The Labrador Retriever approaches sport, work and life with boundless enthusiasm. His outgoing personality complements his athleticism and work ethic. Social and expressive, this breed of Retriever is especially easy to please. Labs are famous military and service dogs, therapy dogs, hunting dogs, sports stars, and all-around companions.
Labrador Retriever bred for sport
The ancestors of the Labrador Retriever worked with Newfoundland fishermen off the Labrador coast. Their coats help them withstand freezing frosts and cold winds. They were developed with a strong hunting instinct for fish and swim lines as well as the stamina to work the long hours needed.
Since the early Labs operated in all weather, on land, and in the water, they needed sturdy frames, sturdy jackets, and resilient temperaments. Their webbed feet are useful for swimming, as are their otter-like tails. The Labrador Retriever’s aquatic ancestry helps explain the breed’s thirst for anything in the water. ahead; Throw a stick in the water and see!
Known for hanging out with his family even after a hard day’s work, the original Labrador Retriever was energetic and easy-going. British sportsmen noticed the Labrador’s aptitude for swimming and hunting, along with its distinctive personality. These dogs were imported to England in the 1800s to further develop hunting and foraging.
Popularity of Labrador Retriever
Today, the Labrador is the most popular dog breed in the United States (as well as around the world) and a great family dog. The breed shines in almost any sport, including rallying, obedience, tracking, hunting, dock diving, and field testing. Labs also use their strength and agility to help us with search and rescue, as well as underwater and avalanche rescue.
Why are Labrador Retrievers great service dogs?
Retriever breeds are often chosen for service work because of their steadfast temperament and trainability. In fact, Retrievers are the most popular breed trained for service work, with the Lab even picking slightly more than Golden Retrievers. People appreciate how friendly and affectionate Labs are, how attached they are to their owners, and how well they get along with other animals.
The service lab can instruct the visually impaired, stabilize the physically impaired, or monitor for signs of anxiety in a soldier with PTSD. Laboratories can be trained to alert diabetics when their blood sugar drops, or alert people with allergies to a potentially serious allergen, such as peanuts.
The Army deploys Labradors as IED (explosives) detection dogs. The Department of Homeland Security has new interactive training tools for canine handlers that detect explosives, including Human Born Explosives Detection (PBED). These laboratories (and others) will detect and track moving explosives concealed on people, for example, helping to protect crowded locations from explosion threats.
Labrador Retrievers as hunting dogs
Renowned for their soft mouths to catch waterfowl and not damage their prey, Labs are excellent, enthusiastic hunting dogs. Boasting great stamina, their willingness to hunt is matched only by their eagerness to please humans (both during and after the hunt). Along with retrieval, Labs can be trained as trackers or pointers.
Most Labs, whether playing or working, look for puddles, rivers, lakes, puddles and don’t forget mud! This breed loves water and doesn’t mind getting dirty.
Labrador retriever personality
Labs quickly learn family rules and readily follow them. They thrive in court games, which include ball picking and disc chase. While Lab excels at sports, he can also be a jerk and play with abandon like an aggressive puppy of any age. Juveniles may be slow to mature. Why would they want to shorten the happy period!?
Non-confrontational labs are usually not shy with any species. Most Labs have fun in the local dog park, even with brand new friends. Laboratories show a similar friendliness towards newcomers; This breed is not suitable for anyone who wants a guard dog. They are not naturally suspicious by any means. The Labrador may bark to greet newcomers, but it will not be in a hurry to get rid of potential friends. All in all, Kids and the Lab make a great pair. Labs have been bred Not Overreacting and working in harsh conditions, this breed often accepts the crude, innocent mistakes of children rather than fight back. With that said, children need to respect the space of dogs and dogs need to be appropriately integrated with young children (Read our article about meshing dogs and children).
Labs can adapt to most habitats if their exercise needs are met, but they’re clearly not the #1 best apartment breed, such as lower maintenance dogs. This breed needs walking, face-to-face interaction, swimming time, sports time, hiking time, and a full socializing schedule.
Traveling can be one of the Lab’s favorite pastimes (potentially picking up balls is #1!). Adaptable, hardy, generally quiet and unfussy, Labs make a great companion on the go. Developed for harsher climates and rough terrain, Labs won’t bother camping in a tent on hard ground, crossing streams, or hiking in mud, rain, or snow. Labrador jacket is ready to go: wash and wear! But don’t be fooled: He does shed, and certainly demands brush one’s teeth.
At home, on vacation or in the field, Today’s Laboratory aims to please. He is a good choice for any owner who wants a sporty, upbeat companion but he is also a good choice for novice owners. Lab’s easy-going personality suits him well with beginner dog families. He is a forgiving breed when you occasionally misbehave on training commands.
Labrador Retrievers bred for farm work
Specialized breeding has resulted in notable differences between the field hybrids and the display lines. Field labs (bred as hunting dogs, for hunting or field trials) often demonstrate a higher level of activity than those bred for form and companionship.
Labradors are traditional hunting dogs, used to help hunters hunt quail, ducks and pheasants. The Labs all flush and take the birds. Labradors can also be trained to help hunt game like deer and pigs, by monitoring their scent. Potential owners hoping to hunt with their Lab should question breeding programs with field lines. With a few exceptions, of course, most excellent hunting dogs are Lab-bred with a solid hunting history of their own.
Labrador Retriever Color
The Labrador Retriever comes in three colors: chocolate, black, and gold. Some breeders are advertising and selling Labs with a thin gray coat as “lab silver”. The Labrador Retriever Club (the AKC’s parent club for the breed) considers that the Silver Labrador is not a purebred Labrador Retriever. The AKC has accepted registrations of some of these “silver labs,” calling silver the color chocolate. The Labrador Retriever Club considers that the gray color may be the result of crossbreeding (Weimaraner), as the Lab has never been identified as carrying the dd dilution gene (which can result in a slightly silvery color).
Most dilution Lab breeders would assume that the rare dilution allele has always been part of the Labrador gene pool.
Labrador Retriever at a glance
Group: sport
Country of origin: Canada (Newfoundland)
Initial use: Working for fishermen, pulling nets to catch fish in nets; game access.
Labrador retriever lifespan: 10 to 12 years.
AKC Popularity Ranking 2021: Labrador Retriever has been the most popular dog breed for many years.
Activity level: Labrador Retrievers have medium to high energy levels. Field lines usually require the most exercise.
Weight: Laboratory males weigh between 65 and 80 pounds; female 55 to 70 pounds. Puppies advertised as “miniature Labradors” were likely bred from parents that were too small.
Labrador Retriever grooming needs
Cloak: Dense, short double coating. The protective outer coat facilitates the Labrador Retriever’s passion for swimming (swim, shake, dry, repeat). The soft fluff adds extra warmth when needed.
Color: Lab is gold, black and chocolate. Potential owners should carefully research breeders who charge high prices for “Silver” Labs
Shelling: The Lab is moderate shedding. The short coats shed a bit more than we expected.
grooming: Brush regularly, bathe occasionally.
Special Equipment: Labrador Retriever loves to play with lots of balls and grabbing toys.
Best for: Sports singles, family.
Possible health problems: Labs can suffer from orthopedic problems.
Quote the Labrador Retriever breed if they have one: “Never underestimate the importance of having fun.” (― Randy Pausch)
