This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, October 2013 issue.
Despite the contradiction in name, the Labrador Retriever’s origins can be found in Canada. Early in the 19th century an Englishman, Lord Malmsbury, purchased several Labradors (Lesser Newfoundland or St. John’s Dogs as they were called) from Newfoundland. He was attracted to the dogs because of their highly developed retrieving instinct and their willingness to please, and he developed a breeding program to preserve those characteristics.
From this early beginning the dog developed into the Labrador of today—one that excels in a variety of uses beyond the hunting field. The adaptability and trainability of the breed finds it utilized in many dog guide and assistance programs, as well as excelling in substance detection or search and rescue work. And, of course, with proper training and socializing, Labrador Retrievers are wonderful family companions.
Because the Labrador is a dual-purpose dog, the breed soon attracted the attention of sportsmen in the United States and it came back to this continent in the early part of the 20th century. Today the Labrador Retriever is the breed with the largest number of annual AKC registrations in the United States, and it has held that position since 1992.
A Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-size, short-coupled dog possessing an athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog for long hours under difficult conditions. The most distinguishing characteristics of the Labrador Retriever are its short, dense weather-resistance coat; an “otter” tail; a clean-cut head with broad back skull and moderate stop; powerful jaws; and its “kind,” friendly eyes that express character, intelligence and good temperament.
Labrador Retriever coat colors, as recognized in the official AKC Standard for the breed are, “black, yellow and chocolate. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification.” A small white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling (a mixture of white or tan and black hairs). Blacks are all black. Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and under parts of the dog. Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate.
Ideal Labrador temperament can be described as friendly and outgoing, indulgent with its peers, strongly human-oriented and tractable.
If you plan on adding a Labrador Retriever puppy to your household, it is important to consider the needs of a young dog and to plan a program to address those requirements. Here is a list for review:
Crate training can be a significant milestone in a puppy’s early regimen. Your puppy can learn to accept a crate happily and the crate will become a mobile “home” so there will never be a problem about where to keep your dog when you travel. Finally, should your puppy require time at the veterinarian’s office because of an illness, it will not be stressed if it is placed in a crate during a hospital visit. In addition, the puppy will be much easier to house train if you confine it to a crate when you cannot observe it. Puppies do not want to soil their bed so the puppy will wait to relieve itself until you take it outside. There are many types of dog crates. They can be made of plastic, wood or wire. A collapsible wire version is often the crate of choice if it is to be used within the house or when traveling by car. The puppy cannot chew it, ventilation is good, and it allows viewing from all sides. You can partially cover a wire crate with a blanket if you want to provide your puppy with a “den-like” environment. Airlines may require a closed (plastic) crate if you ship your dog by air. Do not allow the crate to become a substitute for valuable time spent in play and socializing.
A key part of your responsibility as the owner of a Labrador Retriever is to make sure that your Labrador is not only trained, but also supervised. If left outside, your dog should be in a fenced yard or kennel run, not roaming the neighborhood. Loose dogs run the risk of being hit by a vehicle, causing an accident, annoying the neighbors or even being stolen. Your dog should always be on lead when walking with you unless you are hunting or training. In urban and suburban areas, the responsible owner never fails to curb and pick up after his dog.
Basic obedience training is an essential part of responsible dog ownership. It helps to establish a bond between you and your Labrador and makes him/her a welcome part of the family and in the neighborhood. In urban areas, there are obedience training clubs that offer classes where you and your dog can learn the fundamentals of basic obedience training. These classes can range in scope from puppy socializing to advanced training for obedience competition. If training classes are unavailable in your area, there are numerous books and videotapes that can be purchased on the subject and many are available through your local library. Early training and consistency are the keys to having a well-behaved dog. If you plan to hunt your Labrador, basic obedience training is essential.
Veterinarian care is an important part of your responsibility in providing for a Labrador. You should select a veterinarian and have your new puppy examined, and an immunization schedule set up. After the initial series of immunizations, your puppy should see the veterinarian on an annual basis for protection against regional health threats and early detection of debilitating disease. It is important to establish a relationship with a veterinarian in your area, so he or she can be contacted if an emergency arises. A good diet is essential for keeping your Labrador healthy and strong. Most commercial foods are well balanced and palatable.
Not all dogs need to be bred to live a happy and fulfilled life. Spayed bitches and neutered males do not exhibit extreme personality changes by removing their reproductive capability. They often live longer and healthy lives free from cancer, uterine infections and perianal tumors. While most Labradors should be surgically sterilized at some time during their lifespan, the sex hormones have been proven to have important health benefits. Early spay and/or neuter has been associated with an increase in size, an increased risk of some orthopedic diseases, bone cancer and some undesirable behavior. It is recommended that the timing of surgical sterilization involve a conversation regarding risk/benefits between the veterinarian and the owner of the dog.
Since its inception over 80 years ago, The Labrador Retriever Club, the AKC Parent Club for the Labrador Retriever, has been dedicated to preserving the integrity of the breed as a retriever gun dog that is equally at home as a hunting companion, at a dog show, or sleeping on a child’s bed. Given the breed’s popularity, it is remarkable the degree to which Labradors have retained their ability as working retrievers. That achievement is a measure of the health and vitality of the breed.
A Breed Standard for Labrador Retrievers was developed when the Club formed. It is an approved written description of the ideal Labrador—how it should move, look and act. Only Labrador Retrieves without known heredity defects or severe temperament flaws should be used as breeding stock. Because of the popularity of the Labrador Retriever, breeders have the added responsibility of maintaining healthy stock, free from hereditary defects and possessing the qualities that make this breed versatile and educating new puppy owners on proper care and training. Raising a litter of Labradors is a serious consideration and involves a significant financial investment, as well as extended time commitments.
The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. encourages everyone who is considering using their Labrador Retriever for breeding to radiograph the dogs’ hips and elbows (OFA) to have eye exams by an ACVO (veterinary ophthalmologist) specialist and to do genetic tests for EIC (exercise induced collapse) and CNM (Centronuclear myopathy) and for prcd (PRA). These tests can insure that the puppies produced will remain healthy companions for many years. The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. has funded many research projects through the AKC Canine Health Foundation and the Morris Animal Foundation to assure that these tests are available to owners and breeders of Labrador Retrievers.
The LRC, Inc. provides educational material for new owners as well as breeders and potential judges of the breed, and donates funds toward breed specific health issues.
For novices interested in training their dog for fieldwork, the LRC has an introductory program called a Working Certificate Test. A Working Certificate will be issued to any Labrador that passes the basic test requirements. The Club also sponsors a Conformation Certificate program whereby a dog is evaluated against the written Standard for the breed. Both these programs are open to Labradors of all ages, as well as spayed or neutered animals. It is also recommend that you have your dog pass a Canine Good Citizen Test sponsored by the American Kennel Club. A list of local Labrador Retriever clubs that support similar activities on a local level can be found on the Club’s website.
In addition, the Club sponsors a rotating National Specialty Event Week that includes a specialty conformation show, Obedience and Agility competitions, retrieving tests and educational seminars in October of each year. The LRC, Inc. also hosts two retriever hunting tests and two field trials annually, as well as publishing a quarterly Newsletter and an annual Yearbook.
