We Love Our Labrador Retrievers

Archive for the ‘Labrador Retriever Dogs’ Category

If you are in the market for a pure breed that is an excellent home or hunting companion, then you have to consider the possibility of owning a Labrador Retriever.  It is considered one of the worlds most popular breeds and is currently the most widely AKC-registered dog in the US.  The Lab, as they are nicknamed, is without a doubt one of the most affable, energetic, gentle, good-natured, and intelligent breeds that you will find anywhere in the world.

Additionally, they rank highly on the companionship meter and integrate well with any age bracket.  They are extremely patient and exhibit a high tolerance level for children.  All of these personality traits make them outstanding companions as well as excellent service dogs.  When obtaining and raising a Labrador Retriever, there are three key aspects to be aware of.  Let me elaborate.

1) Labrador Retrievers are like a box of assorted chocolates.  You never know what you gonna get as Forrest Gump so succinctly stated.  In other words, no two Labs are alike.  They come in a variety of colors such as black, chocolate, golden, and silver just to name a few, and despite the vast array of difference in their personalities, Labs all exhibit the following common interests:

hunting retrieving running swimming

Occasionally, you do run across a contradiction such as a puppy that fears the water or one that does not have the typical oral fixation or obsession characteristic of the majority of members of this breed.  Instance’s of these occurring are few and far between, so there is not much likelihood that you will encounter one like this.

However, there is one thing that you can say with the utmost certainty where Labs are concerned.  Every Labrador Retriever is a very special animal and with the proper attention, love, and training, you will have a wonderful companion that will afford you with the ultimate in affection and loyalty until they breathe their final breath.

2) Labs are the epitome of the natural-born hunter and tracker.  Unlike all the other canine hunting breeds, Labrador Retrievers do not have to wait for their masters command to seek out the fallen bird.  Not only are they intelligent enough to know exactly where the bird has fallen, they are more acutely aware of their surroundings more so than any other canine that hunts or tracks its prey.

It is a misconception of some owners that Labs are too needy, as they will commonly sit at their masters side, patiently awaiting the next command.  Understanding this part of their nature will dispel that misconception, as well as help you realize that, as a hunting dog, this is what they have been bred to do.

3) Thorough training is a requirement with Labs.  Despite the Labs inherent capabilities for locating and retrieving their prey, they have to be skillfully trained at specific commands in order to follow the specific commands of their masters.  The benefit here is that they will never give up searching, even if the direction to hunt in has not been specified.  In so many words, this dog will take the responsibility for completing the job it started.

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York prison goes to the dogs
NEW East Lyme — Jerri, an affectionate service dog that graduated from the York Correctional Institution’s Prison PUP Partnership Program in June, visited the women’s prison on Thursday with its new owner.The 2-year-old black Labrador retriever now belongs to Lori Brown, a special education teacher from southern California. Jerri will be placed in a classroom in a couple of weeks with special …

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To refer to the Labrador Retriever as an extraordinary breed would be nothing short of an understatement.  Characteristically, being in tune with their masters is a requirement of their personalities so it is important that the owner understand what the animal was bred to do – namely hunt and retrieve.  In order for a Labrador to find birds or ducks that were shot down and have landed out of sight, they must be in tune with their hunter/owner in order to learn their purpose.

This need for harmony in the Labradors life carries over to the home front as well and is not reserved exclusively for their retrieving skills.  For the person who is in need of constant companionship, this is the ideal breed of dog.  Conversely, if you expect the dog to be able to entertain itself you will be rudely awakened as the breed thrives on canine-human interaction.  So that is one of the first things you need to be aware of when deciding if this is the right canine pet for you.

Hounds and Terriers are breeds of hunting dogs that can do with or without human interaction, so if are not capable of satisfying this need of the Labradors you would be wise to choose one of the other breeds.  Where Hounds and Terriers hunt by their sense of smell, the Labrador must have that human attention link in order to successfully perform its duties as a retriever.

Labradors that do not respond well to their owners commands may take of into the water after a fallen bird or squirrel (as an example) and swim past it – maybe even way past it and vanish from sight. The well disciplined and trained Lab does not often make this kind of a mistake because it is their innate nature to adhere to their owners commands.  It follows then that this canine breed is an excellent choice for obedience trainees as well as being service dogs (i.e. one of the better seeing-eye candidates).

So how will you know if a Labrador Retriever is the right dog for you and your family? For one, you have to have the capability as its owner to deal with a strong connection and dependency factor.  Additionally, it must have human interaction and leadership. Most breeds of dogs exhibit a propensity for companionship, but the Labrador demands much more than other breeds.  Whether they are indoors, outdoors, or a combination, they will not survive well physically (and psychologically) if left alone to their own devices, so you should be extra certain that you can handle this responsibility.

The bottom line with Labrador Retrievers is that if they are left alone for long periods at a time it confuses them.  They think that they have lost their family (or pack as it were) and attempt to escape their confines in order to hunt down their owners and be with them.

