Labrador Retriever

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Noted for their friendly, non-agressive nature, Labrador retrievers generally make excellent family pets, if their need for exercise and companionship is met. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick

The Labrador retriever is the most popular registered breed of dog in both the United Kingdom and the United States, two of the most "dog-friendly" cultures in the world. What about this breed accounts for such popularity? Members of the retriever dog group, Labradors are generally both exceptionally friendly, and eager to please, making them excellent companions for both adults and children. Their intelligence and size also makes them suitable service animals. Having been bred first to help Newfoundland fishermen haul in their fishing nets and then in Great Britain as 'gun dogs for hunting waterfowl, Labs are powerful swimmers who love the water.


History

The Labrador is believed to have originated on the island of Newfoundland, now part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.[1] The breed is not indigenous to the Newfoundland area nor is there evidence they accompanied early Inuit settlers.[2] It is thought to have descended over time from the St. John's Water Dog (no longer in existence), a crossbreed of native water dogs and the Newfoundland dog (to which the Labrador is closely related), through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers in the mid to late 15th century.[1] The name Labrador was given to this dog by the Earl of Malmesbury and other breeders in England in order to differentiate them from the Newfoundland dog. The Labrador Retriever was originally called the lesser Newfoundland or the St. John's dog. Other origins suggested for the name include the Spanish or Portuguese word for rural/agricultural workers, Portuguese "lavradores" or Spanish "labradores", and the village of Castro Laboreiro in Portugal whose herding and guard dogs bear a "striking resemblance" to Labradors.[1] The original forebearers of the St. John's have variously been suggested to be crossbreeds of the black St. Hubert's hound from France, working water dogs from Portugal, old European pointer breeds and dogs belonging to the indigenous peoples of the area.[1] Two breeds emerged; the larger [[Newfoundland (dog)|Newfoundland]] used for hauling, and the smaller short-coat retrievers used for retrieval and pulling in nets from the water. The Lab is of the latter type.

Many fishermen originally used the Lab to assist in bringing nets to shore; the dog would grab the floating corks on the ends of the nets and pull them to shore. They were brought to the Poole area of England, then the hub of the Newfoundland fishing trade, and became prized amongst the gentry as sporting dogs.[1]

Lab timeline

Some of the landmarks in early Lab history include:

  • 1814 - The first known written reference to the Labrador, in "Instructions to Young Sportsmen".
  • 1823 - Sporting artist Edwin Landseer painted a black dog with white markings titled "Cora. A Labrador Bitch," by which time it appears the breed was already firmly established, with several of the nobility either

owning or breeding them by the end of that century.

  • 1870 - By this time, the name "Labrador Retriever" had become well established.[1]
  • 1887 - James Howard Harris, the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury wrote in a letter to the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, "We always call mine Labrador dogs and I have kept the breed as pure as I could from the first I had from Poole ... known by their having a close coat which turns the water off like oil and, above all, a tail like an otter." [1]
  • 1899 - Birth of the first Yellow Lab on record, named Ben of Hyde. Photographs of early Labradors, including 'Ben of Hyde', show slight changes to the breeds coat and appearance over the past 100 years.

The modern Labrador Retriever is among the oldest of the modern "recognized" breeds; according to the American Kennel Club, pedigrees exist back to 1878.

The Kennel Club recognized the Lab in 1903. The first registration of Labradors by the AKC was in 1917; many English dogs were imported post World War I and these formed the foundation of the American variety.

Other names

The Lab and its ancestors have also been known under the

following names:

St. John's Dog, Lesser St. John's Dog, Newfoundland Dog,

Lesser Newfoundland Dog, Little Newfoundlanders,

Newfoundland Water Dog, Labrador Dogs, St. John's Labrador

Dogs, Black Water Dog, Lesser Labrador, Smaller Labrador,

English Retriever, and English Labrador.[1]

Appearance

Overview of appearance

Labradors are moderately large dogs with males typically

weighing 27 to 36 kg (60 to 80 lb) and females 23 to 32 kg

(45 to 70 lb). Dogs bred for the show ring tend to

considerably heavier with broader heads.

Their coats are short and smooth, and they possess a thick,

powerful tail like that of an otter. The majority of

the characteristics of this breed with the exception of

color are the result of breeding to produce a

working retriever.

