The Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever

By Simpson’s Labrador Retrievers

History: Originating in Eastern Canada in the province of Newfoundland, this small fishing village along the Atlantic Ocean was known as St. John. This making the first Labrador Retrievers known as St. John Dogs.

They spent their days working hard at sea and then returning home to play with the children quickly earned the lab accreditation as a work alcoholic with a loving nature. The lab was close to becoming existent several times but with help from some key people and their efforts, we still have this wonderful breed today. They were first registered in the United States in 1917 by the American Kennel Club. It wasn’t until the late 1920s that the lab would start its climb to fame. The American Kennel Gazette issued an article in 1928 called “Meet The Labrador Retriever”, educating and introducing the public to this new breed.

American vs English
So many people ask “what’s the difference between the English Lab and the American Lab?” There is quite a big difference between the two including build, energy level and temperament. The English Lab has a very blocky head, a shorter, stocky body, and a thick otter tail and should still have that natural instinct to retrieve. They usually have a lower energy level than the American Lab and we have noticed that they are not as dominant as the American Lab. The English do have a thicker coat and tend to shed more. The American Lab, also known as the field lab is taller, slender and has more of a bullet shaped head. They have a much higher energy level than the English and have been bred to excel at field trials and hunt test competitions because of their athleticism. In conclusion, both are wonderful dogs and make great family companions as well as hunting partners.

Training
This is one of the most important factors when it comes to owning any dog. 6-8 weeks of age is the optimal time to begin basic obedience, swimming, fetching, live birds, crate training, socializing and anything else you personally plan to do with your dog. A much over looked tool is the pinch collar. It applies a minimal pinch when your dog pulls hard on the leash. If you take anything away from this segment let it be this, save yourself the headache and get a pinch collar. It will make training and communicating with your pup much easier. Puppies will start to lose their puppy teeth around 6-8 months of age. It’s cautioned to wait for in-depth retrieval training like force fetch until the puppy has lost all of its baby teeth, but basic obedience should be done by this time. A great source for information and step by step training is “The Retriever Trainer” by Freddy King. With countless hours of in-depth videos on how-to’s, this man has turned the training world upside down and made it easy and fun for all!!

Did you know?
• The Labrador Retriever is primarily bred to be a working gun dog.
• Labrador Retrievers have an average lifespan of 12 years.
• The Labrador Retriever coat colors are Black, Yellow and Chocolate. Any other color or combination of colors is a disqualification. A small white spot on the chest is permissible but not desirable. Blacks are all black. Yellows may range in color from fox red to light cream. Chocolates can vary in shade from light chocolate to dark chocolate.
• The coat of a Labrador retriever is short, straight and very dense with a soft, weather resistant undercoat that provides protection from water, cold and all types of ground cover.
• Labrador Retrievers have webbed toes making them great swimmers.

Health Testing
Health testing is key to ensure a healthy dog for years to come. Many think that health testing is going to their vet and having an annual wellness exam performed. That is not the case. Health testing is a wonderful tool that responsible breeders use to prevent orthopedic and genetic diseases that are well known to their particular breed. There are many organizations that offer these services. The OFA, Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, is probably one of the most well-known and widely used. They serve all breeds of dogs and cats, and provide breeders a means to respond to the challenge of improving the genetic health of their breed through better breeding practices. Some other organizations that offer genetic testing are Paw Print Genetics, GenSol Diagnostics and DDC Veterinary.

Purchasing Tips
When you have decided that the time is right to bring a new Labrador puppy into your home, we highly recommend following these important buying tips. The first and most important to us is making sure you are buying from someone who cares enough about the breed to perform the necessary health tests on their breeding dogs. If you are unsure on which tests they are, you can find them listed on the OFA website at www.ofa.org. Please make sure you ask for proof of testing because we have found that many will tell you that they do the proper health tests but they do not. You also want to buy from someone who will guarantee the health of their puppy. Most reputable breeders will include a 26-30 month genetic health guarantee. Make sure the breeder has started the potty training process, crate training and introduces their puppies to water, live birds and many different sights and sounds before sending them to their new homes. We believe that early introduction to these things can really set a great foundation for a confident retriever and make training a lot easier on you and the puppy.

Conclusion
A dog of many talents with a heart as big as the moon, the Labrador retriever is the most popular dog breed in America for good reason. It makes me proud to be an owner and breeder of this special canine. Whether it’s watching them strut their stuff in the ring or take to the field, the Labrador retriever is very versatile and has won the hearts of millions.