Breed profile: Labrador retriever

I never believed I’d own any type of type of Labrador retriever or lab mix. working at a kennel for seven years as well as taking care of all the hyper, untrained labs, I never desired one. Plus, it seemed like every other person had a lab as well as that made them tiring to me.

But when I searched numerous dogs’ profiles last year before I embraced my mutt, he was my finest match: Mellow, home trained, kennel trained, likes cats, would like to run, not a barker, neutered. That was about all I understood about Ace before I went as well as looked at him for the very first time.

Seriously, it’s difficult to discover an adult pet dog that is housebroken, kennel trained, likes cats as well as doesn’t bark however might likewise make a great long-distance running buddy. Ace was the only pet dog I discovered that satisfied my requirements out of hundreds. however there was one other thing: He is at least 50 percent lab!

My viewpoint on labs has changed. Labs were bred in Canada during the 1800s to be water retrievers, as well as they will sit in a boat for hours waiting patiently to retrieve a bird from chilly water. They are loyal, goofy as well as simple to train.

The issue with this breed is not that they are hyper, psychotic as well as untrainable. It’s just that there are so lots of of them that aren’t trained, as well as the untrained ones make the rest look bad.

When I see a well-trained lab using a service pet dog vest as well as assisting out its human, I comprehend the incredible abilities of this breed.

Labs are available in solid yellow, black or chocolate, as you can see in the three pictures supplied by Lora at It’s the Dogs’ Life. They evaluate between 55 as well as 80 pounds.

I question if I’ll ever own a purebred lab; they’re just as well typical for me. however I’ll most likely own one more lab mix in my life, as well as kid do I like my mutt!

Advantages to having a Labrador retriever:

1. Labs may be the happiest, friendliest breed there is. As a breed, they like all people as well as all dogs. The tail is always wagging.

2. They like the outdoors. Labs will make a excellent hunting or running buddy. however if you own a pool, be prepared to share it with your lab. These dogs like the water!

3. They are simple to train. They like to discover as well as are intelligent dogs. They do well in obedience, agility as well as as service dogs.

4. Labs can manage the cold. considering that they were bred to manage swimming in ice-cold water, their water resistant coats assist them tolerate snow as well as cold.

Assuming you don’t online in Fargo, N.D., you may even be able to keep your lab as an outside dog. Alghough, I don’t understand why you’d want to.

5. They are gentle around children. Labs are normally gentle, individual as well as tolerant around kids. This is why they make a excellent household pet.

Disadvantages to having a Labrador retriever:

1. They requirement training as well as exercise. A tired lab is a disaster.

Labs requirement at least an hour of exercise a day, in addition to mental challenges. The breed has a poor track record of being hyper, just since a lot of labs don’t get the exercise they need.

2. health and wellness problems typical in labs include hip as well as elbow dysplasia, obesity as well as patellar luxation, according to the Encyclopedia of pet dog Breeds by D. Caroline Coile.

In my own experience, I have likewise seen lots of labs with allergies as well as cronic ear infections, most likely since of the amount of time lots of of them spend in the water.

3. Labradors can quickly ended up being consumed with retrieving. It’s what they were bred to do, however it can get frustrating when they are regularly bringing you their slobbery tennis ball. They will likewise bring anything they discover in their mouths, including your shoes, clothes or anything else left in their reach.

4. Labs shed all the time. Their fur is not long, however the coat sheds quite much nonstop. They requirement brushing to eliminate the dead hair.

5. They are overbred. Labradors are one of the most prominent dogs in the United States, if not the most popular.

The issue with this is people are breeding them everywhere. If you look in the classifieds, you are likely to see lots of ads for labrador puppies for sale.

If you look on Petfinder, there are actually countless labs as well as lab mixes in requirement of homes. If you embrace a lab from a breeder, make sure you do your research study as well as understand what you are getting.

(All the lab pictures are from Lora’s lovely labs over at itsthedogslife.com)