For over a quarter of a century, one breed has stood strong as the most popular dog breed,
not only in the US but across the globe.
From its humble beginnings as a fishing dog in Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever has
continued to grow in popularity since the 1700s as a hunting dog, a companion dog, and
a service dog.
So, to celebrate this wonderful breed, let’s look at 10 Reasons Why the Labrador Retriever
is Awesome.
You’re Watching Animal Facts!
10.
The Labrador is a “Goldilocks Dog”.
No, this has nothing to do with the Labrador’s color.
They come in black, yellow and chocolate, unlike their cousin the Golden Retriever.
Instead, we are speaking of the dog’s size.
Labrador retrievers are the perfect size for most families: Not too big and not too small.
They can live in a small apartment (given the right amount of exercise) or a house with
a nice size yard.
Male Labs stand 22-24 inches at the shoulder and 60-75 pounds in weight.
Or 21-23 inches and 55-70 pounds for females.
9.
Love Exercise?
So does your Lab.
Labrador Retrievers are high-energy dogs with almost unmeasurable stamina.
They can keep going and going and going… yeah, you get it, the whole Energizer Bunny
thing.
If you’re looking for a jogging partner or a dog to play with then the Lab might be
a great choice for you.
Just know that Labs are not known for knowing when to give up, so it’s up to you to watch
for signs of exhaustion and overheating and make your friend take a break.
8.
Labradors are more than happy to help.
I mentioned in the intro that Labradors have become popular as service dogs.
Guide Dogs of America who selectively breed dogs that are in excellent health and have
the temperament for guide work states that Labradors have been the most successful breed
for their work.
And that doesn’t just hold true for guiding the blind.
Labradors have proven their worth in every service field from detecting blood sugar levels
in Diabetics to military and police dog work.
As a matter of fact, the Lab made visits in all the videos in my series about different
types of service dogs.
You can find a link to that playlist in the card and in the description.
7.
Labradors have a “soft mouth”.
Labrador Retrievers are first and foremost Retrievers.
No hunter wants a retrieved duck or other game with tooth marks in it.
Most dogs have a natural tendency to bite down on anything in its mouth, but the Lab
can hold it firmly but loosely.
Animal Planet’s TV show Dogs 101 made the claim that the Labrador is the only breed
of dog that can carry a raw egg without breaking it.
Now, we’ve seen videos on YouTube that debunk that they are the ONLY breed that can do it,
but the feat is nonetheless still impressive.
If you’re not a hunter, you can still find a use for this skill, such as fetching your
shoes.
6.
Labradors are a healthy breed.
And for a larger dog, they have a relatively long lifespan of 10-12 years and sometimes
up to 14-15 years.
The oldest known Labrador lived to be over 27 years old.
Adjutant, the Labrador, lived from 1936 to 1963 in England.
They do have some common health issues though.
The most typical is hip and knee dysplasia.
And like most dogs, they do develop eye problems in later years.
5.
Labradors are good with other pets.
If your family already has dogs or cats or whatever other critters you might have around,
Labs, especially when introduced at a young age, are good with other pets.
Of course, when introducing new pets, you need to pay attention to signs of aggression
or any other quarrels that might develop.
4.
Speaking of critters you may have in your family, Labs are especially good with children.
Labs love kids, and kids love labs.
Labrador Retrievers are family dogs to the bone (pun intended).
They are lovable, excitable, gentle, and patient.
If any family is looking for a good dog to have around the kids, a Labrador Retriever
is a solid choice.
Plus, the kids can help run off some of that excess energy we were talking about earlier,
or the Lab can help run off some of your kids’ excess energy.
Just depends on how you look at it.
It’s a win-win for the parents.
3.
Labradors Love the Water.
If your Lab finds water, and it will, your Lab will be in that water.
If you love the water, the Lab is your companion.
Labs were, after all, originally fishing dogs, descended from an earlier dog breed called
the St. John’s Water Dog.
These amazing dogs helped their human partners fish by retrieving fishing gear and escaping
fish that evaded the nets or hooks.
While the modern Lab is a bit different from its Saint John’s ancestor, it retains that
love of water.
So, go ahead and pack up that beach bag with some fresh water for your Labrador companion.
2.
Labradors are easy to train.
Labs might not be THE most intelligent breed.
They can actually be quite goofy, but they are smart and are total people-pleasers.
As hunting dogs, Labs have been bred to follow human cues, and if they receive the proper
training and attention, they make very well-behaved pets that can perform many more commands than
“sit”, “stay” and “roll over.”
In fact, Labs excel at obedience training and even more complex training like agility.
1.
Best Cuddles Ever.
Ok, well this is not the most objective observation in the world.
Most people think that their pups give the best cuddles ever.
But, the Labrador is an affectionate, people-oriented breed, so it’s no wonder that these dogs
make one the best cuddle buddies on the planet.
They are known for forgetting that they are not lap dog size.
And they nuzzle up with their adorably cute faces.
At the end of a long day, nothing is better than a delightful, soul-soothing cuddle with
your Labrador.
It’s as good as a therapy session, just much cheaper!
So, are you addicted to Labrador cuddles?
Did we miss any reasons why the Labrador is awesome?
Let us know in the comments.
If ya want to see how the Labrador stacks up against the Golden Retriever, check out
Labrador Retrievers vs, Golden Retrievers linked in the card and in the description.
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