| Appearance
 Labradors are relatively large, with males typically
weighing 30–36 kg (65–80 lb) and females 25–32 kg (55–70
lb). Labs weighing close to or over 100 lbs are
considered obese or having a major fault under American
Kennel Club standards, although some labs weigh
significantly more. Their coats are short and smooth,
and they possess a straight, powerful tail often likened
to that of an otter. The majority of the characteristics
of this breed, with the exception of color, are the
result of breeding to produce a working retriever.
As with some other breeds, the English (typically "show"
or "bench") and the American (typically "working" or
"field") lines differ. Today, "English" and "American"
lines exist in both the United Kingdom and in North
America. In general, however, in the United Kingdom,
Labs tend to be bred as medium-sized dogs, shorter and
stockier with fuller faces and a slightly calmer nature
than their American counterparts, which are regionally
often bred as taller, lighter-built dogs. These two
types are informal and not codified or standardized; no
distinction is made by the AKC or other kennel clubs,
but the two types come from different breeding lines.
Australian stock also exists; though not seen in the
west, they are common in Asia. Other "local minor
variants" may also exist in some areas.
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Black Lab Puppy |
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The breed tends to shed hair twice annually, or
regularly throughout the year in temperate climates.
Some labs shed a lot, however individual labs vary.
Labrador hair is usually fairly short and straight, and
the tail quite broad and strong. The otter-like tail and
webbed toes of the Labrador Retriever make them
excellent swimmers. Their interwoven coat is also
relatively waterproof, providing more assistance for
swimming. The tail acts as a rudder for changing
direction.
Color
There are three recognized colors for Labs: black (a
solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to
gold to "fox-red"), and chocolate (medium to dark
brown). There are no such things as silver or golden
Labradors, a common mistake for the Yellow variant.
There is also a black-and-tan coat type, but this coat
color is the least popular as it renders the Labrador
un-showable except in the UK.
Puppies of all colors can potentially occur in the same
litter. Color is determined primarily by two genes. The
first gene (the B locus) determines the density of the
coat's pigment granules: dense granules result in a
black coat, sparse ones give a chocolate coat. The
second (E) locus determines whether the pigment is
produced at all. A dog with the recessive e allele will
produce little pigment and will be yellow regardless of
its genotype at the B locus. Variations in numerous
other genes control the subtler details of the coat's
coloration, which in yellow Labs varies from white to
light gold to a fox red. Chocolate and black Labs' noses
will match the coat color.
Labrador Retriever Temperament
Labradors are a well-balanced, friendly and versatile
breed, adaptable to a wide range of functions as well as
making very good pets. As a rule they are not
excessively prone to being territorial, pining,
insecure, aggressive, destructive, hypersensitive, or
other difficult traits which sometimes manifest in a
variety of breeds, and as the name suggests, they are
excellent retrievers. As an extension of this, they
instinctively enjoy holding objects and even hands or
arms in their mouths, which they can do with great
gentleness (a Labrador can carry an egg in its mouth
without breaking it). They are also known to have a very
soft feel to the mouth, as a result of being bred to
retrieve game such as waterfowl. They are prone to
chewing objects (though they can be trained out of this
behavior). The Labrador Retriever's coat repels water to
some extent, thus facilitating the extensive use of the
dog in waterfowl hunting.
Labradors have a reputation as a very mellow breed
and an excellent family dog (including a good reputation
with children of all ages and other animals), but some
lines (particularly those that have continued to be bred
specifically for their skills at working in the field
rather than for their appearance) are particularly fast
and athletic. Their fun-loving boisterousness and lack
of fear may require training and firm handling at times
to ensure it does not get out of hand - an uncontrolled
adult can be quite problematic. Females may be slightly
more independent than males.[8] Labradors mature at
around three years of age; before this time they can
have a significant degree of puppyish energy, often
mislabeled as being hyperactive. Because of their
enthusiasm, leash-training early on is suggested to
prevent pulling when full-grown. Labs often enjoy
retrieving a ball endlessly and other forms of activity
(such as agility, frisbee, or flyball). They are
considerably "food and fun" oriented, very trainable,
and open-minded to new things, and thrive on human
attention, affection and interaction, of which they find
it difficult to get enough. Reflecting their retrieving
bloodlines, almost every Lab loves playing in water or
swimming.
Although they will sometimes bark at noise,
especially a degree of "alarm barking" when there is
noise from unseen sources, Labs are not on the whole
noisy or territorial, and are often very easygoing and
trusting with strangers, and therefore are not usually
suitable as guard dogs.
Labradors have a well-known reputation for appetite, and
some individuals may be highly indiscriminate, eating
digestible and non-food objects alike.[24] They are
persuasive and persistent in requesting food. For this
reason, the Labrador owner must carefully control
his/her dog's food intake to avoid obesity and its
associated health problems (see below).
The steady temperament of Labs and their ability to
learn make them an ideal breed for search and rescue,
detection, and therapy work. Their primary working role
in the field continues to be that of a hunting
retriever.
