Labs 101
Below is a video that provides a good overview of the Labrador Retriever breed. Remember a Labrador only comes in yellow, chocolate and black! No silver Labs. No champagne Labs. You should question the ethics of any breeder producing any other color than yellow, chocolate or black.
The Labrador is a moderate dog, not extreme in any way. It is square or slightly longer than tall, of fairly large bone and substance. Its broad head and strong jaws should enable it to carry the largest game birds, such as Canada geese. Its heavy body set and strong legs enable it to swim and run powerfully. Its coat, which is short, straight and dense with a soft undercoat, is weatherproof and helps to protect it from icy waters. The Lab is a working retriever and should possess style without over refinement and substance without clumsiness.
Few breeds so richly deserve their popularity as the Labrador retriever. Devoted, obedient and amiable, the Lab is good with children, other dogs and other pets. It will be a calm house dog, playful yard dog and intense field dog, all on the same day. It is eager to please, enjoys learning and excels in obedience. It is a powerful breed that loves to swim and retrieve. It needs daily physical and mental challenges to keep it occupied, however; a bored Lab can get into trouble.
AKC RANKING: 1
FAMILY: gundog, retriever
AREA OF ORIGIN: Canada
DATE OF ORIGIN: 1800s
ORIGINAL FUNCTION: water retrieving
TODAY’S FUNCTION: water retrieving, assistance, obedience competition, retriever field trials
AVERAGE SIZE OF MALE: Height: 22.5-24.5″ at the withers, Weight: 65-80 lbs
AVERAGE SIZE OF FEMALE: Height: 21.5-23.5″ at the withers, Weight: 55-70 lbs
OTHER NAME: none
Energy level: Medium
Exercise needs: Medium
Playfulness: Very playful
Affection level: Very affectionate, but it depends on the dog
Friendliness toward other dogs: Very friendly
Friendliness toward other pets: Very friendly
Friendliness toward strangers: Very friendly
Ease of training: Easy to train
Watchdog ability: Low, Depends on the dog and the environment in which it is raised
Protection ability: Not very protective
Grooming needs: Low maintenance but sheds a lot
Cold tolerance: High tolerance
Heat tolerance: Medium tolerance
CARE & HEALTH: Labradors are active and sociable dogs. They need daily exercise, preferably in the form of retrieving and swimming. Owners with swimming pools either must fence them out or be prepared to share the pool with dog. The Lab coat sheds water easily. It needs weekly brushing to remove dead hair. Although Labs can live outdoors in temperate climates, they are much happier indoors with their family.
• Major concerns: canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, gastric torsion/bloat, retinal dysplasia
• Minor concerns: cataract, osteochondritis dissecans, CPRA, pyotraumatic dermatitis
• Occasionally seen: diabetes, entropion, distichiasis
• Suggested tests: hip, elbow, eye
• Life span: 10 – 15 years
HISTORY: The original Labradors were all-purpose water dogs originating in Newfoundland, not Labrador. Not only did the breed not originate in Labrador, but it also was not originally called the Labrador retriever. The Newfoundland of the early 1800s came in different sizes, one of which was the “Lesser” or “St. John’s” Newfoundland — the earliest incarnation of the Labrador. These dogs — medium-sized black dogs with close hair — not only retrieved game but also retrieved fish, pulled small fishing boats through icy water and helped the fisherman in any task involving swimming. Eventually the breed died out in Newfoundland in large part because of a heavy dog tax. However, a core of Labradors had been taken to England in the early 1800s, and it is from these dogs, along with crosses to other retrievers, that the breed continued. It was also in England that the breed earned its reputation as an extraordinary retriever of upland game. Initially breeders favored black Labs, and culled yellow or chocolate colors. By the early 1900s, the other colors had become acceptable, although still not as widely favored as the blacks. The breed was recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1903 and by the AKC in 1917. The popularity of this breed has grown steadily; it became the most popular breed in America in 1991 and remains so today.
