Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, or Lab for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog.
One notable characteristic of the breed is their webbed paws, useful
for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The
Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Australia,[4] Canada,[5] New Zealand,[6] the United Kingdom,[7] and the United States (since 1991).[8] It is also one of the most popular assistance dog
breeds in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States
and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and
other official bodies for their detection and working abilities.
Typically, Labradors are athletic and love to swim, play catch and
retrieve games, are good with young children, elderly, and for
protection. They are also used as guide dogs to help blind people.
The modern Labrador's ancestors originated on the island of
Newfoundland, now part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
[10] The founding breed of the Labrador was the
St. John's water dog, a breed that emerged through ad-hoc breedings by early settlers of the island in the 16th century.
[10]
The forebears of the St. John's Dog are not known, but were likely a
random-bred mix of English, Irish, and Portuguese working breeds. The
Newfoundland (known then as the Greater Newfoundland) is likely a result of the St. John's Dog breeding with
mastiffs
brought to the island by the generations of Portuguese fishermen who
had been fishing offshore since the 16th century. The smaller
short-coated St. John's Dog (also known then as the Lesser Newfoundland)
was used for retrieval and pulling in nets from the water. These
smaller dogs were the forebears of the Labrador Retriever. The white
chest, feet, chin, and muzzle - known as tuxedo markings -
characteristic of the St. John's Dog often appear in modern Lab
mixes,
and will occasionally manifest in Labradors as a small white spot on
the chest (known as a medallion) or stray white hairs on the feet or
muzzle.
The
St. John's
area of Newfoundland was settled mainly by the English and Irish. Local
fishermen originally used the St. John's dog to assist in carrying
ropes between boats, towing dories, and helping to retrieve fishnets in
the water. The Labrador's loyalty and hard working behaviour were
valuable assets for fishermen
The first and second
Earls of Malmesbury, who bred for duck shooting on his estate,
[13] and the 5th and 6th
Dukes of Buccleuch, and youngest son Lord George William Montagu-Douglas-Scott,
[13]
were instrumental in developing and establishing the modern Labrador
breed in 19th century England. The dogs Avon ("Buccleuch Avon") and Ned
given by Malmesbury to assist the Duke of Buccleuch's breeding program
in the 1880s are considered the ancestors of modern Labradors.
[14]
The first St. John's dog was said to be brought to England around
1820; however, the breed's reputation had spread to England long before.
There is a story that the Earl of Malmesbury saw a St. John's Dog on a
fishing boat and immediately made arrangements with traders to have some
of these dogs exported to England. These ancestors of the first
labradors so impressed the Earl with their skill and ability for
retrieving anything within the water and on shore that he devoted his
entire kennel to developing and stabilising the breed.
[11]
Early descriptions
Several early descriptions of the St. John's Water Dog exist. In 1822, explorer
W.E. Cormack
crossed the island of Newfoundland by foot. In his journal he wrote
"The dogs are admirably trained as retrievers in fowling, and are
otherwise useful.....The smooth or short haired dog is preferred because
in frosty weather the long haired kind become encumbered with ice on
coming out of the water."
[15]
Another early report by a Colonel Hawker described the dog as "by far
the best for any kind of shooting. He is generally black and no bigger
than a Pointer, very fine in legs, with short, smooth hair and does not
carry his tail so much curled as the other; is extremely quick, running,
swimming and fighting....and their sense of smell is hardly to be
credited...."
[15]
In his book
Excursions In and About Newfoundland During the Years 1839 and 1840,
[16] the geologist
Joseph Beete Jukes
describes the St. John's Water Dog. "A thin, short-haired, black dog
came off-shore to us to-day. The animal was of a breed very different
from what we understand by the term Newfoundland dog in England. He had a
thin, tapering snout, a long thin tail, and rather thin, but powerful
legs, with a lank body, – the hair short and smooth." wrote Jukes.
"These are the most abundant dogs in the country...They are no means
handsome, but are generally more intelligent and useful than the
others...I observed he once or twice put his foot in the water and
paddled it about. This foot was white, and Harvey said he did it to
"toil" or entice the fish. The whole proceeding struck me as remarkable,
more especially as they said he had never been taught anything of the
kind.