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Deputy Mayor calls for urgent action on dangerous dogs
A BLIND man who needed 24 stitches after struggling to save his guide dog from attack was amongst Londoners joining the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Kit Malthouse’s pledge today demanding urgent government action on dangerous dog legislation.

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As you probably know a great choice for a gun dog is a Labrador retriever especially if you want a good all rounder for shooting and hunting. I find these are probably the easiest to train especially for a beginner.

Like all breeds of gun dogs Lab’s have good and bad points, Here are some of the Pro’s and Con’s of training and owning a Labrador Retriever.

The Pro’s

•Of all the hunting dog breeds the Labrador is the strongest swimmer, which makes him excellent at duck hunting. The breed was originally bred and trained to jump off fishing boats to bring the fishing nets to shore. Most Labs have webbed feet that aid in swimming

•They are affectionate and patient dogs. They are known for being good natured, loyal, intelligent, and friendly. They are also great as a family pet as they are great with children.

•Talents include tracking, retrieving, hunting, police work, They also do excellent work as guide dogs for the blind and the disabled. Other activities they are used for are sledding, competitive obedience, and search and rescue.

The Con’s

•There is not much not to love about Labradors, maybe the only problem is their love of food. You need to moderate food intake, Labs are big eaters, and may Quickly Become Overweight if given the wrong diet.

•Another problem is they need regular exercise. They love long walks and also like to swim whatever the weather, so if you have a lake in your local park it will love a swim a few times a week. Plus plenty of exercise.

•The Labrador Retriever may become nervous and destructive if their human owner does not act as “pack leader” or if they do not receive enough exercise, it is best if you at least have a large yard to own one of these great hunting dogs.

There may seem a lot to worry about here but most Lab’s turn into wonderful gundogs and/or family pets. More things you may want to know about the Labrador are below:

Height and Weight

Adult males are usually between 22-24 inches tall and weigh around 60-75 pounds.

Adult females are usually between 21-23 inches tall and weigh around 55-70 pounds.

Life Expectancy

The average life of a Labrador retriever is about 12 years.

Grooming

Their smooth double coat is easy to groom with a brush with firm bristles. Pay attention to the undercoat, and bathe only when necessary. Even when they swim their skin stays dry due to the undercoat. They are also moderate shredders of hair.

History

As I mentioned earlier the Labrador Retriever was breed by fishermen in the 1700′s, originally from Newfoundland and known as St. John’s Dogs, They are now one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. and throughout the world.

Grouping

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition

CKC, AKC, KCGB, ANKC, NZKC, CCR, ACR, UKC, CKC, NKC, APRI, FCI

Training:

The great thing about a Labrador Retriever is the ease with how you can train him as a gun dog. We find the best way to train is to train your Labrador is by doing it in short bursts maybe only 10 minutes twice a day. The only thing to beer in mind is not to many treats if you use treat training as your dog may put on to much weight.

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To totally understand the true character of the Labrador Retriever, dog owners must have a solid grip on the three most important aspects that make up this animal’s temperament and character.

Three Things You Can Always Rely On When Raising A Labrador Retriever

1. Labs Are Like A Box Of Cookies: The most important thing to understand with Labrador Retrievers is that they are peculiar and not every Lab is the same. A Labrador is like a box of cookies, they come in all sorts and you never know just what you will get as they become adults.

Many Labs demonstrate the same interests in the following: hunting, running, retrieving, and swimming, but oftentimes you may get a Labrador puppy that may completely hate water. If you are lucky enough, your Lab may not have an oral fascination, which causes many of these dogs to eat anything they can get a hold of.

One thing you can positively count on is that every Labrador Retriever is special and through proper training, attention, and love, you will have a wonderful dog that will show the utmost in loyalty and affection until its last day on earth with you.

2. Labs Are Natural Born Hunters: Unlike most other hunting dog breeds, Labs do not just wait for its human hunting companion to command them to retrieve fallen birds. These dogs have to be so love that they can mark the fallen foul themselves.

Many people believe that Labrador Retrievers are more aware of their surroundings than other hunting dogs because of their heritage. When hunting, Labs await for the right signal from their hunter in order to find their prey. While at home, they regularly wait by their owner’s side for the next task or command, regardless of what it is. It could be to walk, eat, etc. This is what makes Labrador Retriever dogs just a little too needy for some owners.

3. Labs Must Be Well Trained: As hunters, Labs have to be able to follow specific rules in order to find birds. So, even if they do not have a direction to move in, they will keep hunting without giving up. So, basically, a good Lab literally takes matters into its own hands to get the job finished.

These characteristics are great for dog owners to enjoy having a service dog that can take on its own in certain situations. Alternatively, it’s bad for dog owners who are not able of providing absolutely no direction whatsoever. This is where most issues lie with new Labrador owners.

Several people see well-trained Labs at the beach or walking with their owners and think to themselves “I should get one of those dogs. They’re so well trained!” Little do they know that these pets are never born trained. It takes regular progressive dedication to exact training protocols, all based on a Labrador’s genetic make up. For many people, this can prove too much work for to handle. They will more than likely end up with nothing but issues and annoyance with their dog.

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