Consider Training a Labrador Retriever?
You most probably think that a Labrador Retriever ought to be from Labrador, right? Well that is not so! Labs are believed to have originated from Newfoundland. Labrador is situated northwest of Newfoundland so the proximity of Labrador to Newfoundland might have something to do with the name!
The fishermen of Newfoundland extensively used this breed because the fishing boats could not come too close to the shore and this dog swam out into the icy cold water and dragged the nets full of fish back to the men on the shore.
So as fishermen used these dogs to retrieve their catch, they acquired the name “retriever.” That is why these dogs are strong swimmers. They are not too large to be accommodated on fishing boats either.
On shore, these dogs made excellent companions to hunters. They were used to retrieve prey that the English hunters brought down!
These Englishmen inhabited the St. John’s area of Newfoundland. These hunters were responsible for bringing the dogs to England through the Poole Harbor of Dorset, which was the center of the fishing trade of Newfoundland.
These are some of the reasons that you might find the Labrador Retriever being also referred to by the following names too!
Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a dog with a strong and medium build. It has an athletic well-muscled get up – with no excess fat. This get up enables it to function for long hours under tough conditions.
Its stable temperament makes it an ideal family dog. Its mental characteristics and physical features make it a winner in the show rings too.
A distinguishing feature about the Lab is its tail. Best described as an “otter” tail, this tail is thick at the base and gradually tapers towards the tip. It is of medium length – no longer than the hock. It follows the top-line of the dog when at rest and in motion. It gives the Lab a beautiful flowing line that starts from the top his head to the tip of his lovely tail.
Another distinguishing feature about the Lab is its beautiful coat. You can only gape in open-mouthed wonder at Mother Nature’s generosity in her creations. The Lab’s fur coat is so unique to the conditions that it originally lived in! The Lab is endowed with a short and dense water repellent coat. This gives a rather hard feel to the hand. Beneath this is a soft weather resistant undercoat that gives the dog protection from water and cold conditions. The coat can be wavy down the back. Woolly, soft silky coats, or slick coats are just not true of this fine breed!
Traits
The nicest trait about Labrador Retrievers is that they are very people oriented. They love spending time with people whom they love. They would rather lick a person to death than hurt him.
They are good with children too. They have a stable temperament. Hence they do not get easily upset by strange noises or occurrences. They take things in stride. And, being retrievers, they will happily fetch things for you. Consider that these retrievers require some action and exercise and these action-oriented dogs require good training in order to be good pets!
An untrained Lab can turn out to be unmanageable. This is partly due to his size and partly due to his unbridled enthusiasm! Lack of exercise can turn a Lab into a destructive creature. Destruction is a way for him to work out his excessive energy and utter boredom. Your Lab thrives on love and attention. So do not ignore him once he is in your care and possession. A Labrador is an intelligent animal and can be easily trained.
A well-trained pet
If you want a lovely Lab trotting majestically at your heels, it is very important for you to ensure that he is properly trained. So invest some time and energy in training this intelligent animal during the early stages of his life. Do this and you will reap the benefits multi-fold!
The fishermen of Newfoundland extensively used this breed because the fishing boats could not come too close to the shore and this dog swam out into the icy cold water and dragged the nets full of fish back to the men on the shore.
So as fishermen used these dogs to retrieve their catch, they acquired the name “retriever.” That is why these dogs are strong swimmers. They are not too large to be accommodated on fishing boats either.
On shore, these dogs made excellent companions to hunters. They were used to retrieve prey that the English hunters brought down!
These Englishmen inhabited the St. John’s area of Newfoundland. These hunters were responsible for bringing the dogs to England through the Poole Harbor of Dorset, which was the center of the fishing trade of Newfoundland.
These are some of the reasons that you might find the Labrador Retriever being also referred to by the following names too!
- Black Water Dog
- English Labrador
- English Retriever
- Labrador Dog
- Lesser Labrador
- Lesser Newfoundland Dog
- Lesser St. John's Dog
- Little Newfoundlander
- Newfoundland Dog
- Newfoundland Water Dog
- Smaller Labrador
- St. John's Dog
- St. John's Labrador Dog
Appearance
The Labrador Retriever is a dog with a strong and medium build. It has an athletic well-muscled get up – with no excess fat. This get up enables it to function for long hours under tough conditions.
Its stable temperament makes it an ideal family dog. Its mental characteristics and physical features make it a winner in the show rings too.
A distinguishing feature about the Lab is its tail. Best described as an “otter” tail, this tail is thick at the base and gradually tapers towards the tip. It is of medium length – no longer than the hock. It follows the top-line of the dog when at rest and in motion. It gives the Lab a beautiful flowing line that starts from the top his head to the tip of his lovely tail.
Another distinguishing feature about the Lab is its beautiful coat. You can only gape in open-mouthed wonder at Mother Nature’s generosity in her creations. The Lab’s fur coat is so unique to the conditions that it originally lived in! The Lab is endowed with a short and dense water repellent coat. This gives a rather hard feel to the hand. Beneath this is a soft weather resistant undercoat that gives the dog protection from water and cold conditions. The coat can be wavy down the back. Woolly, soft silky coats, or slick coats are just not true of this fine breed!
Traits
The nicest trait about Labrador Retrievers is that they are very people oriented. They love spending time with people whom they love. They would rather lick a person to death than hurt him.
They are good with children too. They have a stable temperament. Hence they do not get easily upset by strange noises or occurrences. They take things in stride. And, being retrievers, they will happily fetch things for you. Consider that these retrievers require some action and exercise and these action-oriented dogs require good training in order to be good pets!
An untrained Lab can turn out to be unmanageable. This is partly due to his size and partly due to his unbridled enthusiasm! Lack of exercise can turn a Lab into a destructive creature. Destruction is a way for him to work out his excessive energy and utter boredom. Your Lab thrives on love and attention. So do not ignore him once he is in your care and possession. A Labrador is an intelligent animal and can be easily trained.
A well-trained pet
If you want a lovely Lab trotting majestically at your heels, it is very important for you to ensure that he is properly trained. So invest some time and energy in training this intelligent animal during the early stages of his life. Do this and you will reap the benefits multi-fold!
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