Name
The foundational breed of what is now the Labrador Retriever was known as the
St. John's water dog,
St. John's Dog, or Lesser Newfoundland. When the dogs were later
brought to England, they were named after the geographic area known as
"the Labrador" or simply
Labrador to distinguish them from the larger Newfoundland breed, even though the breed was from the more southern
Avalon Peninsula.
Historical landmarks
The first written reference to the breed was in 1814 ("Instructions to Young Sportsmen" by Colonel
Peter Hawker),
[10] the first painting in 1823 ("Cora. A Labrador Bitch" by
Edwin Landseer),
[10] and the first photograph in 1856 (the
Earl of Home's dog "Nell", described both as a Labrador and a St. Johns dog).
[12] By 1870 the name Labrador Retriever became common in England.
[10] The first yellow Labrador on record was born in 1899 (Ben of Hyde, kennels of Major C.J. Radclyffe),
[10] and the breed was recognised by
The Kennel Club in 1903. The first
American Kennel Club (AKC) registration was in 1917.
[10] The chocolate Labrador emerged in the 1930s,
[10] although liver spotted pups were documented being born at the Buccleuch kennels in 1892.
[10]
The first dog to appear on the cover of Life Magazine was a black
Labrador Retriever called ‘Blind of Arden’ in the December, 12th, 1938
issue. The St. John's dog survived until the early 1980s, the
last two individuals being photographed in old age around 1981.
[12]
History of subtypes
Yellow and chocolate pups would occasionally appear (although often
culled), until finally gaining acceptance in the 20th century.
[citation needed]
The first recognised yellow Labrador was Ben of Hyde, born in 1899, and
chocolate Labradors became more established in the 1930s.
[citation needed]
Ben of Hyde (b.1899), the first recognised yellow Labrador.
- Yellow (and related shades)
In the early years of the breed through to the mid-20th century,
Labradors of a shade we would now call "yellow" were in fact a dark,
almost butterscotch, colour (visible in early yellow Labrador
photographs). The shade was known as "Golden" until required to be
changed by the UK Kennel Club, on the grounds that "Gold" was not
actually a colour. Over the 20th century a preference for far lighter
shades of yellow through to cream prevailed, until today most yellow
Labradors are of this shade. Also fawn has been a common colour in the
yellow lab variety.
[17]
Interest in the darker shades of gold and fox red were re-established
by English breeders in the 1980s, and three dogs were instrumental in
this change: Balrion King Frost (black, born c. 1976) who consistently
sired "very dark yellow" offspring and is credited as having "the
biggest influence in the re-development of the fox red shade",
[17] and his great-grandson, the likewise famous Wynfaul Tabasco (b.1986),
[18]
described as "the father of the modern fox red Labrador", and the only
modern fox red Show Champion in the UK. Other dogs, such as Red Alert
and Scrimshaw Placido Flamingo, are also credited with passing on the
genes into more than one renowned bloodline.
[17]
- Chocolate labradors
Jack Vanderwyk traces the origins of all Chocolate labradors listed
on the LabradorNet database (some 34,000 Labrador dogs of all shades) to
eight original bloodlines. However, the shade was not seen as a
distinct colour until the 20th century; before then according to
Vanderwyk, such dogs can be traced but were not registered. A degree of
crossbreeding with
Flatcoat or
Chesapeake Bay retrievers
was also documented in the early 20th century, prior to recognition.
Chocolate labradors were also well established in the early 20th century
at the kennels of the Earl of Feversham, and Lady Ward of
Chiltonfoliat.
[19]
The bloodlines as traced by Vanderwyk each lead back to three black
labradors in the 1880s—Buccleuch Avon (m), and his sire and dam,
Malmesbury Tramp (m), and Malmesbury June (f). Morningtown Tobla is also
named as an important intermediary, and according to the studbook of
Buccleuch Kennels, the chocolates in this kennel came through FTW Peter
of Faskally (1908).
[19]
Description
A black Labrador from English stock.