As with some other breeds, the English (typically "show")

and the American (typically "working" or "field") lines

differ. Labs are bred in England as a medium size dog,

shorter and stockier with broader faces and a slightly

calmer nature than their American counterparts, which are

bred as taller, lighter-built dogs. No distinction is made

by the AKC, but the two

classifications come from different breeding. Australian

stock also exists; though not seen in the west, they are

common in Asia. (See #Physical lines and variants)

The breed tends to shed hair

regularly throughout the year. Lab hair is usually fairly

short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong.

The otter-like tail and webbed toes of the Labrador

retriever make them excellent swimmers. Their interwoven

coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more

assistance for swimming. The dogs use their tail as rudders

to help them steer while swimming. Their short hair allows them to work in icy waters, where longer-hair retrievers would be dragged down by ice clinging to their coats.

Show standards

There is a great deal of variety among labs. These

characteristics are typical of the show-bred or

bench-bred lines of this breed in the United States.

  • Size: Labs are a medium-large but compact breed.

They should have an appearance of proportionality. They

should be as long from the shoulders back as they are from

the floor to the withers. Dogs should stand 22 1/2 to 24

1/2 inches (55.9 to 62 1/4cm) tall at the withers and

weigh 65 to 80 pounds (30 to 36 kg). Bitches should

stand 21 1/2 to 23 1/2 inches (54 1/2 to 60 cm)

and weigh 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 32 kg). (By

comparison under UK Kennel Club standards, height should be

22 to 22.5 inches (55.9 to 57.2 cm) for males, and

21.5 to 22 (54.6 to 55.9 cm) inches for females)

  • Coat: The lab's coat should be short and dense, but

not wiry. Acceptable colors are chocolate, black, and

yellow. There is much variance within yellow labs

  • Head: The head should be broad with a pronounced

stop and slightly pronounced brow. The eyes should be kind

and expressive. Appropriate eye colors are brown and hazel.

The lining around the eyes should be black. The ears should

hang close to the head and are set slightly above the eyes.

  • Jaws: The jaws should be strong and powerful. The

muzzle should be of medium length, and should not be too

tapered. The jowls should hang slightly and curve

gracefully back.

Color

These puppies from two separate litters include all recognized color variations of Labradors, including the "fox red" variety of yellow. Photo by Andrew A. Skolnick

There are three recognised colors for labs:[3] black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from light cream to gold to fox-red), and chocolate (medium to dark brown).

Puppies of all colors can potentially occur in the same litter. Color is determined primarily by two genes. The first gene (the B locus) determines the density of the coat's pigment granules: dense granules result in a black coat, sparse ones give a chocolate coat.

The second (E) locus determines whether the pigment is produced at all. A dog with the recessive e allele will produce little pigment and will be yellow regardless of its genotype at the B locus [4]. Variations in numerous other genes control the subtler details of the coat's coloration, which in yellow labs varies from white to light gold to a fox red. Yellow labs can have black or pink noses, and chocolate and black labs's noses will match the coat color. A color called 'silver' is sought by some owners; unusually light colored yellow and chocolate labs may be described this way, as well as a greyish brown similar to Weimaraners that is found in the United States. The color is not officially recognized by any breed or kennel clubs; the latter is a disqualification at shows.

Variant lines

Differences in the physical build of the dog have arisen as

a 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 [[champion

dog|championships]] are selected for what judges look for

in the show ring. There are significant differences between

field and trial-bred (sometimes referred to as "American")

and show-bred (or "English") lines of Labradors. In

general, show-bred labs are heavier, slightly

shorter-bodied, and have a thicker coat and tail. Field

labs are generally longer legged, lighter, and more lithe

in build. In the head, show labs tend to have broader

heads, better defined stops, and more powerful necks, while

field labs have lighter and slightly narrower heads with

longer muzzles.[5] [6] [7] Field-bred labs are commonly higher energy

and more high-strung compared to the show-bred lab, and as

a consequence may be more suited to working relationships

rather than being a "family pet." [5] [6] [7] Of

course, each individual dog differs. Some breeders,

especially those specializing in the field type, feel that

breed shows do not adequately recognize their type of dog.