Labrador Retriever History
The early Labrador originated on the island of
Newfoundland, now part of the province of Newfoundland
and Labrador, Canada. The breed emerged over time
from the St. John's Water Dog, also an ancestor of the
Newfoundland dog (to which the Labrador is closely
related), through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers in
the mid to late 15th century. The original forebears of
the St. John's dog have variously been suggested to be
crossbreeds of the black St. Hubert's hound from France,
working water dogs from Portugal, old European pointer
breeds and dogs belonging to the indigenous peoples of
the area. From the St. John's Dog, two
breeds emerged; the larger was used for hauling, and
evolved into the large and gentle Newfoundland dog,
likely as a result of breeding with mastiffs brought to
the island by the generations of Portuguese fishermen
who had been fishing offshore since the 1400s. The
smaller short-coat retrievers used for retrieval and
pulling in nets from the water were the forebears of the
Labrador Retriever. The white chest, feet, chin, and
muzzle characteristic of the St. John's Dog often
appears in Lab mixes, and will occasionally manifest in
Labs as a small white spot on the chest or stray white
hairs on the feet or muzzle.
Health and well-being
Labrador pups should not be brought home before they
are 7–10 weeks old. Their life expectancy is generally
12 to 13 years or a few years longer with good medical
care and proper feeding, and it is a healthy
breed with relatively few major problems. Notable issues
related to health and wellbeing include:
Inherited disorders
Labs are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia,
especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some
other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before
breeding.
Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A
luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee
where the leg is often bow shaped.
Eye problems are also possible in some Labs,
particularly progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts,
corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia. Dogs which
are intended to be bred should be examined by a
veterinary ophthalmologist for an eye score.
Hereditary myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that
causes a deficiency in type II muscle fibre.
There is a small incidence of other conditions, such
as autoimmune diseases and deafness in labs, either
congenitally or later in life.
Other disorders
Labs are sometimes prone to ear infection, because their
floppy ears trap warm moist air. This is easy to
control, but needs regular checking to ensure that a
problem is not building up unseen. A healthy Labrador
ear should look clean and light pink (almost white)
inside. Darker pink (or inflamed red), or brownish
deposits, are a symptom of ear infection. The usual
treatment is regular cleaning daily or twice daily
(being careful not to force dirt into the sensitive
inner ear) and sometimes medication (ear drops) for
major cases. As a preventative measure, some owners clip
the hair carefully around the ear and under the flap, to
encourage better air flow. Labradors also get cases of
allergic reactions to food or other environmental
factors.
Obesity
Labs are often overfed and are allowed to become
overweight, due to their blatant enjoyment of treats,
hearty appetites, and endearing behavior towards people.
Lack of activity is also a contributing factor. A
healthy Labrador should keep a very slight hourglass
waist and be fit and light, rather than fat or
heavy-set. Excessive weight is strongly implicated as a
risk factor in the later development of hip dysplasia or
other joint problems and diabetes, and also can
contribute to general reduced health when older.
Osteoarthritis is commonplace in older, especially
overweight, Labs. A 14-year study conducted by Purina
showed that dogs which were fed a diet to maintain a
lean body shape outlived dogs fed ad libitum by 15% or
two years for the 48 dogs in the study stressing the
importance of proper feeding.
Labrador Crossbreeds
The "Labradoodle" is a popular "designer dog" that
combines a Labrador with a Poodle, to create a hybrid
that is more suited to allergy sufferers.
Some assistant-dog groups also like using Golden
Retriever / Labrador Retriever hybrids (officially
called a Golden Labrador Retriever) in hopes of having
dogs with fewer genetic problems. Naturally it is
important to use dogs from good stocks since crossbreeds
are not immune to such problems and since Golden
Retrievers and Labradors have some of the same health
problems.
Another significant crossbreed of the Labrador Retriever
is the Labradinger, which combines a Labrador with an
English Springer Spaniel. This breed is generally
smaller and is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid
Club.
Labrador Retriever Popularity
The Labrador is an exceptionally popular dog. As of
2006 the Labrador Retriever was widely considered the
most popular breed in the world.
Most popular dog by ownership in USA (since
1991), Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
In both the UK and USA, there are well over twice as
many Labradors registered as the next most popular
breed. If the comparison is limited to dog breeds
of a similar size, then there are around 3 - 5 times as
many Labradors registered in both countries as the next
most popular breeds, the German Shepherd and Golden
Retriever.
Most popular breed of assistance dog in the United
States, Australia and many other countries, as well as
being widely used by police and other official bodies
for their detection and working abilities.
Approximately 60–70% of all guide dogs in the United
States are Labradors.
Seven out of 13 of the Australian National Kennel
Council "Outstanding Gundogs" Hall of Fame appointees
are Labradors (list covers 2000-2005).
There is no global registry of Labradors, nor detailed
information on numbers of Labradors living in each
country. The countries with the five largest numbers of
Labrador registrations as of 2005 are: 1: United States
2: United Kingdom and France (approximately equal), 4:
Sweden, 5: Finland. Sweden and Finland have far
lower populations than the other three countries,
suggesting that as of 2005 these two countries have the
highest proportion of labs per million people.
More Information about Labrador Retrievers:
Labrador Retriever Information & Pictures
All about the Labrador Retriever, info, pictures,
breeders, rescues, care, temperament, health, puppies
and much more.
American Kennel Club - Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever
A comprehensive resource for Labrador Retrievers
Dog Owner's Guide Profile: The Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever Puppies For Sale
Midwest Labrador Retriever Rescue
Labrador Retrievers on K9Web
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