The Labrador Retriever is currently
the most popular dog in the Canada. The main reason for their
popularity is the amazing versatility of the breed. Labs excel
as guide and therapy dogs, in the show, obedience, rally, and
agility rings, as hunting companions, in search and rescue
work, and, of course, as family pets.
Labs are
friendly, loving, energetic dogs who make wonderful family
members. One reason that Labs adapt so well in households is
their background as duck hunting dogs. When used for duck
hunting, a Lab is expected to stay quietly in a duck blind for
long periods of time, followed by a short burst of vigorous
activity as he plunges into the water and retrieves the ducks.
Then he returns for another long, quiet wait in the duck
blind. This means that Labs can be perfectly happy spending
long, quiet hours in the house, as long as they are provided
with several short periods of very active play. Because these
dogs love to retrieve, fifteen minutes of chasing a tennis
ball or a plastic retrieving bumper can provide them with
suitable energy release. They also love to hike, jog, and run
with their owners. A short walk around the block will not
provide enough exercise for a Lab.
Labs are very
people-oriented dogs and are happiest when they are with their
families. They do not adapt well to being outside-only dogs,
and tend to develop unfortunate behaviors such as barking,
digging, destructive chewing, and landscape rearrangement when
they are left alone outside for long periods of time. They are
not guard dogs, although most will provide acceptable alarm
barking when needed.
Aggressive behavior is a serious
temperament fault in a Lab.
Labs are low-maintenance
dogs. The only time a bath is needed is when they have
encountered a skunk or rolled in something unspeakable! Weekly
brushing with a slicker brush will keep their coats clean and
shining. Frequent bathing will remove the natural oils from a
Labrador's coat and can result in a variety of skin problems.
Labradors shed their heavy winter coat in the spring, and
owners can expect to find moderate shedding throughout the
year.
Labs come in three colors: black, yellow, and
chocolate. There is no difference in personality, temperament,
or activity level among the three colors. All three colors may
occur in the same litter of puppies.
Labrador pups
love to chew and can be quite destructive unless provided with
a constant supply of chew toys. They are very slow to mature
and are mentally and physically puppies until well over two
years of age, regardless of their size.
Both sexes
make good pets. In general, male Labs are more dependent and
love to stay close to their owners, while females are a bit
more independent.
There are two types of Labradors:
working lines and show lines. Labs from working lines tend to
have a more slender build than the stockier build of the show
lines. Dogs from working lines often have a very strong drive
to retrieve and may have more energy than the typical family
is prepared to handle. Dogs from show lines usually have a
more laid back temperament. Many Labs fall somewhere between
these two types and make excellent pets and hunting dogs.
Labs are very intelligent dogs, and given appropriate guidelines for behavior, they can adapt to almost
any living situation. An untrained Lab can be an unmitigated disaster! A well trained Labrador is a
welcome addition to almost any family.