Appearance
Labradors are relatively large, with males typically weighing 29 to
41 kg (64 to 90 lb) and females 25 to 32 kg (55 to 71 lb). Labradors
weighing close to or over 100 lb (45 kg) are considered
obese or having a major fault under
American Kennel Club standards, although some Labradors weigh significantly more.
[20] The majority of the characteristics of this breed, with the exception of colour, are the result of breeding to produce a
working retriever.
As with some other breeds, the Conformation (typically "English",
"show" or "bench") and the Field (typically "American" or "working")
lines differ, although both lines are bred in both countries. In
general, however, Conformation Labradors tend to be bred as medium-sized
dogs, shorter and stockier with fuller faces and a slightly calmer
nature than their Field counterparts, which are often bred as taller,
lighter-framed dogs, with slightly less broad faces and a slightly
longer nose; however Field Labradors should still be proportional and
fit within AKC standards. With field Labradors, excessively long noses,
thin heads, long legs and lanky frames are not considered standard.
These two types are informal and not codified or standardised; no
distinction is made by the AKC or other kennel clubs, but the two types
come from different breeding lines. Australian stock also exists; though
not seen in the west, they are common in Asia. These dogs are also very
good with children.
The breed tends to
shed hair twice annually, or regularly throughout the year in
temperate climates.
[14] Some Labradors shed considerably; however, individual Labradors vary.
[21] Labrador hair is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad and strong. The
webbed toes
of the Labrador Retriever make them excellent swimmers. The webbing
between their toes can also serve as a "snowshoe" in colder climates and
keep snow from balling up between their toes- a condition that can be
painful to other breeds with hair between the toes. Their interwoven
coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more assistance for
swimming.
Official breed standards
There is a great deal of variety among Labradors. The following characteristics are typical of the
conformation show bred (bench-bred) lines of this breed in the United States, and are based on the AKC standard.
[20] Significant differences between UK and US standards are noted.
- Size: Labradors are a relatively large breed. They should be as long from the withers
to the base of the tail as they are from the floor to the withers.
Males should stand 22.5 to 24.5 inches (57 to 62 cm) tall at the withers
and weigh 65 to 80 lb (29 to 36 kg). Females should stand 21.5 to 23.5
inches (55 to 60 cm) and weigh 55 to 70 lb (25 to 32 kg). By comparison under UK
Kennel Club standards, height should be 22 to 22.5 inches (56 to 57 cm)
for males, and 21.5 to 22 inches (55 to 56 cm) for females.[22]
- Coat: The Lab's coat should be short and dense, but not wiry.
The coat is described as 'water-resistant' or more accurately
'water-repellent' so that the dog does not get cold when taking to water
in the winter. That means that the dog naturally has a slightly dry,
oily coat. Acceptable colours are black, yellow (ranging from ivory or
creme to fox red), and chocolate.
- Head: The head should be broad with a pronounced stop
and slightly pronounced brow. The eyes should be kind and expressive.
Appropriate eye colours are brown and hazel. The lining around the eyes
should be black. The ears should hang close to the head and are set
slightly above the eyes.
- Jaws: The jaws should be strong and powerful. The muzzle
should be of medium length, and should not be too tapered. The jaws
should hang slightly and curve gracefully back.
- Body: The body should be strong and muscular with a level top line.
The tail and coat are designated "distinctive [or distinguishing] features" of the Labrador by both the Kennel Club and AKC.
[20][22] The AKC adds that "true Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a hallmark of the breed as the 'otter' tail."
[20]
Color
The three primary color varieties of the Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retrievers are registered in three colors:
[20]
black (a solid black color), yellow (anything from the color that some
breeders sell as white or cream to "fox-red"), and chocolate (medium to
dark brown). Some dogs are sold as "silver" pure-bred Labradors, but
purity of those bloodlines is currently under dispute. Major kennel
clubs around the world allow Silver Labradors to be registered, but not
as 'Silver'. The Kennel Club (England) requires that they be registered
as 'Non-recognized'. The parent club for the Labrador Retriever in the
USA (the LRC) states publically that 'There is no genetic basis for the
silver gene in Labradors'.
[23]
Occasionally Labradors will exhibit small amounts of white on their
chest, paws or tail, and rarely a purebred Lab will exhibit brindling
(stripes) or tan points similar to a Rottweiler.