Talk of officially splitting the breed is also sometimes

supported.[8]

Other colors

Lab nose and skin pigmentation

Labrador Retriever. The nose and lips are pink or

flesh-colored, the defining aspect of Dudley pigmentation,

as compared to the more standard brown or black.]] Because Lab coloration is controlled by multiple genes,

it is possible for recessive genes to emerge some

generations later and also there can sometimes be

unexpected pigmentation effects to different parts of

the body. Pigmentation effects appear in regard to yellow

labs, and sometimes chocolate, and hence the majority of

this section covers pigmentation within the yellow lab. The

most common places where pigmentation is visible are the

nose, lips, gums, feet, and the rims of the eyes, which may

be black, brown, light yellow-brown ("liver", caused by

having two genes for chocolate),[9] or several other colors. A lab

can carry genes for a different color, for example a black

lab can carry recessive chocolate and yellow genes, and a

yellow lab can carry recessive genes for the other two

colors. DNA testing can reveal some aspects of these.

Less common pigmentations (other than pink) are a fault,

not a disqualification, and hence such dogs are still

permitted to be shown.[9]

The intensity of black pigment on yellow labs is controlled

be a separate gene independent of the fur coloring.[9] Yellow labs usually have

black noses, which gradually turn pink with age (called

"snow nose" or "winter nose"). This is due to a reduction

in the enzyme tyrosinase which indirectly controls

the production of melanin, a dark coloring. Tyrosinase

is temperature dependent - hence light coloration can be

seasonal, due to cold weather - and is less produced with

increasing age (2 years old onwards). As a result, the nose

color of most yellow labs becomes a somewhat pink shade as

they grow older.[10] [9]

"Dudley"

A coloration known as "Dudley" is also

possible. Dudleys are variously defined as yellow labs

which are unpigmented (pink) (LRC), yellow with liver

pigmentation, or "flesh colored" (AKC), rather than having

black or brown pigmentation.[9] A yellow lab with brown or

chocolate pigmentation (for example, a brown/chocolate

nose), is not a Dudley. Breed standards for Labradors

considers a true Dudley to be a disqualifying feature for a

show lab ("Disqualification: A thoroughly pink nose or one

lacking in any pigment"). True Dudleys are extremely

rare.[9][11][12] (See:

Albinoism).

Breeding in order to correct pigmentation often lacks

dependability. Because color is determined by many genes,

some of which are recessive, crossbreeding a

pigmentationally non-standard yellow lab to a black lab may

not correct the matter or prevent future generations

carrying the same recessive genes. That said, pigmentation

is often not an issue with animal lovers for whom such

issues are often unimportant, and only has significance for

those involved with showing and breeding.


Temperament and activities

Good-tempered, very agile. Excellent nose, soft mouth;

keen love of water. Adaptable, devoted companion.

Intelligent, keen and biddable, with a strong will to

please. Kindly nature, with no trace of aggression or undue

shyness.

– UK Kennel Club standard

Labradors are a well-balanced and remarkably versatile

breed, adaptable to a wide range of functions as well as

making very good pets. As a rule they are not excessively

prone to territorialism, pining, insecurity, aggression,

destructiveness, hypersensitivity, or other difficult

traits which manifest in a variety of breeds, and as the

name suggests, they are excellent retrievers. As an

extension of this, they instinctively enjoy holding objects

and even hands or arms in their mouths, which they can do

with great gentleness. They are also known to have a very

soft 'feel' to the mouth, as a result of being bred to

retrieve game such as waterfowl. They are prone to chewing

objects (though they can easily be trained out of this

behavior). The Labrador Retriever's coat repels water to

some extent, thus facilitating the extensive use of the dog

in waterfowl hunting.

Labradors have a reputation as a very mellow breed and an

excellent family dog (including a good reputation with

children of all ages), but some lines (particularly those

that have continued to be bred specifically for their

skills at working in the field rather than for their

appearance) are particularly fast and athletic. Their

fun-loving boisterousness and lack of fear can result in

mischief, and may require training and firm handling at

times to ensure it does not get out of hand. Labradors

mature at around three years of age; before this time they

can have a significant degree of puppyish energy, often

mislabelled as being

hyperactive.[13] Labs often enjoy retrieving a ball

endlessly and other forms of activity (such as [[dog

agility]] or flyball), are considerably "food and fun"

oriented, very trainable, and open-minded to new things,

and thrive on human attention and interaction, of which

they find it difficult to get enough. Reflecting their

retrieving bloodlines, almost every Lab loves playing in

water or swimming.

