Labradors are athletic, playful, intelligent and are the most popular breed by registered ownership in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Origin
The breed was developed and established in late 19th century England, when the Duke of Buccleuch started the breeding program and produced dogs that are considered the ancestors of modern Labradors.
Their skill and ability for retrieving anything both from the water and on shore made this dog what it is today. Labradors are favorite assistance dogs and are frequently trained to aid people who are blind and people with autism. They also act as therapy dogs and perform screening and detection work for law enforcement agencies.
Description
As for the height, males stand between 22.5 and 24.5 inches (57 to 62 cm), while females go between 21.5 and 23.5 inches (55 to 60 cm) at the withers.
Their coat should be short, dense, but not wiry, and water-resistant. As far as the color standard are concerned, Labradors come in black (a solid black color), yellow (considered from cream to fox-red), and chocolate (medium to dark brown).
Labradors are even-tempered and are considered as excellent family dogs. The AKC describes their temperament as kind, pleasant, outgoing and tractable nature. They are usually not noisy or territorial, however, they will sometimes bark at noise from an unseen source (alarm barking).
Since they are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers, Labs are not usually suitable as guard dogs.
Pros
- excellent family dog
- intelligent
- trainable
- even-tempered
- great with kids
- cat friendly
- adaptable
- loyal
Cons
- prone to hip and elbow dysplasia
- prone to obesity
Should I adopt/buy a Labrador Retriever?
If you are looking for a number 1 family dog, look no further as the Lab is the pooch you are looking for.