Labrador Retriever: A friendly, versatile four-legged friend😍
Contents:✍
- From ship dog to family favorite
- The Labrador Character
- Training and keeping a Labrador
- What is the difference between a Labrador and a Labrador Retriever?
- How big and how heavy does a Labrador get?
- What is the difference between the show line and the working line in the Labrador?
- What Labrador colors are there?
- Myth Check: Do Brown Labs Have a Shorter Life Expectancy?
- Health information about Labradors
- Care of the Labrador
- Buying Labradors – Purebred Labradors and Mixed Breeds
- Labrador retriever profile
- Video: All about the Labrador Retriever
From ship dog to family favorite
A direct ancestor of the Labrador is the Newfoundland Water Dog. This breed was particularly popular with British fishermen fishing off Newfoundland some 500 years ago. Not afraid of water, their dogs jumped into the sea to fetch fishing nets and lines or fish that had fallen out of the nets. They also showed great talent in retrieving dead waterfowl. In the middle of the 19th century, the Newfoundland all-rounders also became known in England. British hunting enthusiasts began to take an interest in the new breed and started breeding with it - however, the breed almost became extinct around 1870. In 1903 the Labrador was finally officially recognized. All of today's Labradors probably go back to an ancestor named Avon, who was born in 1885.
The Labrador Character
The intelligent Labrador is a good-natured, happy-go-lucky dog with great attachment to his people. He has an excellent connection with children in particular. This makes the Labrador a perfect family dog. The Labrador's nature is sensitive and peaceful. He has a strong urge to please his people and is happy about every compliment. The Labrador is versatile and resilient, and he is not lacking in courage. On the other hand, it is not suitable as a guard dog or even a protection dog, as it is just as friendly to strangers as to its own people and shows little mistrust. It is often used as a guide dog, therapy dog, or visiting dog. And with the police, he often makes a career as a drug detection or rescue dog.
Endurance, speed, and an excellent nose are also among the characteristics of the friendly pedigree dog. In addition, the Labrador loves water and retrieving, just like its ancestors did. What he doesn't like, on the other hand, are conflicts and being alone. The four-legged friend does not tend towards aggression towards people or conspecifics. And he always loves to be with his family. So practice staying alone with him from an early age so that it works out well later.
CharacteristicsLabrador Retrievers🐈
Training and keeping a Labrador
The Lab is a very docile, patient dog that should be easy to train, even if you haven't had much dog experience before. This makes the good-natured four-legged friend great as a beginner's dog. Of course, he still needs a species-appropriate, consistent, and loving upbringing and socialization, which is why support from a dog trainer or a dog school makes sense. Because there you will get valuable tips and answers to all your questions. People who have never owned a dog often feel more secure when they have someone to look after them. With a successful upbringing, no one can fool the Labrador when it comes to sociability and friendliness.
The Labrador is an ideal dog for active owners and sporty families. With too little exercise and too little demand, he – like every dog – may develop behavioral problems. He wants to let off steam alongside his people and is balanced when he gets a lot of exercise and stimulation. In addition to extensive walks, retrieval and search games are suitable for this. Or you try your hand at dog sports with him. Tracking and man trailing (tracking people down) will also keep your Labrador busy. If he also gets the opportunity to play in the water, you have a happy and well-balanced dog at your side.
Fun Fact: As the original water dog, the Labrador actually has webbed toes.
If you offer him these opportunities to exercise and exercise, a Labrador can also be kept in an apartment.
What is the difference between a Labrador and a Labrador Retriever?
The Labrador Retriever is often spoken of. This is not a different breed of dog - Labrador and Labrador Retriever mean the exact same dog. The additional retriever is derived from the English word "to retrieve" (to fetch, to bring something back). Retriever means retriever dogs. There are a total of six officially recognized retriever breeds. The Labrador is one of them. His correct name is accordingly Labrador Retriever.
How big and how heavy does a Labrador get?
Labradors take about 14 to 18 months to mature. Males reach a shoulder height of 56 to 57 centimeters, bitches are about 54 to 56 centimeters tall. The ideal weight for male Labradors is between 29 and 36 kilograms and for female dogs between 25 and 32 kilograms.
What is the difference between the show line and the working line in the Labrador?
