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[[image:Labrador_retriever_and_children.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Noted for their friendly, non-agressive nature, Labrador retrievers generally make excellent family pets, if their need for exercise and companionship is met. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick]]
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The '''Labrador retriever''' is the most popular registered [[dog breed|breed]] of [[dog]] in both the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States]], two of the most "dog-friendly" cultures in the world. What about this [[Dog Breeds|breed]] accounts for such popularity?  Members of the [[retriever]] dog group, Labradors are generally both exceptionally friendly, and eager to please, making them excellent companions for both adults and children. Their [[Dog intelligence|intelligence]] and size also makes them suitable [[service animals]].  
{{Image|Labrador_retriever_and_children.jpg|right|300px|Noted for their friendly, non-aggressive nature, Labrador retrievers generally make excellent family pets, if their need for exercise and companionship is met. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick}}
[[image:Fox_red_yellow_Labrador_retriever.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The British style of Labradors are stockier and have broader heads than the American or field style.]]
The '''Labrador retriever''' is ''the'' most popular registered [[dog breed|breed]] of [[dog]] in both the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States of America]], two of the most "dog-friendly" cultures in the world. What about this [[Dog breed|breed]] is likely to account for such outstanding popularity?  Labradors are generally both exceptionally friendly, and eager to please, making them excellent companions for children, as well as adults. Their [[Dog intelligence|intelligence]] and size also makes them suitable [[service animals]].  
Having been bred first to help [[Newfoundland]] fishermen haul in their fishing nets and then in Great Britain as '[[gun dog|gun dogs]]' for hunting waterfowl, Labs are powerful swimmers who love the water.
{{Image|Fox_red_yellow_Labrador_retriever.jpg|right|300px|The British style of Labradors are stockier and have broader heads than the American or field style.}}
 
Having been bred first to help [[Newfoundland]] fishermen haul in their fishing nets and then in Great Britain as '[[gun dog|gun dogs]]' for hunting waterfowl, Labs are powerful swimmers who love the water. As much as most Labs take to swimming, life on dry land also suits them - as long as there is an opportunity for some exercise. Their ability to adapt to both city and country life is one more factor that accounts for their popularity (ref:SPORTING GROUP: Labrador RetrieversFaith Hyndman. AKC Gazette. New York: Jul 2006. Vol. 123, Iss. 7; p. 51)


==History==
==History==
The Labrador is believed to have originated on the island of [[Newfoundland]], now part of the province of [[Newfoundland and Labrador]], [[Canada]].<ref
It is thought to have descended over time from the [[St. John's Water Dog]] (no longer in existence), a [[crossbreed]] of native water dogs and the [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]] dog (to which the Labrador is closely related), through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers in the 17th century.<ref>http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/settlement.html</ref>  
name="alllabs.com_history">http://alllabs.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/labrador_retriever_history.htm?E+scstore
{{Image|Lab_hunting_test.jpg|left|250px|Labrador retriever returns with her quarry at a hunting test. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick}}
(''alllabs.com'' "History of the Lab")</ref> The breed is not [[indigenous]] to the Newfoundland area nor is there evidence they accompanied early [[Inuit]] settlers.<ref>''[[Marley and me]]'', p.52</ref> It is thought to have descended over time from the [[St. John's Water Dog]] (no longer in existence), a [[crossbreed]] of native water dogs and the [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]] dog (to which the Labrador is closely related), through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers in the mid to late 15th century.<ref name="alllabs.com_history" />  
[[Image:Lab_hunting_test.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Labrador retriever returns with her quarry at at a hunting test. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick]]
The name ''Labrador'' was given to this dog by the [[Earl of Malmesbury]] and other breeders in [[England]] in order to differentiate them from the [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland dog]]. The Labrador Retriever was originally called the ''lesser Newfoundland'' or the ''St. John's dog''. Other origins suggested for the name include the Spanish or Portuguese word for rural/agricultural workers, Portuguese "lavradores" or Spanish "labradores", and the village of Castro Laboreiro in Portugal whose
herding and guard dogs bear a "striking resemblance" to Labradors.<ref name="alllabs.com_history" /> The original forebearers of the St. John's have variously been suggested to be crossbreeds of the black [[St. Hubert's hound]] from France, working water dogs from Portugal, old European [[pointer]] breeds and dogs belonging to the indigenous peoples of the area.<ref name="alllabs.com_history" /> Two breeds emerged; the larger [[Newfoundland
(dog)|Newfoundland]] used for hauling, and the smaller short-coat [[retriever]]s used for retrieval and pulling in nets from the water. The Lab is of the latter type.   
 
