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LABRADOR RETRIEVER

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The Labrador is a very loyal, obedient and playful. It may also be trained as a guide or assistant dog. It is also used rescue or therapy work. The Labrador Retriever is a British breed, which was developed in the United Kingdom for fishing dogs which were imported from the colony of Newfoundland which is now the province of Canada. The name came from the Labrador region of that colony. Its common nick name is LAB.

HISTORY

Labrador Retriever has a great history. The Labrador breed was found when St. John’s water dog was bred by the European settlers in Newfoundland in 1830’s and these were bred with British hunting dogs to create what became known as the Labrador Retriever.

Earlier writers were confused the Labrador with the much larger Newfoundland and the lesser Newfoundland, with Charles St. John even referring to the lesser Newfoundland as the Newfoundland. Peter hawker describes the first Labrador Retriever as not large than the English Pointer. They were more often black than the other color. It has long head and nose with a deep chest and fine legs and short and smooth coat and was not having a long tail as Newfoundland was carrying. After that hawker in his fifth edition of his book “Introductions to young sportsman” which was published in 1846 he distinguished Newfoundland from both “Proper Labrador” and St. John’s breed of these dogs. 

The first photograph of the breed was taken in 1857 at the Earl of Home’s dog “NELL” which described both as the Labrador and a St. John’s water dog. After that the name Labrador Retriever became common in England. The first yellow Labrador on record was born in 1899 and the breed was recognized by the kennel club in 1903. The first American Kennel Club (AKC) that was registered in 1917. The Liver (now typically known as chocolate) was emerged in the late 1800s with the chocolate coloured pups documented at the Buccleuch Kennel in 1892. The first silver Labrador which was 18 months old puppy and was a bitch which was advertised in an English newspaper in 15, January 1904. This means silver Labrador was born in 1903. The original Kennel Club breed standard, which was in effect from 1916 until the 1950s that specifies that the Labrador should be black or any other whole color that indicates yellow and chocolate were not the only color. Also, many other articles proves the existence of silver Labrador in early 20th Century. Labrador breeder who don’t understand genetics mistakenly thought to originate in North American from cross-breeding with the Weimaraner in the second half of the 20th century. The first dog to appear on the cover of life magazine was a black Labrador Retriever called “Blind of Arden” in the December 1938 issue.

CHARACTERSTICS

As we have studied Labrador history we got to know that there is a great variety among Labradors. The following characteristics are based on the American Kennel club Standard that signifies difference between U.K and U.S.

STANDARDS TO BE NOTED:-

SIZE: - Labradors are medium-large breed. They should be as long from the withers to the base of the tail as they are from the floor to the withers. The AKC Standards includes an ideal weight for dogs 25-36KG {55-80lb} and for bitches its was 25-32KG {55-70lb}. The height may vary which tells the average height for dogs were 55-62 centimeters (21.5-24.5in) and for bitches it was 55-60centimeters (21.5-23.5in)

-HEAD: - The head should be broad with a slightly pronounced eyebrows. Eyes color should be brown or hazel. The eyes should be kind and expressive. The ears should hang close to the head and be set slightly above the eyes. The lining around the eyes should be black

JAWS: - The jaws should be strong and powerful. It should be medium length and should not be too tapered. The jaws should hang slightly and curve gracefully back.

-BODY:- The body should have a powerful and muscular build.

SOME FAMOUS LABRADORS

As we know that Labrador is such a popular dog breed and is very intelligent breed as well and we know these breeds are used as assistance dogs and used in police, military, rescue and for detection also. So, there are many proud moments for Labradors.

Endal got PDSA Gold Medal in 2001 saved a man in emergency by covering him with a blanket and retrieved his mobile phone beneath the car and then ran towards nearest hotel for help.

Zanjeer is a detection dog who detected arms and ammunition used in Mumbai in 1993 serial explosions. He helped to recover 57 country made bombs, 175 petrol bombs, 242 grenades and 600 detonators. He also helped to detect 18 “Type 56 rifles” and five 9mm pistols. -Sasha was awarded the Dickin Medal for conspicuous gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in military conflict. Located 15 improvised explosive devices, mortars, mines, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. In July 2008 Sasha and her handler were killed in a Taliban ambush by a rocket-propelled grenade.

How much does owning a Labrador cost?

According to petskart expert, the UK’s most popular classfieds website for various kinds of pets, the average cost for a Kennel Club registered Labrador is £780, with a non-registered Labrador costing an average of £597. This is just the purchase price of course, there are also ongoing costs. These include equipment such as collar, lead, toys, bedding and a dog guard or car harness. You should also budget for the cost of food, pet insurance and regular vaccinations, flea and worming treatments. There may also be additional costs, such as training classes.

When making the decision to own any kind of dog or puppy, it is important to give real consideration to whether or not they are suitable for your lifestyle. Labradors have an abundance of energy and require plenty of exercise, hence the frequently asked question, ‘At what age do Labradors calm down?’ If you have the time, space and energy for a large and lively breed and enjoy walking, then a Labrador may just be the dog to fit in with your lifestyle. However, it is natural to worry about what will happen if you have to leave your new best friend to go away on holiday, for work or for a non dog-friendly occasion such as a family wedding.

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