History Of The Labrador Retriever

The history of the Labrador Retriever can be traced definitely back to the late 1700's in Newfoundland. At that time there were two breeds, the Greater Newfoundland and the Lesser Newfoundland. These two breeds of Newfoundland's were also known as the Greater and Lesser St. John's dogs. The Greater Newfoundland was used primarily for draft work - working in a four-dog team they would haul carts, including the driver, loaded with 200 to 300 pounds of fish. They were the larger of the two breeds and possessed a long thick coat. The Lesser Newfoundland was a smooth coated black dog, that was unrivaled for hardiness and stamina. These dogs were the constant companions of the fishermen of the Labrador Sea. After a hard day's work, which would sometimes last twenty hours, one could find these Lesser Newfoundland's playing with the children of the fisherman.
The Lesser Newfoundland had such a reputation for its loving devotion, loyalty, and hunting and retrieving abilities that there was established an importing of these dogs to Great Britain. In Great Britain, the Lesser Newfoundland became very popular on the large estates, and a breeding program by the estate owners was put into place. The third Earl of Malmesbury wrote in 1887 to a friend, "We always called mine Labrador dogs, and I have kept the breed as pure as I could from the first I had from Poole (Harbour), at that time carrying on a brisk trade with Newfoundland. The real breed may be known by their having a close coat which turns the water off like oil, above all, a tail like an otter."
Unfortunately, not every breeder wanted to keep the breed pure. In the early days of hunting and retrieving with dogs, this would be the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a retriever was simply known as a "retriever" and owner/breeders interbred dogs by deciding if they liked some quality or hunting ability displayed by the dogs. They bred long coated and short coated dogs, as well as curly coated dogs. Naturally breeders recognized the excellent qualities of the Labrador Retrievers, and crossed them into their lines as well. The Lab's gene pool is dominant to the point that when crossed with some other breed type, the Labrador quality and looks usually dominate the looks and personality of the offspring.
It was a good thing they had established the breed in England because the Quarantine Act of 1885 stopped the further importation of the Lesser Newfoundland dog.
By 1903, the Lesser Newfoundland, now known as the Labrador Retriever, was established as a separate, true breeding strain, and it was granted a registration status by the English Kennel Club. Finally, in 1917, the American Kennel Club recognized the Labrador Retriever as a separate retriever breed.
The Labrador Retriever Club recognizes the importance of keeping the Lab true to its original purpose and therefore, requires that before the Club will recognize a conformation championship, the Lab must also have a Working Certificate, to prove that it meets minimum standards of field work. The AKC does not put any restriction and so the dual champions of the past have been greatly reduced.
The popularity of the Labrador Retriever can also be a hidden curse as well. People see the breeding and selling of puppies as a way to make money. So you end up having puppy mills that crank out hundreds of puppies that may or may not be sound of body or temperament. The puppy mills have no interest in the continuation of the health, intelligence or stamina of the breed. Their only interest is in the money they will make. Today's Labrador Retriever is prone to hip dysplasia, peripheral retinal atrophy, and retinal dysplasia. The medical conditions of the Lab is discussed further under our breed medical section. With the puppy mill's practices, these conditions have become more acute in the Lab bloodline and care must be taken by the new owner to insure that the dog he is purchasing is sound. The importance of finding a reputable breeder, not a puppy mill or backyard breeder, will help the new owner in getting the most healthy dog possible.

Labrador Retrievers Health

Labs are prone to hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint that ranges from mild to severe and can cause such disability or pain that major surgery is necessary.

Dysplastic dogs usually become arthritic. With so many Lab puppies produced each year, it is important to buy from a breeder who x-rays breeding stock for hip dysplasia and only uses those animals with an OFA or PennHIP clearance for breeding. Screening tests on breeding dogs cannot prevent the development of disease in offspring, but it lessens the odds that hip dysplasia will be a problem.

Labs are also prone to several eye disorders, including progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts, and epilepsy. All Lab breeding stock should have an eye test each year and be registered free of eye disease by the Canine Eye Registry Foundation.

Purchasing a healthy Lab pup can be a bit difficult, but the research to find just the right breeder and puppy is well worth the trouble. The well-bred Labrador Retriever is one of a handful of wonderful family dogs for a broad spectrum of lifestyles and living situations. A Lab can do field work (for real or in trials and tests), obedience and agility competition, or therapy dog work at local hospitals or nursing homes with owners who are looking for just a bit more than a companion dog. All in all, the well-bred Lab can be the perfect family dog.

Why Labradors Are Great Companions

When it comes time to choose a new family pet, one that gets along well with children and other animals, you cannot beat the Labrador Retriever. Although the Labrador is an excellent hunting dog, on land and in the water, it is not related to the “Labrador” from Newfoundland. However, Earl of Malmesbury was intrigued by the Newfoundland Labrador and in the early part of the 19th century, imported one. Although the original Labrador faded out, some were interbred with other retrievers, which was the development of the Labrador Retriever we know today.

