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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
Consider joining groups to enjoy a variety of activities with
your versatile labrador! All Canadian Kennel
Club sanctioned events offer titles you may earn with your dog. All titles require teamwork and dedication. The bond between the dog and owner is the ultimate
goal, not necessarily the competition.
CKC Sanctioned Events: Obedience, Conformation, Tracking, Agility,
Working certificates, and Field trials.
Non CKC-sanctioned Events (these activities are available to all
dogs-purebred or otherwise): Flyball, Scent hurdling, and Agility and Therapy. These
are good activities to take part in with a rescue dog.
To find out more about activities that you can take part in
with your lab, check our Activities page.
OF COURSE, JOIN THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER CLUB OF B.C.!!
Membership Application Form |
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