21, to kick off the network's acquisition of syndication rights of Fox's beloved animated series.
Recognizing the talents of the best short film and video makers of the world, VOTD seeks short films that are punchy, innovative, and encourage thought.
Legislation to expand and extend production incentives to about $400 million a year from the current $100 million annually clears Senate Appropriations Committee.
Sci-fi thriller 'Edge of Tomorrow' arrives onto Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on October 7 from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.
NVIDIA technology uncouples traditional virtual camera capabilities from the limitations of stage environments, allowing filmmakers to interactively visualize CG assets composited into any live action set.
In remembrance of Robin Williams, special presentations of the animated film 'Aladdin' are set for this weekend on Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior.
Animal Logic Entertainment and Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment announce plans to develop and produce Betty Boop's first feature-length film.
VFX studio LOOK Effects closes its doors, with staff and projects from its Los Angeles, New York and Vancouver locations moving en masse to commercial VFX boutique MassMarket.
Global VFX company presents an advanced discussion of its work on 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' at SIGGRAPH 2014.
Psyop teams up with Finnish game developer Next Games on "The Walking Dead: No Man's Land," the cinematic trailer for their upcoming mobile game based on AMC's critically acclaimed TV series "The Walking Dead."


text: UNDATED (WHBL) - Starting Monday the National Weather Service plans to give more detailed severe weather warning in Wisconsin and 13 other states. The more descriptive information is being offered to help people get to safety sooner when the weather is threatening. The expanded warnings have been tested in Kansas and Missouri. When there is substantial evidence of the approach of a large and dangerous tornado, the warning will include the potential for considerable damage and listeners will be told to take shelter immediately. When a tornado has the potential for devastating damage, the warning issued will include the work "catastrophic."


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Summer Hours Begin June 1
June 21, 2012
Summer Hours Begin June 1
Summer hours take effect on Friday, June 1, with the park being open from 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM.
Relax on the 23rd Street Lawn, enjoy a snack from one of our food partners, or just take an evening stroll to celebrate the beginning of the summer season.
Follow @highlinenyc on Twitter for the latest information and operational updates.


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Top Producer is looking for the best tractor cabs that have been converted to an office during planting season.
Have you installed an iPad or tablet mount? Do you keep a wireless keyboard in the cab? Have you tinted the windows to minimize the glare on the screen?
Show us your office on the go and we'll feature it in our online gallery. Just snap a few photos or take a short video explaining how you've retrofitted your cab and turned it into your office.
Click here to upload them by May 31 to Top Producer's Field Office online form.
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There were times, toward the end, when Katie Couric said she felt she had "outgrown" NBC's "Today" show, its lighter segments on occasion making her feel "more like a game-show host than a journalist."
"I wanted to get out of my comfort zone," Couric said in an interview, more than seven months into her run as anchor of "The CBS Evening News."
Couric quickly discovered as much in leaving "Today" last year, after more than a decade at No. 1, for the prestige and precedent of solo anchoring a nightly network newscast, albeit one that puts her in the unfamiliar position of third place out of three.
Only in the last couple months, she says, has she begun to "feel more in command" and at ease.
"Evening News," in turn, has become quicker, sharper and punchier, though that also can be attributed to last month's arrival of seasoned veteran Rick Kaplan as executive producer in place of Rome Hartman, who had been encouraged to try a few new ideas but found viewers weren't ready for reform.
In fact, all the heady talk of reinventing the nightly news from CBS boss Leslie Moonves that was a prelude to his hiring Couric away from NBC at a reported $15 million per year has subsided. That's because even subtle changes can rattle the network news audience, which has been getting accustomed to Couric while she gets used to it.
"I don't think I ever felt so uncomfortable to the point it made viewers uncomfortable. I just know internally I feel more relaxed," said Couric, who is bringing her newscast to Chicago on Friday and serving as guest of honor at Saturday's American Cancer Society Discovery Ball. "I know it sounds so self-helpy, but you do grow when you're facing challenges, and when people are taking shots at you right and left.
"Someone told me recently that someone criticized the way I held my hands when I stood. I mean it's just ridiculous. … But I've gotten a ton of support, too, and sometimes I think it's important to not be too consumed by this small community of TV writers and people in the business, which doesn't necessarily reflect the views of the public at large."
The public, which swarmed to her debut last September, initially fueling unrealistic expectations about her prospects of quickly lifting CBS out of the cellar, is still eyeing her warily, if Nielsen ratings are to be believed.
"These things build slowly," Couric said, noting she's "kind of circumspect and sanguine about the whole thing."
Season to date, Couric's "Evening News" has averaged 7.4 million viewers, down 4 percent from a year ago, when Bob Schieffer was in the anchor chair. One ray of light for CBS is that her newscast viewership is up 6 percent among women age 18 to 49.
First-place "NBC Nightly News" with Brian Williams is down 6 percent overall, with an average of 9 million viewers. Only ABC's "World News" with Charlie Gibson has added total viewers, up 2 percent, to 8.7 million.
"Nobody is more competitive than I am, and if I thought that at this point in time, the ratings were a reflection of the show we were putting on the air, I would be despondent," CBS News boss Sean McManus said. "I'm not.
"I'm really not focused on the numbers right now. I fixated over them for a while. They are what they are. I do believe that over a period of years they will get better, and I remind myself, and I remind people when they ask me, that it was in Tom Brokaw's 14th season that he became No. 1."
The Brokaw stat comes up in a lot of conversations with folks at CBS News. McManus, Kaplan and Couric all mentioned it in separate interviews, and yet none of them seems prepared to wait that long.
"I'm not impatient [but] I will also say I despise being in third place," McManus said. "But right now it's a fact of life. Part of it is the lead-in [from CBS affiliates]. If you look at the numbers, there's an enormous advantage both [NBC and ABC] have. But that's OK. It's been like that for 15 years. That's not an excuse, but it's a factor."
The thinking at CBS is that recent coverage from North Carolina when the Duke rape case was dismissed and last week from the campus of Virginia Tech will go a long way toward boosting "Evening News."
"Is it going to have an immediate effect? Absolutely not," McManus said. "But people need to be reassured that the person in the chair is qualified and deserves to be there. Every time she does something like this, she reinforces the fact that, yeah, she does belong there. But it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take probably longer than any of us would have hoped."
Couric feeling more at ease
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The Band Perry 's new album, Pioneer , comes out Tuesday, but that's not the only sweet treat the group is offering their fans. The Perry siblings have also collaborated with Nashville bakery Gigi's Cupcakes on a new cupcake, called The Very Perry Chocolate Cherry. The cherry flavor is a nod to a line in the song on Pioneer titled "I'm a Keeper," in which the girl in the song wants to change her name to Cherry.
The Band Perry's Kimberly Perry tells The Tennessean , "I've always wanted Cherry to be my name. That girl in The Outsiders , Cherry Valance, she's always been one of my favorite heroines in literature. So the cupcake was named after the song and we got to taste test."
After tasting a few options, The Band Perry and Gigi's owner, Gina Butler , decided on a white cupcake sweetened and colored with maraschino cherry juice and filled with chopped cherries. Mounds of chocolate frosting and a cherry top it all off. The cupcake will be available on Fridays and Saturdays at Gigi's Cupcakes starting soon.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


