Labrador Retriever - breed description and dog character

Despite the fact that dogs of the Labrador Retriever breed are not service animals, but rather perform the function of companions, the benefit from them is quite large. But this species has some drawbacks - this dog is not intended to be a guard, because it is not an aggressive representative at all. The only thing she can do is to notify her master of the potential danger with her own bark.

To understand what the character of this dog is, you just need to look into his eyes. In these lovely eyes there is not a single gram of aggression. Labradors retriever are kind and trusting, and also love not only their owners, but the whole world. They are convinced that the world is inclined towards them as well. Therefore, so that the dog remains as cheerful, do not undermine his faith.

History of breed origin

The presented breed of dogs is the most popular of all species around the world. Researchers claim that the origin of the Labrador Retiver has more than one version. Therefore, it is impossible to say unequivocally how and where this breed originated. The only thing known about these dogs is that their ancestors lived on Newfoundland, although their name came from the Labrador Peninsula.

Other researchers of the breed refute the version with the name of the peninsula, arguing that the name of the species came from the black stone of Labrodite, because before the Labradors were black in color. The following researchers associate the name of the breed with the characteristics of the animal. The word Labrador translates as "hard worker." Retrievers are quite active on their own, as well as functional, so this version may well exist.

Newfoundland dogs are the progenitors of modern Labradors. And already in 1593 the first mention of them appeared. These were unusual animals at that time, which were not like any kind of dog. These cute animals conquered the hearts of many, and also surprised with their working abilities, because they served man not only on land but also in the sea.

It is believed that the first dogs of the breed Labrador Retriever sailed to England from Newfoundland. A lot of researchers agree on this. But then opinions are divided. Some researchers resort to the opinion that fully formed animals arrived on the island, and the British simply bred them, without making any adjustments to their appearance. And this version has evidence in the form of archaeological finds of the remains of dogs, presumably of this breed, which were at least 4 thousand years old.

Other researchers believed that the British received only the ancestors of this breed, on which breeders actively worked. Therefore, there is a version that in the blood of modern Labradors of retriever blood flows from the breed of black hounds along with the pointers.

Dr. Woods is a Canadian Labrador breeder and follower of the first version of their origin. On the island of Newfoundland, two types of dogs were distinguished - Big and Small Newfoundland. Large representatives were quite large in size, with a loose body and elongated fur. And these animals are considered the ancestors of the Newfoundland dog breed. Small representatives are attributed to the descendants of modern Labrador retriever because of their similarity in external characteristics.

Initially, the British were interested in the ancestors of shaggy Newfoundlands. But fashion soon changed, and residents began to give preference to black dogs with smooth hair, which are the ancestors of modern Labradors. These animals were used as hunters.To do this, they are crossed with hunting dogs like retrerers and setters. Which served as the modern name of the breed. The retriever is translated from English as “seek and bring game”. If you believe the documents, then in the blood of modern labradors there are no other bloods other than those listed.

Over time, interest in these dogs increased, and 1830-40- years are considered the peak of their popularity. And in 1870, a Birmingham exhibition was held, in which the current Labradors retriever took part.

After some time, in 1885 quarantine was introduced, and people could no longer import dogs into the territory of England. But this did not affect the popularity of this breed. Private kennels began to be opened there, because these dogs became a real cult among hunting animals. Competitions were held among Labradors to demonstrate their hunting skills. In addition, these dogs began to conduct a pedigree. And soon Labradors retriever became serious competitors for other hunting dogs like pointers and setters.

All this work has led to the fact that in 1903 the Labrador Retriever was recognized as a separate type of dog. But after that, the popularity of these animals not only did not subside, but more and more gained momentum. Therefore, the years 1910-20 are called the "golden age" of this breed.

The number of nurseries is constantly growing, and Labradors are gaining popularity not only among hunting breeds, but also as representatives for exhibitions and excellent companions for humans. And it was at this time that the fashion for yellow came in. People also show an interest in chocolate-colored labradors, but black and yellow still remain leaders.

Back in 1916, the first club of admirers of these dogs was opened. And 9 years later they created a club of dog lovers with a yellow color. Every year, the number of small Labradors increased. And soon there were not hundreds, but thousands. But popularity was not the only thing in England. Labrador fame spread across many countries. And even today, retrievers are winning the hearts of many dog ​​lovers.

Labrador Retriever breed standards

Updated standards for this type of dog were introduced in 1999. In appearance, the Labradors look very powerful and strong. It is well built, it has a fairly wide chest and head with strong limbs and a proportional body.

1. Their height reaches 56-57 cm in the male, and the growth of the females differs very slightly, compared with the males it is the least by a couple of centimeters. But even some deviations in the height of the animal from the norm is not a strong drawback.
2. Labrador’s skull is quite wide, but it does not look rude. Despite the fact that the head is powerful, it is not at all fat and has an expressive transition from the muzzle to the forehead.
3. Eyes - this is the most expressive part, which will tell everything about the nature of this dog. His eyes are very kind and smart. And their color can be brown and hazel.
4. Ears are widely set, but not very large, mobile in length. After all, through them they convey their mood.
5. The neck connecting the body to the body also looks powerful.
6. The chest, as already mentioned, looks wide, but it is not barrel-shaped.
7. The length of the tail is medium, the base is thick, and by the end it becomes thinner.
8. Its coat is quite hard, because of this it is compared with the tail of an otter.
9. The front legs are straight and look strong, and the hind legs with well-developed muscles. The lower part of the paw with expressive pads.
10. The hair of the animal is quite dense and stiff, with a very thick undercoat that does not allow moisture to pass through.
11. The coat color is pure black, chocolate, and also cream, cream-red. This color should be uniform.

