Originally a hard working gun dog used to spending its days hunting the Labrador retriever has an altogether different image today. Now, Labs are considered to be ideal family pets and if you want the perfect picture of doggie cuteness than a Labrador puppy will fit the bill. Labs are loyal and faithful companions for their owners.
Labrador retrievers are statistically one of the most popular dog breeds in the world with a huge proportion of dog owners having a lab at home. Its friendly, placid, bright, and bouncy good nature makes it a wonderfully delightful companion as well as being perfectly suited for other tasks outside the home such as police work.
Labs are also extensively used as assistance dogs for the blind and also the physically handicapped. They also excel in therapy work.
Remarkably strong swimmers, Labrador retrievers like nothing more than playing in water and they will happily plunge into the sea or a river given the opportunity. The physical make up of the Lab with its otter style tail and waterproof coat means they are really at home in the water and will happily join their owners for a dip in the pool.
Unsurprisingly Labs are great retrievers and their breeding as gun dogs has left them with the ability to carry even the most fragile of objects in their mouths without damaging it. My Lab often brings me my reading glasses without a problem and it is said that they can carry an egg in their mouths without breaking it. Though they are likely to eat the egg as they do have quite ferocious appetites!
Though they were bred as hunting dogs Labs do not have the inherent aggressiveness and poor temperaments of some other breeds and have very few, if any, negative traits in their nature.
The Labs playful nature makes them ideal playmates for children and will be more than a match for even the most energetic of children. They love to chase, and of course retrieve, and throwing a ball for them to run after will give Labs amused for hours. They also love being around humans and enjoying receiving as much as giving affection.
Because of their natural intelligence Labrador retrievers can be very successfully trained to perform even the most complicated of tasks though they can certainly be stubborn and mischievous when they want to be.
Labs are also very curious creatures and they will happily investigate any new surroundings with great glee. If something attracts their attention, particularly the scent of food, they will determinedly seek it out. Similarly they will happily trot after a person they havent met before simply to check them out.
The Labs natural wanderlust can sometimes result in them going AWOL and the careful Lab owner should ensure their contact details are on the dogs tags and, if possible, arrange for their Lab to be micro-chipped to make recovery easier.
Health wise Labs can be prone to being overweight. Their incredible appetites and ability to eat anything put before them means that their weight needs to be carefully monitored. Other health issues which can affect the breed most commonly include problems with hips and joints including the awful condition known as hip dysplasia.
Of course most Labs will live long and healthy lives with out any health issues and, as far as their owners are concerned, they really do make the ideal family pet.
Searching for the best guide to Labrador Retreivers – look no further than the Labrador Retriever Guide an online resource for all Labrador lovers including a full history of the Labrador Retriever