Although they will sometimes bark at noise,

especially a degree of "alarm barking" when there is noise from unseen sources, labs

are not on the whole

noisy[14] or territorial,

and are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers,

and therefore are not very often used as [[guard

dog]]s.[15]

Labradors have a reputation for appetite, and

individuals have been described as willing to eat "anything

that isn't nailed down".Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag, and it is a healthy breed with

relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to

health and wellbeing include:

Medical conditions:

possibly other forms, such as elbow dysplasia),

especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some

other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before breeding.

  • Labs are sometimes prone to [[Otitis externa in

animals|ear infection]], because their floppy ears trap

warm moist air. This is easy to control, but needs regular

checking to ensure that a problem is not building up

unseen. A healthy Lab ear should look clean and light pink

(almost white) inside. Darker pink (or inflamed red), or

brownish deposits, are a symptom of ear infection. The

usual treatment is regular cleaning daily or twice daily

(being careful not to force dirt into the sensitive inner

ear) and sometimes medication (ear drops) for major cases.

As a preventative measure, some owners clip the hair

carefully around the ear and under the flap, to encourage

better air flow.

  • A Labrador that undertakes significant swimming without

building up can develop a swelling or apparent kink known

as swimtail. This can be easily treated by a veterinary

clinic and tail rest.

  • Labs also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A

luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee

where the leg is often bow shaped.

  • Eye problems are also possible in some labs, particularly

progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia.

Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a

veterinary

ophthalmologist.[16]

Weight:

  • Labs are often overfed and are allowed to become

overweight, due to their blatant enjoyment of treats,

hearty appetites, and endearing behavior towards people. A

healthy Lab should keep a very slight hourglass waist and

be fit and lithe, rather than fat or heavy-set. Excessive

weight is strongly implicated as a risk factor in the later

development of hip dysplasia and [[diabetes in cats and

dogs|diabetes]], and also can contribute to general reduced

health when older. Arthritis is commonplace in older,

overweight labs.

Exploration:

  • Labradors are not especially renowned for escapology.

They do not particularly jump high fences or dig, although

some labs may climb or jump up for fun or to explore. As a

breed they are highly intelligent, and capable of intense

single-mindedness and focus if their interest is caught.

Therefore with the right conditions and stimuli, a bored

lab could "turn into an escape artist par exellence."

[1]

  • It is also worth noting that Labradors as a breed are

curious, exploratory and love company, following both

people and interesting scents for food, attention and

novelty value. In this way, they can often "vanish" or

otherwise become separated from their owners with little

fanfare. They are also popular dogs if found. Because of

this it is good practice that labradors are [[Microchip

implant (animal)|microchipped]], with the owners name and

address also on their collar and tags.


Common Labrador crossbreeds

The Labradoodle is a popular [[Dog hybrids and

crossbreeds|designer dog]] that combines a Labrador with a

Poodle. Labrador-German Shepherd and

Labrador-Border Collie crosses are also popular for

their intelligence and working qualities. The [[assistance

dog]] organization Mira utilizes

Labrador-Bernese Mountain Dog crosses (Labernese) with

success[17]. Other Labrador crossbreeds are noted on the

[http://www.achclub.com/modules.php?name=Breeders American

Canine Hybrid Club] website with some having

[http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americancaninehybridclub.htm

pages] on dogbreedinfo.com.

Famous Labs

  • The Andrex Puppy, featured primarily in UK television

spots for the Andrex brand of toilet paper, known in

elsewhere as Scott or Cottonelle, also featuring the

puppy mascot.

Clinton]]'s Labrador, and Seamus, Clinton's other Labrador,

received for Father's Day

  • Jet (f.k.a. Bootsy), briefly adopted by the fictional

detective genius Nero Wolfe in Rex Stout's 1954

novella "Die Like a Dog" (collected in the volume Three

Witnesses and adapted for A&E TV's 2001–2002 series [[A

Nero Wolfe Mystery]]). "Labradors," Wolfe tells his

assistant Archie Goodwin, "have a wider skull than any

other dog, for brain room."

