Meet The Breeds: Labrador

If you want a dog to be your best friend and be loyal, obedient, and playful, then Labradors are your best bet. These medium-large dogs are the most popular breed worldwide and are best known for their ability to help people with disabilities, such as autism or blindness.

They can be quite helpful in performing screening and therapy as well. They also provide their services in detection work for law enforcement. This breed was bred for being a helpful working dog breed and a friendly companion in the past. They are highly intelligent, muscular, and athletic, making them the perfect pet.

Labrador Dog breed information

Labradors originally belong to Newfoundland, an island in Canada. Named after Newfoundland’s capital city, were previously known as St. John’s dogs. They were bred to assist local fishers in multiple routine tasks, such as haul nets, retrieving fishes, and fetching ropes. Furthermore, they are fantastic family dogs due to their helpful, protective, and playful nature.

Here are the main fun facts about Labrador that you’d love to know!

• Breed Group: Sporting group
• Height: 56-57 cm for males, 54-56 cm for females (male Labs are usually taller than females)
• Weight: 29-36 kg for males, 25-32 kg for females (Similar to height, male labs are usually heavier than females).
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Coat: Double-Coat, thick and straight topcoat, and soft, resistant undercoat
• Color: Chocolate, Yellow, and Black
• Temperament: Kind, Gentle, Trusting, Outgoing, Intelligent, Agile, and Even-tempered.
• The difficulty level for first-time owners: Considering the difficulty level for the first-time owners (on a scale of 1-10 paws), Labrador Retrievers get 2/10 paws. The rating is based on the feedback of several Labrador owners. According to them, Labrador trainability is easy. They can easily train and adapt well to a new environment and be friends of family members and other pets quickly. Due to these qualities, Labradors are one of the best choices for people with no prior experience of keeping a pet dog.

Labrador Breed History:

Originally, Labradors belonged to the Island of Newfoundland, Canada. They were bred to serve as faithful companions and useful helpers to local fishers in the early 1700s. They were trained to spend the entire day working with their owners to help them retrieving fishes who had escaped from the hooks.

Labradors received popularity in the 1800s when they were first spotted with English nobles vising Canada. These earls and lords returned to England with fine specimens of “Labrador Retriever.” In the latter half of the 19^th century, British breeders refined and standardized the breed.

The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1903 and registered it in 1917. In 1991, Labradors became the most famous dog registered in the AKC (The American Kennel Club).

What are the types of Labrador?

Labradors are considered an incredibly faithful, intelligent, and friendly breed. They can be recognized easily by non-dog people. They were bred for sport, so they are athletic and quite strong physically. They are classified into two categories:

• English Labrador
• American Labrador

They are registered in three colors, i.e., chocolate, black, and yellow. Although silver labs also exist, they have not been identified as pure by the dog experts.

Are Labrador good pets?

Yes, absolutely. Labradors have an energetic personality who loves spending time working and playing with their owners. They are devoted to their families and value every member unconditionally. They love it when they get pats, hugs, and cuddles. They are incredibly gentle with children and friendly with other pet dogs. They are friendly even to strangers too.

Are Labrador high maintenance?

No. Labradors are relatively easy to maintain comparing to their fellow breeds. Pure-bred Labradors are usually low-maintenance, healthy, and fit dogs. Although they shed heavily, they can be groomed very easily.

Are Labrador HDB approved?

In Singapore, HDB stands for Housing & Development Board. Their work lies under the Ministry of National Development. The citizens of Singapore are only allowed to own dogs that are HDB approved, as HDB is only approving small dogs currently. Therefore, Labradors are not HDB approved in Singapore.

What health issues do Labrador face?

Generally, Labradors are a healthy and active breed. Nevertheless, they are prone to some diseases. It does not mean that every Labrador will be experiencing health issues at some points, but the risk is high for certain diseases. Researching about their health issues and taking necessary precautions accordingly will reduce the risk of potential diseases. The following are the primary health issues in Labradors:

• Labrador puppies can develop hip dysplasia, which can lead to Arthritis when they grow up. In hip dysplasia, the thigh bone of Labrador puppies does not fit properly into the hip joint. As a result, they experience extreme lameness, discomfort, and pain.

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): It is a family of eye diseases that a Lab might experience in any phase of its life. In this disease, the retina starts deteriorating gradually. It does not impact the vision, but the dog might lose sight entirely in some severe cases.

These illnesses can be cured if diagnosed early with proper treatment. It would be best if you took your Labrador to the vet as soon as you see or feel symptoms of either of these diseases.

Do Labrador Bark a lot?

Yes. A Labrador personality consists of a high tendency to bark. As they are highly energetic, they may bark to release the energy. Additionally, they may bark at strangers as a protective dog if they see anything unusual or suspicious. They warn their owners through constant loud barking.

Are Labrador aggressive?

No, Labradors are not aggressive. They are playful, friendly, patient, and gentle breeds. They are even gentle with children who don’t know how to handle a medium-large size dog. That’s why they make fantastic family dogs.

What are popular mix-breeds with Labrador?

Labradors have numerous mixed breeds. More than 30 dogs are a result of cross-breeding of Labradors with other breeds. Some of them are listed below:

• Aussiedor: Labrador/Australian Shepherd
• Bullador: Labrador/American Bulldog
• Labrakita: Labrador/Akita
• Labraheeler: Labrador/Australian Cattle Dog
• Borador: Labrador/Border Collie
• Beagador: Labrador/Beagle
• Bullmasador: Labrador/Bullmastiff
• Spanador: Labrador/Cocker Spaniel
• Corgidor: Labrador/Corgi
• Doberdor: Labrador/Doberman Pinscher

Are Labrador hypoallergenic?

No, Labs are not hypoallergenic. They are among the breeds that shed in two seasons. Labradors are famous across the families because of their loving nature and non-hypoallergenic coat. Although the problem is not in shedding, it’s the dander left in the skin due to not brushing regularly. So, regular brushing can make the dogs safe for people with dog allergies, even if the dog is hypoallergenic.

Conclusion

Labradors are a charming, kind, tractable, and outgoing breed. They are very protective for their families. Overall, they are considered an even-tempered breed who love spending time with their family, including children and other dogs. If you can look after their basic needs like food, grooming, and health, they will prove themselves to be the perfect pet for your family.