| Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs. Their | | | | general, fantastic dogs. Great with children, great |
| job was to sit by the hunter and wait until game was | | | | family dogs, fun loving, energetic and beautiful, it's |
| shot and then retrieve it on command. This often | | | | little wonder that they are number one in the |
| meant swimming through cold water or running | | | | American Kennel Clubs ranking. However, this |
| through dense brush. Labs were also taught not to | | | | extreme popularity can lead to a wide range in quality |
| damage the game upon returning it to their | | | | of dogs so be very careful in selecting your breeder. |
| master.Knowing what type of tasks the dogs were | | | | Some labs could be fearful and aggressive so make |
| bred to perform assists us in analyzing what type of | | | | certain to observe your pup before you decide on |
| behaviour to expect from a breed. In the case of | | | | your choice.Labs are very enthusiastic, lively and |
| labs, they are fairly insensitive to touch. They readily | | | | smart. They respond well to training and should be |
| leap into cold water and sit patiently in the cold in | | | | trained to engage their brains and control their |
| order to please their master. Physically tough dogs, | | | | exuberance. Their sheer excitement often causes |
| they are very tolerant with children and respond well | | | | them to jump up, steal your socks, pull on lead, or |
| to training techniques that engage their strong desire | | | | counter surf the kitchen but this can be corrected |
| to please.They are also sound insensitive so that the | | | | through proper training, supervision and exercise. Labs |
| loud bang of a hunter's gun won't disturb them. Loud | | | | need a lot of exercise and this is easy because they |
| noise, such as that from children, does not tend to | | | | love doing everything - running, swimming, fetching, |
| bother labs and yelling at them will generally not get a | | | | romping, or just plain walking. Most of all, they just |
| response.Working retrievers had no use for | | | | love being with you.The coloring of a lab can run |
| aggression since handling birds roughly or growling at | | | | from almost white to pale cream to brown and black. |
| other hunters is not required. Labs are friendly dogs | | | | They require minimal grooming and shed moderately. |
| that will gladly hunt with anyone, or, in other words, | | | | Their coats are silky and smooth and dry quickly |
| play fetch with anyone who is willing. They are great | | | | when wet. They will reach a height of approximately |
| around guests in your home, your children's friends | | | | two feet and weigh, on average, from 55 to 80 |
| and they tend to see everyone as a friend or | | | | pounds although some can weigh much |
| potential playmate.All retrievers and labs are of | | | | more.Common health concerns for this breed include |
| course no exception, love to have items in their | | | | hip dysplasia, cataracts, retinal atrophy and bloat. Labs |
| mouth. They are extremely oral and this is not to be | | | | have low bite potential and interact with other pets |
| confused with aggression: this is in their breeding, it is | | | | quite well. When selecting a lab for family use you |
| instinctual. Chewing on sticks, toys, balls, socks and | | | | should avoid dogs that have been bred strictly for |
| so on is dog heaven for them. If you are considering | | | | field use. These field dogs have absolutely incredible |
| owning a lab, you must tech them what to put in | | | | energy which is difficult to harness in a domestic |
| their mouths and what not. Otherwise your furniture | | | | setting. |
| and belongings may suffer.Labrador retrievers are, in | | | | |