The Labrador Retriever: Most Popular Dog Breed in the World

Labrador Retrievers are a people and action oriented dog breed, which like any intelligent animal can become bored if left to their own devices. They need plenty of human attention, and will repay your presence many times over. Labradors have a strong build, of medium size with a short coupled posture. They have a bearing suggesting a sound athletic conformation to as would have been needed to function in its original role as a gun dog. This breed also exhibits a remarkable ability to win in the show ring and a gentle temperament right for a family companion. Labradors as a breed are curious, exploratory and love company. They are never happier than when following both people and interesting scents for food, attention and their own entertainment value.

Retriever

The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador or Lab for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, all being types of gun dogs. The original Labrador Retriever was a versatile working dog, able to rescue drifting nets, bring back shot waterfowl, and haul the catch to market in jog carts. The majority of the characteristics of this breed, with the exception of colour, are the result of breeding to produce a working retriever. There are a number of colour variants with a total of six breeds recognized as Retrievers by the AKC.

Although they are known for being gun dogs, almost any grown Labrador retriever that has never heard gunfire before will not respond well if not brought up in the presence of shooting noise. In fact, if the first time they hear such a loud noise is in the middle of their field and hunting trials as an adult they will often react nervously.

The smaller short-coat retrievers which were used for retrieval and pulling in nets from the water were the forebears of the Labrador Retriever

The Labrador is a hugely popular breed. Due to the popularity of the breed in the US, it is rated as AKC's most popular breed for the last 15 years.

However, the popularity of the breed and in particular the demand for puppies, has led to some genetic problems in the breed arising from a certain amount of over-breeding. The various Clubs are addressing this now and in the registered dogs nowadays are much less susceptible to genetically related defects. Breeders have also recognized a new problem in the Labrador breed, a defect of the heart termed Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia.

Showing these Dogs

Dogs bred for hunting and field-trial work are selected first for working ability, whereas dogs bred to compete for show championships are selected for the characteristics sought by judges in the show ring.

Labrador Retrievers are shown in working condition well-muscled and without excess fat. . There are other breeds of Retrievers not currently recognized by the AKC, for example CKC's Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.

Facts About Labradors

In fact, Labradors are happy in the great outdoors and love to swim.

The first time that Labs became known as Labradors was when they were called the name by the Duke of Malmesbury in the early 19th century.

Breed Origins

The early Labrador originated on the island of Newfoundland, now part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. These dogs came from Newfoundland; it is unknown why the name "Labrador" was chosen except possibly through geographical confusion. The Labrador breed that we know today was developed in 1878, after interbreeding with other Retriever breeds took place.

Conclusion

Labradors are remarkable dogs that make excellent pets, friends and family members. Owners love these dogs and we can only conclude, that when so many people are voting for the breed by owning one, their personalities must rest well within a family context.