Northern Interior Lab Rescue

Before you head out and adopt that sweet little puppy, it's important that you get your Labrador Retriever information & facts straight. To start, it's good to know that the Labrador Retriever - or "labs" as they are commonly known - is the most popularly owned dog in the United States and Canada.

There are several coat colors that you should know in your Labrador Retriever information & facts. These are black (known as Black Labs), Yellow (known as Yellow Labs), and brown (known as Chocolate Labs). The black and chocolate colors typically only occur in one shade each, however the yellow color can range from a nearly white color to what is known as fox red.

The historical side of Labrador Retriever information and facts is that they had initially been bred as hunting and fishing dogs. For this reason, they are designed to be excellent swimmers. Not only are they naturally skilled at swimming, but they also love doing it. They have webbed toes to give them an advantage in the water, and their coats are quite water resistant and are designed to help them stay warm when wet. Labradors were brought to Newfoundland, Canada in the 1800’s by English ships from Labrador. They were once known as St John’s Dogs and belonged to every fishing crew. Fishermen who had the dogs jump into the icy water and drag their nets of fish to shore were among the first people to use them as work dogs. Labradors also became indispensable as sled dogs, messengers, and general working dogs. The tradition of service still prevails and now Labradors are widely used as Seeing Eye Dogs and in various types of police work including narcotics detection.

Even better in terms of a family pet is the friendliness and lovingness of Labs. They are happiest when they are around people and are great with children. That being said, they are best behaved when they have received the right amount of exercise, which should include at least two half hour walks every day, done at a good pace (not a stroll).They make great companions but can become destructive if they are left alone for extended periods of time. These loving and friendly dogs are easy to care for as well. Their smooth, shorthaired, double coat should receive regular brushings with extra attention given to the undercoat. Dry shampoo or bathe these dogs only when necessary.

Added play time will also make things more pleasant around the house in terms of minimizing mischief.

They're fast learners and they are so eager to please that they rarely show stubbornness or resistance to obedience. Furthermore, they're rarely territorial (or at least overly so), destructive, or hyperactive. Don't tempt them in terms of chewing, though. They're still dogs and they need appropriate chew toys if you don't want them to satisfy their chewing needs on your furniture. They're a terrific all-around family member and companion and the obvious choice for many dog owners.

There are no specific feeding restrictions for these dogs but owners should be aware that overfeeding these dogs would cause them to become obese and lazy very quickly and easily. Some health concerns that Labradors are prone to include hip and elbow dysphasia and eye diseases like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

Male dogs are typically 22 to 24 inches (56-61 cm) tall and weigh 60 to 75 pounds (27-34 kg). Some males can grow as large as 100 pounds (45 kg) or more. Female dogs are typically 21 to 23 inches (53-58 cm) tall and weigh about 55 to 70 pounds (25-32 kg). The life expectancy for Labradors is approximately 10 to 12 years.

English Labradors, typically the "show" type, and American Labradors, typically the "working" or "field" types, differ in terms of physical build and mental disposition. Differences in the physical build are the result of specialized breeding. Dogs bred for hunting and field trial work are selected first for working ability, whereas dogs bred to compete for show championships are selected for the characteristics sought by judges in the show ring. English Labradors are medium sized, shorter.