Many fishermen originally used the Lab to assist in bringing nets to shore; the dog would grab the floating corks on the ends of the nets and pull them to shore. They were brought to the [[Poole]] area of [[England]], then the hub of the Newfoundland [[fishing]] trade, and became prized amongst the [[gentry]] as sporting dogs.<ref
 
name="alllabs.com_history" />
 
===Lab timeline===
Some of the landmarks in early Lab history include:
:* [[1814]] - The first known written reference to the Labrador, in "Instructions to Young Sportsmen".
:* [[1823]] - Sporting artist [[Edwin Landseer]] painted a black dog with white markings titled "Cora. A Labrador Bitch," by which time it appears the breed was already firmly established, with several of the nobility either
owning or breeding them by the end of that century.
:* [[1870]] - By this time, the name "Labrador Retriever" had become well established.<ref name="alllabs.com_history"
 
/>
:* [[1887]] - [[James Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury|James Howard Harris, the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury]] wrote in a letter to the [[William Montagu-Douglas-Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch|6th Duke of Buccleuch]], "We always call mine Labrador dogs and I have kept the breed as pure as I could from the first I had from Poole ... known by their having a close coat which turns the water off like oil and, above all, a tail like an otter." <ref name="alllabs.com_history" />
:* [[1899]] - Birth of the first Yellow Lab on record, named Ben of Hyde. Photographs of early Labradors, including 'Ben of Hyde', show slight changes to the breeds coat and appearance over the past 100 years.
 
The modern Labrador Retriever is among the oldest of the modern "[[kennel club|recognized]]" breeds; according to the [[American Kennel Club]], pedigrees exist back to 1878.
 
[[Kennel Club (UK)|The Kennel Club]] recognized the Lab in 1903. The first registration of Labradors by the AKC was in 1917; many English dogs were imported post [[World War I]] and these formed the foundation of the American variety.
 
===Other names===
The Lab and its ancestors have also been known under the
 
following names:
 
St. John's Dog, Lesser St. John's Dog, Newfoundland Dog,
 
Lesser Newfoundland Dog, Little Newfoundlanders,
 
Newfoundland Water Dog, Labrador Dogs, St. John's Labrador
 
Dogs, Black Water Dog, Lesser Labrador, Smaller Labrador,
 
English Retriever, and English Labrador.<ref
 
name="alllabs.com_history" />


==Appearance==
==Breed standards==
===Overview of appearance===
===Common characteristics round the world===
Their coats are short and smooth, and they possess a thick, powerful tail that superficially resembles the tail of an [[otter]].  The "otter tail" of the Lab is used in swimming and is a characteristic that is specifically selected for in breeding. Other characteristics that are helpful for water retrieving are the dog's water resistant coat and webbed toes.


Labradors are moderately large dogs with males typically
The [[otter]]-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador retriever make them excellent swimmers. Their interwoven coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The dogs use their tail as rudders to help them steer while swimming. Their short hair allows them to work in icy waters, where longer-hair retrievers would be dragged down by ice clinging to their coats.


weighing 27 to 36 kg (60 to 80 lb) and females 23 to 32 kg
====Color====
 
{{Image|Chocolate_black_yellow_and_fox_red_Lab_pups.jpg|right|300px|These puppies from two separate litters include all recognized color variations of Labradors, including the "fox red" variety of yellow. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick}}
(45 to 70 lb). Dogs bred for the show ring tend to
There are three officially recognised Lab colors:<ref>The American Kennel Club, ''Labrador Retriever Breed Standard'': "The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest, called a star, is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling.  
 
considerably heavier with broader heads.
 
Their coats are short and smooth, and they possess a thick,
 
powerful tail like that of an [[otter]].  The majority of
 
the characteristics of this breed with the exception of
 
color are the result of breeding to produce a
 
[[Retriever|working retriever]].
 
As with some other breeds, the English (typically "show")
 
and the American (typically "working" or "field") lines
 
differ. Labs are bred in England as a medium size dog,
 
shorter and stockier with broader faces and a slightly
 
calmer nature than their American counterparts, which are
 
bred as taller, lighter-built dogs. No distinction is made
 
by the [[American Kennel Club|AKC]], but the two
 
classifications come from different breeding. Australian
 
stock also exists; though not seen in the west, they are
 
common in Asia. (See [[#Physical lines and variants]])
 
The breed tends to [[Shed (disambiguation)|shed]] hair
 
regularly throughout the year. Lab hair is usually fairly
 
short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong.
 
