The Labrador Retriever - What You Need to Know About This Beautiful Breed

The gentle Labrador is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world. Whether you are looking for a good family dog or a devoted hunting companion, the Labrador has few equals. Friendly, intelligent and easy to train, these dogs have earned their place in the hearts of millions of dog lovers.

History

The Labrador is not really a very old breed of dog. They actually originated in Newfoundland, Canada, in the 19th century. The dogs originated as a cross between small local water dogs and Newfoundlands. This resulted in dogs that were called, at that time, St. John's Water Dogs. These dogs were great retrievers and they were noticed by the Earl of Malmesbury who imported some of them to Britain. Sadly, the dogs died out in their native Canada but the dogs in Britain and elsewhere were crossed with Setters, Spaniels and other Retrievers until the breed was developed to the lovely dog we know today.

Labradors were first recognised by the Kennel Club in Britain in 1903 and by the American Kennel Club in 1917. The Labrador enjoyed steady popularity throughout most of the 20th century and in the last two decades the Labrador's popularity has climbed steadily.

Talents and Qualities

Today, Labradors do much more than work as duck retrievers. They are well-known as service dogs and guide dogs for the blind. They have excelled as narcotics dogs and bomb-sniffing dogs, too. Labradors often make great dogs for any kind of work that requires specialised training due to their high intelligence, willingness to please and their good nose.

Labradors usually love the water, thanks to their water dog heritage. If you get a Labrador, take your dog to a lake or swimming pool. Your dog will likely be a natural-born swimmer and love water sports.

People appreciate the dog's intelligence, willing attitude and friendly nature, its ease of training and perhaps above all, compatibility with children and families.

The Family Pet

As pets, Labradors are easy to keep and care for. They have a short, dense coat that comes in one of three colors: black, chocolate or yellow. They are a double-coated breed and they shed heavily when seasons change. They require regular brushing to keep the shedding down. As mentioned, Labradors typically love children and they are very good with them. They make excellent family dogs but they can also adapt to being one-person dogs. They are very devoted and loving. Like other sporting dogs, they are generally gentle dogs and do not do well if you are harsh with them. They prefer living indoors with you and being with you all the time.

A Weighty Issue

They are typically known as "easy keepers" since they usually like food and tend to gain too much weight very easily. If you have a Labrador you will probably have to try to help her manage her weight and make sure she gets plenty of exercise.

If you have a Labrador or you plan to get one, consider yourself lucky. These dogs make one of the best pets in the dog world.

Mia Montagliani is the owner of two Manchester Terriers, Frodo and Ziggy. Mia is passionate about the welfare of animals and dogs. Mia is also committed to improving the relationship between owners and their dogs and helping dog owners train their dogs humanely, effectively and stress free. For more information, please visit http://www.YourDogNeedsYou.com. For regular updates, hints and tips become a fan of the "Your Dog Needs You" page in Facebook.

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The Facts About Labrador Health

Too many times we allowing our quick thinking to take over our typical thought processes and that is sad, as there really needs to be a lot more thought put into whether or not someone should bring a puppy into the home. Too many times, the purchase of a puppy is as impulsive as that candy bar in the check out line. And while there is so much to love about a puppy, a person considering a Labrador needs to really considered everything that is required to make sure that Labrador health is kept as an important priority.

There is a lot more to taking care of a dog besides just putting some dog food and water on the floor. Animals cost a lot of money when they are being cared for properly which means that a lot of dogs simply go without proper Labrador care because their owners were not prepared to handle the financial responsibility that comes with owning a dog. This means that the animal often ends up suffering in the end and even though the owner claims they care for the animal, caring for the dog properly shows true love.

As you begin to consider what all is involved financially when thinking of how to give proper Labrador health, it is a good idea to start making a list. First of all, when you bring home a new dog, whether the dog is older or a young pup, you must make sure that they are up to date on all of their shots. When talking about a puppy that will need all the shots, you are probably looking at a couple hundred dollars to get everything taken care of. And then you have to keep up on the shots throughout the life of the pet.

Then there is the responsibility of neutering or spaying the dog as proper Labrador care means that you are going to make sure that the dog is not going to get pregnant, unless you intend on becoming a breeder. Also, females have a better chance at not getting certain cancers if they are spayed so this is something that is highly recommended by vets. The basic amount for spaying or neutering is about one hundred and fifty dollars and that is just getting the surgery done with the basics covered with nothing optional.

And that all is just to get you started with proper Labrador health, as there is still so much more to it all. There is the daily up keep of the dog as you want to make sure that your pet is comfortable and has toys to play with to keep him or her happy. You also want to make sure that you are giving your pet the best Labrador diet in order to help avoid the pet from getting sick. You will want to make sure that you are giving your pet the best you can in terms of what he or she is eating.

