Labrador: character, care, training, features and owner reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

There is more than one legend about the appearance of Labradors. According to one of them, the breed was named because of the black color, which the locals associated with the labradorite rock. Adherents of another version claim that these dogs appeared on the Labrador Peninsula, from which they got their name. There is one more language version. These dogs are famous for their hard work, and in Portuguese the word "hard worker" is consonant with "Labrador".

History of Appearance

The Labrador Retriever breed is relatively young. In the nineteenth century, such dogs began to appear on the island of Newfoundland. By the way, on the same island a breed of dogs with the same name was bred. These dogs are similar in character to the Labrador.

They gained popularity in a fairly short time due to their special character. They were used when hunting waterfowl,but in addition they were and remain unsurpassed professionals in saving people, and as guides for the blind.

According to some reports, this breed was first mentioned in 1593. In the Newfoundland press of the sixties and seventies of the nineteenth century, in various publications there are references to "low smooth-haired dogs, 45-60 cm at the withers", which are called Labradors. Along with the descriptions are laudatory passes in favor of the special character of Labradors, their intelligence and complaisance.

Dr. Woods, the breeder of these dogs, based on archeological data, believes that similar dogs were brought to Newfoundland by the Vikings. But, as it turned out later, similar individuals were found in abundance in the northern part of Portugal. They are doing a fine job there to this day.

For the first time these dogs were brought to the islands of Great Britain from Newfoundland. The British carefully led the line. In the thirties of the nineteenth century, the breed gained popularity. The port city of Poole became the central point of their distribution.

When Newfoundland breeders arrived at the International Dog Show half a century later, they were pleasantly surprised that the Labradors bred in England were no different from their pets.

Prosperous aristocrats maintained separate kennels, where they continued breeding work, strengthening the line of hunting Labradors. It was they who built this breed into a cult as magnificent retrievers (dogs that bring lined game), which pushed the setters and pointers out of popularity. Thanks to the British, the prefix "retriever" appeared in the Labrador in order to emphasize them.purely hunting orientation.

A large number of nurseries appeared in the twenties of the last century. The thirties are considered the golden age of Labrador Retrievers. It was during these years that the breed reached the peak of its popularity and the universal love of the British. The kennel of Countess Loria Howe achieved the greatest fame thanks to her dog Bolo, a champion in conformation and working qualities.

Gradually, Labradors ceased to be the privilege of noble families, and only a hunting dog. Not only hunters, but also people of different lifestyles became happy owners of Labradors. For its special character, the breed has gained popularity in all countries with developed dog breeding. And today, these wonderful dogs continue to captivate the hearts of people around the globe.

Disastrous popularity

However, it is worth noting that excessive popularity has never had a positive effect on any breed of dog. Not all owners of bitches were sympathetic to the importance of maintaining the approved character traits of Labradors, conformation and working qualities. Pursuing only financial benefits from the sale of puppies, many home-grown dog breeders did not pay attention to all this. Therefore, many individuals appeared with inherited diseases and vices.

Before you buy a puppy, if you intend to get a real representative of the breed, and not a half-breed Labrador, whose character can be very different, you need to carefully study his pedigree.

Description of the breed

Labrador Retriever is a working dog with a balanced, friendly character. She has strong bones, a powerful build, a broad head, a voluminous chest and strong limbs.

Males reach 56-57 cm at the withers, females are slightly lower - 54-56 cm. The breed standard allows a slight deviation in growth, which is not considered a defect.

Chest broad, well ribbed, not barrel-shaped. The back is straight, turning into a strong and short loin. One of the features of the breed is the tail. It is always wide at the base and smoothly passes into a narrow tip. Some notice that the tail of these dogs seems to live a separate life, but for some reason it is forced to be on the animal. The hind limbs are well developed, very strong and strong, with low hocks. The shape of the paws is round, with clearly defined pads. Moving wildly.

