First Steps

If you are considering getting your first dog you should carefully weigh the pros and cons before making the decision. It is a long-term investment in terms of time, money and unlimited patience. If you have watched Marley & Me and still want a lab you are good to go! Estimated start-up for a pedigree dog is around 250.000 ISK including purchase of the puppy, a crate, food bowls, collars, leads, vaccinations, registration and dog permits.
When entering your home the puppy craves constant attention so take a couple of days off to house-train. Puppies tend to chew on anything and everything and be highly destructive for the first 9 months of their lives during the teeth period. Make sure to keep plenty of dog bones around the house and put your Prada shoes out of harms way!
The use of crate is highly recommended. The crate is the dog's sanctuary and your key to sanity. Locate the crate centrally while the puppy is young rather than in an isolated corner. After the first couple of days put the puppy in its crate and leave the house for a short period. Increase the length of these periods rapidly as the puppy's confidence grows. Having a crate in the car is the safest way of transportation and keeps the interior of the car safe.
When entering your home the puppy craves constant attention so take a couple of days off to house-train. Puppies tend to chew on anything and everything and be highly destructive for the first 9 months of their lives during the teeth period. Make sure to keep plenty of dog bones around the house and put your Prada shoes out of harms way!
The use of crate is highly recommended. The crate is the dog's sanctuary and your key to sanity. Locate the crate centrally while the puppy is young rather than in an isolated corner. After the first couple of days put the puppy in its crate and leave the house for a short period. Increase the length of these periods rapidly as the puppy's confidence grows. Having a crate in the car is the safest way of transportation and keeps the interior of the car safe.
Feeding and Grooming
Feeding
The key benefit of high quality dog food is that it completely fulfils the dogs nutritional requirements and no supplementary feeding is required. High quality dog foods are usually sold in speciality pet shops. Labradors are famous for their glorious appetite so portion control is essential. Obese labs are prone to illness and tend to have shorter life spans than those maintaining appropriate weight. The dog should have access to fresh water at all times. Switching between food types and brands may temporarily increase shedding so maintaining a steady diet plan is recommended. Approximate cost of feeding a lab runs up to 10.000 ISK per month.
Grooming
Although steady diet limits shedding you will still need a decent vacuum cleaner! Black labs only really shed twice a year by blowing out the coat during spring and fall! Yellow labs tend to shed all year round with peaks in spring and fall. Using a furmaster helps control the shedding by advancing removal of dead hair. Swimming also helps wash out dead hair but washing the dog with warm water, quality pet shampoo and blowing the coat dry (with a hair dryer) while brushing in opposite direction is the most effective way to control shedding.
The key benefit of high quality dog food is that it completely fulfils the dogs nutritional requirements and no supplementary feeding is required. High quality dog foods are usually sold in speciality pet shops. Labradors are famous for their glorious appetite so portion control is essential. Obese labs are prone to illness and tend to have shorter life spans than those maintaining appropriate weight. The dog should have access to fresh water at all times. Switching between food types and brands may temporarily increase shedding so maintaining a steady diet plan is recommended. Approximate cost of feeding a lab runs up to 10.000 ISK per month.
Grooming
Although steady diet limits shedding you will still need a decent vacuum cleaner! Black labs only really shed twice a year by blowing out the coat during spring and fall! Yellow labs tend to shed all year round with peaks in spring and fall. Using a furmaster helps control the shedding by advancing removal of dead hair. Swimming also helps wash out dead hair but washing the dog with warm water, quality pet shampoo and blowing the coat dry (with a hair dryer) while brushing in opposite direction is the most effective way to control shedding.
Dog Permits
Unless you live on a farm the dog must be registered with the local authorities within a month of arrival. Each year the dog must be taken to the vet for worming and vaccinations. The municipalities charge a registration fee and an annual permit fee. As of 2013 the registration fee is 18.000 ISK in Reykjavik and 12.600 ISK in Gardabaer, Kopavogur, Hafnarfjordur and Alftanes. Reykjavik charges an annual permit of 18.000 ISK and the other municipalities charge 12.000 ISK. Most municipalities grant a 50% discount on the permits if the dog owner has attended an approved training course. Annual permits include liability insurance so it is a good value for money.
In 2011 Althingi passed an amendment to existing laws for multi-occupied buildings so that if your apartment is entered through a common entrance you will only need written approval from two thirds of the residents as opposed to everyone before the amendment.
In 2011 Althingi passed an amendment to existing laws for multi-occupied buildings so that if your apartment is entered through a common entrance you will only need written approval from two thirds of the residents as opposed to everyone before the amendment.