The Labrador Retriever is a dog that literally misses the word , as they say.
Of remarkable intelligence, it is a subject that is used not only as a pleasure for its company, but also for its marked propensity to be useful : rescue dog in the water, as an accompaniment to the blind and disabled, for search.

• Origins
• Morphology
• Psychology and character
• Care

Origins of the Labrador

It is a relatively recent breed , recognized in the early 1900s. There is no certain documentation but it is presumed that its origins are to be traced overseas , on the coasts of the island of Newfoundland, Canada, where it was indicated with the name of “St. John’s dog” or lesser Newfoundland dog. Other sources instead find traces of it in Greenland, used by the fishermen of the time for the recovery of the catch.

The name Labrador comes from the Earl of Malmesbury , who in an official letter referred to his dogs as Labrador Dogs and used them for shooting sports in the United Kingdom in the early 1800s; the territory of Labrador is located northwest of the island of Newfoundland.

These lands had been colonized by English fishermen during the sixteenth century and used St. John’s dogs to retrieve fish caught and fallen out of the nets. They had called these dogs workaholic retrievers , as they were tireless in supporting their owners with their work.

The standardized breeding of this breed is due to the descendants of the Earl of Malmesbury and the fifth Duke of Buccleuch who in Scotland started an import and selection activity of the breed.

Morphology of the Labrador

The Labrador looks like a dog with very harmonious and structured shapes. Of medium size, it can reach 57 cm in height at the withers. It has a robust and strong musculature , raised by a rather broad thorax.

The head is also broad but without drooping cheeks . The coat is uniform in color , thick, the hair is short, water-repellent and the versions allowed are in the colors, black, honey or gold and chocolate or liver.

The Labrador is a swimming dog, its horizontal topline and flat tail help it to cut through even the most adverse currents and to steer as if equipped with a rudder.

Psychology and character of the Labrador

The sweetness, the balance , the delicacy in the movements make it a suitable dog for all needs , from the care of children to that of the elderly, through pet therapy activities and help for the disabled.

His intelligence allows him to be trained in various human supports: rescue dog in water and on land , guide for the blind, working dog.

The affection he has for his owner and the sensitivity with which he is endowed with him encourage him to always be useful and to please his family. He is also sociable with strangersand other animals, therefore not very suitable as a guard dog. The Labrador adapts to living in an apartment without any problems, but does not like to be alone for long periods.

Labrador care

The Labrador is a strong constitution dog with a life expectancy of around 15 years. Withstands cold temperatures and hot climates.

The moulting of the hair , even if it is short, is a bit demanding, since the hair is thick and double. Brushing it daily in those periods is recommended to stem excess hair at home.
The Labrador tends to gain weight if the diet is not balanced and calibrated to physical activity, because it is very voracious.