The Complete Labrador Handbook: The Essential Guide for New & Prospective Labrador Owners (Canine Handbooks) Paperback – April 27, 2017

I got this book a week before I got my lab puppy. So much of the information is helpful about her needs, from bringing her home to things about her growth and health. I had already chosen her, and she chose me, before I knew she was coming home with me. Some of the paragraphs in the book seemed copy and pasted or duplicates, there is quite a bit of repetition which made me question the editing. If it was looked over again, and the writer included more about "hand biting prevention" or more material on training tips for the breed instead of the repetitive sections it would be the best book in the world for potential lab owners.

This book has so much great information for anyone considering adding a beautiful Labrador to their family! The book is very affordable but full of information. I loved the size of the book and it was an easy read to find out everything I need to know to raise my two labs to be happy and healthy! It was great to read advice from so many breeders across the world in one book!

This book is a must have for all Lab owners both new to Lab's and long time lab owners. This contains a wealth of knowledge from some of the best breeders out there. I was surprised to see so many of the breeders that I had on my short list when I was looking for our lab. I thought I knew a lot about Labs after having one for 14 years but this proved me wrong. I feel that I am a much more informed and better Lab owner after reading this book... MUST HAVE!!

This was well written and organized. It probably had more information that I or most owners wanted to know about all the medical conditions that might afflict your Labrador. Can’t fault the book for being too complete but not a book most will want to read cover to cover but more of a reference book.

We have found this to be one of the most comprehensive sources of information on Labradors we own. There are so many helpful references, making for a more comprehensive resource than a simple guide. The information provided is useful for both the new lab owner and for the perennial lab aficionado. My children have been able to access the simple fact references, and we have found cross-referenced resources that have opened new doors for information. Thank for creating this wonderful resource!

As parents to a puppy Labrador, this book feels like a comprehensive guide to all things- Lab. The author managed to capture almost every facet of our guy's demeanor and Lab-quirks, and offer helpful tricks and suggestions. I especially appreciate the part about having a Lab with young children in the home because it reminds us to be mindful of how important it is to have the whole family on the same page when it comes to behavior/house training. Thank you for a great resource!

Anything you don't know about Labradors, you will find in this book. Very well researched and very informative. Ms Whitwam interviewed the top breeders from the UK and USA, and in doing so, has written one of the most useful books that I have ever read regarding the breed. If you are new to Labrador Retrievers or just want to learn more about these amazing dogs, this book is for you. Thank you, Ms Whitwam!!! Great work!!!

I bought this book and picked out our lab on the same day. I was hoping to get the time to read this before we pick our dog out, but that was not to be. I read the book after, and realized it is better for those who are still in the decision-making stage. It gives prospective owners great information on the background and temperament of labs, how to pick a breeder, what a breeder is looking for in a prospective owner, questions to ask of the dams and sires and puppies, what to watch out for and so on. I also bought a book on Labrador training for dummies at the local Barnes & Noble and prefer this one for training and for pet care. I was surprised to see some spelling errors and issues with sentence construction. I rated it three stars because I will not be referring to this one as a pet owner. It is great for those who are looking to get a lab, it is a life-changing decision after all.---------------------------------------------EDITIt's been 2.5 years now since we got our lab and I wanted to add that I didn't find any book useful for training. I watched all the Zak George videos on YouTube, he's amazing. And our family realized raising a well-behaved lab is a huge commitment - in terms of time, money, and patience. All of us do our bit to keep her engaged and happy. The first year was very challenging in terms of managing her energy but she mellowed out after turning 2, and now she's a good mix of couch potato and playful lab. (This might not apply to all, but was my experience.)EDIT - 5 years later ----------------------Our lab is now 5.5 years old, time flies and she's slowing down. I learnt so much from raising her and I know I'm a better person for it. My main takeaway is labs are freakishly smart. Really scary smart. I didn't know it at the time, but my lab put me on probation for the first 8 months. She was carefully watching me and evaluating me. At some point, I realized she let her guard down and starting trusting me. She obeyed and listened unquestioningly. You need to work for it and earn their respect. If you don't have this, no book or training session will help you.I added some pics of our Poppy - one is at age 5.5 and the other, at 2 months old.