 Labrador
Retriever
Description:
Although the Labrador Retriever as it is known
today was developed in Britain, originated from
dogs found along the East coast of Canada. These
dogs had been known variously as the Black Water
Dog, the Lesser Newfoundland, or the St John's
Dog; they were descendants of dogs taken there
by explorers, settlers and fishing crews. The
dogs, found to have excellent hunting and fishing
abilities, were brought to England early in the
1800's where their "modern" development
carried on. Crossed with other local sporting
breeds, the strong and sturdy Lab became, and
continues to be, England's most popular gundog.
This breed excels in obedience and field trials,
needs plenty of outdoor exercise and especially
enjoys swimming.
Height:
22.5 - 24.5"
(57.2 - 57.2cm) for dogs, 21.5 - 23.5" (54.6
- 54.6cm) for bitches
Weight:
60 - 75 lbs
(26.8 - 26.8 kg) for dogs, 55 - 70 lbs (24.6 -
24.6 kg) for bitches
Coat
Type:
The Lab's
dense coat should be smooth and feel hard. The
solid body color varies from black, to chocolate,
to yellow (light cream color to fox red). The
coat is easily cared for with regular brushing
with a slicker type brush.
Temperament:
The Lab's easy-going and friendly manner make
him an excellent addition to families with children.
The Labrador Retriever is easy to train and, by
nature, is a true sporting dog. Labs love swimming
and will play fetch in the water for as long as
you will!
Health
Problems: Labs
are susceptible to Hip Dysplasia and all breeding
stock should be x-rayed and certified clear. They
are also at risk for several eye problems including
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), cataracts and
retinal dysplasia, therefore all breeding stock
should be examined annually. Other problems are:
skin allergies and problems such as Acral Lick
Dermatitis (lick granuloma), thyroid, and epilepsy,
the latter being highly suspected to have a genetic
component. On the whole though Labradors are generally
very healthy dogs.
Special
Interest:
Besides
being the most popular gundog in Britain, the
Labrador is the most popular dog in the USA and
in Canada, topping registration charts in both
countries. The Labrador has gained world-wide
recognition as a good police and war dog, and
also makes an excellent seeing-eye dog for the
blind; in fact, one Labrador Retriever in Tel
Aviv worked as a guide dog for over 14 and a half
years!
Classifications:
AKC: Group 1 - Sporting Dogs
CKC: Group 1 - Sporting Dogs
KC: Sporting - Gundog Group
FCI: Group 8
ANKC: Group 3 - Gundogs
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