One of the most popular dog breeds currently is the Labrador. The description of the breed makes it possible to understand that these pets have a very soft and loyal disposition. They can become the best friend of the owner and all his household. Very sociable and playful, dogs of this breed will easily find a common language with any person or animal.
Not really able to show protective qualities, Labradors do an excellent job with hunting for game. Actually, for the sake of this purpose, these dogs were bred. But recently, many inexperienced breeders of this breed, having no skills and knowledge of the basics of dog breeding and trying to cash in on this, are chasing not for the quality of the born puppies, but for their quantity. This leads to a deterioration in breeding qualities and blurred typical characteristics of the breed.
The history of the breed
At the beginning of the 19th century, sailors from Europe discovered the Labrador Retriever breed on the Canadian island of Newfoundland. Indigenous people used these dogs to hunt birds. The name "retriever" speaks for itself. It means "feeding game." Perhaps this explains the ardent love of these dogs for water.
At first, these dogs were named after the Canadian capital St. John's, but this tradition did not take root in the English environment. The British liked the name "Labrador" more, which came from the name of the Canadian provincial city of Labrador. The dog (description, nature of the breed) very clearly reflects the microclimate of this place, being a kind of metaphor.
In the middle of the XIX century, representatives of this breed were brought to Britain, who were very fond of not only the avid hunters for intelligence and endurance, but also ordinary people. They became their pets.
At the beginning of the XX century in Britain, the breed was registered at the Kennel Club. Initially, all Labradors were black. Now the colors of the representatives can vary from light beige to chocolate.
In the same XX century, the breed began to spread in America, where it was popular among wealthy sections of society, such as actors, politicians and pop stars. The main purpose of the Labradors - hunting - was forgotten, and they simply became good-natured dogs, bringing joy and comfort to the house.
Labrador Retriever or Golden Retriever?
Many people believe that the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever are one and the same breed. But this is a fallacy. Not every similar dog can be a true representative of such a proud family as Labradors. The description of the breed, character, reviews and advantages indicate that there are significant differences between these seemingly similar dogs. Owners with representatives of both breeds at the same time or at different times report that these dogs are completely different not only externally, but also in terms of behavior. The nature and temperament of these animals are very different.
By origin, the Labrador Retriever is a native of the Canadian island of Newfoundland. The appearance of the golden retriever originates in aristocratic England, where he served as a hunting companion and chic decoration of the palace.
As for the external differences, here the breeders take the following as a basis:
- Labrador has a black, light and chocolate color. His golden fellow in this respect, so to speak, is more diverse - he can have wool in different shades, from very light to dark.
- Labrador hair is not long, rather coarse, it has a special water-repellent wax coating. The coat of a golden retriever can be quite long and wavy.
- The tail is one of the main differences between the two species. At the Labrador he is smooth-haired, thickening at the base. At the golden retriever, it is well-pubescent and with hair hanging downward resembles a half feather.
- The head of the Labrador is much larger and has a more massive mouth, as it was bred for hunting large prey, while the Golden Retriever had to hunt small game.
- Labrador sheds year-round; a golden retriever changes wool 2 times a year.
In addition to external differences, experienced owners distinguish behavioral ones, which include the following:
- The Labrador is more emotional than the restrained Golden Retriever in English.
- The high energy of the Labradors is the opposite of the calm and tenderness of a golden retriever.
- Labrador is prone to rash impulsive actions, in contrast to a reasonable and calm fellow.
Therefore, when choosing a friend, it is necessary to understand the differences between the two species and have a pet suitable for the requirements and future living conditions.
Breed description
Dogs of the Labrador breed are quite large in size and powerful musculature. According to standards, the height at the withers should vary from 55 cm to 63 cm. Distinctive features of the exterior are:
- Stocky long body.
- Wide chest.
- Ears are hanging, located slightly behind the head.
- Eyes wide set.
- The muzzle is quite elongated.
- Between the fingers there are small membranes.
- Tail wide at the base and tapering towards the end, which is compared to the tail of an otter.
- Short coarse coat, covered with a waxy coating. Thick and dense undercoat.
One of the subspecies of the Labrador Retriever is a long-haired Labrador. In the description of the breed it is said that such dogs were also bred on the island of Newfoundland. They were used more for transporting firewood, although they swam no worse than a short-haired fellow.
The average life expectancy of such dogs is 10-15 years.
