Labrador Retriever - breed description and character of a dog

Despite the fact that dogs of the breed Labrador Retriever are not service animals, but rather act as companions, the benefits of them are 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 inform her master of the potential danger with her own barking.

To understand what the character of this dog, it is only necessary to look into his eyes. In these lovely eyes there is not a single gram of aggression. Labrador retrievers are kind and gullible, and also love not only their masters, but the whole world. They are convinced that the world is ready for them as well.Therefore, in order for the dog to remain just as cheerful, you should not undermine his faith.

The origin of the breed

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

Other researchers of the breed disprove the version with the name of the peninsula, claiming that the name of the species came from the black stone labrobit, because earlier 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 "worker". Retrievers are quite active in their own right, as well as efficient, so this version may well exist.

Newfoundland dogs are the progenitors of modern Labradors. And already in 1593 the first mentions about them appear. These were unusual animals at the time, which were not similar to any type of dog.These cute animals won the hearts of many, and also surprised by 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. This converges many opinions of researchers. But then opinions are divided. Some researchers have resorted to the opinion that already 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 from the remains of dogs, supposedly of this breed, which was at least 4 thousand years old.

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

Dr. Woods is a Canadian Labrador razvodchikom and supporter of the first version of their origin. On the island of Newfoundland identified two types of dogs - Large and Small Newfoundly. Large representatives were rather large in size, with a loose body and elongated fur. And these animals are considered the progenitors of the Newfoundling dog breed.Small representatives belong to the descendants of modern Labrador retrievers because of their similarity in appearance.

Initially, the British were interested in the ancestors of shaggy Newfoundlands. But soon the fashion changed, and residents began to give preference to black dogs with smooth hair, which are the progenitors of modern Labradors. These animals were used as hunters. To do this, they are crossed with hunting dogs like retrievers and setters. What 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 when in the blood of modern Labradors there is no other blood, besides those listed.

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

Some time later, in 1885, quarantine was introduced, and people could no longer bring dogs into the territory of England. But this did not affect the popularity of this breed. Private kennels were opened there, because these dogs became a real cult among game animals. Among labradors they organized competitions to demonstrate their hunting skills.In addition, these dogs began to lead a pedigree. And soon Labrador retrievers became serious competitors for other hunting dogs such as pointers and setters.

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

The number of nurseries is constantly increasing, and Labradors are gaining popularity not only among hunting breeds, but also as representatives for exhibitions and excellent companions for humans. And it was precisely at this time that the fashion for yellow color entered. People also wake up interest in chocolate-colored Labradors, but the leaders still remain black with yellow.

In 1916, the first club of admirers of these dogs was opened. And after 9 years, 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 the popularity of only in England, nothing happened. The fame of labradors spread throughout many countries.And even today, retrievers win the hearts of many dog ​​lovers.

Labrador Retriever Breed Standards

Updated standards of this type of dogs are presented in the 1999th year. In appearance, Labradors look very powerful and strong. He is well built, he has a rather wide chest and a head with strong limbs and a proportional body.

1. Their height reaches 56-57 cm in males, and the growth of females differs only slightly, compared with males, it is less than a couple of centimeters. But even some deviations in the height of the animal from the norm is not a strong drawback.
2. Labrador skull is quite wide, but it does not look rough. 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 all about the character of this dog. His eyes are very kind and intelligent. And their color can be brown and hazel.
4. The ears are set wide apart, but not too large in length, mobile. After all, through them they convey their mood.
5. The neck that connects the torso with 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 is thinned.
8. His 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 are well muscled. The lower part of the paw with expressive pads.
10. The fur of the animal is rather dense and tough, with a very thick undercoat that does not let moisture through.
11. The coat has a pure black color, chocolate, as well as cream, cream and red. This color should be uniform.

These dogs shed like all breeds, but care for them is minimal, since they do not have a strong shed.

Labrador retrievers live for at least 12-13 years.

Animal character

A real purebred Labrador is a rather good-natured dog who 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, peace and comfort around him. Therefore, many countries associate this dog with the symbol of the family.And young families who have just started living together give birth to this good-natured dog.

Labrador is not a dog who will expect the owner to play with him. He is so active that he can independently find entertainment. But, nevertheless, the loneliness of the Labrador suffers rather poorly, so you should not leave him alone for a long time, because he will be depressed.

This is not the kind of dog that jealously protects its borders and aggressively reacts to the invasion of its territory. Retrievers, on the contrary, 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 with which the Labrador is unlikely to make friends is birds. The animal's hunting instincts may prevail over the desire to be friends and socialize. Although there are such examples when the dog gets along quite well with feathered representatives.

Labradors are very smart and smart. Therefore, training and training is not difficult for the owner of the dog. Moreover, they will be very happy to do, and strive to please their master in everything.The only thing that can spoil the training is the excessive playfulness of the dogs, because of this they are often distracted. This applies to teenage dogs, but this teenage playfulness can last up to three years. It is not in their interests to say goodbye to puppy habits, therefore, being solid animals and being moms and dads, they are still just as 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. The priority is to pay attention to the ears of the dog. To prevent the inflammatory process from occurring in them, it is worthwhile to periodically clean 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 is a thick coat with a dense undercoat. Their wool can self-clean, so you should not needlessly bathe the dog. In order to eliminate fallen hairs, it is necessary to comb a Labrador once a week and 2-3 times / week in 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 food. It is worth noting that food plays a significant role in the development of all dog breeds, but the Labrador has such a feature as overweight. To avoid this, it must be properly fed, and not give those products that have a negative impact on its weight.

Pet can be fed both ready-made food, and natural products, but the fact is that there and there it is necessary to calculate the norm. If you choose a natural food, do not give preference only to cereals, it is best if the Labrador will eat meat with vegetables. And remember - do not give him pasta, because they will contribute to the rapid set of excess weight.

In order to properly calculate 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 remedy for parasites, because it is often the reason for losing weight. But if there is no busting with food, but a Labrador is gaining weight, then it is worth increasing physical exertion.

Another feature of pet care for this breed is to provide physical exertion. Walking with a Labrador, driving him on a leash, is not considered to be a great physical activity for him. It is necessary to provide the dog with an opportunity to run and jump in the park. They love to spend time in nature, therefore, going on a picnic, you should not leave the retriever at home. He will run and play, and if there is a reservoir next to him, then there will be no limit to his happiness. These dogs love to swim and bring things abandoned in the river.

Training

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

Retrievers can be trained to turn the lights on and off, open and close doors, and learn how to bring the necessary thing. But besides this, these dogs can perform the role of a nurse, 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 in the dog hunting instinct. Labradors are not used now as hunting dogs, but, as is already known, it was previously used to bring shot-down game to the owner. Before the hunter shoots a bird, a Labrador sits next to him. Well, when the bird begins to fall, the retriever runs toward it, gently takes it and carries it to its owner. For him will not be an obstacle if the game fell into the water.

Remember! When training in no case can not teach an animal with the help of punishments, because a good Labrador can be offended and even fall into depression. Therefore, it is better to choose a reward system.

How to choose and where to buy a puppy

The reason why people buy pedigreed animals through message boards is, of course, cost. If you compare prices in nurseries, then buying from hands is much cheaper. But once again we repeat: no one can give a guarantee that the puppy bought is a Labrador.

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

In addition to nurseries, you can travel to labrador exhibitions, where you can find out where and how best to get a puppy.

Labrador Retriever Puppy Cost

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

Video: Labrador dog breed