Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever, or just "Lab" as it is commonly referred, is a member of the Sporting Group and is America's most popular dog. As a lovable companion or a working dog in the field, this versatile breed adapts to many different environments and has been delighting dog owners since the 1800s. Their docile nature makes them perfect for companionship and they are commonly used as service dogs for this reason.

History

The earliest known ancestor of the Labrador Retriever was called the St. John's water dog, brought over to Newfoundland, Canada from England by fishermen in the early 1800s. These dogs needed to be agile swimmers to retrieve items from the sea and be great hunting companions while on land.

Two different variations of the St. John's water dog would begin appearing shortly after settling in Canada. One variation of this breeding would be a larger dog with long hair used by working class for hauling and fishing, while the other would be the Labrador Retriever we know today with its short hair and smaller body.

The Labrador Retriever would be brought back over to England in the 19th century where their loving temperament and prowess in hunting waterfowl made them extremely popular to upper class Englishmen.

It is unclear how the breed became known as the "Labrador Retriever", but the earliest written account of the name was used by the Earl of Malmesbury in a letter dating back to 1887, referring to his dogs as such.

The United Kingdom Kennel Club officially recognized the Labrador Retriever in 1903, while the United States Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1917. The first recognized yellow Labrador Retriever was documented in 1899, while the first chocolate Labrador was not officially recognized until the 20th century.

Description

There are significant differences between the United States and the United Kingdom standards of the Labrador Retriever. The following is derived from the AKC standard:

• Coat: Their coats are usually short and water-repellant, coming in three different shades: black, yellow, and chocolate. These shades of colors may vary, but cannot mix.
• Head: The head should be broad but balanced.The eyes must be a brown color (some shades of hazel are acceptable) with black eye rims and set well apart from each other. The nose must be completely black or chocolate and not faded.
• Body: An even but powerful body that only slightly exceeds the length of its tail. The tail should be larger at the base and coming down into an otter tail. They are a medium to large sized breed, weighing from 55-80 lbs.

Defects:

• If the dog is short by ½ inch or taller than ½ inch standard size.
• If the dog has a pink nose or faded black nose.
• Eye rims must be black.
• The dog cannot have a docked tail or a tail that has been altered in any way.
• The dog must be yellow, black, or chocolate colored. All other colors will be disqualified.

There are two different body types of Labrador Retrievers:

Show Labradors: tend to have stockier and shorter bodies. Their bodies are more common to the "ideal" Labrador description and are often used in shows.

Field Labradors: are lankier, with taller and leaner-looking bodies. Their bodies are more ideal for hunting companions and are commonly used in field trials.

Temperament

The Labrador Retriever is frequently described as having a loving, loyal, and gentle nature. They are also intelligent, eager to please, which makes training them fairly easy. They do not usually express territorial behavior and will greet all strangers with enthusiasm, making them better companions than guard dogs. Their cheerfulness and friendly nature is often extended to people and other animals.

These traits make them not only the perfect breed for families, but also police work, therapy dogs, and search and rescue teams. They can be rambunctious at a young age, but slowly mature around three years of age.

Care

If properly cared for, Labrador Retrievers can be a fantastic companion for every age and circumstance.

• Grooming: Their fur only needs a quick brush regularly and they do not need to be bathed often.
• Living Situation: They are better suited for house living, but can do well in an apartment if properly exercised.
• Exercise: The Labrador should get daily exercise of at least 30 minutes.
• Approximate Lifespan: 10-12 years
• Common Health Problems: The breed is susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia. Deafness occurring later in life is also commonly reported.

The Rundown: The Labrador Retriever's endearing traits, adaptable living situation, healthy disposition, and easy care requirements make this breed a great choice for any moderately-active dog owner.