Labrador Retrievers
– A Very Versatile Breed
The Labrador Retriever, or Lab for short, is one of the most lovable
and loved dogs in North America. There are actually two different
styles of Labradors, the English Labrador and the American Labrador.
The English dog tends to be stockier and heavier than the American Lab,
which is lankier, taller and longer-legged. Both have equally engaging
personalities and love to be with people and other pets. Labs are used
in many different activities and events including:
- Guide dogs for blind and handicapped individuals
- Field trials
- Hunting waterfowl
- Police dogs for drug detection
- Tracking dogs for law enforcement
- Search and rescue dogs
- Carting
- Agility events
- Obedience competitions
Appearance of Labradors
There are three different colors of Labs
recognized by the American Kennel Club and they are chocolate, yellow
and black. There's also a coat color that rarely appears that is known
by some associations as silver, but this is not recognized by the AKC.
Some breeders believe that this is an emerging color whereas others
believe that the Lab line has been crossed with a Weimaraner to produce
this variation of coat color.
Labs are large dogs, with males weighing between
60 and 75 pounds when fully grown, and some even reaching
closer to 100 pounds. Females typically range in weight from 55 to 70
pounds. Average height for males is 23 inches, and for females 22
inches. Labs have a very short, thick double coat that makes them easy
to groom and care for. They require weekly brushing with a pin brush or
wire brush and occasional dry grooming or bathing. Labs love water, so
bathing is usually a fun activity for them. Labs are average shedders
with usually two shedding periods a year, one in the spring and one
closer to the fall.
Labs are very muscular dogs with highly expressive
eyes, an appearance of a smile on their face and medium sized ears that
frame their face. They're strong dogs with very straight body lines and
a thick tail that gradually tapers down to a point. Labs are energetic
tail waggers and will carry their tail higher when tracking or scenting
than when playing. Labradors also have webbed toes that make them
excellent swimmers.
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Training Your Lab
Labradors are very gentle dogs and interact
wonderfully with children and other pets provided they are socialized
as puppies. They're not true guard dogs but are very protective of
their families and will bark when strangers approach. Labs require firm
and consistent training but are very intelligent and learn quickly.
Unlike some breeds, Labs tend to enjoy repetitive activities such as
fetching and obedience. They respond very well to positive praise and
attention and usually only require a slight change in the
owner’s tone of voice to realize that they are being
corrected or disciplined. Labs, like all large dogs, often
don’t realize that they are able to knock people over when
they jump up or play, especially when they are puppies. Teaching your
Lab to stay down and sit when greeting people rather than jumping up
will prevent any accidents or possible problems.
A Labrador is a wonderful and loving breed for
people with children, and individuals looking for an intelligent dog
that is suitable for many activities. Labradors have a great love of
being outdoors and enjoy long walks and romps with the family.
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