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Club and AKC.[1][2] The AKC adds that "true Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a hallmark of the breed as the 'otter' tail."[1]

Colour[]

File:Labrador Retrievers yellow and red.jpg

Different shades of yellow: a usual yellow shade, and a fox red shade.

File:3labradorcols.jpg

The three primary color varieties of the Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retrievers are registered in three colours:[1] black (a solid black colour), yellow (anything from light cream to "fox-red"), and chocolate (medium to dark brown). Some Labrador retrievers can have markings such as white patches on their chest and other areas, but most commonly they are one solid color.

Puppies of all colours can potentially occur in the same litter. Colour is determined primarily by two genes. The first gene (the B locus) determines the density of the coat's pigment granules: dense granules result in a black coat, sparse ones give a chocolate coat. The second (D) locus determines whether the pigment is produced at all. A dog with the recessive d allele will produce little pigment and will be yellow regardless of its genotype at the B locus.[3] Variations in numerous other genes control the subtler details of the coat's colouration, which in yellow Labradors varies from white to light gold to a fox red. Chocolate and black Labradors' noses will match the coat color.

Nose and skin pigmentation[]

Because Labrador colouration 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),[4] or several other colours. 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 colours. 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.[4] The intensity of black pigment on yellow Labradors is controlled by a separate gene independent of the fur colouring.[4] 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 colouring. Tyrosinase is temperature dependent—hence light colouration can be seasonal, due to cold weather—and is less produced with increasing age two years old onwards. As a result, the nose colour of most yellow Labradors becomes a somewhat pink shade as they grow older.[4]

File:Seamus and Shelley 4.jpg

A seven-week-old Dudley Lab. The nose and lips are pink or flesh-colored, the defining aspect of Dudley pigmentation.

A colouration 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 coloured" in addition to having the same colour around the rims of the eye, rather than having black or dark brown pigmentation.[5][4] 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 coloured rims around the eyes. True Dudleys are extremely rare.[4][6]

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[]

File:Chocolate Labrador Retrievers.jpg

Chocolate Labradors from field-bred stock are typically lighter in build and have a shorter coat than conformation show Labrador.

There are significant differences between field and trial-bred (sometimes referred to as "American") and show-bred (or "English") lines of Labradors, arising as a result of specialised breeding. 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.

File:American and English Labrador heads.jpg

Head and muzzle appearance: American or field (left), and English or show (right), showing the shorter muzzle length, more solid appearance head, and "pronounced" stop of the latter.

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. 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.[7][8] Field-bred Labradors are commonly higher energy and more high-strung compared to the Labrador bred for conformation showing, and as a consequence may be more suited to working relationships than being a "family pet".[7][8] 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.[9]

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.[10] However, dual champions, or dogs that excel in both the field and the show ring, are becoming more unusual.[11] Template:Clear

Temperament[]

File:LabradorWeaving.jpg

A Labrador participating in dog agility

Labradors are a well-balanced, friendly and versatile breed, adaptable to a wide range of functions as well as making very good pets. As a rule they are not excessively prone to being territorial, pining, insecure, aggressive, destructive, hypersensitive, or other difficult traits which sometimes manifest in a variety of breeds. As the name suggests, they are excellent retrievers. 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).[12] They are also 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 out of this behavior). The Labrador Retriever's coat repels water to some extent, thus facilitating the extensive use of the dog in waterfowl hunting.

File:Labradors love to play with water Noddy Dec 2006 gopal1035.jpg

Labradors enjoy playing with water

Labradors have a reputation as a very even-tempered breed and an excellent family dog (including a good reputation with children of all ages and other animals),[5] but 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.[5] 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.[5][13] Because of their enthusiasm, leash-training early on is suggested to prevent pulling when full-grown.[14] Labradors often enjoy retrieving a ball endlessly 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[5] or territorial. They are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers, and therefore are not usually suitable as guard dogs.[5]

Labradors have a well-known reputation for appetite, and some individuals may be highly indiscriminate, eating digestible and non-food objects alike.[12] They are persuasive and persistent 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).[12]

The steady temperament of Labradors and their ability to learn make them an ideal breed for search and rescue, detection, and therapy work. Their primary working role in the field continues to be that of a hunting retriever.

Exploration[]

File:BuddyBeach.jpg

A wet black Labrador exploring the beach.

They do not typically jump high fences or dig. 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".[5][15]

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.[16] They are also popular dogs if found, and at times may be stolen.[17] Because of this a number of dog clubs and rescue organisations (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.[16][18]

Use as working dogs[]

File:Modoken.jpg

Labradors are a very popular selection for use as guide 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.[19]) 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.[20] Approximately 60–70% of all guide dogs in Canada are Labradors; other common breeds are Golden Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs.[21]

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.[22] A number of labradors have also been taught to assist their owner in removing money and credit cards from ATMs with prior training.[23]

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.[24]

Health[]

File:Chocolate Labrador Boomer 2008.jpg

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.[25] Their life expectancy is generally 10 to 12 years,[26] 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,[27] especially the larger dogs,[28] though not as much as some other breeds.[29] 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 leg is often bow shaped.
  • Eye problems are also possible in some Labradors, particularly progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts,[30] corneal dystrophy[27] 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.[31]
  • There is a small incidence of other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and deafness in Labradors, either congenitally or later in life.[32]
  • Labradors often suffer from exercise induced collapse, a syndrome that causes hyperthermia, weakness, collapse, and disorientation after short bouts of exercise.[33]

Other disorders[]

Labradors are sometimes prone to ear infection, because their floppy ears trap warm moist air. Labradors who spend a lot of time in water are additionally prone to infection. This is easy to control, but needs regular checking to ensure that a problem is not building up unseen. A healthy Labrador ear should look clean and light pink (almost white) inside. Darker pink (or inflamed red), or brownish deposits, are a symptom of ear infection. The usual treatment is regular cleaning daily or twice daily (being careful not to force dirt into the sensitive inner ear) and sometimes medication (ear drops) for major cases. As a preventative measure, some owners clip the hair carefully around the ear and under the flap, to encourage better air flow. Labradors also get cases of allergic reactions to food or other environmental factors.

