Are you thinking about purchasing a labrador retriever? As one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, Labrador's are known for their playful behavior and love to swim, catch and retrieve, and are great pets for families with children and for elderly pet lovers as well as avid sportsman who need a reliable outdoor companion for a variety of tasks. This article will discuss some of the traits of the breed today and what you can expect from your Labrador.

With even temperament and the ability to be gentle (Labs can carry an egg in their mouth without breaking it), Labrador's are an ideal answer to a family pet. They do tend to chew on furniture, especially when young, though there are some products on the market that can discourage this behavior and condition them out of it.

Labrador's are a breed of gun dog, with webbed feet for swimming and actually were originally used for retrieving fishing nets. Their coat also has a waterproof effect that provides Labs with excellent swimming ability. They are heavily used by police and as guide dogs for the blind. The labrador has an excellent sense of smell allowing them to find almost any scent and track or follow it to its origin.

When looking for a Labrador, consider that the puppies will grow to about 65-90 pounds for males and 55-70 pounds for females. They shed about twice per year, or in warmer climates, may shed year-round.

Labs come in 3 basic colors, the Black Lab, being a solid black color, the Yellow lab, that can be anything from white to cream to a reddish hue, and Chocolate, or brown. One interesting color trait that is not yet recognized by the AKC is the Silver Lab. If a labrador falls outside of the 3 color ranges above, it is not recognized as a true purebred Labrador, though this does not always matter unless you are planning on showing or breeding.

Outside of the three color combinations, some other characters can be present in Yellow Labs. Sometimes referred to as Dudley, some Yellow Labradors are born with pink, un-pigmented noses. There are also some differences in dogs that are bred for confirmation to the breed and those that are bred to be top performing work dogs. It simply depends on why you are looking to buy a lab, for a family pet, a show dog, a hunting animal or a work dog. With Labrador's excellent demeanor, rich history and versatile abilities, it's no wonder that they are the most popular dog in the world.