[24]
These markings are a disqualification for show dogs but do not have any
bearing on the dog's temperament or ability to be a good working or pet
dog.
Puppies of all colors can potentially occur in the same
litter.
Color is determined primarily by three genes. The first gene (the B
locus) determines the density of the coat's eumelanin pigment granules,
if that pigment is allowed: dense granules result in a black coat,
sparse ones give a chocolate coat. The second (E) locus determines
whether the eumelanin is produced at all. A dog with the recessive e
allele will produce only phaeomelanin pigment and will be yellow
regardless of its genotype at the B locus. The genes known about
previously
[25] have had their number increased by the introduction of the K locus, where the dominant "black" allele K
B is now known to reside.
[26] Black or chocolate Labradors therefore must have the K
B
allele. Yellow Labradors are determined at the E locus, so the K locus
is irrelevant in determining their color. Variations in numerous other
genes control the subtler details of the coat's coloration, which in
yellow Labradors varies from white to light gold to a fox red. Chocolate
and black Labradors' noses will match the coat color.
According to a 2011 study, 13 out of 245 Labradors studied were
heterozygous for the M264V mutation responsible for the
melanistic mask, and one was
homozygous. Within the breed, this trait is not visible.
[27]
Nose and skin pigmentation
Because Labrador coloration is controlled by multiple
genes, it is possible for
recessive genes to emerge some generations later and also there can sometimes be unexpected
pigmentation
effects to different parts of the body. Pigmentation effects appear in
regard to yellow Labradors, and sometimes chocolate, and hence the
majority of this section covers pigmentation within the yellow Labrador.
The most common places where pigmentation is visible are the nose,
lips, gums, feet, tail, and the rims of the eyes, which may be black,
brown, light yellow-brown ("liver", caused by having two genes for
chocolate),
[28]
or several other colors. A Labrador can carry genes for a different
color, for example a black Labrador can carry recessive chocolate and
yellow genes, and a yellow Labrador can carry recessive genes for the
other two colors.
DNA testing
can reveal some aspects of these. Less common pigmentations (other than
pink) are a fault, not a disqualification, and hence such dogs are
still permitted to be shown.
[28] The intensity of black pigment on yellow Labradors is controlled by a separate gene independent of the fur coloring.
[28]
Yellow Labradors usually have black noses, which may gradually turn
pink with age (called "snow nose" or "winter nose"). This is due to a
reduction in the
enzyme tyrosinase which indirectly controls the production of
melanin,
a dark coloring. Tyrosinase is temperature dependent—hence light
coloration can be seasonal, due to cold weather—and is less produced
with increasing age two years old onwards. As a result, the nose color
of most yellow Labradors becomes a somewhat pink shade as they grow
older.
[28]
A coloration known as "Dudley" is also possible. Dudleys are
variously defined as yellow Labradors which have unpigmented (pink)
noses (LRC), yellow with liver/chocolate pigmentation (AKC), or "flesh
colored" in addition to having the same color around the rims of the
eye, rather than having black or dark brown pigmentation.
[14][28]
A yellow Labrador with brown or chocolate pigmentation, for example, a
brown or chocolate nose, is not necessarily a Dudley, though according
to the AKC's current standard it would be if it has chocolate rims
around the eyes (or more accurately of the genotype eebb). Breed
standards for Labradors considers a true Dudley to be a disqualifying
feature in a conformation show Lab, such as one with a thoroughly pink
nose or one lacking in any pigment along with flesh colored rims around
the eyes. True Dudleys are extremely rare.
[28][29]
Breeding in order to correct pigmentation often lacks dependability.
Because color is determined by many genes, some of which are recessive,
crossbreeding a pigmentation non-standard yellow Labrador to a black
Labrador may not correct the matter or prevent future generations
carrying the same recessive genes. For similar reasons, crossbreeding
chocolate to yellow Labradors is also often avoided.
Show and field lines
Head and muzzle appearance: field (left), and show (right), showing the
shorter muzzle length, more solid appearance head, and "pronounced" stop
of the latter.