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Pedestrian Access to the Gateway Arch From Downtown
Pedestrian traffic on the Chestnut, Market St. and Pine St. bridges are closed. This leaves Walnut St. as the only point of entry to the Arch grounds from the city. If you park in the Arch garage there is access from the north end of the park. See maps. More »
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Meriwether Lewis took his Newfoundland dog Seaman on the Lewis and Clark expedition? Seaman made the entire trip with the Corps and is credited with waking the members when a bison entered the camp and almost trampled them. Click here to learn more about Lewis and Clark. More...


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Spectacular Gondola Guided Grand Canal Cruise
Highlights Included
With English Speaking Guide
Free personal audio system if more than 5 people
On this truly unique and magical guided tour of Venice's waterways, you will be guaranteed the best and most breathtaking views of Venice possible. More in the heart of Venice you could not hope to be! With our expert guide you will start your tour near the prestigious Hotel Gritti, from where you will be steered in style by your own personal gondolier through the picturesque 'Rio della Madonetta' and on to the incomparable Grand Canal.
Passing through centuries of history and stunning palazzi, each with their own story to tell, you will glide effortlessly along one of the most famous, beautiful and elegant 'high streets' in the world. All you need to do is sit back, relax with a glass of Prosecco or Bellini in your hand, and take in the surroundings while our informative guide entertains you with stories and anecdotes of the city, explaining the history behind La Serenissima and her array of stunning palaces.
The tour will take you under the modest Accademia Bridge, which separates the districts of buzzing San Marco on one side from charming Dorsoduro on the other. Moving on, you will hear about the many characters that Venice has played host to throughout history. You will also discover the secrets of the Venetians, the 'traghetto' for example and the tales behind the gondola itself. Turning into another of Venice's scenic side canals, you will not only be able to enjoy the splendour of the Canal Grande but also the quaint charm of the smaller, more residential areas too - 'real Venice'. Wending your way back out on to the Grand Canal you will pass by the gothic masterpiece, Ca' D'oro, the historic fish market and under the romantic and majestic Rialto bridge. These are just a few highlights of this outstanding exploration of Venice.
Why not indulge in this exceptional tour? See Venice from the way it was intended to be seen and appreciate it from the best and most original angle. An excellent way to combine an informative and stimulating guided commentary with an essential gondola ride, this tour is not to be missed!
Tour Price 349 €
For larger groups please CONTACT US