The Labrador Retriever: A Great Family Dog and Hunting Companion

The Labrador Retriever being native to Newfoundland was originally called the Newfoundland Labrador or St. Johns Dog depending on its location. It was brought to Great Britain in 1800 by English ships coming in from Labrador. Labrador is the original name of what we now know as Greenland.

The Labrador is a very friendly breed of dog. They are lively, affectionate, and very loveable. They work well with their masters, and get along great with children. Always willing to please they are easily trainable in a number of areas. With their sensitive and even-tempered personality they make a great addition to any family. They are extremely intelligent, possessing a very strong natural ability in marking and retrieving.

The Labrador is normally a very healthy breed of dog and can be registered with many clubs. The clubs they can be registered with are the FCI, AKC, UKC, TKC, and CKC. They are used by both fisherman and hunters and excel well in trials. The Labrador makes an excellent duck dog. They are also an excellent upland game bird flusher, companion, drug detector, obedience competitor, and guide dog for the blind. They are excellent retrievers in marshes and also in water, and have an excellent sense of smell.

The Labrador is a beautiful breed. They range in size from 22 to 24 ½ inches high, with females being slightly smaller and measuring from 21 to 22 inches high. They weigh anywhere from 55 to 75 pounds. The Labrador is normally colored solid black, solid chocolate or liver, or solid yellow. They are also sometimes colored solid fox-red or solid light cream. Their hair is short, hard, and dense with a waterproof undercoat that is thick. They have a medium length tail covered with short hair that should never look shaggy. Their tails are often referred to as otter tails. They have a powerful, a thick nose, and a pointed head. The labs eyes are normally hazel or chestnut in color, and their ears hang down against their heads.

Although the Labrador Retriever is normally a very healthy breed it can sometimes have inherited disorders. These disorders are hip and elbow displaysia, luxating patella which causes bow shaped legs, eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and retinal dysplasia, and sometimes they can be prone to ear infections. Another health problem that can occur in the Labrador is obesity, due to their tendency to want to overeat and get lots of treats.

If you are looking for an excellent family pet, hunting dog, or fishing companion, the Labrador Retriever is an excellent choice of breed for you.