The [[otter]]-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador
 
retriever make them excellent swimmers. Their interwoven
 
coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more
 
assistance for swimming. The dogs use their tail as rudders
 
to help them steer while swimming. Their short hair allows
them to work in icy waters, where longer-hair retrievers
would be dragged down by ice clinging to their coats.
 
===Show standards===
''There is a great deal of variety among labs. These
 
characteristics are typical of the [[show-bred]] or
 
bench-bred lines of this breed in the [[United States]].''
 
*'''Size''': Labs are a medium-large but compact breed.
 
They should have an appearance of proportionality. They
 
should be as long from the shoulders back as they are from
 
the floor to the withers. Dogs should stand 22 1/2 to 24
 
1/2 inches (55.9 to 62&nbsp;1/4cm) tall at the withers and
 
weigh 65 to 80 pounds (30 to 36&nbsp;kg). Bitches should
 
stand 21 1/2 to 23 1/2 inches (54&nbsp;1/2 to 60&nbsp;cm)
 
and weigh 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 32&nbsp;kg). (By
 
comparison under UK Kennel Club standards, height should be
 
22 to 22.5 inches (55.9 to 57.2&nbsp;cm) for males, and
 
21.5 to 22 (54.6 to 55.9&nbsp;cm) inches for females)
 
*'''Coat''': The lab's coat should be short and dense, but
 
not wiry. Acceptable colors are chocolate, black, and
 
yellow. There is much variance within yellow labs
 
*'''Head''': The head should be broad with a pronounced
 
stop and slightly pronounced brow. The eyes should be kind
 
and expressive. Appropriate eye colors are brown and hazel.
 
The lining around the eyes should be black. The ears should
 
hang close to the head and are set slightly above the eyes.
 
*'''Jaws''': The jaws should be strong and powerful. The
 
muzzle should be of medium length, and should not be too
 
tapered. The jowls should hang slightly and curve
 
gracefully back.
 
===Color===
[[image:Chocolate_black_yellow_and_fox_red_Lab_pups.jpg|right|thumb|300px|These puppies from two separate litters include all recognized color variations of Labradors, including the "fox red" variety of yellow. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick]]
There are three recognised colors for labs:<ref>The American Kennel Club, ''Labrador Retriever Breed Standard'': "The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest, called a star, is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling.  
Black:-Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification.  
Black:-Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification.  
Yellow:-Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate:-Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification."</ref> black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to gold to fox-red), and chocolate (medium to dark brown). Puppies of all colors may occur in the same [[litter (animal)|litter]]. The nose of a black or yellow Lab should be black and a chocolate's should be brown, although some fading to pink is permitted. Pink noses without pigmentation is a disqualification. A color variation some call "silver" may involve unusually light-colored chocolates or may be the result of cross breeding with [[Weimaraner|Weinmaraners]]. The variation is not recognized by any breed or [[kennel club]] and is not permitted in confirmation shows.
Yellow:-Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate:-Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification."</ref> black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to gold to fox-red), and chocolate (medium to dark brown). Puppies of all colors may occur in the same [[litter (animal)|litter]]. The nose of a black or yellow Lab should be black and a chocolate's should be brown, although some fading to pink is permitted. Pink noses without pigmentation is a disqualification.
 
===Variant lines===
Differences in the physical build of the dog have arisen as
 
a result of specialized breeding. Dogs bred for hunting and
 
field-trial work are selected first for working ability,
 
whereas dogs bred to compete for show [[champion
 
dog|championships]] are selected for what judges look for
 
in the show ring. There are significant differences between
 
field and trial-bred (sometimes referred to as "American")
 
and show-bred (or "English") lines of Labradors. In
 
general, show-bred labs are heavier, slightly
 
shorter-bodied, and have a thicker coat and tail. Field
 
labs are generally longer legged, lighter, and more lithe
 
in build. In the head, show labs tend to have broader
 
heads, better defined stops, and more powerful necks, while
 
field labs have lighter and slightly narrower heads with
 
longer muzzles.<ref
 
name="labbies-hist">http://www.labbies.com/history.htm
 
History of the Labrador Retriever. Retrieved on February 5,
 
2007.</ref> <ref
 
name="pineycreek">http://www.pineycreeklabradors.com/id20.h
 
tml</ref> <ref
 
name="woodhaven">http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/english-ameri
 
can.html</ref> Field-bred labs are commonly higher energy
 
and more high-strung compared to the show-bred lab, and as
 
a consequence may be more suited to working relationships
 
rather than being a "family pet." <ref name="labbies-hist"
 
/> <ref name="pineycreek" /> <ref name="woodhaven" /> Of
 
course, each individual dog differs. Some breeders,
 
especially those specializing in the field type, feel that
 
breed shows do not adequately recognize their type of dog.
 
