Where else to start, but with one of the most popular breeds in Australia. We can only go off official statistics, as Dogs Australia require breeders to register their litters, but this gives a fairly good indication of trends overall for most pure breed dogs. In 2021 there were over 6000 Labrador puppies registered, a number which has been steadily climbing since the late 1980's.
History of the Labrador.
Like many breeds we'll dive into, the early history of the Lab has some element of the unknown about it. Where did they come from? To simply say "Labrador, Canada, near Newfoundland" is simplistic - that area of Canada didn't have native dogs so they had to come from somewhere before that.
This website has laid the probable history out beautifully (https://www.thelabradorsite.com/the-history-of-the-labrador-retriever/) and to sum it up, it is believed that the dogs brought over with the European settlers are the St John's Water Dog, the ancestor of both the Newfoundland and the Labrador. These dogs were around 20-25kg or so in weight and could either have a short, oily coat or a longer coat like a Border Collie. Their colour was black with white markings and they enjoyed working alongside their fisherman humans; retrieving nets, lines, ropes and fish.
Some of these dogs were imported back to England and this is where two aristocrats and their sons essentially began the program that would bring us the dog we know as the Labrador Retriever (so thank the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury and the 5th Duke of Buccleuch if you love a lab today).
As a breed, they were being used for retrieving game that was shot by hunters, and developed throughout the 1800's, before being declared a breed by The Kennel Club of England in 1903.
Breed Standard
There are particular physical features and attributes that make labs, labs. Three distinct physical traits that we can look for are the head, the waterproof coat and the otter-like tail. Why are these important? Because as a working dog, retrieving downed game from the field or water without damaging it was your job, if you had these traits you were more successful, and therefore more like to be bred to pass those traits on (unnatural natural selection if you will, otherwise known as selective breeding).
Temperament attributes are just as important as the physical. In order to be an effective hunting companion, a lab needed to be willing to please, good tempered with a love of water. An adaptable and devoted companion. It is no surprise that Labradors are one of the "fab four" dog breeds - those that are chosen most often as assistance dogs (service dogs elsewhere in the world). They may not be needed in the field these days, but we can still use their willingness to work and kind temperaments for many other purposes.
Dogs Australia contains the breed standards for all recognised pure breeds, as well as the extended standards if you want more of an explanation behind each attribute.
As a pet
First up, Labradors are a large breed as they usually exceed 25kg fully grown. This means that they'll require larger beds, crates, take up more room in the car and potentially knock over little ones with their exuberance. This size means that they're generally a tough dog though, and they'll keep up with older kids (7 years+) with no problems.
They shed a lot of hair. No kidding, the spiderwebs in the top corners of your house WILL have Labrador hairs in them. They have a thick double coat designed to keep them dry and warm in cold conditions, so keep this in mind if you're averse to finding dog hair on your clothing. But on the plus side, this coat is super easy to look after. Just regular brushing to remove excess, loose hair and nail trimming is all that is needed - and the occasional bath.
They have a zest for life and energy that few other dogs match. They are eternal puppies, which is SO fun. But if not managed and trained, you will have a dog that jumps up on house guests. Energy wise, a short walk around the block isn't going to be enough - but remember that mental stimulation is just as important! These dogs are smart enough to be guide dogs, they will love to be given training challenges.
They love food. Sounds like a cliché, but I haven't met a lab yet that doesn't enjoy their food. But labs were designed to be agile, active and fit dogs. A fat lab is not the standard, so watch the food and make them work for every morsel if they're prone to putting on the kilos.
Lifestyle
So what sort of lifestyle best suits your modern day Labrador? Given that very few of us are out hunting in swampy marshes with our guns and dogs, most Labradors are no longer utilised for the job they were bred to do. That said, they are extremely versatile and can slot into many types of families with ease.
A priority for Labradors is activity. They will not be satisfied only sitting on the couch, or stuck in the backyard or you might shortly find yourself without a couch and a very holey backyard. There will be outliers, but in general I would suggest that these dogs need to be exercised daily - ideally twice. A thirty minute walk would satisfy most, but what lab wouldn't also enjoy a paddle in a body of water as well (it's great cardio exercise and non-weight bearing!). Don't forget to let them sniff and explore their environment too - it's not a race. Family wise, labs are great family dogs. But like I mentioned above, families with slightly older children. This isn't because the dogs won't like the kids necessarily (all dogs need to be socialised properly with kids and this means supervision ALWAYS, and protecting the dog from well-meaning yet sometimes rough, kids) but because labs are so wiggly and exuberant that knocking over a small child is a real risk - and you don't want your kids to be scared of the family dog!
Also, older children can provide more interaction and stimulation, like playing soccer and going for a swim together.
*none of this is to say that if you have a lab and then have a family that it can't work. Hopefully this can provide information that can inform you going forward, so that if this is your case, you know to protect small humans from wiggly dog bums.
Health Concerns
Labrador Retrievers are at risk of several health issues, several of which can be mitigated by good breeding programs and health testing of breeding stock.
Hip and elbow dysplasia are the most common conditions, and also the most commonly screened for. Unfortunately they have multifactorial etiopathogenesis - a fancy way of saying they have more than one cause so genetic screening can only reduce the incidence by so much.
Other conditions are Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA - prcd specifically), Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC) and Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis (HNPK) and heart conditions such as tricuspid valve dysplasia. All of these listed have genetic tests or screenings available and a good breeder will not only test for these, but make the results available to potential puppy buyers.
Final words
Overall, I'd have to say that Labradors are certainly a popular and well-loved breed for a reason. They are versatile, cheery and smart enough to have a lot of fun with. I'd probably be aware that they may not be great for very young children, but only due to their size and possible exuberance. A great starter dog for many people!
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