All about Labrador Dogs

Labrador dogs, known formally as the Labrador retriever, is the most popular dog breed in the United States dog ownership registry. Eager to please, highly energetic, very intelligent, plus good natured and friendly, all these qualities made Labrador dogs best suited to virtually all pertinent applications, that is, except guard duty.

Historically, Labrador dogs are bred as hunters themselves; “gun dogs” whose function is retrieving downed game in water environments. And before that, Labrador dogs are employed by Portuguese fishermen in rural fishing communities to haul net ends to the fishermen by plunging into the water and going after cork floaters tied to the net ends by the jaw, and then pulling the nets from the water. In history, Labrador dogs have shown strong affinity for the water and strong tendencies for throw and retrieve. All these traits have carried over to the present lineage of Labrador dogs.

Anatomy of Labrador Dogs

Because of being one of the most widespread dog breed, Labrador dogs have crossbred with other breed, making Labrador dogs the lowest percentage purebred dog. Though they differ greatly from one another, the most common size for Labrador dogs is 22.5 or 24.5 inches tall at the withers. They are a compact breed though not as muscled as some big dogs like the Great Dane. Labrador dogs generally weigh 55 – 80 lbs.

The short and dense coats of Labrador dogs are varied, having a plethora of colors due to crossbreeding. Most coat colors appear to be chocolate, black and yellow, though yellow coats tend to have lots of variances, going from deep ochre to light yellow commonly mistaken as silver. Because of its widespread, the term dogs when invoked, always summons up an image of Labrador dogs.

The Temperament of Labrador Dogs

Labrador dogs shines brightest because of its remarkably versatile temperament. They are good natured, making them highly appropriate pets for little children. They train easily with obedience and aggression training, making them highly tolerant to rough handling of children.

Labrador dogs are also known to have boundless energy, making them perfect accompaniment to hiking, jogging, and countryside trips. They love to play endlessly, especially younger Labrador dogs, that it is often labeled as hyperactive. And true to their retriever origins, they love to play endless “throw and fetch” with baseballs and throw and catch with Frisbees, most especially if there is water involved where they can plunge in retrieving a catch. Labrador dogs are excellent swimmers, and they are among the few breeds that love to play in the water. Their boundless energy can be a problem, because it seems they can’t have enough play. That makes them voracious feeders, too, their energy spent too fast due to activity.