Talk of officially splitting the breed is also sometimes
 
supported.<ref>http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/documents/breed
 
_split2.pdf</ref>
 
===Other colors===
===Lab nose and skin pigmentation===


Labrador Retriever. The nose and lips are pink or
===Variation in type by country,  and, within countries, by club===
====Show dogs (conformation shows)====


flesh-colored, the defining aspect of Dudley pigmentation,
====Field dogs (sporting clubs)====


as compared to the more standard brown or black.]]
==Temperament ==
Because Lab coloration is controlled by multiple [[gene]]s,
{{Image|Easygoing_Labs.jpg|right|300px|The extremely social Lab craves the companionship of humans and other dogs. This drive generally makes them friendly and non-aggressive to strangers.}}


it is possible for [[recessive]] genes to emerge some
==Working labs==


generations later and also there can sometimes be
===Guide dogs for the Blind===


unexpected [[pigmentation]] effects to different parts of
===Therapy dogs (other)===


the body. Pigmentation effects appear in regard to yellow
==="Sniffers" for customs and police work===
 
labs, and sometimes chocolate, and hence the majority of
 
this section covers pigmentation within the yellow lab. The
 
most common places where pigmentation is visible are the
 
nose, lips, gums, feet, and the rims of the eyes, which may
 
be black, brown, light yellow-brown ("liver", caused by
 
having two genes for chocolate),<ref
 
name="woodhaven_pigmentation">http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/
 
yellow-pigment.html</ref> or several other colors. A lab
 
can carry genes for a different color, for example a black
 
lab can carry recessive chocolate and yellow genes, and a
 
yellow lab can carry recessive genes for the other two
 
colors. [[DNA testing]] can reveal some aspects of these.
 
Less common pigmentations (other than pink) are a fault,
 
not a disqualification, and hence such dogs are still
 
permitted to be shown.<ref name="woodhaven_pigmentation" />
 
The intensity of black pigment on yellow labs is controlled
 
be a separate gene independent of the fur coloring.<ref
 
name="woodhaven_pigmentation"/> Yellow labs usually have
 
black noses, which gradually turn pink with age (called
 
"snow nose" or "winter nose"). This is due to a reduction
 
in the [[enzyme]] [[tyrosinase]] which indirectly controls
 
the production of [[melanin]], a dark coloring. Tyrosinase
 
is temperature dependent - hence light coloration can be
 
seasonal, due to cold weather - and is less produced with
 
increasing age (2 years old onwards). As a result, the nose
 
color of most yellow labs becomes a somewhat pink shade as
 
they grow older.<ref>See
 
[http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/index.php?topic=10185.m
 
sg110720#msg110720 this post] on ''justlabradors.com''
 
forum, posted July 2006 by ''WigWag'' [presumably Sharon
 
Wagner of ''wigwaglabradors.com'', cited elsewhere in this
 
article concerning labrador coloration]</ref> <ref
 
name="woodhaven_pigmentation" />
 
===="Dudley"====
A coloration known as "[[Dudley (dog)|Dudley]]" is also
 
possible. Dudleys are variously defined as yellow labs
 
which are unpigmented (pink) (LRC), yellow with liver
 
pigmentation, or "flesh colored" (AKC), rather than having
 
black or brown pigmentation.<ref
 
name="woodhaven_pigmentation" /> A yellow lab with brown or
 
chocolate pigmentation (for example, a brown/chocolate
 
nose), is not a Dudley. Breed standards for Labradors
 
considers a true Dudley to be a disqualifying feature for a
 
show lab ("Disqualification: A thoroughly pink nose or one
 
lacking in any pigment"). True Dudleys are extremely
 
rare.<ref name="woodhaven_pigmentation"  
 
/><ref>[http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/labrador/labartic
 
le6.htm Labrador Retriever Breed Standards Comparison
 
Chart]</ref><ref>[http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FA
 
Q Dog Breed Advice on Dudley Labradors]</ref> (See:
 
[[Albinoism]]).
 
