| The Labrador Retriever is presently at the top of the | | | | them "wet to the skin" if bathing them. They are |
| list in popularity in the American Kennel Club. | | | | excellent swimmers and should have a good square |
| Unfortunately popularity in a dog breed often leads to | | | | appearance to the muzzle, with plenty of depth and |
| problems with over breeding and this often leads to an | | | | strength of jaw, for they should be capable of carrying |
| over population of the dog in the humane shelters | | | | a Canada goose back to shore when retrieving. The |
| across the country. This is the case right now with the | | | | North Atlantic seas are cold and fierce, the dog is well |
| Labrador Retriever. Often people do not recognize | | | | equipped to swim in such an environment, for it has a |
| that when they get a puppy, it is going to grow up. | | | | deep chest and plenty of power in the front shoulders. |
| Also people seem to believe that a hunting dog can be | | | | Labs can be black, yellow, or brown, (called |
| left outside and kenneled and yet not all hunting dogs | | | | "chocolate"). |
| make good "kennel dogs" and the Labrador Retriever | | | | A Lab is an all around hunting dog also and will retrieve |
| is one of those. This is a breed that is a close relative | | | | on both land and water. A well trained Lab at a hunting |
| of the Newfoundland, it is a people oriented dog with a | | | | trial is a totally awe inspiring sight, they will "mark" the |
| natural desire to be with people. When kept outdoors it | | | | dummy and swim over and through many obstacles |
| can become quite unmanageable since it will jump | | | | to retrieve "to hand" with great skill. Hunters who have |
| enthusiastically on people and bark at the sight of | | | | a well trained dog will often find that they end up with |
| people and generally make trouble out of boredom | | | | more birds than they actually shot, since the Lab will |
| and anxiety. | | | | bring back any bird that is downed. |
| The Labrador Retriever was originally called the | | | | The temperament of the Labrador is outgoing, steady, |
| "Lesser Newfoundland", being from the island of | | | | enthusiastic and extremely people oriented. This is a |
| Labrador (right next door to Newfoundland) and being | | | | dog that should never show aggression towards |
| black, but smaller than the Newfoundland dog. The dog | | | | people and seldom shows any aggression towards |
| performed a number of tasks for the fishermen of | | | | other dogs or animals in general. It is a breed that |
| Labrador, pulling in boats and fishing nets and a variety | | | | possesses great intelligence and a playful personality, |
| of water related activities. Labrador Retrievers can be | | | | its propensity to retrieve anything that is thrown for it |
| fairly good sized dogs, ranging in height from 23-26 | | | | makes it a delightful dog for children to play with. Lab |
| inches and in weight from 60-110 pounds. They should | | | | puppies are not hard headed and learn quickly, if |
| have plenty of bone but should not appear bulky. Labs | | | | trained when they are young. They are very obedient |
| are a water breed, they carry a water resistant | | | | for they are dogs that are anxious to please their |
| double coat that is dense and often it is difficult to get | | | | owners. |