Labrador Retriever country of origin : England
Labrador Retriever original Function : Gundog, Particularly for retrieving waterfowl

First time i saw Labrador Retriever, i think it is Golden retriever because of their resemblance.Although frequently used as a gun dog, this dog breed is mainly popular as a family dog. These type of dog can also excel in nearly all branches of dog sports as well as in different duties. Worldwide this dog breed is one of the most commonly used guide dogs for the blind, but it also very popular as a sniffer dog ( for drug detection), avalanche rescue dog and for general rescue duties.

You can partake in virtually all types of dog sports, except hunting for which this dog breed lacks the right disposition. The Labrador Retriever excels particularly in obedience, flyball and advanced obedience. For a dog with so many possibilities it would be a shame if it were merely kept as a pet. If you do partake in any of these activities, you will see how much pleasure it gives this dog.

Labrador Retriever dog appearance

Labrador Retriever dog body
The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built dog with a level topline and broad, short and powerful loins. The hindquarters are strong and do not taper toward the tail. The tail is very thick at the base and of medium length. The short, dense coat gives the tail its rounded appearance. The shape of the tail is a distinctive feature of this dog breed and has described as “otter tail”. Labrador Retrievers have a wide, deep chest and well sprung ribs. The long shoulders are slopping. The legs are powerful and straight, with well-turned stifles and with the hocks well let down. Labrador Retriever has round, compact feet with well arched toes. The neck is dry, strong and powerful.

Labrador Retriever dog head
The Labrador Retriever’s skull is wide and clean-cut without fleshy cheeks. The foreface is of medium length and is not snipey. Labrador Retrievers have a pronounced stop. The ears are set rather far back and hang close to the head. The eyes are of medium size, with an intelligent expression. These dogs have a strong, complete and regular scissor bite.

Labrador Retriever dog weight and shoulder height
Labrador Retriever bitches weight between 55¼ – 66¼lb ( 25 30 kg ) and dogs between 64¼ – 77¼ lb ( 30 – 35 kg )
Labrador Retriever’s shoulder height range from 22 – 22½ (  56 – 57 cm ) and bitches from 21¼ – 22 in ( 54 – 56 cm )

Labrador Retriever dog coat and colors
The coat is short dense without wave or feathering, and is fairly hard to the touch. The undercoat is weather resistant.
This dog breed comes in three colors ; solid black, liver ( also called chocolate ) , and yellow. The yellow color may range from light cream to red fox. The nose color, rims of the lips and eyes are black in black and yellow dogs and liver in chocolate dogs. The eyes are brown or hazel. A small white spot on the chest is permissible.

Labrador Retriever dog temperament

Labrador Retriever dog character
Labrador Retrievers are stable, friendly, good natured, affectionate and extremely active. Dogs tend to be more boisterous ( and stronger ) than bitches. Both sexes have a sociable disposition. Aggressiveness or shyness is alien to them. They are also highly intelligent, keen to work with and for their owners and are generally obedient and compliant. Labrador Retrievers are mentally and physically late to mature, which means that they will often remain playful and boisterous until they are two. Their sense of smell is outstanding and they are soft in the mouth. Because of their sociable disposition they flourish in a family setting, and they will not appreciate a lonely kennel existence.

Labrador Retriever social behavior
This sociable dog breed usually gets on fine with other dogs. Once they have been properly socialized they will also get along well with cats and other household pets and they tend to be patient and good-natured with children.Labrador Retriever love people and are not particularly vigilant; your visitors can expect a warm and enthusiastic welcome.

Labrador Retriever general dog care

Labrador Retriever dog grooming
The coat of the Labrador Retriever is fairly easy to care for. It needs to be thoroughly groomed with a pin brush about once a week and requires a little more attention during the molt. The coat texture is such that dirt and mud will dry quickly and can be easily brushed off. Keep the claws short. This dog breed has a tendency to become overweight, so make sure you never overfeed the dog and give it plenty of exercise.

Labrador Retriever dog training
The Labrador Retriever is relatively easy to train. These extremely intelligent dogs are keen to learn and love working for their owners. However, they are late to mature and remain playful for a long time, which means that it can take quite some time before dog obeys you completely. Dogs in particular can be a little boisterous, and any pulling on the leash should be discouraged as early as possible.

Labrador Retriever dog exercise
The Labrador Retriever needs considerable amounts of exercise and will therefore do best in a sports-minded family. In principle nearly all types of exercise are suitable. Labrador Retrievers are crazy about water and retrieving, and are always in fir ball games and long, off leash walks in the country. They are very adaptable and can be kept in the city, provided their exercise needs are taken into account. Because of their weather resistant coats they are virtually impervious to the weather.

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