The Most Favored Pet in the US in the Form of the Kind-Hearted and Obedient Labrador Retriever

June 9th, 2009

Who wouldn’t be familiar with this particular breed when it is hailed by the American Kennel Club as the most popular pet in the US? Who wouldn’t love them when they are pleasantly gentle, friendly, family- oriented, trustworthy and intelligent? Anyone who comes across this beautiful breed couldn’t help but fall in love and when you hear the name, you picture out genuine gentleness and loving companionship.

The Labrador Retriever is a native of Newfoundland Canada but because of its pleasant and very agreeable disposition, it quickly gained popularity not only in the US but around the world as well. Fondly called the “Lab”, this dog is originally bred in order to have a quality and reliable companion for the fishermen and hunters. On the icy waters of the region, this dog vigorously helps in pulling in of nets and catching stray fishes on the boat; in hunting, they are an excellent and durable game retriever that fearlessly swims the freezing waters.

Also lovingly called as “Labs”, the Labrador Retriever is a superb family pet of thousands of households all over the world. How can they not be noted as superb when they are inherently cheerful, sweet spirited, amiable, soft-hearted, energetic, and never aggressive? Not only are they suited with children’s play and spirit but are suited also in socializing with strangers and other pack of animals or dogs.

The Labs are of high intellect, tractable and have the eagerness to please their masters that’s why training sessions with them are a piece of cake. They do as they are trained and told to do, too, and they do these tasks with gusto and with an aim of being applauded and liked by their owners. This breed is just useful in hunting, at play, and at competitions and you will never be disappointed with their performance every time.

There are three standard coat colors for Labrador Retriever namely yellow, chocolate and black; other imperfections, mottles, or even combinations of the three standard colors are considered for penalizing by the kennel clubs. The fluff is very short and fairly dense and this makes it a little less soft to the touch; there is also an inner coat and outer coat that helps protect them from weather and water. Because of the composition of their coat, the Labs are able to withstand extreme cold conditions, are able to swim through freezing waters, and protect themselves against any conditions of the ground.

Labs are also perfect as playmates to children and parents don’t have to worry as much when the children is at play with them; this breed is inherently playful, gentle, friendly, and naturally affectionate and kind and so they are not likely to be hostile towards persistent and tireless children. As a housedog, the Lab is reliable and extremely loyal and will make a good watch dog but as a guard dog, they are not as excellent. During hunting, Labs are truly retrievers; they redeem shot games and swim across unforgiving waters in able to do their part as a hunting companion to their masters.

Today, however, because of the discovered trainable skills and excellent temperament of the Labs, they are taken from the four walls of the house and transferred to do a much important and socially meaningful task; these tasks go way past the popular obedience competitions and hunting expeditions. Outside the home, the Labs are equally efficient in police work, narcotics detection, and guide for the blind, service dog for the disabled, search and rescue, sledding, and carting.

Being versatile and excellent in almost every field they are placed in, the Labrador Retriever was categorized in to two groups accordingly; the show lines and the field lines. Show line Labs shows a heavier weight as they are honed for obedience competitions mostly while the field line Labs are more active and requires a more intense form of exercise as they are prone to restlessness without it. Labrador Retrievers are without doubt docile and gentle creatures and just like any other breed, in order to bring out the best in them, must be raised with a consistent and skillful leader.

Coming from a family of dog breeders, Bret Richardson grew up knowing the in’s and out’s and the do’s and dont’s in raising Labrador Retrievers. Now with a website to boot that contains complete, up to date and innovative information on how to properly breed, groom, and train a Labrador Retriever, your access to everything Lab has just become very easy. Go to his site now!