Blog | Hidden Pond Labradors

The Labrador Retriever Resume

Posted on January 17, 2020

Everyone wants to know why Labrador Retrievers have such an extensive resume for a dog. Labrador Retrievers are one of the best dog breeds when it comes to having a pet for the family or yourself. They also are very friendly and welcoming. Their resume consists of family pets, service dogs, search and rescue dogs, PTSD dogs, etc. We want you to know why Labrador Retrievers are the best all-around dogs.

Labrador Retrievers as Family Pets

Labrador Retrievers are rated one of the top dog breeds for family pets. Why is this? It’s obvious when you notice many families owning them. One of the main reasons is because they are playful, loving, patient, protective, and reliable. With every dog, you must train the right way. When Labradors are trained right, they are the best family dogs out there.

They are highly intelligent and learn well when training, so you shouldn’t have any problems in that area. They get along well with other animals and people as well. They love getting attention, which makes them great for kids.

Search and Rescue Dogs

Labrador Retrievers are one of the prime breeds selected for search and rescue dogs. The fact that they are extremely quick and successful learners, training them is very efficient for the search and rescue tasks. It takes a great amount of stamina, endurance, and agility to be a search and rescue dog. Labrador Retrievers are naturally smart and assertive.

Search and rescue tasks consist of tracking, nose work, water search, and persistent searching. Labrador Retrievers are naturally talented at these, which gives them a higher advantage over other dogs that are training for search and rescue.

Service and PTSD

With their loving and comforting personalities, Labrador Retrievers are incredible service dogs for people who may have health and mental issues. Service dogs are trained for comforting people with Epilepsy, PTSD, and depression. A loving Labrador can be a lifesaver for some people.

Hidden Pond Labradors

Hidden Pond Labradors breed beautiful and healthy Labrador retriever puppies from a long line of black, chocolate, and yellow Labs. If you’re looking for a family member who’ll improve your life and theirs, contact Hidden Pond Labradors at 607-857-1461!

We take pride in our ability to provide some of the best family dogs in the world. We love our Labrador Retrievers and so should you. We highly recommend taking one of these amazing puppies home with you. You won’t regret it!

Why is my Labrador Retriever Having Accidents in the House?

Posted on December 27, 2019

Sometimes are dogs have accidents in the house even when they are potty trained to go outside. There can be plenty of reasons why this is happening, which means it’s important to not panic because this can happen from time to time.

Health Problem

It’s important to clear this up right away. If you’re Labrador has been housetrained for several years, and usually goes to the bathroom outside, it’s good to have them checked by a vet for any health issues resulting in them going to the bathroom indoors all of a sudden. They could’ve eaten something that wasn’t good for them without you knowing.

Medical issues including UTI’s, bladder stones, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, etc. can affect their bathroom habits. It’s important to bring your Labrador to the Vet to rule these medical issues out, so you can figure out if there is another problem.

Separation

Sometimes your dog can have accidents while you’re not at home. This can be because your schedule has changed at work. They’re not used to being separated from you for certain amount of time, so separation anxiety might be the cause of accidents in the house.

There could even be a situation where you go on vacation for a week, and you have someone dog sit for you. Even though someone is there to take care of your dog, they could start going to the bathroom inside because of their separation anxiety since you’re not around.

There can be many causes of the accident problems with your Labrador. It’s important that you make sure nothing is medically wrong with your pet first, and then get down to the other behavioral problems.

Hidden Pond Labradors

Get Ready for the Winter with Your Labrador

Posted on November 25, 2019

Labrador Retrievers are very active dogs that love to play and wander around outside. As winter is upon us, it can be difficult to keep your Lab active in the cold temperatures. It’s extremely important to make it a habit to take your dog out at least once a day for some exercise and play time.

Here are Some Things to Do

Hike – it’s winter time, but also a perfect time for a peaceful hike with your Labrador. Getting outside during the winter is great for exercise. After, you’ll both be tired out for the night. One thing to make sure is you bring water for the both of you and keep warm. Don’t stay out all day.
Play Inside – make time to play with your dog inside during the colder months. Since you probably won’t be taking a hike every day, it’s important to spend time with them inside playing tug of war.
Walk – walk your Labrador every day. A good thing to do is take them out in the morning for a short walk and take them at night for another short walk around the block.
Doggy Daycare – since you won’t be taking your Lab to a dog park that often during the winter, it may be a good idea to take them to a doggy daycare for some playtime with some of their furry friends. This gives them a chance to play and sniff during the cold months.

Labrador Retrievers are active dogs, so when winter comes around, it’s vital to keep them busy and active, so they don’t get bored and start misbehaving in the house. If they’re active during the days when you are home, they’ll get tired easily in the evening.

Hidden Pond Labradors

Tips for Training Labrador Puppies

Posted on November 11, 2019

Bringing a Labrador puppy home can be an incredible thing. They make amazing family pets because they become a part of the family as soon as they enter your home. Training them the right way will cause less of a struggle in the future for you and your family.

