Liza Lee Miller,
lizalee@k9web.com
Cindy Tittle Moore, cindy@k9web.com
PO Box 4188, Irvine, CA 92616
Originally written: August 1992
Continually revised and updated. Updated: January 7, 2004
Copyright © 1992-2004 by Liza Lee Miller and Cindy Tittle Moore. All rights
reserved. You may download and print a copy of this file for your personal use.
Further distribution must be with the explict permission of the authors, except
as noted below.
NOTE: Labrador Rescue organizations may freely give a copy with each
dog they place. The only restriction is that the article must be complete and
retain our names & copyright. Please let us know if you
use this material for rescue adoptors and please give us any feedback you think
would improve this article for this purpose.
_________________________________________________________________
Table Of Contents
The main characteristics
of Labradors are their coat, tail, head and temperament. They have a double
coat: a soft, downy undercoat that
keeps them dry and warm in cold water and a hard outer coat that helps them
repel water. Their tail, described best as an otter tail, is
thick at the base and tapers to a narrower point. It should not be carried over
the back nor should it have a curl to it. It should,
however, be at exactly coffee table height and always be ready to swipe one
clean. Their head is clean cut and somewhat broad, with
hanging ears. Their expression is alert and intelligent and conveys a kind,
friendly temperament.
Their best feature is their temperament. Labs are loving, people oriented dogs.
They are happiest when they are with you. Labs are
retrievers and will bring you things they find laying about your house or yard.
They tend to be quite patient with children and wonderful
family dogs. They are not guard dogs. They may bark protectively, but will generally
not act more aggressively. Labs are wonderful people
dogs, more likely to lick someone to death than hurt them. They tend to be stable,
not easily upset by strange things or occurrences. They
will take many things in stride.
In the U.S., there are two distinct "lines" of Labradors: field lines
and show lines. Field line Labradors have been bred with an emphasis
on field or hunting ability, and show line Labradors have been bred with an
emphasis on conformation and temperament. There is some
dissension between the two groups, with field people claiming that show lines
have lost much of their hunting and retrieving abilities,
and show people claiming that field lines do not much look like Labradors any
more and lack correct temperament. The truth is likely
somewhere in between. Dogs from field lines will generally have a lot of drive,
and will often exhibit more energy. Dogs from show lines
might not be as fast, but most are capable hunters, though not necessarily field
trial material. Either type can make a pleasant
companion for a day out of doors.
Labrador Retrievers are people- and action- oriented dogs, and can become bored
if left to their own devices. Untrained, they can be
unmanageable due to their size and enthusiasm. Unexercised, they will often
turn to destruction or escape to alleviate boredom and excess
energy. They require attention and love as much as food and water. Labradors
are easy to train which makes obedience work a fun way to
interact with your dog. Labradors also require plenty of exercise -- this is
especially true since most Labs love to eat! Ensuring they get
proper exercise, training, and attention will give you a happy, healthy Labrador.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Labrador and a Retriever?
Retrievers are a type of dog. They are, literally, dogs that retrieve and were
originally bred to retrieve game for hunters both
on land and in the water. There are six breeds recognized as Retrievers by the
AKC. They are: Labrador Retrievers, Golden
Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Flat Coated Retrievers, Curly Coated
Retrievers, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels.
Labradors don't shed, do they?
Actually, they do. Labradors have what is called a double coat. This means that
they have a soft, downy undercoat and a harder
guard coat. These two types of coat help keep the dog warm and dry while swimming
in cold waters when retrieving ducks. Generally
Labradors will shed their coat twice a year. This is called "blowing"
their coat. They are moderate shedders, not enthusiastic
ones such as Alaskan Malamutes or German Shepherd Dogs. There will be a certain
amount of hair loss throughout the year, especially in
more temperate climates. This varies individually; some Labradors shed less
than others, especially if they happen to have an
incorrect coat.
How much grooming
do they need?
