In Dog Breed Corner this month is the Labrador! Check out the Lab’s stats, personality, trainability, health, grooming and more!
Height – 55 – 62cm
Weight – 25 – 36 kg
Lifespan – 10 – 12 years
Country of origin: Canada
Breed type – Working dog
- Families with children
- Owners with active lifestyles
- Households with other pets
Breed History ♜
The exact breed origins of the Labrador are not known but it’s commonly believed that they originate from the giant Newfoundland breed. As far back as the 1800s, travellers on the Canadian island of Newfoundland reported seeing smaller black water dogs helping to pull in fishing nets. They were preferred to the longer haired Newfoundland breed because their fur was less likely to freeze in the low temperatures. An English Earl supposedly aw one of the dogs and shipped them back to England to establish the Labrador breed as we know it today and the first registered yellow Lab was in 1899.
Personality Traits & Trainability ★
There’s a very good reason why Labradors are the most popular dog breed across Australia. They are typically a great family pet – friendly and sweet-natured, they have a wonderful reputation. Labs are not only intelligent but are also people-pleasers and will do anything to make their humans happy. This balance of intelligence and eagerness to please makes the breed easy to train. Be careful though, their intelligence can mean they get bored easily when left alone and may find their own, destructive, ways to entertain themselves! Gentle and patient, Labradors bond quickly with children and have earned their place as the number one choice for a family dog. Labradors are loyal to their family and will bark to alert you of a stranger’s presence but will shower them with licks and welcoming wags when they approach!
Living Conditions ⌂
Labradors are an intelligent breed and will not cope well with apartment living. Labs are often used as working dogs due to their intelligence and will require space to explore and regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
Grooming ✄
If you’re going to have a Labrador, you’d better be prepared for shedding! Labs have a double coat – one weather resistant outer coat and a softer undercoat. The combination helps to keep them warm and dry when working as retrievers for hunters. Grooming is straightforward – brush daily, especially during moulting season – but owners should still be prepared for plenty of shedding.