Also, you need to be prepared for those unexpected vet expenses for it the pet gets sick or hurt in any way. Depending on what happens, you could be looking at anywhere from one hundred dollars to several hundred dollars and in some cases, a couple thousand dollars for a very bad illness. There are pet insurance companies out there that for a monthly rate of twenty or thirty dollars can help your pet be covered but keep in mind that they do not cover everything and most things are covered at a percentage.

Brooke Sunderland has spent years with this breed and has learned exactly what is and what is not best when it comes to proper Labrador health. Labrador health is so important yet it is the last thing someone generally mentions when taking about basic Labrador care. Giving your pup the best Labrador diet possible is a great way to get started in making sure that it is provided the best Labrador health.

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Black Labradors and What to Be Warned About

When trying to select which type or breed of dog is best for you and your family, it is important to really take some time and try to learn as much about the different breeds as possible. This will help make sure that you are picking the right breed for your family and for your lifestyle. After a lot of consideration, a lot of people find themselves wanting to look at Black Labradors, as out of all of the Labrador types this seems to be a popular choice.

As it is, this breed of dog is one of the most popular dogs being used by police and other types of government bodies. These dogs serve as wonderful detectives and have a high working ability and never give up easily. These dogs are not only great for work but also for families as they are very gentle, intelligent, and they have a wonderful good nature about them. But, this breed must be trained on the basics of housebreaking because if left undone, they can become very boisterous.

It is important to understand just what type of dog you will have on your hands once your Black Labrador is full grown because they are not puppies forever. This breed does grow into a pretty big dog with their weight normally coming in at sixty five to eighty pounds for the males and fifty five to seventy pounds for the females. These dogs can easily become over weight if proper diet and exercise is not given so make sure you do all you can to prevent that as there are serious health risks involved when there is obesity.

Their coat is smooth and short and they are prone to shedding so make sure that they are groomed on a regular basis. Their tail is pretty straight and is known to be somewhat on the strong side so you may want to watch small children around those tails. And it is those tails and coat that helps them with swimming as the tail acts like a rudder for when it wants to go in a different direction and the coat is almost waterproof.

When a family is considering Black Labradors as their possible choice for a pet, there are still more things to love about them then what has already been mentioned. This breed is an extremely gentle breed despite its size so they make a great addition to a home that has children. They are not territorial at all and they are hardly ever very aggressive. But they do like to chew so watch out for your things around the house because before you know it, it will be chewed up. Do not worry though, as proper training can fix the chewing habit in no time at all.

It does take about three years for Black Labradors to fully mature which means three years of puppy fun and training. But in the end, they are very mature and respectful dogs and the female is normally the gender that ends up being a little more independent versus the male. Also, this breed loves to eat and it often seems like they cannot get enough food but be careful, as they will eat nonstop if you let them. This can lead to a lot of health problems so watch out for this.

Black Labradors make excellent pets and this is why Brooke Sunderland strives to make sure that everyone knows what to expect from them. Out of the different Labrador types, it seems that a lot of people tend to want to pick a Black Labrador. When thinking of bringing a Black Labrador home, you want to make sure that you are reading up on as much Labrador information as possible.

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10 Amazing Facts About Labrador Retrievers

Labrador retrievers are amazing dogs! Most people know that they are smart, loyal, dedicated, playful and kind of big dogs. Less people are aware that they came from Canada and they were great helpers for the fishermen as they would haul the fishing nets off of the freezing waters. They are known for being great in the water since they have water proof hair and webbed feet. This is all fairly standard and available information about the Lab however; there are some much rarer facts that are pretty amazing about the Lab such as:

Labrador Retrievers enjoy holding objects in their mouths. They can carry an egg in their mouth without breaking it.
Labrador Retrievers do not generally jump fences or dig under the fence to escape.
The Labrador retriever usually has about seven to eight puppies in each litter.
The Labrador is also known as the St. Johns Dog, St. Johns Newfoundland, and Lesser Newfoundland.
Every Labrador retriever dreams about bananas.
There is no purebred dog called a Golden Lab. Your dog is either a Golden Retriever or a Labrador retriever.
Retrievers' pain tolerance is high -- more than that of many other dogs which makes them well-suited for police work, rescue work and hunting helpers.
Not only do Labs have webbed feet which are perfect for swimming BUT they are the ONLY dog breed that does have webbed feet.
There are two other colors of Labs; Silver and Charcoal. These two colors are not officially recognized by any kennel associations or by breed registers because experts have been unable to verify the source of these colorings and the pedigree of breeding.
The first recorded Yellow Lab was born in 1899 and named "Ben of Hyde". Ben of Hyde's line continues today and can be traced to many modern lines of Yellow lab.