Here are some tips to help you:

Obedience is Key – Labradors tend to be good learners when you teach them the right way. If you work on basic commands as soon as you take your puppy home, it will help with the training process. Sit, stay, come, drop it, and fetch are all good basic skills to teach at the beginning. Also, when eating, don’t feed them table food. Make it known that their food is in their bowl. If you start with this, they won’t end up taking advantage of begging or stealing any human food.
Exercise Helps – Labradors tend to be high energy dogs, and when they need to go out, they need to have some sort of activity and exercise to keep them active. Make it a priority everyday to take them to a dog park, take them for a walk, or go to a park to play fetch. If you don’t, they’ll end up exercising their energy in the house, which will cause problems with behavior and obedience.
Socialize – Labradors are great socializing dogs, which means it’s important to take them out to meet other dogs and friends and family. This is vital to their training because it will get them comfortable being around other people. When you have visitors, you can train them to not jump or get too excited at the door. Having them around other dogs and people won’t make them so anxious.

Hidden Pond Labradors

Hidden Pond Labradors trains search and rescue dogs for these types of cases. Whether there is a missing person, natural disaster, or you’re looking to track a loved one who is lost, we have those loving and caring dogs for you. Please contact us at 607-857-1461.

Why Labrador Retrievers are Good Family Dogs

Posted on October 30, 2019

Having a Labrador as a family is an incredible experience. Labrador Retrievers are amazing family dogs, and we want you to know why they are.

Labrador Retriever Behavior

Labs have low aggression, even though they are highly energetic when playing. This is good if you have kids because labs always want to play and have fun. Plus, they will get the exercise they need with your family.

Labs tend to be very friendly, even with people they have never met, so don’t count on them being a good guard dog for your home. They are kind and gentle towards children, which is a relief because young children like to pull and climb on dogs. Usually they will be open to the playfulness of your children. They also are a type of dog that loves attention, which means they will be a great part of the family.

Labs are very smart dogs, They are trainable, and they are considered the number one breed for search and rescue dogs. If you’re looking for a well-behaved dog, labs are willing to learn new tricks lessons.

What They Need

Labs need exercise because they are a very active breed. Regular walks, as well as playing fetch or going to dog parks are the best for this breed. Having a Labrador as a young family will be good for everyone because it will help everyone stay active outside. Labs do shed quite a bit, so having their coat all over the house means they play a big role as a family member.

You will love your Labrador retriever if you have a family. They are even-tempered dogs, who just want to be loved as a member of your wonderful family.

Hidden Pond Labradors

Keep Your Labrador Happy!

Posted on October 15, 2019

It can be tough owning and taking care of a Labrador Retriever. Labradors are extremely friendly and loving dogs, and they love to play and exercise. You have to make sure you’re keeping them happy by getting out and staying active.

Tips on keeping your dog happy and healthy:

Exercise Your Dog – Get outside and be active. Take your lab to the dog park, go for a run, play fetch, and walk your dog twice a day. This will be beneficial for you and your dog because you will also be getting out and staying active.
Spend time with them – You may get distracted with daily life, whether that’s work, family, dating, etc. Don’t let that get in the way of spending time with your lab. Take time during the day to not only stay active and play with your dog, but to just relax with them.
Travel with them – There is no better travel buddy than a dog. Take a short road trip somewhere and bring them along. This is a bonding moment you will always remember and enjoy.
Healthy eating – Make sure to feed your dog their own food. Give them treats, but don’t feed them from the table. They will get into the habit of eating human food, which will not be great for them.
Clean Regularly – Clean your dog often because they will get smelly and dirty. Use a wash cloth and towel to get rid of the dirt. You can buy dog wipes for this. You don’t have to give your dog a bath regularly, but make sure to make time to bathe them occasionally, especially in the Summer when they are active playing outside. In the other seasons, make sure to wipe them down with a wash cloth and towel when they come into the house.

Hidden Pond Labradors

How a Labrador Retriever Can Change Your Life

Posted on September 11, 2019

Labrador Retrievers are incredible dogs for people. They are very friendly and energetic and love to be around people. But dogs can be a very big responsibility. Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not! Getting a Labrador Retriever could change your life forever.

Labs make our lives better

If you’re living alone, a Labrador Retriever can be a great companion to come home from work to. It’s nice to be living alone when you’re young, but sometimes it can get lonely. Anyone who lives on their own will get lonely at some point, and a lab will change that completely. They rely on you for food and shelter, which means their loyalty to you is unwavering.

What you’ll be getting with a Labrador Retriever:

Companionship
Loyalty
Enthusiastic and Energetic
Loving and Friendly

They are also great family pets. They are gentle dogs who just want to be loved, and they will stick by your side at all times. One thing to think about when considering getting a Labrador Retriever is will you be better off in life with one? These are all great traits for a dog, and if you’re having a tough time in life with all the stresses that come with it, a Lab might just be the answer for you.

