Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever
This yellow Lab's nose is pink rather than black. Its tail is strong, smooth-coated, and otter-like.
Common nicknames	Lab Labrador
Origin	Canada
Kennel club standards Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Labrador Retriever ("Labrador" or "Lab" for short), is one of several kinds of retriever, and is the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The breed is exceptionally affable, intelligent, energetic and good natured, making them excellent companions and working dogs. Labrador Retrievers respond well to praise and positive attention. They are also well known as enjoying water, since historically, they were selectively bred for retrieving in water environments as "gun dogs" and as companions in waterfowl hunting. This also gave them time to bond with their owner, which leads to them having a good temper.

History

The coat of the black Labrador is solid black, with no white markings except for a small spot on the chest.

The Labrador is believed to have originated on the island of Newfoundland, now part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The breed is not indigenous to the Newfoundland area nor is there evidence they accompanied early Inuit settlers. 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. 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. 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. Two breeds emerged; the larger 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.

Lab timeline

A chocolate Labrador pup retrieving pheasant.

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.
• 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."
• 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, such as 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. The "Newfoundland" dog is actually a separate breed; and often commonly confused with the Labrador Retriever.

Appearance

Overview of appearance

Labradors are relatively large with males typically weighing 27 to 36 kg (60 to 80 lb) and females 23 to 32 kg (45 to 70 lb)but some labs do become overweight and may weigh a deal more. Their coats are short and smooth, and they possess a straight, powerful tail like that of an otter. The majority of the characteristics of this breed with the exception of colour 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 fuller faces and a slightly calmer nature than their American counterparts which are bred as a larger lighter-built dog. No distinction is made by the American Kennel Club (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 tail acts as a rudder for changing directions.

Show standards

Like any animal, 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). Females 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 colours 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 colours 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.

• Body: The body should be strong and muscular with a level topline.

Color

There are three recognised colors for Labs: black (a solid black colour), 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. Variations in numerous other genes control the subtler details of the coat's colouration, which in yellow Labs varies from white to light gold to a fox red. Yellow Labs can have black or pink noses (the nose can lighten with time), and chocolate and black Labs' noses will match the coat colour. A colour called 'silver' is sought by some owners; unusually light coloured 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. "Silver" Labs may often registered by the AKC as "chocolate"; the latter is a disqualification at shows.

Variant lines

These chocolate Labs from field-bred stock are typically lighter in build and have a shorter coat than show-bred Labs

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 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. 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." 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. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom breeds and trains Labs, as well as other breeds, at the royal residence at Sandringham. Since 1911, a special strain of black Lab has existed at the castle.[3]

'Silver', 'blue', 'grey', and 'charcoal'

Side-by-side visual comparison between chocolate and "silver" Labradors with the Weimaraner.

To date, "silver" Labradors, dogs with silvery or very-light chocolate coats, have not appeared outside of the United States from the breeding of native chocolate Labradors. Neither color is recognized by a reputable breed club at the present. The Labrador Retriever Club opposes even registering the colors as chocolate.

Lab nose and skin pigmentation

A seven-week-old Dudley Labrador Retriever. The nose and lips are pink or flesh-coloured, the defining aspect of Dudley pigmentation, as compared to the more standard brown or black.

Because Lab colouration 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), or several other colours. 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.

The intensity of black pigment on yellow Labs is controlled by a separate gene independent of the fur coloring. 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 colour of most yellow Labs becomes a somewhat pink shade as they grow older.

"Dudley"

See also: Albinoism

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. A yellow Lab with brown or chocolate pigmentation, for example, a brown or chocolate nose, is not a Dudley. Breed standards for Labradors considers a true Dudley to be a disqualifying feature for a show Lab, such as one with a thoroughly pink nose or one lacking in any pigment. True Dudleys are extremely rare.

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

A lab participating in agility.

"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 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 sometimes 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 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 and other animals), 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 mislabeled as being hyperactive. Labs often enjoy retrieving a ball endlessly and other forms of activity (such as agility, frisbee, or flyball), are considerably "food and fun" oriented, very trainable, and open-minded to new things, and thrive on human attention, affection 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 or territorial, and are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers, and therefore are not very often used as guard dogs.

Labradors have a reputation for appetite, and individuals have been described as willing to eat "anything that isn't nailed down." They are also persuasive and persistent in requesting food. For this reason, the Lab owner must carefully control his/her dog's food intake to avoid obesity and its associated health problems (see below).

The steady temperament of Labs and their ability to learn make them an ideal breed for search and rescue, detection, and therapy work. Their primary working role in the field continues to be that of a hunting retriever.

Use as working dogs

Labradors are a very popular selection for use as guide dogs.