As you can see there is so much to know and love about the Labrador retriever. This dog is one of a very rich history and potential owners should try to find out as much as possible about the Labrador retriever prior to buying one and calling it a house pet. There are numerous things that need to first be considered, especially such this as where you live, how much time that you have available, if you have or plan to have children, and if you can afford this kind of dog. There are vet bills to consider, as with all dogs but the Labrador retriever is a rather large dog so he can eat quite a bit too.

As for the fact about Labs dreaming about bananas, hey...that is what we are told!

Tim Williams is a labrador retriever enthusiast. He owns and maintains Labrador Retriever Answers, a resource for all labrador retriever lovers and where you can find more labrador retriever information and other great lab advice.

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Top Facts About the Black Labrador Dog

Originally from what is now Newfoundland, in Canada, the black Labrador dog is currently the most popular breed in the United States. These animals are friendly, attentive, and love making us happy. They are used as drug dogs, as part of search and rescue teams, as guide dogs, and even to detect shipments of counterfeit DVDs. These dogs have come a long way from where they started.

The first black Labrador dogs were used to work with fishermen. They pulled in the nets full of fish, and helped retrieve fish that had escaped from a net or a line. Later, these dogs worked as game retrievers, but their calm, gentle disposition makes them good for more than hunting. They are the ideal family or sport dog, and work well in active families. However, they do have a double coat, and will require regular grooming to keep their water resistant fur looking good.

An even temper and easy trainability make the black Labrador dog a popular pet for millions of people in the US. These dogs range from about fifty to about seventy-five pounds, with males getting as heavy as ninety pounds. They are strongly built and have a dense coat that makes them resistant to weather. Labs worked in the water even during the winter season, after all. The black lab has what's referred to as an "otter" tail, that improves its ability to swim, as well as furry webbed toes.

Chocolate and yellow labs are also popular pets, and have been around for a little less time than the black Labrador dog. The first labs were black, or black with some brown markings. Chocolate labs appeared from time to time in the late 19th century, and yellow labs a little later. But it took longer for these colors to be recognized by breed standards. The black Labrador dog is the basic labrador retriever.

Look for dogs that have friendly, outgoing temperaments, and are eager to please. They shouldn't be aggressive toward people or to other animals. A good black Labrador puppy will have parents with no known genetic defects, and will pass a vet checkup immediately after adoption. Choosing the right dog now can make a huge difference in the ease of keeping your pet later.

If you're adopting a dog from a breeder, be sure to talk to the breeder and ask a lot of questions. You're looking for a dog that comes from good stock and has been taken care of. Some breeders are just after the money that comes from cute purebred puppies, and don't do the work to make sure that the animals they're breeding are really of the appropriate quality. This can be bad for the breed in the long run, and could get you a pet that will have a lot of health problems later on. It pays to choose carefully.

Get the right black Labrador dog, and you've got a companion for life. These dogs need plenty of attention and exercise, and they shouldn't be neglected. But as a hunting companion, or as part of an active family, a black Labrador dog can be an amazing pet.

Tim Williams is a labrador retriever enthusiast. He owns and maintains Labrador Retriever Answers, a resource for all labrador retriever lovers and where you can find more great information on black labrador dogs and other essential lab advice.

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Knowing Why Black Labradors Bark and What To Do About It

Too much barking may be a huge dilemma with black labradors and may cause a whole lot of concern and anxiety for owners.

Before you stop the bark, you need to understand the reason why your pet is actually barking to begin with.

Dogs bark for numerous distinct reasons.

Protection. The moment dog and man first joined together, it had been the benefits of the dog's quick signal of caution that enabled him to be a useful companion. A number of pet dogs may bark at passersby as a way of guarding their area as well as the individuals that reside there.

Distress. Whenever a canine is unsettled in his surroundings, he may possibly bark to communicate his discomfort.

Boredom. A canine with nothing at all to enjoy will look simply for mischief. He may nip, he may go up on furniture, or he may bark. Many black labradors bark since they're bored to death. Always keeping your doggy engaged, entertained, and active will support with stopping barking for this reason.

Lack of undivided attention. Youngsters aren't the only ones out for your attention. When many canines aren't gaining the particular notice that they want, many figure out that lots of barking brings their people running.

With regard to canines that seek attention with their bark, it can be crucial never to respond to that interest. That suggests no reward, but additionally no shouting or screaming. Dogs do not understand that once you shout and holler that it's a bad situation. All they notice is that you just stopped whatever you were doing to be able to give consideration to him.