As a result of specialised breeding there are significant differences
between field and trial-bred and show-bred lines of Labradors. In the
United States the former are sometimes mistakenly referred to as
"American" and the later as "English" although both field and show types
are bred in both countries.
[30]
In the United Kingdom they are called "Field" and "Show". Dogs bred for
hunting and field-trial work are selected first for working ability,
where dogs bred to compete in
conformation shows are selected for their conformation to the standards and characteristics sought by judges in the show ring.
While individual dogs may vary, in general show-bred Labradors are
heavier built, slightly shorter-bodied, and have a thicker coat and
tail. Field Labradors are generally longer legged, lighter, and more
lithe in build, making them agile. In the head, show Labradors tend to
have broader heads, better defined stops, and more powerful necks, while
field Labradors have lighter and slightly narrower heads with longer
muzzles.
[31][32]
Field-bred Labradors are commonly higher energy and more high-strung
compared to the Labrador bred for conformation showing while
conformation breeds are calmer in energy, and as a consequence may be
more suited to working relationships than being a "family
pet".
[31][32]
Some breeders, especially those specialising in the field type, feel
that breed shows do not adequately recognise their type of dog, leading
to occasional debate regarding officially splitting the breed into
subtypes.
[33]
In the United States, the AKC and the Labrador's breed club have set
the breed standard to accommodate the field-bred Labrador somewhat. For
instance, the AKC withers-height standards allow conformation dogs to be
slightly taller than the equivalent British standard.
[34] However, dual champions, or dogs that excel in both the field and the show ring, are becoming more unusual.
[35]
Temperament
The AKC describes the Labrador's temperament as a kind, pleasant,
outgoing and tractable nature. Labradors' sense of smell allows them to
home in on almost any scent and follow the path of its origin. They
generally stay on the scent until they find it. Navies, military forces
and police forces use them as detection dogs to track down smugglers,
thieves, terrorists and black marketers. Labradors instinctively enjoy
holding objects and even hands or arms in their mouths, which they can
do with great gentleness (a Labrador can carry an
egg in its mouth without breaking it).
[36]
They are known to have a very soft feel to the mouth, as a result of
being bred to retrieve game such as waterfowl. They are prone to chewing
objects (though they can be trained to abandon this behavior). The
Labrador Retriever's coat repels water to some extent, thus facilitating
the extensive use of the dog in
waterfowl hunting.
A Labrador playing fetch in the water.
Labradors have a reputation as a very even-tempered breed and an
excellent family dog. This includes a good reputation with children of
all ages and other animals.
[14]
Some lines, particularly those that have continued to be bred
specifically for their skills at working in the field (rather than for
their appearance), are particularly fast and athletic. Their fun-loving
boisterousness and lack of fear may require training and firm handling
at times to ensure it does not get out of hand—an uncontrolled adult can
be quite problematic. Females may be slightly more independent than
males.
[14]
Labradors mature at around three years of age; before this time they
can have a significant degree of puppy-like energy, often mislabelled as
being
hyperactive.
[14][37] Because of their enthusiasm, leash-training early on is suggested to prevent pulling when full-grown.
[38] Labradors often enjoy retrieving a ball endlessly (often obsessively) and other forms of activity (such as
agility,
frisbee, or
flyball).
Although they will sometimes
bark at noise, especially noise from an unseen source ("
alarm barking"), Labradors are usually not noisy
[14] or
territorial. They are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers and therefore are not usually suitable as
guard dogs.
[14]
Labradors have a well-known reputation for
appetite, and some individuals may be highly indiscriminate, eating digestible and non-food objects alike.
[36]
They are persistent and persuasive in requesting food. For this reason,
the Labrador owner must carefully control his/her dog's food intake to
avoid obesity and its associated health problems (see below).
[36]
The steady temperament of Labradors and their ability to learn make
them an ideal breed for search and rescue, detection, and therapy work.
They are a very intelligent breed. They are ranked # 7 in Stanley
Coren's
The Intelligence of Dogs.
The AKC describes the breed as an ideal family and sporting dog. Their
primary working role in the field continues to be that of a hunting
retriever.