Powerful head, but not thick and not round, without enlarged cheeks. The transition from forehead to muzzle is well defined. On the broad lobe of the nose are pronounced nostrils. The teeth are medium in size and meet in a scissor-like fashion, i.e. the lower and upper teeth fit snugly together in a closed state. Hazel eyes with an intelligent and benevolent expression. The ears of Labradors are an additional indicator of their mood - they are always mobile. Set far back on the head, the auricles are not too large and pendulous.

The coat is short and thick, with a waterproof undercoat, which also makes them fond of water trips. Tactile wool seems hard. Seasonal shedding is moderate.

Color

Historically, Labradors were black. Other colors were considered a vice. But later these limits expanded. Now there are three colors: black, yellow (fawn) and chocolate. The main condition is that all of them must be even, without tan.

Gold character

Unprecedented popularity, in addition to external data, the Labrador Retriever owes its character. Together with his ability to work, he makes him a universal dog, unless, of course, a person decides to take him to guard the estate or apartment.

So what is the peculiarity of the character of Labradors? What should it be like for a true carrier of pedigree qualities? Of course, good nature, cheerfulness and playfulness - every descendant of Newfoundland dogs should have these character traits. They are affectionate and loyal, full of energy and he althy. Sharing shelter with the family, they create an atmosphere of family comfort and warmth. It's not without reason that most billboards with family goods often feature this dog surrounded by happy and smiling people.

All sources describing the nature of the Labrador dog talk about his restlessness. The energy of these dogs is in full swing, and they are happy to share it with others. Therefore, the dog requires physical activity. Representatives of the breed will not wait until they are given the opportunity to throw out their strength. If you do not give them a discharge in time, then they will find where to put their energy without waiting for the owner. These dogs are very loyal and require attention, regardless of the dog's gender. The nature of the labrador girl in this respectappears identical to the male. Therefore, it is difficult for them to be alone for a long time. They are even able to run away from home, just not to sit alone with themselves. Already in Labrador puppies, the character is manifested very clearly. This should be considered by future owners.

In all sources, when describing the character of Labradors, breeders indicate that this is a dog for the whole family. And this is not for the sake of a red word or sales of puppies. They really get along well with both children and other pets, they don’t even rush at the postman. It is believed that bitches are more gentle with children. But this is not always true, and the nature of the Labrador boy is not inferior in terms of goodwill and caring to the master's children. Birds are the only exception. Still, a Labrador is a hunter who must bring lined game, and to a greater extent these are birds. And at the same time, many examples have been recorded when dogs became the best friends of ducks and chickens - a direct answer to the question of what kind of character a Labrador has.

Training

For their intelligence and ingenuity, representatives of this breed take 7th place in the top ten smartest dog breeds. They are easy to train, fulfilling commands with joy, trying to please the owner. You just need to learn how to keep their attention, which is the main difficulty in training them.

Experimentally verified that the memory of Labradors can hold up to three hundred human phrases. Although they do not sit at the top of the pyramid of the smartest dogs, their desire to please the owner makes the process easier.training. He can be taught a lot. From the minimal “to me”, “nearby”, “sit”, “lie down”, “place” to opening the door for the owner and turning off the light on command.

You can achieve successful commands with a Labrador at any age, but it's better to start from the first days of the puppy's appearance in the house.

In order for the training of a young individual to be as comfortable as possible, you must follow simple rules:

• Completed the task - received a reward, and not always a treat.
• The dog receives a reward only if the task is completed correctly and completely.
• Don't start new commands until old ones are fixed.
• The place where the first classes will be held is important. There should be no distractions.
• In learning, the main thing is not to overdo it. It is necessary to give the dog a rest.
• Training should be done before feeding.

These simple tips will help you succeed in training your pet.

First teams

The main thing that a puppy owner must achieve is dog-owner contact. Cunning and hacking during training is one of the features of the character of the Labrador. They are often distracted.

And yet, the Labrador is affectionate and friendly and requires the same attitude towards himself. You can't punish him for nothing. If a puppy wrote in the house, he is not punished, and even a grown dog in the case when the walking was not provided on time. They also don’t scold for gnawed shoes - it’s not his fault that they didn’t give him enough time towalk.

