Briefly about the Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever Dog Breed
The Labrador matures physically quite quickly, reaching adulthood between 6 and 12 months of age, but can gain weight up to two years.
The size:
Weight:
Male: 29-36 kg
Bitch: 25-31 kg
Height at withers:
Male: 58 cm
Bitch: 55cm
Characteristics:
Drop ears (natural position)
Expectations:
Energy: Medium
Life expectancy: 10-12 years.
Drooling tendency: low Snoring tendency: low
Propensity to Bark: Low
Propensity to Dig: Low Needs for Communication / Attention: Medium
Purpose of breeding:
dogs for catching game from water
Coat:
Length: short
Coat type: smooth, close-fitting, two-layer, tough
Color: black, yellow, chocolate
Need for grooming: low
Recognition by canine organizations:
AKC classification: sport dog
UKC classification: gun dog
Prevalence: wide
Labrador Retrievers are sturdily built, strong dogs. In proportion they almost resemble a square, they have a dense body and strong legs. The maximum height of a dog is 60 cm, which is why Labradors are classified as medium-sized dogs, but due to their powerful physique, they can visually appear much larger than they are. Weight ranges from 25 kg for a small bitch to 38 kg for a large male. Dogs bred for field trials are usually taller and somewhat thinner in build.
Labrador retrievers are easily recognizable by their broad head shape, drooping ears and large expressive eyes. Two distinctive features of the Labrador are a fairly short two-layer waterproof coat and the so-called otter tail. The tail is thick and dense, almost straight, continuing the line of the back. The Labrador's feet are characterized as “webbed,” with elongated skin between the toes to help the dog swim. The color can range from black to chocolate, red / yellow and even almost white.
The Labrador is a breed that matures physically quickly enough to reach adult growth between 6 and 12 months of age, but can gain weight for up to two years. Many Labradors live to be 12-14 years old.
Character traits:
Overall, Labrador Retrievers are great family dogs when considering their exercise and training needs. They are dogs bred for work, heavy and stressful, so they like to do tasks, especially to bring objects.
Labradors tend to get along well with other dogs, pets, and children if training has taught them to control their excess energy. These are strong dogs, and they need to be taught obedience from an early age, otherwise you may be faced with a situation where the dog drags its owner by force, wherever it pleases.
Because of their energetic nature, Labradors who don't get enough attention and exercise can exhibit destructive behaviors such as chewing things, digging holes, or barking excessively.
Service "field" dogs are especially energetic, and show dogs can turn into sloths from an early age. Chewing can be a problem for Labradors, as their natural tendency to bring prey encourages them to take everything by mouth. Sturdy chews, exercise and exercise can help deal with this problem.
Maintenance and care:
Obviously, Labradors have a number of compelling traits or they wouldn't be as popular. They are intelligent and fairly easy to train, partly because of their desire to work with people. They do not need a lot of food and easily gain weight, so to avoid excess weight, Labradors need regular exercise and carefully calibrated portions of food. Labradors are great family dogs, they strive to be with people, so life in a kennel is not suitable for most of them.
Labradors tend to protect their family and home, but they welcome guests equally. Their instinct for obtaining objects can develop in them a destructive craving to chew anything that catches their eyes, so they need special chewing toys and appropriate training. Some Labradors don't mind “chewing” on humans, so the best solution for them is to find a toy that the dog can carry in his mouth all the time, then their mouth will be busy with something! These are very strong dogs, so early training and training to obedient walking on a leash are mandatory for them.
The beautiful double coat of Labradors that so successfully protects them when swimming in icy water also makes this breed one of the most prone to shedding. At normal times, weekly grooming is sufficient to maintain their coat, but daily brushing is required during shedding season. The amount of exercise a Labrador needs depends on its type: a dog bred for field trials can run all day, and a show variety can do with moderate exercise.
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