About Labrador Retrievers

History of

• The Labrador retriever breed originated in Newfoundland in the late 1700s where fishermen bred and trained the dogs to help pull in nets and catch escaping fish. These dogs had black coats, were extremely loyal, and were great hunters. The breed migrated to Great Britain, where they were renamed "Labrador" by the Earl of Malmesbury in 1887. The yellow-colored labs were introduced in the late 1800s, and the breed was registered with the English Kennel Club in 1903 and the American Kennel Club in 1917.

Size

• Labrador retrievers are medium-sized dogs and males who are kept in good healthy condition will grow to be between 65 and 80 pounds and the females will grow to be between 55 to 70 lbs. According to the breed standard, males should be between 22 ½ and 24 ½ inches at the withers when fully grown. Adult females should be between 21 ½ to 23 ½ inches at the withers. These sizes are required for show dogs, but family pets can vary from the breed standard.

Identification

• Show-worthy Labrador retrievers should be strongly built dogs. They have short hair that grows in a dense coat that resists water. The dogs' short coats will shed twice a year. Labs are distinguished by their broad, clean-cut heads, long tails, and well-balanced bodies. They can be yellow, black, or chocolate brown in color. Some labs will have a small patch of white on the chest, but no other variation of the main coat color is considered acceptable by the breed standard.

Risk Factors

• Labrador retrievers do have some genetic health problems that potential owners should be aware of before buying a dog. Hip dysplasia is one of the most common genetic problems found in labs. This condition, which causes the hip joints to develop incorrectly, can be diagnosed at about 4 or 5 months of age. Ask your breeder if you can have the dog screened at that time. Elbow dysplasia and progressive retinal atrophy are also common conditions labs may suffer from.

Benefits

• Labrador retrievers make excellent family pets for families that have the time necessary to care for them properly. As long as they receive enough exercise, most labs have a mild temperament, exhibit good manners and are easy to train. They are extremely loyal to the people in their families and they can be trained to perform services for handicapped family members. They also require little grooming beyond brushing and an occasional bath. Most labs are extremely intelligent, fun-loving, and friendly, which makes them ideal as a pet.

Type

• There are two different lines of Labrador retrievers. The American bloodline produces dogs that are taller and lighter than dogs bred in the United Kingdom and English Labs are smaller and stockier. They tend to have fuller faces than dogs bred in America. None of the official kennel clubs make a distinction between these two lines of labs, and both fall within the breed standard. Breeders who know the breed well can distinguish between the two types.