Breeding in order to correct pigmentation often lacks
 
dependability. Because color is determined by many genes,
 
some of which are recessive, crossbreeding a
 
pigmentationally non-standard yellow lab to a black lab may
 
not correct the matter or prevent future generations
 
carrying the same recessive genes. That said, pigmentation
 
is often not an issue with [[animal love]]rs for whom such
 
issues are often unimportant, and only has significance for
 
those involved with showing and breeding.
 
 
==Temperament and activities==
 
[[image:Easygoing_Labs.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The extremely social Lab craves the companionship of humans and other dogs. This drive generally makes them friendly and non-agressive to strangers.]]
 
Labradors are a well-balanced and remarkably versatile breed, adaptable to a wide range of functions as well as making very good pets.  As a rule they are not excessively prone to territorialism, pining, insecurity, aggression,
destructiveness, hypersensitivity, or other difficult traits which manifest in a variety of breeds, and as the name suggests, they are excellent [[retriever]]s. As an extension of this, they instinctively enjoy holding objects and even hands or arms in their mouths, which they can do with great gentleness. They are also known to have a very soft 'feel' to the mouth, as a result of being bred to retrieve game such as waterfowl. They are prone to chewing objects (though they can easily be trained out of this behavior). The Labrador Retriever's coat repels water to some extent, thus facilitating the extensive use of the dog in waterfowl hunting.
Labradors have a reputation as a very mellow breed and an excellent family dog (including a good reputation with children of all ages), but some lines (particularly those that have continued to be bred specifically for their
skills at working in the field rather than for their appearance) are particularly fast and athletic. Their fun-loving boisterousness and lack of fear can result in mischief, and may require training and firm handling at
times to ensure it does not get out of hand. Labradors mature at around three years of age; before this time they can have a significant degree of puppyish energy, often mislabelled as being [[hyperactivity|hyperactive]].<ref>http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FAQ : "Labradors are active dogs especially in puppyhood. And Labradors often do not fully mature until around 3 years of age! This means you will have a dog that is mentally a puppy (with a puppy's energy) until this age
regardless of its physical size! Often a Lab puppy is labelled hyperactive when it is simply a normal, exuberant and bouncy puppy. If you are prepared to deal with this period of time in their lives, you will not have problems." </ref> Labs often enjoy retrieving a ball endlessly and other forms of activity (such as [[dog agility]] or [[flyball]]), are considerably "food and fun" oriented, very trainable, and open-minded to new things, and thrive on human attention and interaction, of which they find it difficult to get enough. Reflecting their retrieving bloodlines, almost every Lab loves playing in water or swimming.
 
Although they will sometimes [[bark (dog)|bark]] at noise,
 
especially a degree of "[[Bark (dog)#Alarm_barking|alarm
 
barking]]" when there is noise from unseen sources, labs
 
are not on the whole
 
noisy<ref>http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FAQ :
 
"excessive barking is not generally typical of the breed.
 
Labradors often give a warning bark in response to an
 
unusual event..."</ref> or [[territoriality|territorial]],
 
and are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers,
 
and therefore are not very often used as [[guard
 
dog]]s.<ref>http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FAQ :
 
"Labradors are not reliable guards. Some can be protective
 
and most will probably bark if they hear or see something
 
they don't like -- particularly if it is near their yard.
 
If your main purpose in getting a dog is to have a guard
 
dog, a Labrador is not a good choice, but if you want an
 
"alarm" barker, most Labradors are fine."</ref>
 
Labradors have a reputation for [[appetite]], and
 
individuals have been described as willing to eat "anything
 
that isn't nailed down".<ref>''[[Marley and Me]]'' forum
 
thread (a well-known biography about a beloved Labrador),
 
multiple contributors: "My 12 yr old lab in the course of
 
his life has consumed everything and anything" ... "my lab
 
went through a phase of rock chewing when he was much
 
younger" ... "His current fav is Playdoe dropped by ny
 
little girl. To be honest I cant think of much he hasn't
 
eaten" ... "I have 3 labs at home. A black lab 11yrs, a
 
yellow thats 2 1/2 and another yellow that is 14 months.
 
And I think I have seen them eat just about anything that
 
is not nailed down or behind closed doors"
 
[http://www.marleyandme.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/000392.html]</r
 
ef> They are also persuasive and persistent in requesting
 
food. For this reason, the Lab owner must carefully control
 
his/her dog's food intake to avoid obesity and its
 
associated health problems (see below).
 
