Posts Tagged ‘labrador retriever’
The ownership of dogs in general comes with its own set of challenges; a family must make way for a new resident in their home – a resident whose care can feel initially overwhelming to those who have not owned dogs in the past. The Labrador Retriever, especially, can be a bit of handful in the beginning. But ownership of this bright, beautiful dog has its own reward.
The Labrador Retriever is a medium sized dog recognized by its short, water-resistant coat, otter-like tail, square jaw, and broad head. It was originally bred for hunting because of its boundless energy, natural intelligence and ability to be trained. Today, the Labrador Retriever is still used for hunting purposes, but its amiable nature and loving personality has made it a more popular household pet. Owners of the Labrador Retriever report of its sweet personality, fun-loving spirit, and high-energy antics. It's no wonder that this special breed of dog is loved by families far and wide.
There are some things that must be considered before you choose to bring a Labrador Retriever into the home. First and foremost, the Labrador Retriever is a considerable size of dog with a lot of energy. It needs adequate living space and frequent access to outdoor areas in which to run around. If you have a smaller living environment, you may want to consider another breed of dog. It is important – and most fair to the animal – that you have adequate space for its needs.
Further, the Labrador Retriever is a social dog that enjoys and seeks out the company of humans. If your schedule does not allow you to be home a large percentage of the time, then it would not be fair to own a Labrador Retriever. This breed does best in a family situation where someone is home most of the time. It's no surprise then that larger families – with ongoing activity – tend to gravitate to the Labrador Retriever. Most families find that this loving dog fits right in!
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Labrador Retrievers can be very large weighing in at up to 80 pounds and standing up to 24 inches tall. Labrador Retrievers have a whole lot of energy and can go on playing for hours. Labrador Retrievers are known for their thick tails and puppy-dog eyes. Labrador Retriever's coats are typically yellow, brown, or the most common, black. The coat is so think it is almost waterproof. It is not typical that a Labrador Retriever owner needs to groom his dog too often. The Lab's thick coat stays in pretty good shape year round and just some brushing in the spring to help the shedding process is necessary.
Labs are in the AKC's "sporting dog" group. The primary focus of the breed was to get into area's hunters could not. Labrador Retrievers are great in the water so fishing and boating activities are right up there alley.
Labrador Retrievers are full of lots of energy so plenty of exercise is mandatory. A house with a large fenced yard, rather than an apartment or town home, is much preferred by Labs. All of that energy takes a lot of running and playing to burn off each day.
Typical of dog breeds with lots of energy, the Lab will eat a lot of food! You should stick to dog food that is specially formulated for large, high-energy breeds. This usually means a lot of protein.
There is no need to worry about your Lab around family and children; they get a long with everyone. With any large dog, however, you should always be very careful around very small children. The Lab's tail is so big it may even knock over a youngster!
The Labrador Retriever is the perfect breed if you are looking for a family-friendly, high-energy dog. They may be a bit selfish at times, but overall will provide a lot of love and companionship.
The most distinguishing characteristics of the Labrador Retriever are the dense, short, weather resistant coat. The Retriever has what is known as an “otter” tail. This breed of dog has a large head with a broad back skull. Labrador Retrievers are known for having powerful jaws which come in handy when hunting. Some of the most loved traits of the Labrador Retriever are the friendly eyes, intelligence, good temperament and the expressing character.
A Labrador Retriever must be well-balanced in order to work in the field or to move in the show ring with very little effort. A typical Labrador Retriever possesses great quality and style without over refinement and grace without cloddiness. Soundness and structure are of great importance in the Labrador Retriever breed of dog. The temperament of the Labrador Retriever is the hallmark of the breed. The ideal disposition that a Labrador Retriever should possess is one that is outgoing, eager to please, non-aggressive and kindly. There are many qualities about the Labrador Retriever that appeal to people such as the dog’s gentle ways, adaptability and intelligence.
Labrador Retriever dogs and puppies are the perfect addition to any home. A Labrador Retriever is a gentle dog that will bring you countless hours of joy and happiness. Enrich your life today and purchase a Labrador Retriever dog or puppy.
Last night we were trying to watch a movie and couldn't get past the snoring old chocolate labrador retriever passed out on the floor in front of us. I was surfing through YouTube today and found this video that reminded me of him. Enjoy!
