Labrador Retrievers

The Labrador Retrievers or Lab for short is one of many different kinds of retrievers. It is considered among one of the most popular types of dogs in the world and has had more registrations in the United States of American than any other dog. It has many different uses; guide dog, police unit dogs, and illegal drug detection. They are gentle, loving, and extremely intelligent which is why they are so widely accepted as working dogs as well as great companions.

History of the Labrador Retriever

The first origination of the Labrador Retriever was on the island of Newfoundland Canada; emerging gradually from the St. John's Water Dog. They were originally used the help in bringing nets to shore. The dogs would grab the floating corks on the ends and pull them in. They then became prized sporting and waterfowl hunting dogs.

Temperament of Lab

Labrador Retrievers are an extremely versatile breed of dog and can perform many different functions. As a rule they are never over prone to being territorial or aggressive, nor are they destructive or hypersensitive. Just as their name condones, they are excellent retrievers; whether they are playing catch or whether they are searching for waterfowl on a hunt. As strange as it may sound, they love holding things in their mouths and can do this with extreme gentleness. For this reason they have been classified as one of the most gently breeds in the world. It has been said that a Labrador could carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it. It is important however to train them properly as they like to chew on things and you can imagine the mess you might find if you leave them home along being untrained.

Labradors have a reputation of being very mellow and especially good when it comes to children of all ages. Others that have been bred specifically for working are extremely intelligent and athletic. Labrador Retrievers do not fully mature until they reach the age of three so it is important to remember that until that time they may display a significant degree of puppy energy. This should not be confused for being hyperactive. Just make sure they have lost of space to run and play; daily exercise is a requirement for these little pups. They thrive on human attention and interaction which makes them almost perfect for kids of all ages. And can make a great companion for all types of water sports.

As well as being great companions for human interaction they also have a reputation for being great friends with other pets including cats. They have been found to play with other house cats and will sometimes even be found sleeping next to one another. Because they are so consistent in their behavior they also make ideal dogs for search and rescue teams and therapy work.

Some Famous Labrador Retrievers

Throughout history Labradors have played party to many different rescue missions, and have found themselves in the limelight. Some of the most famous Labrador Retrievers have been:

•Jake, a black Lab became a national hero after searching through hot smoking debris in search of survivors on 9/11 after the World Trade Center Attacks.
•Former U.S. President Bill Clinton owned two Labs named Buddy and Seamus
•Lucky and Flo, twin black Labs became famous in 2007 when they sniffed out almost two million pirated counterfeit DVDs in Malaysia.

Labrador Retrievers can be somewhat boisterous if not trained properly but with proper training respond well to positive attention and make great working and house pets. They are one of the most dependable obedient dogs in the world today.

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