At just six weeks old, siblings Mac and Grace have their whole lives ahead of them thanks to the early care of the charity who have been looking after them.
But now as they get stronger, they are getting ready for a life of love and fun outside of Dogs Trust Ballymena.
They are just two of dozens of dogs in need of loving homes with the charity right now, and as with all puppies, all eyes will be on them leaving older dogs at the back of the queue.
The charity is looking for very specific families for Mac and Grace, families who will have the time, space and energy to look after and train them, take them safely into adolescence with the hope of long and healthy lives.
And although they are brother and sister, the charity is hoping to find separate homes for them with people who will be about the house a large part of the day to help train each of the dogs and ensure they settle into their new environment.
They both will benefit from attending dog school puppy classes with their new families to ensure they get off to a positive start.
If you are interested in offering your life and home to Mac or Grace or any of the other dogs under the care of the Dogs Trust Ballymena, you can check their website here.
5 thi ngs to consider before bringng home a Labrador puppy
Do You Have Time For A Dog?
Puppies are amazing fun - but they are hard work and puppyhood is an intense and demanding time in all homes. Most dog families struggle at some stage with a new puppy, it’s only natural but there are solutions to all problems so don’t lose heart.
Consider your working and socialising hours, how long a pup will be left alone, where and how this can happen.
An older dog may cope with being left for a few hours on a regular basis, but puppies need more attention than this. The fact is you can’t leave a young dog alone for hours on end without company or stimulation, and expect him to remain quiet, content and well behaved.
Contented Labradors like all dogs tend to be fairly quiet but lonely dogs bark and create their own activities, from seeking attention or simple destruction borne of boredom.
So if you work all day, can you afford the costs of daily care for your dog in the home or at a facility?
Very often family members will step in to help, but try to have a regular back up. Like kids, dogs love routine and thrive on it.
Do You Have The Right Space And Energy For A Labrador?
Dogs need space, both indoors and outside. Even small breeds need room to stretch their legs and run about. And Labradors, as fairly large and lively dogs, need quite a lot of space so a decent sized garden will help, somewhere that your dog can run around, play and enjoy fun training sessions.
Labradors can be quite giddy during adolescence, bouncing and cavorting in the home. Their tails are long and strong, easily knocking any ornaments so these would need to be moved out of reach along with anything that could be easily damaged by chewing.
Labradors like most dogs need to go outside regularly to go to the loo. And with small puppies it can happen as much as every 20 minutes during their first few days with you. So consider how you would toilet train a puppy. It’s a great advantage to set up a system where the puppy can toilet indoors, using puppy pads or newspaper and then move on to training him to go outdoors when he is older. All dogs are individuals and some will learn faster than others.
Training Time
All dogs need training in order to cope well in human society but this means a regular daily commitment of 10 to 20 minutes in addition to your regular interaction with the dog.
It is best not to try to save training for the weekend, and remember that the energy levels and attention span of puppies is much lower than older dogs. The training and routines you set in place as a puppy from teeth and ear cleaning to recall and safety training will last a lifetime if you persist with them.
All dogs need exercise on a regular basis but research your dog, their age and needs. Puppies should not be walked for long periods of time until their growth plates are well in place. For some breeds of dog this means at least an hour a day of walking or running to keep your dog fit and healthy. Whilst your dog will not come to any harm if you miss a day occasionally, a daily routine is often the best way to ensure that you build this important habit.
Will A Labrador Suit Your Lifestyle?
Having a Labrador will change your life quite drastically, just like all dogs. If you work away a lot, unless you can take your dog with you, a dog is probably not a good idea for you right now. And if you travel a lot and don;t have regular backup carers, then having a dog may be an issue. Working and travelling with dogs is possible, but it depends on your work and your travel destinations. Check and plan. It’s harder to hand a dog back than to not get one in the first place - harder on you and much harder on the dog.
Labrador puppies are high energy and don’t care much about your planned lie-ins on Sunday mornings. They also shed a lot of hair, they love to swim, they are mud magnets and are happy to bring that muck and gutters home on their feet and coats. A home with a Labrador is usually happy but also pretty hairy, so be prepared.
Also if you like to take day trips to places that are not dog friendly, then think about being able to arrange for someone to care for the dog in your absence.
Life with a puppy or an older dog will change, and your lifestyle will need to adapt to fit your dog’s needs- and for the family to be happy with the whole arrangement.
Is A Labrador The Right Breed For You?
If you are certain that the time is right for you to bring a dog into your family, it is also worth considering whether a Labrador is really the right breed of dog for you and your family.
A fully grown male lab can weigh as much as 6 stones. Labradors are loving, intelligent and fun but they are also very often large, bouncy and like all puppies they are very prone to biting and chewing. Make sure that you know exactly what it is you are bringing into your home and get properly prepared so you have the best chance of years of joy together.
