Breed Description: The Labrador Retriever is the original water dog. Originally bred to assist fisherman in Newfoundland, these sturdy, muscular dogs are now respected worldwide for their contributions to the military, police work, as guide dogs and for performing search and rescue. They have exceptional patience and an easygoing temperament. This breed is intelligent, hardy and eager to please. A powerful swimmer, the Labrador Retriever makes a reliable hunting partner and a friendly house dog.
Group: Sporting Group
Purpose of Breed: Helping fishermen
Country of Origin: Newfoundland, Canada.
Average Size: Ranges from 21.5 inches to 24.5 inches and 55 to 80 pounds depending on sex.
Color(s): Black, yellow or chocolate.
Coat Type: Coats are short, straight and dense. Their coat is easily cared for with once a week grooming
Grooming: This breed is a moderate shedder. The easy to maintain coat should be brushed occasionally to remove dead hair. This breed requires standard care for eyes, pads and nails. Ears should be cleaned and examined regularly.
Exercise Needs: Labrador Retrievers are an active breed and need daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. They especially enjoy long walks, swimming and games involving retrieving.
Temperament: Labrador Retrievers are gentle and easygoing. They are intelligent, easy to train, and renowned for their patience with children. Labs are eager to please and very forgiving, so much so, that their good nature is sometimes taken for granted by thoughtless owners. This breed is courageous and hard working and adapts easily to new situations.
Common Ailments: Susceptible to skin allergies, epilepsy, eye diseases and hip dysplasia.
Life Expectancy: Averages 10-12 years
Trivia: To assist fishermen, Labrador Retrievers jumped overboard when boats neared land, gather the ends of fishing nets in their mouths and swam ashore where awaiting crew members could empty the catch.
More Information: Labrador Retriever Cub, Inc.
This is Bonnie. She's our chocolate lab. She's 3 years old and she honestly believes she is our child! She loves to ride in the truck and goes everywhere we go (she insists on it!) We moved up north last year and she loves to get out and romp in the snow.
This is Serena T. Dog (T. is for "The"). She's a one year old black lab that we rescued from the pound about six months ago. Serena likes to chase her ball and dig for moles. She came equipped with mange! If your dog has mange, don't go in for those special baths or dips that go for $40, they're smelly, messy and you have to repeat them 7 days later! We were able to get a special "flea" collar from the local vet that was treated for mange for about $17. No mess, no fussing, no bath! She just wore the collar for a couple months and bye-bye mange! By Tammy
Lucky was a dog that someone had evidently dumped out at the elementary school where I teach. Everyday she was there and the kids shared their lunches and played with her.
This is Sadie. She is my 5 month old yellow labrador retriever. I got her from a friend on Sept. 1st. She loves to SWIM and chase squirrels.
Master Baxter is 6 month old AKC registered Black Labrador Retriever. Baxter if from my 1st and only litter of puppies raised from my chocolate male and my black female labradors.
Kiki (Labrador Retriever) Photo. Kiki is my 18 month old Labrador Retriever.I got her from friends when she was a puppy.
Alvie (Labrador Retriever) Photo. This is Alvie, our Black Lab. We got him on a Friday and by Monday he was breaking out with little blisters on his face.
Lilly is eight years old in the picture. She was a Labrador Retriever. She was my step-dad's dog.
Zoee is a 4 year old Labrador Retriever. I got Zoee in NY in 2002. She likes to play with Tennis balls, and go to the Ocean swimming.
Chloe is almost 2 years old and is a Yellow Lab. Chloe is my daughter, Sara's, 16th birthday present.
Zoey is a 13 week old Black Lab. We got Zoey from a neighbor whose dog has puppies. We got her when she was 5 weeks old!
