Dogs - Labrador Retriever

Labradors are thought to have originated in the Labrador, Newfoundland area on the east coast of Canada.

About the breed

The dogs were used by fishermen to go into the water and pull the fishing nets to shore. The Labrador's thick, short coat protected him from the cold water & severe, icy weather. Labradors love water, and care must be taken not to let a puppy go near a pool, or it will drown, as it does not know how to get out. Fully grown dogs will love to get into water & play with a hosepipe.

The Labrador became popular in England as a gun dog and was used to retrieve game that the hunter had shot.

  See origins of dogs. 

Children get along well with Labradors and the dogs love to play and to be kept busy. A bored dog can be destructive.

The Labrador is easy to train. They are good natured. Labradors have often been used as guide dogs for the blind, and have been trained to assist people in wheelchairs.

The word "retrieve" means to find and bring back, e.g. wounded game. Being a "retriever," the Labrador loves to carry and fetch things in his mouth. Use him to fetch things you drop!

Labradors are large, strong dogs who love to go for a walk or a swim. They like people and make great companions. Mind you don't get whammed by a wagging "otter" tail!

Labrador puppies are loveable, but once the dog reaches adolescence, it becomes a boisterous stong dog, who can knock people over, so do train your Labrador puppy to be obedient. 

Colour: black, chocolate, or yellow. The "golden" Labrador retriever is now called "yellow", so as not to confuse it with the Golden Retriever, which is a different breed.

Height at shoulder: males 56 - 57 cm, females 54 - 56 cm.

Class: gundog

  These Labrador puppies were bred by Vicki and Tony Reid, South Africa. Pic taken 2007