Height Up to2 feet tall at the shoulder
Weight:55 to 80 pounds
Life Span:10 to 12 years
The most popular dog breed both in UK , Canada and USA is the Labrador Retriever. What is it about this breed of dog that makes it so popular?
I decided to take a look at Labrador Retrievers and find out why we all love them so much.
How Labrador Retrievers Can Help Us
Labradors were first bred as sporting dogs but since then they have been adapted to work as :
Search and Rescue Dogs
Guide Dogs and other Assistance Dogs
Companion Dogs
Therapy Dogs
Agility and Obedience Dogs
Tracker or Sniffer Dogs
Drug and Explosive Detection Dogs
Retrievers for Hunters and Gun Dogs
History
Labrador Retrievers were originally bred in Newfoundland off the northeastern Atlantic coast of Canada. They were known as the St.John’s dog after the capital city and were used to help out local fishermen.
What to Expect from a Labrador Puppy
Labs are known for their enormous appetites and owners must watch that the dog doesn’t become obese. Any potential owners should be committed to giving the Labrador up to an hours exercise a day. They should also sign up for a comprehensive training programme, these are big strong dogs with boundless energy. A bored, understimulated Labrador Retriever can have tendencies towards chewing, digging and other destructive behaviors.
A Lab will enjoy carrying things in his mouth, buy strong durable toys for this purpose.
Labrador puppies grow considerably between four to seven months so it is important to provide high-quality puppy food specifically designed for large dogs, to prevent bone disorders.
This breed does shed so a good vacuum cleaner will be needed. They have double coats which are almost waterproof and have webbed toes.
The double coat is there to protect them against cold and icy water.
They are excellent swimmers.
They have ‘gentle mouths’ perfect for retrieving birds.
The World’s oldest Labrador was 29 years old (and called Bella)
Health
Labradors can suffer from allergies that lead to dermatitis (skin inflammation).
Sunday Times Bestseller
‘Passionate and well-researched’ Tatler
‘A must-read’ Independent
A social history of Labradors, and how they have become the world’s most beloved dogs, by writer, presenter and long-time dog lover Ben Fogle.
Labradors are the most popular breed of dog in the world. Not only a great family companion, they also excel at hunting, tracking, retrieving, guiding and rescuing. But where did the breed originally come from? How did it develop? When did black, yellow and chocolate Labradors first appear? Did they really all come from Labrador in Canada and are they really all related to just one dog?
In this first history of the Labrador, Ben Fogle goes in search of what makes Labradors so special. Their extraordinary companionship, intelligence, work ethic and loyalty is captured by Ben as he weaves the story of the breed into his own story of his beloved Inca.
Ben visits Canada, discovers hair-raising stories of early Labrador exploits and uncovers stories of RNIB Labradors and Labradors at war, Labradors as working dogs and every other manifestation of the Labrador’s character. Exploring their origin, early characteristics, their use as gun dogs, as therapy dogs, as police dogs, as search and rescue dogs and last – and absolutely not least – as family pets, Ben tells the story of a dog breed which has captured our imagination and love for hundreds of years.
Famous Labrador Retrievers
Ben of Hyde
Ben of Hyde holds the record for being the first documented yellow Labrador Retriever. He was born in early 1899. Most lines of yellow labs currently can be traced back to the Ben of Hyde bloodline.
Marley
The movie Marley and Me features none other than the lab Marley. A variety of age range labs played Marley, representing different parts of her growth and experience. The movie is based on the true-life adventures of Marley and owner John Grogan.
Buddy and Seamus
Former United States President Bill Clinton had two famous labs as pets named Buddy and Seamus. It raised the Labrador Retrievers popularity to an all-time high.
Jake
Jake is a gorgeous black lab that made his search and rescue debut after the 911 attacks. He tirelessly worked to try and locate both survivors and victims. He also participated in search and rescue operations in both hurricane Rita and Katrina.
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