Labrador Retriever

Well Known Family Dog

            The Labrador Retriever is retriever type gun dog that originates from Canada.  It has become own of the most popular recognized breeds of dog, and has the highest population of the breed registries in both the United States and the United Kingdom.  It is believed that the closest ancestor to the Labrador Retriever is the now extinct St. John’s Water Dog.

            The exact origin geographically of the Labrador Retriever is believed to be the island of Newfoundland, which is now a part of Canada.  Its bloodline is believed to be from both the St. John’s Water Dog and the Newfoundland, the later of which being a close relative to the present day Labrador.  They were originally used by fishermen to bring nets into shore.  The dog would swim out to the floating corks on the end of the next and bring them back in.  The breed was established by the early 1800s, and it was firmly established before the turn of the 19^th century.  The Labrador Retriever is one of the oldest of the modern recognized breeds, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC), having registries for the breed back to 1878.

            Labrador Retrievers are a well known, loving pet.  They are highly intelligent, and one of the fastest learning breeds of dogs.  They love water, making them excellent companions for duck hunting.  Even working dogs love to “retrieve” be it simply a ball or stick.  They make excellent companions for children of all ages, and are an ideal breed for assistance dogs.  Labrador Retrievers are often used for search and rescue, and as sight and therapy dogs.

            The color of the Labrador Retriever can vary, and even more so when branching away from “acceptable” coats.  The AKC only recognizes black, yellow, silver, and chocolate, however they will allow a white spot on the chest, but it is not desirable.  Other “unacceptable” variants of the Labrador Retriever include a light yellow, “white” coloring and a dark yellow, “red”.

            In general, the Labrador Retriever is a healthy dog, living between 12-13 years.  Health problems include hip dysplasia, diabetes, some are prone to ear infections, and luxating patella.