However, in terms of build, height and weight, there are differences between the Labrador working line and the Labrador show line. In general, the show line is a bit larger and stronger. The dogs have shorter legs as well as shorter noses. Their chests are fuller, their necks are thicker, and their foreheads are pronounced. "Show line" describes the classic line and not that the dogs were bred for dog shows.
The working line, on the other hand, is a little smaller, lighter, more agile and sporty, but more muscular. Working line dogs have a greater will to please you. They also want, as the name suggests, to “work”, so they need more employment. Show line Labradors are more laid back and easygoing.
In addition to these two lines, there is also the dual-purpose line. It should combine work and show lines and thus bring together the traditional physique of the Labrador with the joy of working. However, it is not possible to breed a dog so purposefully that half of it comes from the show line and the other half from the working line. Depending on the parents, it always kicks out a little more to one side.
What Labrador colors are there?
Originally, the Labrador was only bred with a black coat color. All deviations were considered misbreeding. The first yellow Labrador was specifically used for breeding in 1899 - his name was Ben of Hyde. Even later, the chocolate brown Labrador was recognized. Today, the Labrador is officially available in these three color variants: black, yellow and brown. All three colors are possible in a single litter.
Some Labradors have a silver or gray coat. This color comes from targeted breeding in which the so-called dilute gene is crossed. This happened with the first breeds in the USA by crossing Weimaraners. The recessively inherited dilute gene clumps together the pigment granules of the coat, causing it to "dilute" - i.e. lighten - the coat color. The silver or gray Labrador is actually a brown Labrador with reduced pigmentation. A black Labrador with the Dilute gene becomes a Charcoal Labrador. In yellow Labradors, the gene ensures a champagne-colored coat coloration.
The opposite also occurs from time to time: in some yellow Labradors there is increased storage of color pigments. These dogs appear foxed.
“Silver Labs” may look beautiful, but breeding them negatively affects the health of the animals. The lightening of the coat color is basically a genetic defect that brings with it serious skin diseases, coat loss and inflammation. The gastrointestinal tract is also very sensitive. Silver Labradors have a shorter life expectancy due to a genetically determined immune deficiency that promotes infections and inflammation. Liver and kidney failure are also not uncommon.
Myth Check: Do Brown Labs Have a Shorter Life Expectancy?
According to an Australian-British study, chocolate Labradors have a shorter life expectancy than their black and yellow counterparts. While the latter live up to twelve years on average, brown Labradors only reach 10.7 years. This may be due to their selective breeding. The gene is inherited recessively, which means that both parents must carry the gene in order for their offspring to have brown fur. Thus, the gene pool available to breeders is much smaller and diseases become more likely.
Health information about Labradors
Like many larger dogs, the Labrador is prone to hereditary musculoskeletal disorders. Above all, hip joint dysplasia, elbow dysplasia and osteochondrosis occur. Eye diseases are also not uncommon. Epilepsy also occurs again and again. Labradors tend to be overweight. They have big appetites and almost never say no to food. You should keep an eye on this because being overweight promotes further health problems.
Grooming the Labrador Retriever
Because Labradors shed year-round, they need to be brushed daily. Regardless of swimming preference, avoid bathing your Lab if possible. Care products containing soap disturb the breed-typical natural protective film on the skin.
Buying Labradors – Purebred Labradors and Mixed Breeds
Overbreeding causes show-line Labradors to become very sluggish dogs, while working-line animals become too light-bodied and more greyhound-like in appearance. Neither should happen. When choosing a Labrador breeder, make sure that health is the top priority. Puppies from a reputable breeder cost between $1,000 and $2,000.
An alternative to the purebred Labrador is a Labrador mix. The sporty Labrador Shepherd mix is popular here. The Labrador-Golden Retriever mix is also common. Both breeds are good-natured family dogs. They have similar characteristics and are often kept together. With a Labrador Australian Shepherd mix, you'll have an athletic, family-friendly friend who also makes a good guard dog. This hybrid dog is becoming increasingly popular.
A look at animal shelters can never hurt if you are looking for a Labrador or Labrador mix. Maybe you'll find a dog there that you can give a new home to.
You will find the best products for your Labrador Retriever here!
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