The steady temperament of Labs and their ability to learn
 
make them an ideal breed for search and rescue, detection,
 
and therapy work.  Their primary working role continues to
 
be that of a hunting [[retriever]].


== Health and wellbeing ==   
== Health and wellbeing ==   
{{main|Dog health}}
[[Image:LabradorWeaving.jpg|thumb|right|Some lines of Labs


are fast and athletic, as demonstrated by this Lab doing
Labrador life expectancy is generally 12 to 13 years<ref>Fogle, Bruce, DVM (2000). ''The New Encyclopedia of the Dog''. [[Dorling Kindersley]]. ISBN 0-7894-6130-7.</ref>, and it generally is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to health and wellbeing include:
 
the weave poles in [[dog agility]].]]
Labrador life expectancy is generally 12 to 13  
 
years<ref>Fogle, Bruce, DVM (2000). ''The New Encyclopedia  
 
of the Dog''. [[Dorling Kindersley]]. ISBN  
 
0-7894-6130-7.</ref>, and it is a healthy breed with  
 
relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to  
 
health and wellbeing include:
 
Medical conditions:
* Labs are somewhat prone to [[hip dysplasia]] (and
 
possibly other forms, such as [[elbow dysplasia]]),
 
especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some
 
other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before breeding.
* Labs are sometimes prone to [[Otitis externa in
 
animals|ear infection]], because their floppy ears trap
 
warm moist air. This is easy to control, but needs regular
 
checking to ensure that a problem is not building up
 
unseen. A healthy Lab ear should look clean and light pink
 
(almost white) inside. Darker pink (or inflamed red), or
 
brownish deposits, are a symptom of ear infection. The
 
usual treatment is regular cleaning daily or twice daily
 
(being careful not to force dirt into the sensitive inner
 
ear) and sometimes medication (ear drops) for major cases.
 
As a preventative measure, some owners clip the hair
 
carefully around the ear and under the flap, to encourage
 
better air flow.
* A Labrador that undertakes significant swimming without
 
building up can develop a swelling or apparent kink known
 
as swimtail.  This can be easily treated by a veterinary
 
clinic and tail rest.
* Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A
 
[[luxating patella]] is a common occurrence in the knee
 
where the leg is often bow shaped.
* Eye problems are also possible in some labs, particularly
 
[[progressive retinal atrophy]] and [[retinal dysplasia]].
 
Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a
 
veterinary
 
ophthalmologist.<ref>http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador
 
-FAQ</ref>
 
Weight:
* Labs are often overfed and are allowed to become
 
overweight, due to their blatant enjoyment of treats,
 
hearty appetites, and endearing behavior towards people. A
 
healthy Lab should keep a very slight hourglass waist and
 
be fit and lithe, rather than fat or heavy-set. Excessive
 
weight is strongly implicated as a risk factor in the later
 
development of hip dysplasia and [[diabetes in cats and
 
dogs|diabetes]], and also can contribute to general reduced
 
health when older. Arthritis is commonplace in older,
 
overweight labs.
 
Exploration:
* Labradors are not especially renowned for [[escapology]].
 
They do not particularly jump high fences or dig, although
 
some labs may climb or jump up for fun or to explore. As a
 
breed they are highly intelligent, and capable of intense
 
single-mindedness and focus if their interest is caught.
 
Therefore with the right conditions and stimuli, a bored
 
lab could "turn into an escape artist par exellence."
 
[http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FAQ]
* It is also worth noting that Labradors as a breed are
 
curious, exploratory and love company, following both
 
people and interesting scents for food, attention and
 
novelty value. In this way, they can often "vanish" or
 
otherwise become separated from their owners with little
 
fanfare. They are also popular dogs if found. Because of
 
this it is good practice that labradors are [[Microchip
 
implant (animal)|microchipped]], with the owners name and
 
address also on their collar and tags.
 
 
===Common Labrador crossbreeds===
The [[Labradoodle]] is a popular [[Dog hybrids and
 
crossbreeds|designer dog]] that combines a Labrador with a
 
[[Poodle]]. Labrador-[[German Shepherd]] and
 
Labrador-[[Border Collie]] crosses are also popular for
 
their intelligence and working qualities. The [[assistance
 
dog]] organization [[Mira Foundation|Mira]] utilizes
 
Labrador-[[Bernese Mountain Dog]] crosses (Labernese) with
 
success<ref>http://www.mira.ca/contenta/nc1-3a.html Mira
 
Foundation: The Labernese. Retrieved February 18,
 
2007</ref>. Other Labrador crossbreeds are noted on the
 
[http://www.achclub.com/modules.php?name=Breeders American
 
Canine Hybrid Club] website with some having
 
[http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americancaninehybridclub.htm
 
pages] on ''dogbreedinfo.com''.
 
