Labrador Retriever

From LoveToKnow Dogs

The faithful Labrador Retriever truly lives up to the moniker of Man's Best Friend. This sturdy breed was originally developed to retrieve water fowl, and aid in the hunt of upland game. The breed's name is a bit of a misnomer, having more likely originated from the Newfoundland breeds that later found their way to England and were cross bred with other retrievers of the time.

Labrador Retriever

Labradors come in three recognized colors:

  • Solid Black, with a small amount of white permissible on the chest.
  • Yellow, perhaps the most popular color.
  • Chocolate, a rich reddish brown.

The average Lab weighs in around seventy pounds, making them quite solid for a medium sized dog of twenty-three inches height on average. The breed's tail is also very recognizable, being "otter-like" in appearance.

Labrador Retriever Personality

The Labrador Retriever is highly valued for it's easy, outgoing nature. Stability is the hallmark of the Labrador personality, and these dogs make wonderful family pets, getting along well with most other dogs and creatures as well. Labradors love to please their owners, and require lots of affectionate attention, which they are only too willing to return in kind. But when it's time to go to work, a Labrador is all business.

Trainability

Labrador Retrievers are excellent candidates for all types of training, and only require consistency to bring out their best efforts. They have long been prized for their abilities in the field as game dogs, and also do extremely well in obedience and the sport of agility.

Their gentle intelligence also makes these dogs very good candidates for search and rescue work, as well as guide and therapy dogs.

Grooming Tips

Except for their heavy weight, Labradors have simple grooming needs. Their coat is short, so stays much cleaner than longer coated breeds. A monthly bath should suffice. Some shedding should be expected, but brushing with a bristle brush should pick a lot of the loose hair, and can be carried out whenever you want to spend some quiet bonding time with your canine companion.

Be sure to keep an eye on nail length and trim if necessary. Also, because the ear flaps hang downward, be sure to check the ears from time to time for dirt and possible signs of infection indicated by redness and a foul smell. You may choose to clean these yourself with a cotton swab or leave it to your veterinary professional.

Health Issues

A well bred Labrador Retriever has a life expectancy of ten to twelve years on average. Unfortunately, this breed like many others is prone to some hereditary diseases that can significantly lower the quality of your pet's life. Responsible breeders screen for the following diseases in order to try to eliminate them from their breeding stock.

  • Canine Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
  • Retinal Dysplasia
  • Renal Dysplasia
  • Gastric Torsion, aka Bloat
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Canine Cataracts

It follows that you should always ask for a written health guarantee on any pet you purchase.

External Links


 


Comments

Hi Zach,

From the conditions you describe, I'm going to recommend some small to medium breeds you might want to check out.

I would also like to recommend you read the book Puppies for Dummies. Don't let the title put you off, the Dummy series of books provides a lot of useful information in an easy to digest format. This book will help you understand what you can expect from a puppy and how to train it. I think it's a great book for first time dog owners.

Hopefully these suggestions will give you enough information to begin your search for a great canine companion. Good luck!

-- Contributed by: Kelly

My family and I have been thinking about getting a puppy, but there are a few conditions that have to come accordingly. First of all, our yard is so small, we are afraid our new puppy will run off to the VERY CLOSE highway, so our new puppy will have to be an inside dog besides walks. Next, we have small children so a dog that is known to resort to biting isnt a good idea. The dog has to be friendly with small children and other animals. Lastly, it cant be TOO big (...er spaniel size). So we basically need a stay at home pup that is good with kids and is pretty small. We dont know what kind of breed though. Any suggestions. LIST AS MANY AS POSSIBLE

-- Contributed by: Zach

Hi Christine,

Four seizures in five months indicates a serious condition. I honestly believe it would be best to follow your vet's advice to bring the seizures under control quickly. Recurrent seizures can cause brain damage, so it would be better to begin treatment sooner rather than later.

Thanks for your question, and best wishes for your dog's health.

-- Contributed by: Kelly
> See All Comments on this article    


Comment on Labrador Retriever



(Displayed with your comment)                        (Will not be displayed)
Verification Code:   
    

Dogs Categories
LoveToKnow Tools
More Articles