Basic Things You Should Know About The Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever (also known as the "Lab") is a sporting breed of dog. They feature a yellow, chocolate or black coat. The breed first appeared in the 1800s. They were originally bred for pulling nets of fish for fishermen. These days they are popular as a family pet, guide dog or police dog. They can be recognized by their gentle and eager-to-please nature. They are thought to originate from the island of Newfoundland and are a descendant of the St John's Water Dog mixed with other English, Irish and Portuguese breeds.

They are classified as a large sized dog. The recommended male size is 22.5-24.5 inches high with a weight of 65-80 pounds, while the female size is 21.5-23.5 inches high with a weight of 55-70 pounds. Their temperament is well-known to be gentle and outgoing. They are typically easygoing with strangers, and this makes them unsuitable as a guard dog. The breed is known to be highly intelligent, and ranks 7th compared to all other breeds when learning new obedience instructions.

They are gentle with children, which can make them highly suitable as a family pet. They do get along well with other animals such as other dogs. Grooming them is a fairly simple task. They need a small amount of brushing every week, and full grooming every 8 to 12 weeks. They enjoy having a large yard to run around in, but can be suitable for apartment life.

Like most large sized breeds, they are primarily shorter-lived with a life expectancy of 10-12 years. Their most severe health concern is hip and elbow dysplasia, and they are also susceptible to eye problems and deafness. They enjoy hobbies like swimming or chasing balls and frisbees. They have a high level of energy, which means they need long walks each day to prevent destructive behavior.

If you own the Labrador Retriever you need to be prepared to provide them with early socialization and lots of long walks. They are less suitable for less active owners, but highly suitable for active families or owners able to meet their high exercise needs. One of the best things about this breed is that it has a gentle and eager to please nature that makes it easy to teach them anything or become the best family pet.

If you want to learn more Labrador Retriever information and other related topics take a look at this page.