==Famous Labs==
* The Andrex Puppy, featured primarily in UK television
 
spots for the Andrex brand of toilet paper, known in
 
elsewhere as [[Scott]] or Cottonelle, also featuring the
 
puppy mascot.
* Bouncer, from ''[[Neighbours]]''
* [[Buddy (dog)|Buddy]], [[U.S. President]] [[Bill
 
Clinton]]'s Labrador, and Seamus, Clinton's other Labrador,
 
received for Father's Day
* Jet (f.k.a. Bootsy), briefly adopted by the fictional
 
detective genius [[Nero Wolfe]] in [[Rex Stout]]'s 1954
 
novella "Die Like a Dog" (collected in the volume ''Three
 
Witnesses'' and adapted for A&E TV's 2001–2002 series ''[[A
 
Nero Wolfe Mystery]]''). "Labradors," Wolfe tells his
 
assistant [[Archie Goodwin]], "have a wider skull than any
 
other dog, for brain room."
* King Buck, the first black lab to appear on a US
 
[[postage stamp]].<ref>Source: ''alllabs.com'' describes
 
King Buck as "famous".
 
[http://alllabs.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/labrador_retriev
 
er_history.htm?E+scstore]</ref>
* Koni, [[President of Russia|Russian President]]
 
[[Vladimir Putin|Vladimir Putin's]] Labrador Retriever
* Luath, from ''[[The Incredible Journey]]''
* Marley, "The World's Worst Dog", featured in journalist
 
John Grogan's book ''[[Marley & Me]]''
* [[Sadie]], a black Labrador who saved the lives of dozens
 
of soldiers in Afghanistan by detecting a bomb. Recipient
 
of the [[Dickin Medal]], the animal equivalent of the
 
[[Victoria
 
Cross]].<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml
 
=/news/2007/01/27/wsadie27.xml</ref>
* Ubu Roi, of [[UBU Productions]]
* [[Characters of Lost#Vincent|Vincent]], from ''[[Lost (TV
 
series)|Lost]]'', played by the famous dog [[Madison
 
(dog)|Madison]]
* Zanjeer, a police sniffer dog who detected
 
[[Weapon|arms]] and ammunition used in [[1993]] [[Mumbai]]
 
(Bombay) serial explosions. Zanjeer was born on [[January
 
7]], [[1992]], and was inducted into the Bomb Detection and
 
Disposal Squad on [[December 29]], [[1992]]. He was trained
 
at the Dog Training Centre of the Criminal Investigation
 
Department in [[Pune]]. During his service, his haul was
 
excellent. He helped recover 57 country-made bombs, 175
 
[[Gasoline|petrol]] bombs, 11 military bombs, 242 [[Hand
 
grenade|grenades]] and 600 [[detonator]]s. His biggest
 
contribution to the police force and the city was the
 
detection of 3,329 [[kilogram|kg]] of [[RDX]]. He also
 
helped detect 18 [[Type 56 Assault Rifle|AK-56]] rifles and
 
five 9mm [[pistol]]s. He died at a [[Veterinary
 
medicine|veterinary]] [[hospital]] in [[Parel]].
* Zeke the Wonder Dog (1&2), mascot and frisbee fanatic for
 
the [[Michigan State Spartans]]


===Lab nose and skin pigmentation: Dudleys===


==References==
==References==
<references />
{{reflist}}[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
 
; Other sources:
* {{cite book
| last = Cunliffe
| first = Juliette
| year = 2004
| title = The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds
| publisher = Parragon Publishing
| id = ISBN 0-7525-8276-3
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Fergus
| first = Charles
| title = Gun Dog Breeds, a Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers,
 
and Pointing Dogs
| location = [[Guilford, CT]]
| publisher = Lyons Press
| year = 2002
| id = ISBN 1-58574-618-5
}}
 
==External links==
{{commons}}
;Clubs, associations, and societies
* [http://www.thelabradorretrieverclub.com The Labrador
 
retriever Club (UK)]
*[http://www.thelabradorclub.com/ The Labrador Retriever
 
Club, Inc. (USA)]
*[http://www.nrcc-canada.com/ National Retriever Club of
 
Canada]
*[http://www.labrador-canada.com/ Labrador Retriever Club
 
of Canada]
*[http://www.retriiverid.ee/ Estonian Retrievers Society]
*[http://www.asociacionlabradorretriever.com/ Spanish
 