Obesity[]

Labradors can easily become overweight, due to their enjoyment of treats, hearty appetites, and endearing behaviour towards people. Lack of activity is also a contributing factor. A healthy Labrador should keep a very slight hourglass waist and be fit and light, rather than fat or heavy-set. Excessive weight is strongly implicated as a risk factor in the later development of hip dysplasia or other joint problems and diabetes, and also can contribute to general reduced health when older. 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, emphasising the importance of not over-feeding.[34]

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,[35] in part because US and UK hunting styles had different requirements.[36] 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.[36]

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.[37] 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;[37] at the start of the 1980s, home-born dogs were still regularly supplemented by further imports from overseas.[37] Difficulties such as these initially led to Labradors being tacitly cross-bred to other types of retriever.[37] In the 1990s, improved access to overseas shows and bloodlines is said to have helped this situation become regularised.[37]

Demography[]

Template:Main The Labrador is an exceptionally popular dog. For example Template:As of:

  • Widely considered the most popular breed in the world.[38][39]
  • Most popular dog by ownership in Australia,[40] Canada,[41] Israel.[42] New Zealand[43] UK,[44] and USA (since 1991),[45][46]
  • In both the UK and USA, there are well over twice as many Labradors registered as the next most popular breed.[44][45] 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.[44][45]
  • Most popular breed of assistance dog in the United States, Australia and many other countries,[47] as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities.[48] Approximately 60–70% of all guide dogs in the United States are Labradors (see below).[21]
  • Seven out of 13 of the Australian National Kennel Council "Outstanding Gundogs" Hall of Fame appointees are Labradors (list covers 2000–2005).[49]

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.[50][51] Sweden and Finland have far lower populations than the other three countries, suggesting that Template:As of these two countries have the highest proportion of Labradors per million people:

Country Population
(millions)
Labrador
registrations
Registrations per
million pop.
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 298.2 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.[50][51]

Note: number of registrations is not necessarily the same as number of living dogs at any given time.

Famous labradors[]

Template:Main 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:

File:Endal Dickin.jpg

Endal wearing his PDSA Gold Medal.

Assistance dogs
  • Endal, a service dog in Britain. Among other distinctions, "the most decorated dog in the world" (including "Dog of the Millennium"[52] and the PDSA’s Gold Medal for Animal Gallantry and Devotion to Duty),[53] 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.[54][55]
Police, military, rescue and detection dogs
  • Zanjeer, a detection dog who detected arms and ammunition used in 1993 Mumbai (Bombay) serial explosions. During his service, his haul was excellent. He helped recover 57 country-made bombs, 175 petrol bombs, 11 military bombs, 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.[56] Following the multi-million dollar, 6-arrest Malaysian detection, they became the first dogs to be awarded Malaysia's, "outstanding service award",[57] and software pirates were stated to have put a £30,000 contract out for their lives.[58][59]
  • Sabi, an Australian special forces explosives detection dog that spent almost 14 months missing in action (MIA) in Afghanistan before being recovered safe and well in 2009.[60][61]
Pets
  • Former President of the United States Bill Clinton's Labradors Buddy and Seamus.
  • Former Russian President, and current Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's Labrador 'Koni'.
Fiction and media
  • Labradors have featured variously as pets and significant characters in sitcoms and other TV shows, as well as other portrayals in the media. Bouncer in Neighbours, and Luath in The Incredible Journey, are two TV examples.
  • 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 the children's television series Big Barn Farm, Digger is a yellow Labrador puppy.
  • Some Labradors have been featured in the manga/anime series Ginga Densetsu Weed, one of the most notable being Hook.
  • Rowdy on Scrubs is a taxidermy golden Labrador Retriever involved in various gags on the show.
Mascots and advertising
  • Since 1972, a yellow Labrador pup known as the Andrex Puppy has been an advertising symbol for Andrex (Cottonelle) toilet tissue.
  • Michigan State University has an ongoing tradition of Zeke the Wonder Dog. The original "Zeke" was a yellow Lab, as is the current "Zeke III", and "Zeke II" was a black Lab.

Template:Clear

Labrador hybrids[]

The "Labradoodle" is a trendy "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 the current fashion for Labradoodles has resulted in indiscriminate breeding, and there is no guarantee such a cross will inherit the hypo-allergenic poodle coat.

Some assistance-dog groups use Golden Retriever / Labrador Retriever hybrids (unofficially called a Golden Labrador Retriever) because they believe this cross produces dogs with excellent temperaments.[47] However, such crossbreeds are not immune to many of the problems suffered by purebreds, as Golden Retrievers and Labradors have similar health problems.

There are also Mastadors, crosses between the Labrador Retriever and the Mastiff, like Spike that played Old Yeller.

There are even Labrador hybrids, named "Spanadors", crossed with Cocker Spaniels, which can reduce certain bone problems, due to their smaller bodies. They were originally bred to be designer dogs, with their coats coming in many different colors and length.

The assistance dog organisation Mira utilises Labrador-Bernese Mountain Dog crosses ("Labernese") with success.[62]

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Did you know that Labs are the most popular dogs in the united states? These dogs are very obedient and loyal. Most Labs know many tricks! Some even know how to shake a hand!

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