When it comes to an intelligent, loving, faithful, protective, comical, and gentle breed, you cannot find one better than the Labrador Retriever. The breed became so popular that in 1903, it became a recognized breed with the English Kennel Club and then with the American Kennel Club in 1917. Currently rated as the most popular breed of dog in both the United Kingdom and the United States, you will find this dog to be a prized member of the family. With the ability to learn quickly and being such an amazing companion dog, Thats why we recommend the Labrador Retriever for virtually any family.

Labrador Retriever Information

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dogs in the United States and belongs to the gundog group. This breed is definitely in the top three when it comes to choosing a family pet because they are very friendly, intelligent, energetic and good natured, making them excellent companions and working dogs. Labrador is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog. They have a character and quality to win in the show ring or work in the field with little or no effort. The typical Labrador possesses style and quality without over refinement, and is bred primarily as a working gun dog; structure and soundness are of great importance.

Temperament
Labrador Retrievers desire human attention and need to feel as though they are part of the family. They are very loving, affectionate, and patient dog. They also enjoy in water for they love to swim, since they were selectively bred for retrieving in water environments as gundogs and companions as water fowl hunting.

Size Category
Medium

Height/Weight
Height: Male 22-24 inches (56-61cm.), Female 21-23 inches (53-58cm.)
Weight: Male 60-75 pounds (27-34kg.), Female 55-70 pounds (25-32kg.). Some males can grow up to 100 pounds (45kg) or more.

Living Conditions
Labrador Retrievers will do okay in an apartment if adequately exercised. They are moderately active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard.

Exercise and Activities
Labrador Retrievers are energetic dogs, delighted to work and play hard. They need a lot of exercise. They are easily trained, making them ideal for use in field sports, obedience competitions, as search dogs, as guide dogs and as hearing dogs. These dogs take a great pleasure in any of these activities.

Life Expectancy
9 - 15 years

Grooming
Their coats are easy to maintain. The coat is thick and dense with a weather-resistant undercoat. Brush them once a week with more attention during shredding.

Origin
The breed originated not in Labrador, but on the coast of Newfoundland in the 17th century. They were trained to bring in the fishing-nets through the icy waters for the fishermen and, in the early 19th century, were brought to Poole Harbour in Great Britain. These dogs were short-limbed, sturdy swimmers with short dense coats and an otter-like tail. They were so attractive that the fishermen had umpteen offers from Englishmen to buy them. The breed was instantly successful as a gundog. The Earl of Malmesbury was fascinated by these dogs and known at that time as Saint John's breed of water dogs and he started breeding them, calling them Labrador dogs. A heavy dog tax in Canada and the new quarantine laws in Great Britain caused a great reduction in the breed, limiting further breeding to be done without any more imports.

How To Train A Labrador Puppy - The Right Way

Training a Labrador puppy is an essential and rewarding experience for both you and your puppy. The intelligence and eager to please nature of the Labrador make them a highly trainable breed - they are gifted and willing students. From puppy house training right through to advanced obedience training the Labrador is at the head of the class.

It's important to start your Labrador puppy training as early as possible (it's never too late to start though!). Your cute little lab puppy will quickly grow to be a big powerful and excitable dog, which will be hard to control without some basic obedience training.

Labrador Retrievers respond best to positive, non violent, reward based training methods. All they require are some guidelines and boundaries to be set in order to become well respected and trusted members of society. Your Lab will do his/her best for you when training, there's no need for harsh "yank n crank" type training methods. They thrive on the physical and mental stimulation which obedience training provides - plus it is time spent with you which is a bonus.

Early puppy socialization is vital for your Labrador. It helps them to be comfortable around all types of people, animals and our human world in general.

All the basic dog obedience training commands such as sit, down, stay and heel will be enthusiastically and easily learned by your Lab puppy. Anybody who has had the pleasure of living with a Labrador puppy will acknowledge the importance of these two puppy training commands - Training your Labrador to walk nicely on a loose leash and also to stop jumping up on people. This is because of their size, strength and excitable nature - the good thing is they are quick learners.

If you plan to train your Labrador puppy (or older dog!) yourself at home, I'd recommend you follow this comprehensive Labrador training tool - Secrets To Dog Training, Labrador Training. The Secrets To Dog Training Premium upgrade is a great dog care and training tool. Information found at- http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/training-a-labrador-puppy.html


Training A Labrador Puppy Is Fun For Everyone!

Meet the Breed... Labrador-Retriever

This is a Great Video which will Introduce

the Labrador-Retiever as a great companion.