These dogs molt, like all breeds, but care is minimal, as their molting is not strong.

Labradors retriever live for at least 12-13 years.

Animal character

A true purebred labrador is a pretty good-natured dog that creates a positive atmosphere around him. He is very cheerful and active, and also loves to play with his master. This is a great family friend who creates happiness, calmness and comfort around him. Therefore, many countries associate this dog with a family symbol. And young families who have just begun to live together give birth to this good-natured dog.

The Labrador is not a dog that will wait for the owner to play with him. He is so active that he can independently find entertainment. But, nevertheless, the labrador does not tolerate loneliness quite well, so you should not leave him alone for a long time, because he will be homesick.

This is not a dog breed that zealously defends its borders and aggressively responds to an invasion of its territory. Retrievers on the contrary - they love everyone very much and are ready to let anyone into their space who would play with him. They are friends not only with adults, children, but also with other dogs and even cats. The only species the Labrador is unlikely to make friends with is birds. The hunting instincts of the animal can prevail over the desire to be friends and communicate. Although there are such examples when a dog gets along pretty well with feathered representatives.

Labradors are very smart and smart. Therefore, training and training will not be difficult for the owner of the dog. Moreover, they will be very happy to engage in, and strive to please their master in everything. The only thing that can ruin the training is the excessive playfulness of dogs, because of this they are often distracted. This applies to adolescent dogs, but this adolescent playfulness can last up to three years. Saying goodbye to puppy habits is not in their interests, therefore even being respectable animals and being moms and dads, they remain all the same big puppies.

Animal care

Caring for a Labrador Retriever requires a special approach. They need simple procedures, like other dogs, but with some nuances.

1. First of all, pay attention to the dog's ears. So that they do not have an inflammatory process, it is worth periodically cleaning them, eliminating dirt and dust. It is also worth conducting an inspection to make sure there are no parasites that can easily get there.
2. Next comes a thick coat with a dense undercoat. Their hair can self-clean, so you should not bathe a dog without special need. In order to eliminate the fallen off hairs, it is necessary to comb the labrador once a week and 2-3 times / week in the spring, when molting occurs. If you perform such a simple procedure, the Labrador will look pretty well-groomed.
3. Undoubtedly, the main component in the care of the retriever is its nutrition. It is worth noting that nutrition plays a significant role in the development of all dog breeds, but the Labrador has such a feature as being overweight. To avoid this, you need to properly feed him, and do not give those products that adversely affect his weight.

A pet can be fed with both finished food and natural products, but the fact is that there, and there you need to calculate the norm. If you choose natural nutrition, do not give preference only to cereals, it is best if the Labrador eats meat with vegetables. And remember - you should not give him pasta, because they will contribute to the rapid gain of excess weight.

To correctly calculate the portions, it is necessary to weigh the dog, and take into account its weight when forming the diet. If the dog looks skinny, but the food is normal, it is necessary to give a cure for parasites, because often this is the reason for losing weight. But and if there is no busting with food, but the Labrador is gaining weight, it means that it is worth increasing physical activity.

Another feature of caring for a pet of this breed is the provision of physical activity. Walking with a Labrador, leading him on a leash, is not considered to be great physical activity for him. It is necessary to provide the dog with the opportunity to run and jump in the park. They are very fond of spending time in nature, so when going out for a picnic, you should not leave the retriever at home. He will run and play, and if there is still a pond nearby, then his happiness will have no limit. These dogs are very fond of swimming and bringing things thrown into the river.

Training

These dogs are very capable, and if actively involved, they will show all their abilities. But, despite their quick wits, they occupy only 7th place in the ranking of dogs in terms of intelligence and quick wits. These wonderful animals have many positive features that can be revealed with proper training. And also, in addition to standard commands, a Labrador can master more complex ones. Such as, for example, picking truffle mushrooms for speed. And these are not just jokes, because in France they hold similar competitions in which Labradors take part.

Retriever can be trained to turn on and off the light, open and close doors, as well as the ability to bring the necessary thing. But besides this, these dogs can serve as nurses, as well as lifeguards in the mountains. They will be a great friend and companion for children who are deprived of the opportunity to actively move.

You can also awaken the hunting instinct in this dog. Labradors are not used now as hunting dogs, but, as is already known, it was previously used to bring the shot game to the owner. Before the hunter shoots the bird, the Labrador sits next to him. Well, when the bird begins to fall, the retriever runs to her, carefully takes it and carries it to the owner. For him it will not be an obstacle if the game fell into the water.

Remember! When training, in no case can you train an animal with the help of punishments, because a good labrador can be offended and even get depressed. Therefore, it is better to choose a reward system.

How to choose and where to buy a puppy

The reason people buy thoroughbred animals through bulletin boards is of course the cost. If you compare prices in nurseries, then buying on hand is much cheaper. But once again we repeat: no one can guarantee that the puppy bought is a Labrador.

When buying a puppy in the kennel, a contract is drawn up, which is a guarantee that the puppy belongs to this breed. And even if he is not a champion, the representative is still healthy and well-groomed, and is a purebred Labrador retriever.

In addition to the kennels, you can travel to the Labrador’s exhibitions, where you can find out where and how to get a puppy.

Labrador Retriever puppy cost

If you give preference to a kennel, then there a puppy with documents can cost the future owner from 20 to 40 thousand rubles. In the absence of documents, you can buy a puppy for 8-10 thousand.

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