The gentle Labrador is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Whether you are looking for a good family dog or a devoted hunting companion, the Labrador has few equals. Friendly, intelligent and easy to train, these dogs have earned their place in the hearts of millions of dog lovers.
History
The Labrador is not really a very old breed of dog. They actually originated in Newfoundland, Canada, in the 19th century. The dogs originated as a cross between small local water dogs and Newfoundlands. This resulted in dogs that were called, at that time, St. John's Water Dogs. These dogs were great retrievers and they were noticed by the Earl of Malmesbury who imported some of them to Britain. Sadly, the dogs died out in their native Canada but the dogs in Britain and elsewhere were crossed with Setters, Spaniels and other Retrievers until the breed was developed to the lovely dog we know today.
Labradors were first recognised by the Kennel Club in Britain in 1903 and by the American Kennel Club in 1917. The Labrador enjoyed steady popularity throughout most of the 20th century and in the last two decades the Labrador's popularity has climbed steadily.
Talents and Qualities
Today, Labradors do much more than work as duck retrievers. They are well-known as service dogs and guide dogs for the blind. They have excelled as narcotics dogs and bomb-sniffing dogs, too. Labradors often make great dogs for any kind of work that requires specialised training due to their high intelligence, willingness to please and their good nose.
Labradors usually love the water, thanks to their water dog heritage. If you get a Labrador, take your dog to a lake or swimming pool. Your dog will likely be a natural-born swimmer and love water sports.
People appreciate the dog's intelligence, willing attitude and friendly nature, its ease of training and perhaps above all, compatibility with children and families.
The Family Pet
As pets, Labradors are easy to keep and care for. They have a short, dense coat that comes in one of three colors: black, chocolate or yellow. They are a double-coated breed and they shed heavily when seasons change. They require regular brushing to keep the shedding down. As mentioned, Labradors typically love children and they are very good with them. They make excellent family dogs but they can also adapt to being one-person dogs. They are very devoted and loving. Like other sporting dogs, they are generally gentle dogs and do not do well if you are harsh with them. They prefer living indoors with you and being with you all the time.
A Weighty Issue
They are typically known as "easy keepers" since they usually like food and tend to gain too much weight very easily. If you have a Labrador you will probably have to try to help her manage her weight and make sure she gets plenty of exercise.
If you have a Labrador or you plan to get one, consider yourself lucky. These dogs make one of the best pets in the dog world.