Character and temperament
The dog labrador retriever is very popular among dog breeders. The description of the breed, the nature and soft nature of these creatures are very appreciated by both family and lonely people. This is due to the high intelligence inherent in the representatives of this breed. According to reviews, they subtly feel the mood of the owner and can easily adapt to it. Thus, a person who has chosen a Labrador as a companion will never be lonely and bored.
Due to these qualities, such dogs are often used as guide dogs for the blind. The balance and restraint inherent in the breed allow them to remain calm and not lose their temper in any, even the most stressful situations.
The high learning ability and good mind of dogs allow them to be involved in search and rescue operations. This breed has proven itself in working at customs.
Owners of such dogs are sure that Labradors can rightfully be called the best friends and nannies for small children. The owners share their impressions of the careful care and careful unobtrusive control with which their retrievers surround the kids.
Dog breeders with more than one pet in the house claim that Labradors get along well with other animals, even cats. They will never climb into the fray first and will not offend a creature inferior to them in size.
Inveterate hunters admire another advantage of the breed - the so-called soft mouth. This means that a dog can carry any object in its mouth, even a chicken egg, without damaging it at all.
Judging by the nature of the Labrador, the description of the breed, reviews, the shortcomings are very few. To the main negative quality of such dogs, breeders attribute the fact that, by their spiritual kindness, dogs cannot be realized as guards. Therefore, if the dog breeder needs a good guard and property protector, it is worth considering other options in selecting the breed for this purpose.
The remaining disadvantages arise from the lack of training and an active life of the pet.
Features of the content in the apartment
Due to the activity and excessive energy, the behavioral characteristics of the young Labrador Retriever and the description of the breed, the content is mainly to ensure long and frequent walks in the fresh air. Breeders argue that this is done so that the dog invests energy pounding over the edge in outdoor games, thereby not causing damage to the owner’s apartment.
For the same purpose, owners purchase toys for a pet. You should also try to exclude contacts of a curious dog with household items and outlets in order to avoid poisoning and electric shock.
The Labrador is very sociable, so the place for him should be chosen taking into account the fact that the pet could see his owners from it. Dog breeders do not advise putting a box for him or making a booth. It is quite suitable for a stove bench just a soft bedding or a mattress.
Hair, eyes and ears care
As well as representatives of other breeds, it has its own individual characteristics and difficulties in keeping and Labrador. Description of the breed, reviews of breeders suggest that one of the problems with keeping such dogs is to take care of the hair, because when it falls it remains everywhere: on furniture, on clothes, on dishes. The owners call this trouble quite significant, in addition, getting rid of it is not very simple.
Basically, retriever does not need to bathe, they themselves are quite clean. But it happens that as a result of active walks in rainy weather, the dog has to be washed. To achieve shine and the effect of a glossy coat, it is recommended to rub the pet with talcum powder. But this should be done outdoors, so that the dog does not breathe powder.
Some dog breeders struggle with molting with a conventional vacuum cleaner. If you teach a puppy to this procedure since childhood, in the future it will even bring him pleasure. A good effect is combing wool.
Labradors' love of water can play an important role in getting rid of unwanted hair. Owners of dogs of this breed argue that regular bathing in ponds significantly reduces the period of molting.
Breeders of show dogs with breeding value need to be especially careful when caring for their hair. Some procedures can ruin the appearance of the dog. For example, chocolate or dark color retrievers should not be exposed to the sun for a long time, otherwise the coat may burn out and become undesirable. Also, some types of brushes cannot be used for combing - this can lead to a decrease in the quality of the coat.
Every day, you need to gently wipe the dog’s eyes with a damp cotton swab. If abnormal discharge is noticed, you should immediately visit a doctor.
Ears wipe with a damp cotton swab as needed. Do not immerse it too deep, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the delicate integument.
If necessary, many dog breeders cut their claws with special scissors.
Diet choice
No matter how mobile and energetic the Labrador may be, the characteristics and description of the breed indicate that its representatives are quite voracious and almost omnivorous. They can eat everything indiscriminately and in myriad quantities. Because of this, many owners complain of indigestion of the pet, the appearance of excess weight and other unpleasant problems.
Therefore, the responsible owner must carefully monitor the diet of the pet in order to prevent obesity and health problems. Meals should be balanced and regular. If it is not possible to constantly cook for the retriever, you can use ready-made feeds of a super-premium class, where the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals is collected to ensure a full life of the dog. The choice of such food should be based on the recommendations of the veterinarian.