Start puppy training by remembering the nickname. You need to take a treat and call the baby by name. As soon as he runs up - immediately give goodies, praise with a gentle enthusiastic tone, stroke. During the reward stroke, you need to repeat the nickname.

No matter how trite it may seem, but especially in the first days, the puppy should be treated with special tenderness. You should not scold him, on the contrary, you need to caress and play with him more, give treats according to the diet according to age. So he will quickly get used to the new family.

Next comes the call training. When the puppy answered the call and ran up, they say “to me”, they do not spare praise, reinforcing it with a treat. When the pet learns this command, the next step is to teach it to follow the owner. For the first few months, the puppy will run after him, but as he grows up, such affection may cool down a bit. And the environment is so interesting. So, you need to prove to him that the owner is better. You should play and talk with him more often. Yes, dogs do not understand all speech, but they perfectly perceive intonation. The simplest game of hide and seek teaches a young dog to keep his master in sight, as early in life puppies are instinctively afraid of being alone.

For further life in society, especially in an urban environment, the dog must be taught to the leash. First they put on a collar and praise if his attention is not focused on ammunition. If he still tries to pull off the collar with his paws, you need to divert attention with the game. Similarly, you should behave in a situation with a muzzle. Dressed - gave a treat, then removed. Andgradually increase the time spent in the muzzle. Leash training is easier if you fasten it just before going for a walk, then the puppy will have a “leash-street” relationship.

Labrador training mistakes

With the wrong approach to care and training, the nature of the Labrador Retriever can show its worst sides. Dog owners often make the following mistakes:

• Excessive interest in fetching, which leads to overexcitation, and then the dog becomes bored.
• Active constrictions lead to a misaligned bite and a habit of grasping objects too hard, which is unacceptable for a retriever.
• Free swimming. It is difficult to drag a Labrador back to shore if he is already in the water. He may not listen to the owner while swimming. You need to control the time spent in the reservoir.
• Trying to catch up with the dog if it doesn't fit the call. And also the punishment when she did come.
• Repeating a command many times in a row.
• Serving treats without properly following the command.

The last point creates two problems at once: the dog overeats and does not take commands properly.

Labrador Care

There are no big difficulties in the rules of caring for a Labrador. However, there are features that you should pay attention to. Hanging ears can become inflamed from pollution from walking or parasites. Therefore, they need to be regularly inspected and cleaned. A feature of the breed is its coat with an almost waterproof undercoat. It does not need to be washed without extremeneed. Brushing once a week is sufficient.

Feeding the Labrador is another separate item of dog care. These animals love to eat and very often, especially if there are children in the family, they become sweet tooth. It is necessary to correctly calculate the feeding rate for each day according to weight, height and physical activity. This implies the need for long and active walking with a certain degree of load. Just walking in the park on a leash will not satisfy a Labrador's need for movement. That is why he is the best friend for everyone who himself loves outdoor activities, hiking in the forest, to the river or the sea, where he can swim and frolic.

Behavior in the apartment

Can I keep a Labrador in an apartment? Yes, but with certain conditions. The owner is obliged to walk the dog for a long time and often. That is, either family members allocate time, who walks it and when, or the owner must have enough free time from work. Based on the description of the nature of the breed, in the apartment, the Labrador, if the owner fails to fulfill his duties, can gnaw on furniture, tear wallpaper, and tear things. To prevent this from happening, the owner must walk the pet for a long time and often, arrange games for him. Minimum two hours a day.

As mentioned earlier, representatives of this breed are very attached to their master. The dog cannot be separated from him for too long, it is painful for her. Even if a person went out for half an hour shopping at the nearest store, not to mention an eight-hour working day.

Reviews about the breed

Many happy owners of the breed describe in their reviews the character of the Labrador only in a positive way, they emphasize that he lived up to their expectations. There are complaints about a predisposition to food-related allergies.

Many are a little frustrated by the fact that the breed has become a mass cult, and when choosing a dog, they have become "one of the many." But already in the process of communication, raising a puppy, and later - an adult dog, the owners forget about it. They are convinced that the popularity of these dogs is deserved. They learn really well, they learn a new command in two or three days, despite their restlessness.