ADDITIONAL LABRADOR RETRIEVER PICTURES
Family: Retriever
Breed Group: Gun Dog, AKC Sporting
Origin: Newfoundland, Canada
Date of Origin: 18th century
Originally used for: Hunting
Used today: Companion, sporting
Other Name(s): Black Labrador Retriever, Yellow Labrador Retriever, Chocolate Labrador Retriever, Silver Labrador Retriever
History of the Breed: The Labrador Retriever originated in Newfoundland as the St. John's Water Dog. The St. John's Water dog was divided into two categories
the Greater and Lesser St. John's dogs. The Greater St. John's dog was used primarily for draft work such as hauling carts loaded with fish.
They were the larger of the two breeds and possessed a long thick coat. The Lesser St. John's dog was a smooth coated black dog, with lots of
stamina. These dogs were the companions of the fishermen of the Labrador Sea and they had excellent qualities such as devotion, loyalty, and hunting
and retrieving abilities that made them very attractive to sportsmen. The breed became very popular on the large estates in Great Britain, and
a breeding program by the estate owners was put into place. It was from these Lesser St. John's dogs that the Labrador Retriever was developed. The Labrador
we know today in the US came from Great Britain.
The Labrador Retriever was recognized as a distinct breed by the English Kennel Club in 1903.
The first registration of Labradors by the AKC was in 1917
General Appearance: The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled dog with
a broad and clean-cut head. The nose is black or brown with wide well-developed nostrils. The ears hang
moderately close to the head, set rather far back, and somewhat low on the skull slightly above eye level. The eyes
are medium size, set well apart, and either brown or hazel in color based on the coat color.
The body is short-coupled, with good spring of ribs tapering to a moderately wide chest. The underline is almost straight,
loins are short, wide and strong that extend to well developed and powerful hindquarters.
The otter tail is strong and thick near the body then tapering. The coat is short, straight and very dense, and
can be black, yellow, or chocolate in color.
Height & Weight:
Height 21.5-24.5 Inches
Weight 55-80 Pounds
Coat: A double coat with an outercoat that is short, straight, and very dense and an undercoat that is soft and weather-resistant.
Color: Black, yellow, or chocolate.
Grooming needs: Low
Temperament of Breed: Labradors are gentle and intelligent and make outstanding family dogs.
Friendly with children: Yes
Friendly with other dogs: Yes
Suitability as a watchdog: Yes
Exercise Level: Medium
Health Issues with the Breed:
Major: Hip dysplasia, luxating patella
Minor: Ear infections
Life Expectancy: 12-13 Years
2006 AKC Ranking: 1
First Registered by the AKC: 1917
Registries: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR
ACR -American Canine Registry
AKC -American Kennel Club
ANKC -Australian National Kennel Club
APRI -American Pet Registry Inc.
CKC -Continental Kennel Club
CKC -Canadian Kennel Club
FCI -Fédération Cynologique Internationale
KCGB -Kennel Club of Great Britain
NKC -National Kennel Club
NZKC -New Zealand Kennel Club
UKC -United Kennel Club
Breed Organizations & Associations:
The Labrador Retriever Club, Inc.
National Retriever Club of Canada (NRCC)
Labrador Retriever Club of Canada
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