labrador health

Question
"i have 2 questions,we just adopted a 5 year old spayed labrador,we got here across state,and after getting email today from the previous owner,we found out she hasnt had her heart worm pill since last 4 months,were in cold state of mich,and wonder if we need to have heart worm done.they dont usually check here untill spring and if we do it now,she would still need it done this spring,we are new dog owners,and i havent had a dog for 35 years.would you have it done now or wait untill spring,she has been mostly a inside dog.
#2
she is a great dog,and we havent had her of leash,at home,but im wondering when i should try to play with her,or walk in woods with out her leash,i would hait to loose her if she dosent come when called,she loves to play ball and brings it right to you.any traing excersises to try with her ,or practice before letting her off leash,thanks for your help.jim";  

Answer
The more past medical records you were given the better.  I would make an appointment with a vet you find convenient.  It is very difficult for a lay person to evaluate medical personal.  Take her and any records.  No 2 vets think alike, and you may as well go along with the one you have chosen unless he seems too far out.  Above all look for one that seems interested in your dog and willing to explain things to you.  Give the vet everything you know about the dog's medical history.  Often they have new patients fill out a form.  

4 months would take her back to September.  Mosquitos are fierce in Michigan in September.  I don't think a heart worm check will be too much as part of an initial exam.  Unless you are absolutely, positively 100% sure, you have no mosquitoes, I would put her on Hartguard + year around.  I use it in the winter and Revolution to also control fleas in the summer.  A bit expensive, but I didn't a sign of fleas on either dog all summer.  If you keep the dogs on preventative year around, you don't need to do checks.  

I am very conservative about letting dogs run loose.  Many dogs will take every chance to take a run in their neighborhood.  There is a woods a half mile deep starting a block from me.  I have an 11 year old female Lab.  When I take Aster for her walk, I never let her loose there.  I met a new neighbor recently in the woods.  He was looking for his Flat Coated Retriever that he let loose.  Fortunately his dog soon found Aster and I, and I was able to return him.  On the other hand, I let Aster run loose when we drive to the state lands along the river once we get back from the road.  I even let my friends' 2 Goldens have a run and a swim when I kept them for a week last summer.  

"Come" needs to be taught as part of proper pack status and obedience.  The
dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their
own rank in the pack and a top dog.  Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack
members outrank the 4 legged ones.  You can learn to play the role of top dog by
reading some books or going to a good obedience class.  Start at
http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/

If you dog is at least 4 - 5 months old, start with a good 6' leather leash and
a sturdy slip collar, the metal chain
ones with the rings on each end. You want the shortest one that will go on
and off easily. If you walk with the dog on the left, pull the chain through
one loop forming a "P". Facing it, slip it over its head. The free end
should come over the neck to the leash, and the other end should drop slack
when there is no pull on the leash.

With the dog at the end of the leash, call its name and "Come" in a firm
voice. If it comes, praise it lavishly and pet it. If it doesn't come, repeat
the
command and give the leash a light snap. Keep it up with firmer leash snaps
until the dog does come. Do not forget the praise.  Then switch to a longer
leash or rope, about 25'.  When it comes well on the longer leash, you should
be
able to go to
off leash in a fenced area, etc. Once the dog is doing well, introduce come,
treat. This is for emergencies only when the dog has gotten loose accidentally.
Use it routinely and you will have nothing to fall back on when your dog is
headed for a busy street. "Name, come treat!" is little different from the
regular "Name, come!", except the dog gets a great treat when it comes. We are talking
a hot dog, cheese, etc. much better than any treat you use routinely.

Relying on come to control most dogs loose outside is risky, and I do not
recommend it.  Dogs are individuals.  Some can be trained to come when you have
no way to enforce it, but some will never be completely reliable even for the
most experienced trainers.

Consider fencing the yard, either a conventional fence or the electronic ones.
A tether is fine for short relief breaks with exercise coming from long walks
on
leash or in controlled areas like a dog park. Just letting a dog run loose in a
residential area is not acceptable. Never let it foul somebody else's yard.

A 5 year old Lab is past the puddles on the floor stage and most of them have moderated shredding everything in the house by then.  She should be a dog you can enjoy.  Feel free to contact me with more questions.