Exploration
Chocolate Labrador walking on the beach
Labradors do not typically jump high fences or dig, but because of
their personalities, some Labradors climb and/or jump for their own
amusement. As a breed they are highly intelligent and capable of intense
single-mindedness and focus if motivated or their interest is caught.
Therefore, with the right conditions and stimuli, a bored Labrador could
"turn into an escape artist
par excellence".
[14][39]
Labradors as a breed are curious, exploratory and love company,
following both people and interesting scents for food, attention and
novelty value. In this way, they can often "vanish" or otherwise become
separated from their owners with little fanfare.
[40] Many dogs are also stolen.
[41]
Because of their curious nature and ability to "vanish," along with the
risk of being stolen, a number of dog clubs and rescue organizations
(including the UK's Kennel Club) consider it good practice that
Labradors be
microchipped, with the owner's name and address also on their collar and tags.
[40][42]
Use as working dogs
Labradors are an intelligent breed with a good work ethic and
generally good temperaments (breed statistics show that 92.3% of
Labradors who were tested passed the American Temperament Test.
[43]) Common working roles for Labradors include:
hunting,
tracking and
detection (they have a great sense of smell which helps when working in these areas),
disabled-assistance,
carting, and
therapy work.
[44] Approximately 60–70% of all
guide dogs in Canada are Labradors; other common breeds are
Golden Retrievers and
German Shepherds.
[45]
Labradors are powerful and indefatigable swimmers noted for their
ability to tolerate the coldest of water for extended periods of time.
Their ability to work quietly alongside hunters while watching for birds
to fall from the sky, marking where they land, and then using their
outstanding nose to find and retrieve dead or wounded birds has made
them the king of waterfowl retrievers.
[46]
A fox red English line Labrador retriever returns successfully from a pond retrieve.
They are also used for
pointing and
flushing and make excellent
upland game hunting partners.
[47]
The high intelligence, initiative and self-direction of Labradors in working roles is exemplified by dogs such as
Endal, who during a 2001 emergency placed an
unconscious human being in the
recovery position,
retrieved his mobile phone from beneath the car, fetched a blanket and
covered him, barked at nearby dwellings for assistance, and then ran to a
nearby hotel to obtain help.
[48] A number of Labradors have also been taught to assist their owner in removing money and credit cards from
ATMs with prior training.
[49]
The breed is used in water rescue/
lifesaving. It continues in that role today, along with the
Leonberger,
Newfoundland and
Golden Retriever dogs; they are used at the Italian School of Canine Lifeguard.
[50]
Health
Many dogs, including Labradors such as this twelve-year-old, show
distinct whitening of the coat as they grow older; especially around the
muzzle.
Labrador pups generally are not brought to the home before they are 8 weeks old.
[51] Their life expectancy is generally
10 to 12 years,
[2] and it is a healthy breed with relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to health and well-being include:
Inherited disorders
- Labradors are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia,[52] especially the larger dogs,[53] though not as much as some other breeds.[54] Hip scores are recommended before breeding and often joint supplements are recommended.
- Labradors also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A luxating patella is a common occurrence in the knee where the knee dislocates and goes back into place.
- Eye problems are also possible in some Labradors, particularly progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts,[55] corneal dystrophy[52] and retinal dysplasia. Dogs which are intended to be bred should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist for an eye score.
- Hereditary myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that causes a deficiency in type II muscle fibre.
Symptoms include a short stilted gait or "bunny hopping," and in rare
cases ventroflexion of the neck accompanied by a kyphotic posture.[56]
- There is a small incidence of other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and deafness in Labradors, either congenitally or later in life.[21]
- Labradors often suffer from exercise induced collapse, a syndrome that causes hyperthermia, weakness, collapse, and disorientation after short bouts of exercise.[57]
Obesity
Labradors like to eat, and without adequate exercise can become
obese. Laziness also contributes to this. Obesity is a serious condition
and can be considered the number one nutritional problem with dogs. A
study shows that at least 25% of dogs in the United States are
overweight.
[58]
Therefore Labradors must be properly exercised and stimulated. A
healthy Labrador can do swimming wind sprints for two hours, and should
keep a very slight hourglass waist and be fit and light, rather than fat
or heavy-set. Obesity can exacerbate conditions such as hip dysplasia
and joint problems, and can lead to secondary diseases, including
diabetes.