Labradors are an intelligent breed with high work ethic and generally good temperaments - in one trial, 91.4% of Labradors who were tested passed the American Temperament Test. Common working roles for Labradors include: hunting, tracking and detection, disabled-assistance, carting, and therapy work. Approximately 60-70% of all guide dogs in the United States are Labradors; other common breeds are Golden Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs.

The high intelligence, initiative and self-direction of Labradors in working roles is evinced by individuals such as Endal, who during a 2001 emergency is believed to be the first dog to have placed an unconscious human being in the recovery position without prior training, then obtaining the human's mobile phone, "thrusting" it by their ear on the ground, then fetching their blanket, before barking at nearby dwellings for assistance. A number of labradors have also taught themselves to assist their owner remove money and credit cards from ATMs without prior training.

Health and wellbeing

Many dogs, including Labs such as this eight year old, show distinct whitening of the coat as they grow older; especially around the muzzle.

Labrador pups should not be bought before they are 8-10 weeks old. Their life expectancy is generally 12 to 13 years, and it is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to health and wellbeing include:

Inherited disorders

• Labs are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before breeding.
• 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, cataracts, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia. Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
• Hereditary myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that causes a deficiency in type II muscle fibre.
• Ear problems are also prone to some labs, causing problems such as deafness later in life for some labs.

Other disorders

Labs are sometimes prone to 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.

Obesity

Labs are often overfed and are allowed to become overweight, due to their blatant enjoyment of treats, hearty appetites, and endearing behavior towards people. Lack of activity is also a contributing factor. A healthy Lab should keep a very slight hourglass waist and be fit and light, rather than fat or heavy-set. Excessive weight is strongly implicated as a risk factor in the later development of hip dysplasia and diabetes, and also can contribute to general reduced health when older. Arthritis is commonplace in older, especially overweight, Labs.

Exploration

• Labradors are not especially renowned for escapology. They do not particularly jump high fences or dig, although quite able to do both, and 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 motivated or their interest is caught. Therefore, with the right conditions and stimuli, a bored Lab could "turn into an escape artist par excellence". [4]
• 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 microchipped, with the owners name and address also on their collar and tags.

Common Labrador crossbreeds

The "Labradoodle" is a popular "designer dog" that combines a Labrador with a Poodle. Labrador-German Shepherd(Shepherdors) and Labrador-Border Collie crosses are also popular for their intelligence and working qualities.

"Golden Labradors" which are crosses between Golden Retrievers and Labs have never gained as wide popularity as Labradoodles, despite being crosses between two popular breeds.

The assistance dog organization Mira utilizes Labrador-Bernese Mountain Dog crosses ("Labernese") with success. Other Labrador crossbreeds are noted on the American Canine Hybrid Club website with some having pages on dogbreedinfo.com.

Famous Labs

Bill Clinton(left) and Buddy(right).

• Alien, a black Lab who served as the team mascot for the Memphis Mad Dogs. Alien would charge the field following each kickoff and retrieve the kicking tee.
• 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.
• Bouncer, from Neighbours.
• Buddy, U.S. President Bill Clinton's Labrador, and Seamus, Clinton's other Labrador, received for Father's Day
• Doc, also known as "Borfers" or "Orfers" (due to sound the dog makes when barking), a pet of basketball coach Brock Rychener. He is named after Doc Holiday from Tombstone (film).
• Endal, a service dog in England. Among other distinctions, the first dog to ride on the London Eye, and the first dog to place a human being in the recovery position without training following a blackout.
• Jake, a black Labrador who became a national canine hero after burrowing through white-hot, smoking debris in search of survivors at the World Trade Center. Also helped search for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.
• 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. The story was adapted for A&E TV's 2001–2002 series A Nero Wolfe Mystery, in which Jet was played by a black Lab named Jesse, handled by Sherri Davis. "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.
• Koni, Russian President Vladimir Putin's Labrador Retriever
• Labramon, "a Dog island is Labradorlike in Digimon
• Luath, from The Incredible Journey
• Marley, "The World's Worst Dog", featured in journalist 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.
• Ubu Roi, of UBU Productions
• Vincent, from Lost, played by the famous 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 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 hospital in Parel.
• Zeke the Wonder Dog (1&2), mascot and frisbee fanatic for the Michigan State Spartans
• Lucy, David Blunkett's best known guide dog, who famously vomited in the British House of Commons during a Parliamentary speech.
• François Mitterrand, French ex-president had a black Labrador.
• Ceausescu, Romanian ex-dictator, had a black Labrador.
• Rowdy, Turk and J.D.'s pet stuffed retriever from the show Scrubs

References

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

Information

• labradornet.com, a comprehensive Lab site

• Labrador statistics, from labradornet.com

• Website showing differences between working Labs and show Labs

• Woodhaven Labrador reference page—index of comprehensive articles on every aspect of Labs and dogs in general

• Comparative images of common different Labrador bloodlines