Normally, when trying to deal with a dog's habits you need to supply a lot of favorable reinforcement when your dog is performing behaviors that happen to be beneficial. In contrast, don't offer him what he's in search of when he chooses an undesirable behavior.

One approach would be to teach your puppy the command "speak". This will offer your pet dog restrictions to his barking habits and he'll understand to do it solely when you tell him to.

Using methods like electric training collars as well as unpleasant aerosols might seem efficient, however they may be harmful to your dog. In addition, these methods use negative reinforcement rather than rewarding good behavior.

Debarking is medical procedures to remove a puppy's vocal cords. It is an extremely intrusive process and is very debatable, as one might expect. Puppies are subjected to the risks of surgery, and immediately after the operation may still vocalize, however in a much more raspy voice. Pet dogs may well experience temperament adjustments too because of the shock and impact of getting their vocal cords taken out.

Barking is a very common behavior, and you will find plenty of tools at your disposal to use in labrador training to prevent barking from becoming a nuisance.

Learn more about the worlds' most popular dogs.

Visit the Black Labradors Blog at:

http://blacklabradors.org
http://blacklabradors.org/black-labradors/my-introduction-to-black-labradors

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Critical Health & Care Information About the Labrador Retriever

Care for Your Labrador Retriever - Feeding, Grooming, Exercise and Potential Health Issues

Also called Labrador or Lab for short, a Labrador Retriever is the most popular breed in the United States, United Kingdom and also Australia. They are the most popular as family pets, as assistance dogs and as detectives to assist policemen. Their almost insightful intelligence, sociability, keen sense of smell and trainability makes them the best candidate for drug and arms detection at airports and high security areas. The patience that this breed shows also makes them extremely good working dogs with people on wheel chairs or for pet therapy. A trained Labrador is one of the most dependable animals that there can be. They do not have any of the negative traits that some of the other breeds manifest and are free from territorial aggression, destructive nature, insecurity or pampered behavior.

Feeding and Grooming

The Labrador breed is the 'foodie' among dog breeds and they enjoy their food to the fullest. They eat almost anything that is placed before them - ice creams, biscuits, meat, cereal, dog treats and even scraps from the table. This tends to make them extremely susceptible to obesity and therefore a regulated diet is what you should limit the intake to. An overweight Labrador can become extremely lazy and slow. To regulate the quantity of food offered to your Labrador, it is important to note that a 60 pound Labrador requires about four and a half cups of food. The meal should have adequate levels of calcium, especially in the growing phase. This is important due to the heavy bone structure of this breed.

With average levels of shedding on normal days that gets heavier twice a year during the season, Labradors are easy to maintain. Brushing twice a week is required and you might need to use a soft bristle brush. This also activates the skin glands allowing for protective secretions. A bath is required only once a fortnight.

Exercise

Since the Labrador is a heavy eater, adequate exercise is a must for this breed. Swimming and retrieving are a Labradors favorite activities and playing fetch in a large park or the yard are good additional ways to exercise your Lab other than walks. This breed also enjoys the training process and therefore training should be base don rewarding more than punishment. It is important to understand that higher levels of exercise are required only once the dog is six months and older. Excessive exercising for young Lab pups can damage their bones.

Special care and health concerns

The life expectancy of a Lab is between 12 to 13 years.

- Hip or elbow dysplasia - Since the Labrador is a large breed, it is prone to hip or elbow joint dislocation and loosening. In this condition the dog feels uncomfortable while moving and can also experience pain and swelling. The severity of the pain depends on the level of movement, weight of the dog and extent of dislocation. Dysplasia can be treated with prescribed medicine and only in serious cases surgery is prescribed. Some Labradors can also suffer from luxating patella.

- Ear infections - All breeds that have floppy ears that are not cropped, ear infections can eb a major cause of trouble. This is because moist air gets trapped in the outer ear causing mites, fungus or bacterial infections. Prevention is better than cure and such instances can be avoided by cleaning the ear regularly with a cotton swab.

- Obesity - Since Labs are prone to overeating, they tend to gain excessive weight if the intake is not regulated. Obesity can increase the chances of dysplasia and also cause diabetes.

- Gastric troubles - Labradors are extremely prone to fall prey to upset stomachs, vomiting and loose stools from time to time. To maintain good gastric health, it is essential that only high quality commercial brands or home food be given to your pet.

- Swim tail - This is an extremely unique condition that Labradors may face, especially if your dog likes water. The tail basically becomes sore due to overuse and swells up and is akin to a 'tennis elbow'. The tail develops a slight crimp but adequate rest can solve this issue relatively easily.

- Eye conditions - Older Labradors can develop retinal atrophy, cataract, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia.

For more information about Labs including Labrador puppies for sale from reputable breeders please visit Pets4You

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