Labrador Retriever

Description

The Labrador Retriever, commonly called as Lab, is the most popular breed of retrievers. It is a type of gun dog that belongs to the sporting breed group, most of which make excellent bodyguards. Labs originated in Canada and have been bred for the purpose of retrieving and servicing. They are quite large, and may come in black, white, chocolate, or yellow colors. Their coat is usually smooth and short, but relatively dense and straight.

Height and Weight

Male Labs normally weigh 65 to 80 lbs. with a height of 22 ½ to 24 ½ in at the withers; while bitches typically weigh 55 to 70 lbs. with a height of 21 ½ to 23 ½ in.

Temperament

Labrador Retrievers are generally kind and outgoing. They have an exceptional sense of smell that let them follow nearly any scent from the path of its origin. They are predominantly fast and athletic. As well, Labs intuitively enjoy holding objects in their mouth with notable gentleness. In fact, they are capable of carrying an egg without crushing it.

Labs are inclined to chewing objects, although they can be easily trained out of such behavior. Aside from that, Labrador Retrievers are excellent at waterfowl hunting because of the quality of their coat that repels water in some measure. More importantly, Labs are highly even-tempered; thereby making them an outstanding family dog. They get along well with children and other pets. Although Labs sometimes bark at noise, especially those from unseen sources, they are usually not noisy or territorial. As a matter of fact, they are very easy-going and trusting with strangers. The latter tendency does not make them an ideal watchdog. However, Labs are incredibly intelligent breed. Their ability to learn basically makes them very ideal for search and rescue, and even for detection and therapy work.

Grooming

Labs are not hard to groom. They have comparatively short, smooth, and double-layered coat that make grooming easier. Nonetheless, they are still one of those average shedder types. They need to be brushed regularly and an occasional bath would be necessary, especially after they come across something fun to roll around on.

Health Concerns

Members of this breed are known to be very healthy. However, they are prone to eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy that can result to blindness. Other health problems that Labs are commonly inclined to are hip or elbow dysplasia.

Best Environment

Labradors Retrievers generally do well in almost all kinds of living environment. Even living in an apartment can be suitable for them given that they get to exercise on a regular basis. To be more specific, an average to large yard space could be the best setting for them. Moreover, Labs typically love to eat so diet control and routine exercise are highly advisable. They also enjoy work and play.