Osteoarthritis
is common in older, especially overweight, Labradors. A 14 year study
covering 48 dogs by food manufacturer Purina showed that Labradors fed
to maintain a lean body shape outlived those fed freely by around two
years, emphasizing the importance of not over-feeding. Labradors should
be walked twice a day for at least half an hour.
[59]
Appearance around the world
In the United States, the breed gained wider recognition following a 1928
American Kennel Gazette article,
"Meet the Labrador Retriever". Before this time, the AKC had only registered 23 Labradors in the country,
[12] in part because US and UK hunting styles had different requirements.
[60] Labradors acquired popularity as hunting dogs during the 1920s and especially after
World War II,
as they gained recognition as combining some of the best traits of the
two favourite United States breeds as both game finders and water dogs.
[60]
Outside North America and Western Europe, the Labrador arrived later.
For example, the Russian Retriever Club traces the arrival of Labradors
to the late 1960s, as household pets of
diplomats and others in the foreign ministry.
[61]
The establishment of the breed in the Commonwealth of Independent
States (former USSR) was initially hindered by the relatively small
numbers of Labradors and great distances involved, leading to difficulty
establishing breedings and bloodlines;
[61] at the start of the 1980s, home-born dogs were still regularly supplemented by further imports from overseas.
[61] Difficulties such as these initially led to Labradors being tacitly
cross-bred to other types of retriever.
[61] In the 1990s, improved access to overseas shows and bloodlines is said to have helped this situation become regularised.
[61]
Demography
The Labrador is an exceptionally popular dog. For example as of 2006:
-
- Widely considered the most popular breed in the world.[62][63]
- Most popular dog by ownership in Australia,[4] Canada,[64] Israel.[65] New Zealand[66] UK,[67] and USA (since 1991),[68][69]
- In both the UK and USA, there are well over twice as many Labradors registered as the next most popular breed.[67][68]
If the comparison is limited to dog breeds of a similar size, then
there are around 3 - 5 times as many Labradors registered in both
countries as the next most popular breeds, the German Shepherd and Golden Retriever.[67][68]
- Most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia and many other countries,[70] as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities.[9] Approximately 60–70% of all guide dogs in the United States are Labradors (see below).[45]
- Seven out of 13 of the Australian National Kennel Council "Outstanding Gundogs" Hall of Fame appointees are Labradors (list covers 2000–2005).[71]
There is no global registry of Labradors, nor detailed information on
numbers of Labradors living in each country. The countries with the
five largest numbers of Labrador registrations as of 2005 are: 1: United
Kingdom 2: France and United States (approximately equal), 4: Sweden,
5: Finland.
[72][73] Sweden and Finland have
far lower populations than the other three countries, suggesting that as of 2005 these two countries have the highest proportion of Labradors per million people:
-
-
| Finland |
5.2 |
2,236 |
426.0 |
| France |
60.5 |
9,281 |
153.4 |
| Sweden |
9.0 |
5,158 |
570.5 |
| United Kingdom |
59.7 |
18,554 |
311.0 |
| USA |
307.0 |
10,833 |
36.3 |
OFA statistics suggest that yellow and black Labradors are registered
in very similar numbers (yellow slightly more than black); chocolate in
lesser numbers.
[72][73]
- Note: number of registrations is not necessarily the same as number of living dogs at any given time.
US Military Working Dogs (War Dogs): Labrador Retrievers in the Vietnam War
The Vietnam War is the only war in American history in which US
war dogs, which were officially classified by the military as "military
working dogs," were not allowed to officially return home after the war.
[74] Classified as
expendable equipment,
of the approximate 4,000 US K-9s deployed to the Vietnam War, it is
estimated that only about 200 US war dogs survived Vietnam to be put
into service at other outposts stationed overseas.
[75]
The predominate canine selected by the US Military during the Vietnam War was the
German Shepherd, which was utilized in the roles of
Scout Dogs,
Sentry Dogs,
Mine Detection Dogs, and the US Navy used
Water Dogs to detect enemy under water divers in South Vietnam. The Labrador Retriever was the military's choice for their
Combat Tracker Teams
(CTTs). Combat Tracker Teams consisted of one Labrador and four men:
the handler, an observer, a security man, and the team leader.
