Labrador Retrievers

Appearance:

Body: Large, well-balanced, strong build, with a deep, powerful, wide chest, short, level back, shoulders sloping towards the rear.

Coat: Short, straight, and very thick, with a soft weather-resistant undercoat.

Color: Black (most common), yellow, brown (chocolate).

Ears: Medium size, set back and low, and hang close to the cheeks.

Eyes: Medium size, expressively kind and intelligent. Eyes are hazel or brown in chocolate labs, and brown in black and yellow labs.

Feet: Round, compact, strong, and well-set with well-arched toes and thick pads.

Head: Proportionate and clean-cut with a broad skull, moderate stop, powerful jaws, wide nose, and well-developed nostrils. Nose is black on yellow and black labs, and brown on chocolate labs.

Legs: Forelegs are straight, well-set, and well-boned. Hindquarters are broad and well-muscled, hind legs well-boned, and hocks are well let down.

Neck: Thick, muscular, slightly arched, and powerful.

Size:
Weight: 55 - 80 pounds
Height: 21.5 - 24.5 inches

Tail: An otter-tail, thick at the base tapering to the tip. Thick with fur but no feathering.

Behavior

Recommended for novice dog handlers
Good with children
Love to chew

The Labrador Retriever is a gentle, sociable, non-aggressive, good-natured dog who loves children and gets along well with other pets. He is one of the most loyal, dependable, and popular family dogs.

AKC Standard says, "The ideal disposition is one of a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature; eager to please and non-aggressive toward man or animal. The Labrador has much that appeals to people; his gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability make him an ideal dog."

The Lab loves water and with an otter-like tail and webbed toes he is an excellent swimmer. He needs a wide open area to run in and loves to participate in athletic activities such as walking, hiking, and hunting.

Labradors are truly family dogs and want to be a part of all family activities. If left alone for extended periods of time he will become bored and possibly destructive. Being a retriever, he loves to carry things in his mouth. Be sure he is adequately supplied with toys and chew sticks or he will find other, undesirable, things to chew on.

He is a quick learner who responds well to obedience training. Begin training at an early age using positive training methods; lots of praise, reward-type treats, and encouragement.

Breed Type

AKC Group: Sporting Group

A retriever (on land and in water), gun dog, companion and excellent service dog. The lab is used in wars, used to guide the blind, and as search and rescue dogs with police helping to locate criminals, work at disaster areas, and to find bombs and narcotics.

He was once used by fisherman to pull in the fish nets from the frigid waters of Canada.

The Lab was referred to as the "Small Water Dog" in Canada because of his comparison in size to the Newfoundland dog of Canada.

Care and Grooming

Exercise: Needs lots of daily exercise such as running, swimming and hiking.

Grooming: Brush one to two times weekly; daily during shedding season.

Health

Life Expectancy: 12 Years

Possible Problems:
Allergies
Cancer
Cataracts
Ear infections
Elbow Arthritis
Hip Dysplasia
Low Thyroid
Obesity - possibly leading to diabetes
vWD - a blood disorder

Recommended Certificates:
CERF - for the eyes
OFA - for the hips

Country of Origin

Canada - 1800s