  • King Buck, the first black lab to appear on a US

postage stamp.[18]

Vladimir Putin's Labrador Retriever

John Grogan's book Marley & Me

  • Sadie, a black Labrador who saved the lives of dozens

of soldiers in Afghanistan by detecting a bomb. Recipient

of the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the

[[Victoria

Cross]].[19]

series)|Lost]], played by the famous dog [[Madison

(dog)|Madison]]

  • Zanjeer, a police sniffer dog who detected

arms and ammunition used in 1993 Mumbai

(Bombay) serial explosions. Zanjeer was born on [[January

7]], 1992, and was inducted into the Bomb Detection and

Disposal Squad on December 29, 1992. He was trained

at the Dog Training Centre of the Criminal Investigation

Department in Pune. During his service, his haul was

excellent. He helped recover 57 country-made bombs, 175

petrol bombs, 11 military bombs, 242 [[Hand

grenade|grenades]] and 600 detonators. His biggest

contribution to the police force and the city was the

detection of 3,329 kg of RDX. He also

helped detect 18 AK-56 rifles and

five 9mm pistols. He died at a [[Veterinary

medicine|veterinary]] hospital in Parel.

  • Zeke the Wonder Dog (1&2), mascot and frisbee fanatic for

the Michigan State Spartans


References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 http://alllabs.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/labrador_retriever_history.htm?E+scstore (alllabs.com "History of the Lab")
  2. Marley and me, p.52
  3. The American Kennel Club, Labrador Retriever Breed Standard: "The Labrador Retriever coat colors 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. Black:-Blacks are all black. A black with brindle markings or a black with tan markings is a disqualification. Yellow:-Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and underparts of the dog. Chocolate:-Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate. Chocolate with brindle or tan markings is a disqualification."
  4. B/b, E/e, and Beyond: A Detailed Examination of Coat Color Genetics in the Labrador Retriever, retrieved November 12, 2005.
  5. 5.0 5.1 http://www.labbies.com/history.htm History of the Labrador Retriever. Retrieved on February 5, 2007.
  6. 6.0 6.1 http://www.pineycreeklabradors.com/id20.h tml
  7. 7.0 7.1 http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/english-ameri can.html
  8. http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/documents/breed _split2.pdf
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ yellow-pigment.html
  10. See [http://www.justlabradors.com/forum/index.php?topic=10185.m sg110720#msg110720 this post] on justlabradors.com forum, posted July 2006 by WigWag [presumably Sharon Wagner of wigwaglabradors.com, cited elsewhere in this article concerning labrador coloration]
  11. [http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/labrador/labartic le6.htm Labrador Retriever Breed Standards Comparison Chart]
  12. [http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FA Q Dog Breed Advice on Dudley Labradors]
  13. http://www.dogbreedadvic e.com/Labrador-FAQ : "Labradors are active dogs especially in puppyhood. And Labradors often do not fully mature until around 3 years of age! This means you will have a dog that is mentally a puppy (with a puppy's energy) until this age regardless of its physical size! Often a Lab puppy is labelled hyperactive when it is simply a normal, exuberant and bouncy puppy. If you are prepared to deal with this period of time in their lives, you will not have problems."
  14. http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FAQ : "excessive barking is not generally typical of the breed. Labradors often give a warning bark in response to an unusual event..."
  15. http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador-FAQ : "Labradors are not reliable guards. Some can be protective and most will probably bark if they hear or see something they don't like -- particularly if it is near their yard. If your main purpose in getting a dog is to have a guard dog, a Labrador is not a good choice, but if you want an "alarm" barker, most Labradors are fine."
  16. http://www.dogbreedadvice.com/Labrador -FAQ
  17. http://www.mira.ca/contenta/nc1-3a.html Mira Foundation: The Labernese. Retrieved February 18, 2007
  18. Source: alllabs.com describes King Buck as "famous". [http://alllabs.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/labrador_retriev er_history.htm?E+scstore]
  19. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml =/news/2007/01/27/wsadie27.xml
Other sources
  • Cunliffe, Juliette (2004). The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Parragon Publishing. ISBN 0-7525-8276-3. 
  • Fergus, Charles (2002). Gun Dog Breeds, a Guide to Spaniels, Retrievers,

and Pointing Dogs. Guilford, CT: Lyons Press. ISBN 1-58574-618-5. 

External links

Template:Commons

Clubs, associations, and societies

retriever Club (UK)]

Club, Inc. (USA)]

Canada]

of Canada]

Labradors Society]

Information

comprehensive lab site]

statistics, from labradornet.com]

Website showing differences between working Labs and show

Labs]

Labrador reference page - index of comprehensive articles

on every aspect of Labs and dogs in general]

images of common different labrador bloodlines]

information about labradors and breeding]


'Silver' labs

Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. statement on "silver"

labradors]

statement on "silver" labradors]

or Myth? (Detailed discussion and information)]

Behind Silver Labradors (by Sharon A. Wagner, MS)]