Origin: The origins of the Labrador are rather obscure but two types of dog were known in Newfoundland – a large heavy dog used to pull boats into land and a lighter, smoother coated variety used by fisherman to retrieve game and fish. They were both known as Newfoundland dogs and it was not until 1812 that the larger breed was known as Newfoundlands, and the smaller as the lesser Newfoundland or Labrador. In 1814 Labradors were taken to England where, in a book 'Instructions to Young Sportsmen', the breed was described as 'by far the best for every kind of shooting'.
Personality: An adaptable and devoted companion with a kindly nature, Labradors easily adopt the role of children's playmate or elderly persons pet. The keenness to learn and willingness to please make the Labrador an ideal choice as a guide dog for the blind. The puppies are placed with a family for the first 12 months of their life and then return to the Guide Dog School for an intensive training course. After graduation the dog is matched with a compatible owner and devotes itself to the safety of its owner.
Trainability: The excellent sense of smell possessed by Labradors, coupled with their eagerness and agility, makes them suitable as bomb detection or drug sniffer dogs. These dogs are trained to detect certain substances and, by their behaviour, alert their handlers. To the dog it is all one big game of 'hide and seek', although in the case of bomb detection dogs they save many lives.
Physical characteristics: The tail is very thick at the base, of medium length and gradually tapering to the tip, densely coated with short, thick hair giving a characteristic 'otter' tail. The head is broad with medium sized brown eyes expressing intelligence and good temper and ears hanging close to the head.
Colours: Although the Labrador is commonly referred to as the 'golden' Labrador, the colour is officially called 'yellow' and ranges from light cream through to a red fox shade. Other permissible colours are black, liver or chocolate.
Coat: The coat is a distinctive feature – short, dense without wave or feathering and with a fairly hard feel and a weather resistant undercoat.
Height: A strongly built dog with a broad and deep chest, the normal height is 56 – 57 cm for males, and 54 – 56 cm for females.
Lifespan: 12 – 14 years
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Johnston
Retrievers were originally bred as hunting dogs. Their job was to sit by the hunter and wait until game was shot and then retrieve it on command. This often meant swimming through cold water or running through dense brush. Labs were also taught not to damage the game upon returning it to their master.
Knowing what type of tasks the dogs were bred to perform assists us in analyzing what type of behaviour to expect from a breed. In the case of labs, they are fairly insensitive to touch. They readily leap into cold water and sit patiently in the cold in order to please their master. Physically tough dogs, they are very tolerant with children and respond well to training techniques that engage their strong desire to please.
They are also sound insensitive so that the loud bang of a hunter's gun won't disturb them. Loud noise, such as that from children, does not tend to bother labs and yelling at them will generally not get a response.
Working retrievers had no use for aggression since handling birds roughly or growling at other hunters is not required. Labs are friendly dogs that will gladly hunt with anyone, or, in other words, play fetch with anyone who is willing. They are great around guests in your home, your children's friends and they tend to see everyone as a friend or potential playmate.
All retrievers and labs are of course no exception, love to have items in their mouth. They are extremely oral and this is not to be confused with aggression: this is in their breeding, it is instinctual. Chewing on sticks, toys, balls, socks and so on is dog heaven for them. If you are considering owning a lab, you must tech them what to put in their mouths and what not. Otherwise your furniture and belongings may suffer.
Labrador retrievers are, in general, fantastic dogs. Great with children, great family dogs, fun loving, energetic and beautiful, it's little wonder that they are number one in the American Kennel Clubs ranking. However, this extreme popularity can lead to a wide range in quality of dogs so be very careful in selecting your breeder. Some labs could be fearful and aggressive so make certain to observe your pup before you decide on your choice.
Labs are very enthusiastic, lively and smart. They respond well to training and should be trained to engage their brains and control their exuberance. Their sheer excitement often causes them to jump up, steal your socks, pull on lead, or counter surf the kitchen but this can be corrected through proper training, supervision and exercise. Labs need a lot of exercise and this is easy because they love doing everything – running, swimming, fetching, romping, or just plain walking. Most of all, they just love being with you.
The coloring of a lab can run from almost white to pale cream to brown and black. They require minimal grooming and shed moderately. Their coats are silky and smooth and dry quickly when wet. They will reach a height of approximately two feet and weigh, on average, from 55 to 80 pounds although some can weigh much more.
Common health concerns for this breed include hip dysplasia, cataracts, retinal atrophy and bloat. Labs have low bite potential and interact with other pets quite well. When selecting a lab for family use you should avoid dogs that have been bred strictly for field use. These field dogs have absolutely incredible energy which is difficult to harness in a domestic setting.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Dogs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
