Labrador Retriever
Like the Golden Retriever, the Labrador Retriever cannot be too highly recommended as a breed tailor-made to suit the whole family. It is an excellent retriever. can be trusted with the children and will give a good account of itself in obedience training competitions. The Labrador Retriever is a breed much favoured as a guide dog (seeing eye dog) for the blind.
Origin and history
The Labrador Retriever came to the United Kingdom with fishermen from Newfoundland (not Labrador) in the 1830s. The dog's task in those days was to land the nets of the fishermen; their ability to swim has survived. Among the most popular British gundogs, they are also much sought after as family pets in many parts of the world.
Labrador Retriever Puppies
Good points
- Equable temperament
- ExceNentgundog
- Good family pet
- Kind with children
Take heed
- No drawbacks known
Size
Height: dog 22-22.2in (56-57cm); bitch 21.2-22in (54.5-56cm).
Exercise
Needs an hour a day at least, free runs and an ample garden. A large, fenced-in yard is recommended.
Labrador Retriever Information
General appearance
The Labrador should be a strongly built, short-coupled, very active dog, broad in the skull, broad and deep through the chest and ribs, broad and strong over the loins and hindquarters. The coat is close and short with a dense under-coat and free from feather. The dog must move neither too wide nor too close in front or behind; it must stand and move true all round on legs and feet.
Colour
Generally black or yellow but chocolate is also permitted. The coat should be free from any white markings, but a small white spot on the chest is allowable. the coat should be of a whole colour and not of a flecked appearance.
Head and skull
The skull should be broad with a pronounced stop so that the skull is not in a straight line with the nose. The head should be clean cut without fleshy cheeks. The jaws should be medium length, powerful and free from snipiness, the nose wide and the nostrils well developed.
Tail
A distinctive feature of the breed, it should be very thick towards the base, gradually tapering towards the tip. Of medium length and practically free from any feathering, the tail is clothed thickly all round with the Labrador's short, thick, dense coat, thus giving the peculiar 'rounded' appearance that has been described as the 'otter' tail. It may be carried gaily but should not curl over the back.
Feet
Should be round and compact with well-arched toes and well-developed pads.
Labrador Retriever Feeding & Grooming
Grooming
Regular brushing will keep the coat in good condition.
Feeding
Recommended would be 20-330z (587-936g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added, or 3-5 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.