The Labrador Retriever originated in the 1700’s in St. John’s Newfoundland, Canada. The Labrador Retriever was bred to aid fishermen in retrieving fish as well as a family companion dog. In 1820, an Englishman imported some Labrador Retrievers to England, after seeing how great they were at retrieving and in England hunters used them for retrieving their game. It is no surprise that the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed worldwide – they are highly intelligent, good with other dogs and pets and make wonderful family dogs because they are so friendly with people and children. Labradors are very high energy and require a lot of exercises and mental stimulation. A bored Labrador can easily become destructive and without enough exercise, can become obese very quickly. Labradors have a healthy appetite and are known to eat inedible objects and get into the garbage or “counter surf;” make sure to train your Labrador at an early age to avoid any of these potentially dangerous habits. Nowadays, Labradors are mainly used as family/companion dogs, but you can also see them as police dogs (drug and explosives), search and rescue and guide dogs. If you live an active lifestyle and are looking for a dog that can keep up with you and always brighten your day with a big puppy smile, then the Labrador Retriever may be the right breed for you!
Weight:
- Male: 65-80 lbs.
- Female: 55-70 lbs.
Height:
- Male: 22.5-24.5 in
- Female: 21.5-23.5 in
Features:
- Breed Group: Sporting
- Medium-large breed dog
- Wide head
- Kind, friendly eyes, brown or black
- Black or brown nose
- Naturally floppy ears
- Wide chest
- Dense, short weather resistant coat
- Coat colours include: yellow, black or chocolate
Expectations:
- Exercise requirements: High – daily exercise 40 minutes (walks 2-3 times daily)
- Lifespan: 10-12 years
- Energy Level: High
- Drool Level: Low
- Bark Level: Moderate
- Grooming needs: Moderate
- Shedding Level: Moderate
- Intelligence: High
- Child-Friendly: High
- Cat/ Dog-Friendly: High
Common Health Problems:
- Hypothyroidism
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Hip dysplasia
- Eye issues
- Hereditary Myopathy
- Epilepsy
- Heart Disease
Written by Kylie, CCR