Dogs must eat at a strictly defined time, not to violate the regimen to which they need to be taught from childhood. The dosage of the feed is calculated according to the weight of the Labrador and the instructions on the packaging.
If the owner chooses natural food for the pet, then it should also be well balanced. Do not feed your dog food from the table.
The diet of the Labrador Retriever must necessarily include such products as:
- Meat (beef, lamb, poultry). You can give it raw or boiled. Fat must be cut off. Offal, kidneys, lungs, liver, etc., it is advisable to give only boiled.
- Fish should only be marine, bones must be removed. Better to cook it before feeding. You can give raw, but there is a risk of infection of the dog with helminths.
- Any cereal is suitable, but it should be remembered that barley is poorly digested, and oatmeal can cause allergies.
- Sour-milk products (kefir, cheese, cottage cheese). Milk is not recommended for dogs.
- The eggs. To feed the Labrador, only raw yolk is used, which can be mixed in porridge or vegetables.
- Vegetables (carrots, cabbage, beets, zucchini). Before treating the pet, they need to be chopped.
In winter, you must additionally give your pet vitamins. According to the doctor’s recommendations, it is periodically necessary to conduct deworming.
Adult dogs should be fed strictly twice a day. But puppies eat more often. Until two months of age, they should eat 6 times a day. Before reaching 5 months - 5 times a day. Six month old pets eat 4 times a day. After 7 months and up to a year, you need to feed 3 times a day.
Despite the fact that Labradors are able to eat anything, there are a number of products that are strictly prohibited for them:
- Salted, smoked, fried, fatty and spicy foods.
- Too hot or cold food.
- Flour products.
- Bean dishes.
- Potatoes.
- Sausage products.
- Sweets.
- Pork or any other fatty meat.
- Tubular bones.
- Stale products.
Anyone wishing to have such a pet should know in advance everything about the Labrador, the description and characteristics of the breed, and, of course, the features of the diet. Properly selected food or a balanced menu of natural products will provide your pet a healthy and long life.
Parenting
Before you get a Labrador puppy, you must first prepare everything for him, navigate the feeding, purchase toys for him, organize a couch.
Experienced breeders say retriever education should be handled from the very first days as soon as you bring it into the house. Then the puppy immediately understands who the owner is, what can and cannot be done on its territory. If the baby tries to get the better of the person, you need to immediately stop these attempts. But the owners of such dogs claim that Labrador puppies very rarely try to dominate due to their good-natured nature.
Some dog breeders prefer to take the dog to professional dog handlers, but then they themselves are convinced that the Labradors are quite easy to train, so even an inexperienced owner can teach them the basic commands.
Possible health problems
Each dog breed has its own risks of disease. With proper care and annual preventive examinations, you can prevent the occurrence of many ailments. Breeders list a list of the most common health problems of Labradors, which include:
- Obesity.
- Dysplasia of the joints.
- Panosteitis (they are most often affected by young, fast-growing dogs).
- Cataracts, retinal diseases.
- Osteochondrosis.
- Ulcers on the extremities from frequent licking.
- Epilepsy (very rare).
Like all living things, retrievers are susceptible to infections and viruses. In order to prevent such misfortunes, healthy dogs are vaccinated. The vaccine should be prescribed by a veterinarian.
Puppy selection
Experienced dog breeders warn that before proceeding with the choice of a pet, it is necessary to consider all the pros and cons of keeping a dog, obtain the consent of all family members in order to prevent further betrayal of a living creature and create conditions for a happy and healthy life .
When choosing a breeding animal, you must pay attention to the rating of the breeder. It would be ideal to see his parents. When choosing a gender, you need to focus on your preferences, as bitches and males have slightly different habits and habits from each other.
When choosing a color, you can also be guided by your preferences. It used to be fashionable to start black representatives of the breed, now preference is given to light, although dark ones continue to be in demand.
As for the cost, it can fluctuate quite widely and depend on the club, pedigree, tribal qualities. For a Labrador Retriever, the price (a description of the breed will help to orientate yourself in quality) can start from 20,000 rubles. and end with 60 000-80 000 rubles.
One of the main conditions for choosing a puppy is that the dog breeders do not consider the breeding qualities and cost of the dog, but the intuition of the potential owner and its compatibility with the animal. After all, a person chooses his best friend and companion for many years.