Labradors Society]
 
;Information
*[http://www.labradornet.com ''labradornet.com'', a
 
comprehensive lab site]
:*[http://www.labradornet.com/labstats.html Labrador
 
statistics, from labradornet.com]
*[http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/english-american.html
 
Website showing differences between working Labs and show
 
Labs]
:* [http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/articles.html Woodhaven
 
Labrador reference page - index of comprehensive articles
 
on every aspect of Labs and dogs in general]
*[http://www.labradornet.com/typecast.html Comparative
 
images of common different labrador bloodlines]
*[http://www.infos247.com/labrador/ Comprehensive
 
information about labradors and breeding]
 
 
;'Silver' labs
*[http://www.thelabradorclub.com/library/silver.html The
 
Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. statement on "silver"
 
labradors]
*[http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/labradorakcsilver.htm AKC
 
statement on "silver" labradors]
*[http://www.labbies.com/silver.htm Silver Labradors - Real
 
or Myth? (Detailed discussion and information)]
*[http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/silverlabs.html The Truth
 
Behind Silver Labradors (by Sharon A. Wagner, MS)]

Latest revision as of 12:00, 9 September 2024

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Noted for their friendly, non-aggressive nature, Labrador retrievers generally make excellent family pets, if their need for exercise and companionship is met. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick

The Labrador retriever is the most popular registered breed of dog in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America, two of the most "dog-friendly" cultures in the world. What about this breed is likely to account for such outstanding popularity? Labradors are generally both exceptionally friendly, and eager to please, making them excellent companions for children, as well as adults. Their intelligence and size also makes them suitable service animals.

The British style of Labradors are stockier and have broader heads than the American or field style.

Having been bred first to help Newfoundland fishermen haul in their fishing nets and then in Great Britain as 'gun dogs' for hunting waterfowl, Labs are powerful swimmers who love the water. As much as most Labs take to swimming, life on dry land also suits them - as long as there is an opportunity for some exercise. Their ability to adapt to both city and country life is one more factor that accounts for their popularity (ref:SPORTING GROUP: Labrador RetrieversFaith Hyndman. AKC Gazette. New York: Jul 2006. Vol. 123, Iss. 7; p. 51)

History

It is thought to have descended over time from the St. John's Water Dog (no longer in existence), a crossbreed of native water dogs and the Newfoundland dog (to which the Labrador is closely related), through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers in the 17th century.[1]

Labrador retriever returns with her quarry at a hunting test. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick

Breed standards

Common characteristics round the world

Their coats are short and smooth, and they possess a thick, powerful tail that superficially resembles the tail of an otter. The "otter tail" of the Lab is used in swimming and is a characteristic that is specifically selected for in breeding. Other characteristics that are helpful for water retrieving are the dog's water resistant coat and webbed toes.

The otter-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador retriever make them excellent swimmers. Their interwoven coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more assistance for swimming. The dogs use their tail as rudders to help them steer while swimming. Their short hair allows them to work in icy waters, where longer-hair retrievers would be dragged down by ice clinging to their coats.

Color

These puppies from two separate litters include all recognized color variations of Labradors, including the "fox red" variety of yellow. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick

There are three officially recognised Lab colors:[2] black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to gold to fox-red), and chocolate (medium to dark brown). Puppies of all colors may occur in the same litter. The nose of a black or yellow Lab should be black and a chocolate's should be brown, although some fading to pink is permitted. Pink noses without pigmentation is a disqualification.

Variation in type by country, and, within countries, by club

Show dogs (conformation shows)

Field dogs (sporting clubs)

Temperament

The extremely social Lab craves the companionship of humans and other dogs. This drive generally makes them friendly and non-aggressive to strangers.

Working labs

Guide dogs for the Blind

Therapy dogs (other)

"Sniffers" for customs and police work

Health and wellbeing

Labrador life expectancy is generally 12 to 13 years[3], and it generally is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to health and wellbeing include:

Lab nose and skin pigmentation: Dudleys

References

  1. ↑ http://www.heritage.nf.ca/society/settlement.html
  2. ↑ The American Kennel Club, Labrador Retriever Breed Standard: "The Labrador Retriever coat colors are black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest, called a star, is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling. Black:-Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow:-Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate:-Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification."
  3. ↑ Fogle, Bruce, DVM (2000). The New Encyclopedia of the Dog. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7894-6130-7.
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