Videos Labrador Retriever Breed Information
Country of origin - Newfoundland (now part
of Canada)
Common nicknames -
Lab,
Labrador
Classification and breed standards
FCI:|Group
8 Section 1 #122|Stds
AKC:|Sporting|Stds
ANKC:|Group 3
(Gun dogs)|Stds
CKC:|Group
1 Sporting Dogs|Stds
KC (UK):|Gun
dog|Stds
NZKC:|Gun dog|Stds
UKC:|Gun
Dog|Stds
The Labrador Retriever (also
Labrador or Lab for short), is
one of several kinds of retriever, a
type of gun dog. The Labrador is widely
considered the most popular breed of
dog (by registered ownership) in the world,
and is by a large margin the most popular breed by registration in
the United States (since 1991), the United
Kingdom, and several other countries. It is also the 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. They
are exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic and good
natured, making them both excellent companions and
working dogs. Although somewhat
boisterous if untrained, Labrador Retrievers respond well to praise
and positive attention, and are considerably "food and
fun" oriented. With training, the Lab is one of the most
dependable, obedient and multi-talented breeds in the
world.
1. Quick Facts
Labrador
Retriever Quick Facts
Weight: | 60-75 lb.s (27-34 kg.) |
Height: | 22-24 inches (56-61cm.) |
Coat: | Short, hard, easy-care, water-resistant double coat
Activity level: | Very high
Learning rate: | Very high
Temperament: |Friendly, reliable, loving, affectionate, lovable,
patient, highly intelligent, loyal, willing, and high-spirited,
lively and good-natured.
Guard dog ability: | Low
Watch-dog ability: | High
Litter size: | ?
Life span: | 10-12 years
2. 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 will occasionally manifest
in Labs, and often appear in Lab mixes.
The St.
John's area of Newfoundland was settled mainly by the
English. Local fishermen originally used the St. John's dog to
assist in bringing nets to shore; the dog would grab the floating
corks on the ends of the nets and pull them to shore. A number of
these were brought back to the Poole area
of England in the early 1800s, then the hub of the Newfoundland
fishing trade, by the gentry, and became prized as sporting and
waterfowl hunting dogs. A
few kennels breeding these grew up in England; at the same time a
combination of sheep protection
policy (Newfoundland) and rabies quarantine (England) led to their gradual demise in their
country of origin.
The first and second Earls of
Malmesbury, who bred for duck shooting on his estate, and
the 5th and 6th Dukes of
Buccleuch, and youngest son Lord George William
Montagu-Douglas-Scott, were instrumental in establishing
the Labrador breed in nineteenth century England. The dogs Avon
("Buccleuch Avon") and Ned given by Malmesbury to assist
the Duke of Buccleuch's breeding program in the 1880s are
usually considered the ancestors of all modern Labradors.
3. Appearance
3. 1. Overview
Labradors are relatively large with males typically weighing 30 to
36 kg (65 to 80 lb) and females 25 to 32 kg (55 to 70 lb) under
AKC standards, but some
labs do become overweight and may 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 colour, are the result of breeding to produce a working retriever.
As with some other breeds, the English (typically
"show") and the American (typically "working"
or "field") lines differ. Labs are bred in England as a
medium-sized dog, shorter and stockier with fuller faces and a
slightly calmer nature than their American counterparts which are
bred as a larger lighter-built dog. No distinction is made by the
AKC, but the two classifications come from different breeding.
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.
The breed tends to shed hair twice
annually, or regularly throughout the year in temperate climates. Some labs shed
a lot, although individuals vary. Lab 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.
Labs tend to want a lot of attention from their owners. If the
owner has another dog in the house the lab usually gets jealous and
will strive for attention by moving the other dog out of the way so
the owner can pet him. These dogs also love the water. They tend to
play in the water if there are humans around playing in it. They
love to be around humans and are usually very good with small
children.
3. Temperament and activities
"Good-tempered, very agile.
Excellent nose, soft mouth; keen love of water. Adaptable, devoted
companion. Intelligent, keen and biddable, with a strong will to
please. Kindly nature, with no trace of aggression or undue
shyness."
-UK Kennel Club standard
Labradors are a well-balanced 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,
insecurity, aggression, destructiveness, hypersensitivity, 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.
Labs, like other dogs, may often tend to dig like this 3 month old and are generally very friendly with other dogs, like this german shepherd.
Labs, like other dogs, may often tend to dig like this 3
month old and are generally very friendly with other dogs, like
this german
shepherd.
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. 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 very often used
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.
They are persuasive and persistent in requesting food. For this
reason, the Lab 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
4. Health and well-being
Many dogs, including Labs such as this ten year old, show distinct whitening of the coat as they grow older; especially around the muzzle.
Many dogs, including Labs such as this ten year old,
show distinct whitening of the coat as they grow older; especially
around the muzzle.
Labrador pups should not be bought 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 it is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems.
Notable issues related to health and wellbeing include:
4. 1. 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.
4. 2. 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 Lab 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.
4. 3. 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 Lab
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.
4. 4. Exploration
Labradors are not especially renowned for escapology. They do not typically jump high
fences or dig. Because of their personalities, some Labs climb
and/or jump for their own amusement. As a breed they are highly
intelligent and capable of intense single-mindedness and focus if
motivated or their interest is caught. Therefore, with the right
conditions and stimuli, a bored Lab could "turn into an escape
artist par excellence".
Labradors as a breed are curious, exploratory and love company,
following both people and interesting scents for food, attention
and novelty value. In this way, they can often "vanish"
or otherwise become separated from their owners with little
fanfare. They are also popular dogs if found, and at times may
be stolen. Because of this a number of dog clubs and rescue
organisations (including the UK's Kennel Club) consider it good
practice that Labradors are microchipped, with the
owner's name and address also on their collar and tags.
Copyright (c) 2008 Kitt Killion Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled "GNU Free Documentation License".
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