Labrador Retriever

Vital Statistics:

Place of Origin: Canada

Group: Sporting dog, Gun dog

Height: males 22-24 in., females 21-23 in.

Weight: males 65-80 lbs., females 55-70 lbs.

Life span: 10-13 yrs.

Trainability: high

Good with children: yes

Good with other pets: yes

The Labrador Retriever is native to Newfoundland, Canada. English ships coming from Labrador in 1800 arrived in Great Britain bringing the Labrador Retriever. It has since become the most popular dog in the United States. English bred dogs are shorter and stockier while American breeds are taller and have a lighter build.

What does the Labrador Retriever look like?

The standard height is about 21-24 inches and weight is 55-80 lbs. The Lab has a thick nose and scissors bite with a broad head and powerful neck. Eyes are chestnut or hazel and ears are pendent. The tail is of medium length, covered with thick short hair and is known as an otter tail. The Lab’s coat is smooth, dense and oily and is water resistant. The colors are solid black, chocolate and yellow.

Note – Fox Red Labradors, as they are known, are not dtruly red. The color is actually a dark yellow and was the original color of Labs. It was the normal color until after World War II when lighter coat colors became much more popular. Today the fox red color is increasing in popularity.

What is the Labrador Retriever’s temperament?

This dog is a people dog, very intelligent, dependable, affectionate and playful. The Lab is especially good with children. Its high intelligence makes it easy to train. Daily exercise is very important. The Labrador can be a chow hound, so weight watching is a must. As with all dogs, the Lab needs daily exercise. If you have access to water, so much the better. The Lab is a loyal and loving family companion.

What are the Labrador Retriever’s uses?

The Labrador is a working dog of many talents including serving as a guide dog for the blind and as a service dog. It does well in obedience trials. The Lab has an excellent sense of smell and is a standout star retriever in water. It is also used by the police for its detection capabilities. The Lab is a wonderful companion dog.

Possible Health Issues

Hip/elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, exercise-induced collapse, heart disease, osteochondrosis, panosteitis (growing pains), epilepsy, skin allergies.