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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