Depression and Anxiety

We see more and more of the younger generation struggling with stress and anxiety that is leading to depression and loneliness. It could be the amount of digital content and social media influencing that’s out there. A connection to all information can be dangerous at times. We reflect on ourselves and make baseless judgements about our own lives. If you feel lost and alone, your Lab will always be there to make you feel loved and wanted again. When you have a terrible day at work, you can come home to the most loving person in the world.

Why is Having a Dog so Great?

Posted on August 26, 2019

A person’s situation in life can be very delicate. Whether you’re lonely, anxious, depressed, or even happy and content in your own life, a best friend makes everything all better. A dog can give you the relationship you need when life gets difficult. They also can make you appreciate the life you’re living already. Just imagine coming home from work and opening the door to a beautiful Labrador excited as hell to see you. It’s a tremendous feeling.

The Benefits of a Dog

There are plenty of benefits of owning a dog. Of course, with all pros there are cons, but it’s safe to say that the pros outweigh the cons. Here are the benefits:

There’s always love – your dog relies on you for shelter and food. They are depending on you for everything they need, which means they will always be loving to you. They get excited to see you come home because they want to spend time with you.
Relieve stress and depression – If anything is going bad in your life, your Labrador will be there to comfort you. They will listen to your issues without talking back(obviously). The best part is they can sense when something is wrong. They will curl up next to you on the couch, and make you realize you’re not alone in this world.
Keep you active – Labs are loving and playful. They’re going to help you get out of the house and run around with them. This will also make you appreciate the outdoors because you’ll have to take them for walks every day. Going to the park and playing fetch can help you get fit as well.
Social life – Your social life will improve significantly. Dog parks, dog bars, and pet-friendly places are everywhere. This is a great way to get out and meet people. Everyone loves an adorable Labrador dog, so you’ll most likely have people coming up to give some love to them.

With the pros, there’s always cons. You’ll have to support another being, which means buying food, vet visits, and babysitting. Your life changes because you have another responsibility in your life. It’s worth it though because you’ll never complain about the minor issues of having a dog when you come home from work and see your Labrador excited as ever to see you.

Document and Cold Case Research Service

Posted on August 16, 2019

Searching for a missing person is a very grueling task for anyone. We understand that these cases are extremely sensitive, and that is why we don’t just train search and rescue dogs, we conduct deep research to get to the bottom of the case.

At Hidden Pond Labradors, John Bellocchio is a professional academic with more than 20 years of document research experience at the local, county, state and federal level. He has become an expert in the delicate process of searching for missing persons. Solving a cold case is very difficult because we know at this point the authorities haven’t been able to solve it, which can give us a very discouraging attitude. But John’s, knowledge and experience, we can give you everything we have to help you solve the case.

Search and Rescue Dogs

At Hidden Pond Labradors, we are partnered with John, who runs the K9 Search and Rescue Academy. He has the reached the highest levels of certification for search and rescue training. These puppies are bred specifically for this job, and that is why we have the best of the best to run the program. We want your case to be solved as quickly as possible.

Why is both necessary to solve the case?

Let’s say your loved one has been missing, and the case is unsolved due to other circumstances. The feeling of hopelessness and discouragement is through the roof at this point. You have no clue of how to go about finding them, and you don’t know where to turn. That is where we come in. We are dedicated to getting to the bottom of the case, and we are able to use our resources to do so.

If you have a loved one who is missing and you need help, contact Hidden Pond Labradors at 607-857-1461 today to find out how we can help you solve your case. We have search and rescue puppies for sale including a week-long training class with John. John also offers his document and cold case research services!

UMBC Police Department to Recruit a Trained Labrador Retriever

Posted on July 25, 2019

We are very proud to announce that one of our little pups is moving on to bigger and better with the UMBC Police Department in Baltimore, Maryland! He will be working as a comfort dog with the police department, and we couldn’t be happier!

Hidden Pond Labradors

At Hidden Pond Labradors, we are training our Labradors to become emotional support canine companions, as well as comfort dogs with the help of John Bellocchio, who is highly-trained and credentialed. He can help develop a dog’s abilities in order to stay close to the person dealing with re-lived trauma, emotional distress, or panic. There can be times in police work where a dog can be of great help. Dogs aren’t just companions, they aim to serve as well.

College can be a very stressful time, and the main priority is to provide comfort in times of need all around the entire UMBC campus.

We are proud that the UMBC Police Department is ready to take on one of our own academy members, and we hope that he treats them well. We believe he will!

If you are looking to train your pup in emotional support, anxiety and PTSD, please contact Hidden Pond Labradors at 607-857-1461, and we will make sure to get you and your pup comfort ready for you or your loved ones.