HISTORY
Labradors originated in Newfoundland, off the coast of Canada, and were taken to England on fishing boats in the early 19th century. In England they were bred and developed as a hunting dog, and used for retrieving game in rugged landscapes and icy waters. They were popular as a tough, strong dog with excellent scenting powers and a strong desire to please. Even today, the Labrador is the most popular breed with shooters, and Labradors also work as police dogs, customs dogs and guide dogs for the blind.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Mature Labradors are fairly large and heavy dogs, who may weigh 25-35kgs and stand 52- 57 cm tall. They are whole-coloured, and may be black, chocolate or yellow. "Yellow" ranges from cream through gold to a deep fox-red. A Labrador is a broad and strong dog, distinctive features are a kind expression, a dense waterproof coat and a thick "otter" tail.
TEMPERAMENT
The Labrador is an intelligent, active, fun-loving dog, eager to please and extremely sociable. They want to be everybody's friend, and are not "one-person dogs". They are good with children, and make good watch dogs, as they will bark at intruders with a big, deep bark.
HOUSING
A Labrador will need a large, draught proof kennel, raised several centimeters off the ground. In summer he/she will need plenty of shade.
ENVIRONMENT
In many suburbs now it is illegal to have a dog off-leash in a public place, and a Labrador will need some free running. A small backyard may not be suitable.
EXERCISE
Like all dogs, Labradors are happiest if kept fit. An adult will require a minimum of a half hour daily walks; pups will need overall periods of play.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Labrador is a sociable dog who really needs to be part of a family, a Labrador who spends all his/her time alone in a backyard may be miserable and get up to all sorts of mischief, or take to persistent barking which will annoy the neighbours. Labradors can easily be trained to be well-behaved indoors, however they can shed quite a lot of hair at certain times of the year, and some people are allergic to the fine hairs of the undercoat They can be exuberant and boisterous as youngsters, and difficult for the very young or elderly to manage. They can also be great diggers and chewers as puppies, and it is a good idea to fence off an area for the dog if you are attached to your garden. Labradors do have a tendency to put on weight, and their diet needs to be carefully restricted as they mature; obesity predisposes them to diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.
INHERITED DISEASES IN THE BREED
Like most large, heavy breeds, the Labrador has a problem with Hip Dysplasia (HD). "Dysplasia" means "abnormal growth"; HD is a developmental defect of the hip joint There are inherited and environmental causes. Selective breeding over the last thirty years has reduced the incidence, and the risk of HD can be minimised by breeding only from stock with good hips (on xray) and by avoidance of over exercising and over feeding growing pups.
Some sixteen inherited eye diseases have been documented world wide in the Labrador, but fortunately most of these are very rare. Conscientious breeders have their dogs' eyes tested annually by a veterinary ophthalmologist to detect any diseases in the earliest stages, and do not breed from affected animals.
A growing problem in the Labradors; as in many breeds, is OCD. (Osteochondrosis) In the Labrador. this usually occurs in the elbow joint, where it is called "Elbow Dysplasia". Like HD, it is a developmental joint defect, but at this stage is causes are unknown. It is thought to be linked to rapid growth, overweight, over supplementation of diet and trauma, and inherited factors may be involved. Some breeders have begun x-raying elbows of breeding stock.
LIFESPAN
12 - 15 years
