The Labrador Retriever dates back to the 1800’s as a hunting dog, gun dog and retriever originating in Newfoundland. Labrador Retrievers are well-rounded and adaptable dogs that are eager to please and therefore easy to train. They require consistency in their training and excel with positive reinforcement over punishment.
Labs make treasured and devoted pets, trusted hunting companions, and do well both in the conformation and obedience trials. Labs love to eat, love to be with their people, are non aggressive, affectionate, playful, outgoing, and really enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and swimming.
This beautiful breed loves the entire household and doesn’t typically choose favorites. They are a very social breed and may suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long periods of time.
Besides their calm and gentle temperament Labradors are an easily groomed breed. They have a short, thick coat that can be easily maintained with regular brushing. They do shed their undercoat twice a year but that can be helped along by a groomer. Do not bath the lab often as they have natural skin and coat oils that are harmed with over bathing. A bath once or twice a year should be all your lab should ever need. Labradors are a larger breed with its males averaging 65 – 80 lbs and females are 55 – 70 lbs (although there are some out there that reach up to 100-120 lbs). Their heights range from 21.5” to 23.5” for females and 22-1/2 to 24-1/2 for boys (although there are some that are 19” all the way up to 27”). Their coat is short, straight, smooth and waterproof. Along with their signature temperament they have a straight, powerful, broad tail often coined as an otter tail.
There are three colors of Labradors; black (the standard and original color), chocolate (which ranges in the standard from a sedge color to dark chocolate), and yellow (which has a range from white/cream to fox red).
Labs are bred to be working dogs and are often found in search and rescue, cadaver canine groups, avalanche rescue, guide dogs, therapy dogs as well as show and hunting dogs.
Labrador Retrievers come in two styles the English (show) Lab and the American (field lab). They differ in build and in temperament. The English Lab is often shorter, stockier in appearance with large square heads, short, thick muzzle and the otter tail. Their disposition is often more laid back. The American Lab has longer legs, a lighter bone structure, and smaller head with a slimmer longer muzzle. They may have a higher energy level as these dogs are bred for hunting trialing and other working fields.
Today many breeders combine the slimmer American Lab with the Stockier English lab to get a smaller structure that is still stocky but not so barrel chested, but maintaining the laid back temperament.
Every dog breed has it’s own set of health issues. Before you decide on the breed for you and a vet you should have an idea of what they are. Early detection and preventive health care is always the best defence. Listed below are some health issues common in labs. Let’s hope that you don’t have to face these issues with your lab but it is good to be aware of them and their symptoms.
Skin Allergies Skin inflammation or allergy is a reaction to the skin’s direct contact with food, fleas, dust, or even pollen. There are several warning signs for skin allergies which may occur together or individually; itching, rubbing, excessive licking, odorous skin, tough skin, discoloured skin, and hair loss can all be symptoms of skin allergies.
Hip and Elbow Dysplasia
Dysplasia is the abnormal development and arthritis of the hip joint or elbow joint. It is diagnosed with an x-ray that shows the connecting joints misaligned. There are varying degrees of dysplasia affecting mainly younger large breed dogs such as Labs. Depending on the severity of the dysplasia your dog may show no signs or may be in pain, stiff, and lame.
Muscular Dystrophy:
This condition is a progressive degeneration of skeletal muscles. A blood test, electromyography and muscular biopsies can definitively identify muscular dystrophy. ARMD is not usually fatal.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
This disease causes progressive visual impairment leading to blindness from a group of light sensitive cell at the retina. The symptoms to watch for are night blindness, dilated pupils, a shining appearance to the eyes and hesitation to walk around.
EIC Exercise Induced Collapse
EIC is a genetic syndrome in which affected dogs show signs of muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and collapse when involved in strenuous activity. These dogs do not make good obedience and hunt trial dogs because they can only do moderate exercise (5 to 20 minutes of strenuous activity). Dogs Affected with EIC usually cannot continue with intense retriever training, but can live normal lives as house pets. EIC causes mild to severe collapse that can range from dragging of the hind legs to complete collapse. Field trial breeding seems to be more affected. EIC can occur in either sex, typically becomes apparent between 7 months and 2 years, there is no difference in their health. These dogs are often chosen for their athletically fit appearance.
Gastric Torsion - or Bloat (GDV):
Bloat is caused by a twisting of the stomach and thus trapping the stomach contents and gases resulting in a rapid swelling of the abdomen accompanied by pain and eventual death if untreated. It is a top priority emergency with immediate veterinarian action required. This is a predicament most common in large deep chested breeds. To prevent bloat in your dog try these methods; feed smaller meals 3 times throughout the day, try to avoid rapid gulping of water or food, avoid foods with citric acid as a preservative, do not use elevated dishes, and avoid food with fat in the 1st few ingredients and finally avoid exercising your dog right before or right after they eat. It is a good idea to keep Mylanta gas, gas-x or if you prefer a natural solution a ½ tsp of nutmeg or Nux Moschata 30.
Ear infections
Labs love the water and have deep ear canals so are very prone to ear infections. Labs’ ear should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Ear infections are caused by bacterial, yeast or mite infection, foreign objects, or hormonal changes. Ears become tender, ear flap may be red, ear may smell, and may seem excessively itchy.
1. You regularly clean out 50 tennis balls from under the couch and even more from the yard and the bushes.
2. You have plastic kiddy wading pool(s) in your backyard for the dog(s).
4. Every squeaky and fleece toy are missing their squeakers and stuffing.
5. You have learned how to plant your heels in the ground when walking your Labrador and he spots "prey" he wants to chase.
6. You buy a truck, jeep, van or some other SUV to take your lab and his parfinalia for frequent trips to water for a swim or a running field.
7. Your backyard looks similar to an archaeological dig, complete with
the dinosaur bones. Or like there was a snow storm in June from toy stuffing.
8. You wait to get dressed before going off for the day or you wear a long coat of some sort to stay clean from lab hair and drool.
10. Your yard is full of brightly colored toy and ball pieces and anything else that looked chewable. (Some recognizable some not)
11. You buy socks more often than the average person to replace
what your Lab has eaten.
12. You never have to mop your kitchen floor because your Labradors clean
up every spill and crumb before you can get to it.
13. Your car is covered with sheets or seat covers, fur, drool, and there is
often a distinct aroma of eau de wet lab that frebreeze can’t fix.
14. Your alarm clock is a firm nudge by a wet nose or incessant barking from a hungry lab that wants to eat and run and potty.
15. You have permanent bruises on your legs at exactly the height of
your lab's tail and you keep your coffee table clear or the lab tail will.
16. You put have a place for shoes, remotes, tools, cups, hats, gloves and
anything else small to hide them from the drooling lab mouth.
17. It is a cold January day, and you have the sunroof to your car open
so your Lab can stick his head out through the roof to catch the air!
18. At least one load of laundry a week is your lab's blankets, bedding, towels, and of course, all those muddy, drooled on toys he loves so much!
19. Your Christmas tree had an "ornament-free wag zone."
20. The living room window has nothing in front of it but your lab’s pillow so he can keep up on outdoor activities and comings and goings.
21. No matter how hard you try, you can't paint without fur included. No matter how much you sweep there is still fur. No matter how much you vacuum there is still fur. Finally no matter how much you delint there is STILL fur!