Labrador Retriever

America's most popular breed

Origin:
United Kingdom
Other name:
Labrador
Morphology:
boys: 56-57 cm
girls: 55-56 cm
Grooming:
monthly

Labrador Retrievers are good-tempered, very agile and active, with an excellent nose, a soft mouth and a passion for water. These loyal, easygoing dogs make wonderfully adaptable companions. Intelligent, keen and biddable, with a strong need to please, they are naturally friendly and lacking in any aggression.  Although famed for their retrieving skills, Labrador Retrievers are highly versatile service dogs, working in various fields as guide or search and rescue dogs. However, they remain most popular as a family pet.

First Nations original
Labrador Retrievers are named after Labrador in northeast Canada, but were first registered the breed in 1903. British colonists in Newfundland came across a black dog used by indigenous population and soon tuned into its ugility. Called St. John's Water Dogs, they were become the ancestors of the breed we know and love today as the Labrador Retriever.

The Labrador Retriever in brief:
Head: Broad, clean-out, without fleshy cheeks, defined stop.
Ears: Neither large nor heavy, falling against the head, set back.
Body: Level back, broad short, strong loins, broad, deep chest with well-sprung barrel ribs.
Tail: Carried cheerfully but not curved over the back.
Colour: Completely black, yellow or liver/chocolate, yellows range from light cream to red fox.
Coat: Distinct breed characteristic short and dense, without waves or feathering, fairly hard to the touch, with water-resistant undercoat.