[76]
Labradors were selected by the military for tracking because of their
distinct smelling qualities, and were utilized to locate wounded US
servicemen, enemy patrols, and downed allied airmen in Vietnam. The US
Army Labrador Retrievers received their combat training at the
British Army's
Jungle Warfare School in
Malaysia.
[77]
Of the over 4,000 US war dogs serving in the Vietnam War, 232 were killed in action,
[78] and 295 US servicemen deployed as "dog handlers" were killed in action.
[79] Dog handler
Robert W. Hartsock was awarded the
Medal of Honor. Six Labrador Retrievers were killed in action while assigned to the 62nd and 63rd US Army
Combat Tracking Teams.
[80]
During the course of the war the US Army lost 204 dogs, while the US
Marine Corps and US Air Force lost 13 and 15 dogs, respectively.
In November 2000, President
Bill Clinton
signed into law an amendment that allowed retired US military working
dogs (war dogs) to be adopted by personnel outside of the military,
leaving the Vietnam War as the only war in US history in which American
war dogs never returned home.
[75][81]
Famous labradors
As both the most popular breed by registered ownership and also the
most popular breed for assistance dogs in several countries, there have
been many notable and famous labradors since the breed was recognised.
A selection of a few of the most famous labradors within various categories includes:
- Assistance dogs
- Endal, a service dog in Britain. Among other distinctions, "the most decorated dog in the world" (including "Dog of the Millennium"[82] and the PDSA’s Gold Medal for Animal Gallantry and Devotion to Duty),[83] the first dog to ride on the London Eye and the first dog known to work a 'chip and pin'
ATM card. By Endal's death in March 2009, he and his owner/handler
Allen Parton had been filmed almost 350 times by crews from several
countries, and a film of a year in Endal's life was in production.[84][85]
- Police, military, rescue and detection dogs
- Zanjeer
("Chain", or "Shackles"), a detection dog who detected arms and
ammunition used in 1993 Mumbai (Bombay) serial explosions. During his
service, he helped recover 57 country-made bombs, 175 petrol bombs, 11
military grade armaments, 242 grenades and 600 detonators. His biggest
contribution to the police force and the city was the detection of
3,329 kg of RDX. He also helped detect 18 Type 56 rifles and five 9mm pistols.
- Lucky and Flo, twin Black Labrador counterfeit detection dogs who became famous in 2007 for "sniffing out nearly 2 million pirated counterfeit DVDs" on a six-month secondment to Malaysia in 2007.[86]
Following the multi-million dollar, 6-arrest Malaysian detection, they
became the first dogs to be awarded Malaysia's "outstanding service
award"[87] and software pirates were stated to have put a £30,000 contract out for their lives.[88][89]
- Pets
- Fiction and media
- Brian Griffin from the animated TV sitcom Family Guy is a white Labrador Retriever.
- Bouncer in Neighbours, and Luath in The Incredible Journey, are also famous Labradors on TV.
- Marley is an American Labrador featured in Marley & Me, a best-selling book by John Grogan, and a subsequent film based on Grogan's life and times with Marley.
- On the BBC children's television series Big Barn Farm, Digger is a yellow Labrador puppy.
- Greg Mitchell was the Labrador on Reeves and Mortimer.
- Rowdy on Scrubs is a taxidermy golden Labrador Retriever involved in various gags on the show.
- Vincent on Lost is a white Labrador Retriever.
- Mascots and advertising
Labrador hybrids
The
Labradoodle is a "designer dog" that is a cross-bred Labrador and
Poodle. A concept that originated in Australia, the intent of breeding this cross was to try and create a
service dog suitable for
allergy
sufferers. However, there is no guarantee such a cross will inherit the
hypo-allergenic poodle coat. Some assistance-dog groups use
Golden Retriever–Labrador Retriever hybrids because they believe this cross produces dogs with excellent temperaments.
[70]
The assistance dog organisation
Mira utilises Labrador-
Bernese Mountain Dog crosses ("Labernese") with success.
[92]