Labs need to be brushed on a regular basis (about once a week) to keep them
clean. This will also help keep the shedding under
control. A "slicker" type brush, which you can buy at any pet store,
works nicely. Labs, like all dogs, need to have their
toenails clipped regularly. You can get a canine nail clipper at any pet store
and your vet can demonstrate to you the best way to
clip their nails. Labs do not need to be bathed frequently. The Labrador coat
does not need constant attention. A true bath, which
includes shampooing the coat, is only necessary if the dog smells bad. Generally,
if a dog is merely dusty or muddy, you can rinse
them off with plain water or wait until they are dry and brush the dirt out
to restore them to cleanliness. Shampooing them too often
is not a good idea as shampoo tends to strip the natural oils out of their coats.
A properly oily coat repels dirt and sheds water
easily.
In general, Labrador coats are low-maintenance.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/grooming.html
Are Labradors hyper?
A Labrador with correct temperament is never hyperactive. Individual dogs can
be. With the steady increase of popularity of
the breed in recent years, more and more Labradors are being bred by people
who have less regard for temperament than established
breeders. Some people claim that field line Labradors are hyper and show lines
are mellow. Others claim that field line Labradors are
mellow and show lines are hyper! In reality, it appears that "backyard
bred" Labradors have by far the worst temperaments. If
you don't breed for good temperaments, you won't get them except by accident.
("Backyard breeders" refers to people with little or no
knowledge of breeding dogs doing so mostly for the money or because it seems
the thing to do, or even by accident. A better term is
"disreputable breeders." There are plenty of small-scale, or hobby,
breeders with wonderful reputations for producing sound, good
tempered, well-balanced dogs.)
The best advice for finding a Labrador with the right temperament is to thoroughly
investigate the breeders you are considering. Ask
to see their other dogs--this should give you an idea of the energy level you
can expect from their puppies. Ask for the names of other
people who have previously purchased dogs from them -- and then contact these
people and ask them whether they'd recommend this
breeder or not. Labradors with poor temperaments are often the result of thoughtless
breeding and will not appear in dogs from
either show lines or field lines that have been conscientiously bred.
However, Labradors are active dogs especially in puppyhood. And Labradors often
do not fully mature until around 3 years of age!
This means you will have a dog that is mentally a puppy (with a puppy's energy)
until this age regardless of its physical size!
Often a Lab puppy is labelled hyperactive when it is simply a normal, exuberant
and bouncy puppy. If you are prepared to deal
with this period of time in their lives, you will not have problems. It is the
people caught unprepared who then label their
puppy hyperactive and incorrigible and dump it.
We would like to stress that such dogs, untrained and unexercised, WILL be a
huge problem for their owners, becoming destructive,
unmanageable, and in many cases escape artists. Once under proper discipline
(which does NOT mean beating the dog!), most of these
Labs will shape up into good pets.
What is "butt-tucking"?
"Butt-tucking" (not limited to Labs) is when your pup suddenly starts
running in circles at top speed with his rear tucked under
him. Most Labradors do this. It does not indicate a problem with your Lab, either
with its temperament or its joints. However, you
will want to keep a sharp eye out that you are not injured during this free-for-all!
Labradors are popular, aren't they?
Yes. Since 1991, they have been the top registered dog with the AKC. At the
end of 1997, the U.S. President got a chocolate
Labrador. This means that there are a lot of people out there breeding Labradors
hoping to make a few quick bucks (as opposed to
improving the breed). You need to be very careful about where you get your Labrador.
Disreputable breeders are the primary source for
hyper, ill-behaved and ill-favored Labradors. With a bit of research and care,
you can find good puppies. The average price for
a properly bred Labrador puppy is about 400-600 dollars, more for a show- or
field trial- quality puppy. If you are asked to pay
substantially more or less for a puppy without good reason given, be wary.
I'm confused -- which kind of Labrador will make a better hunter, a show-line
or field-line Labrador?
Most Labradors, show and field bred, make great hunters. Your own level of expertise
in picking out likely puppies and training them
is probably as important as the pedigree of the dog. You should consider what
kind of hunting you do, how much experience you have,
and discuss all of this with the breeders you consult.
If you are specifically interested in field trials, you are advised to look
for good field trial kennels. (Just as, if you are
interested in showing in conformation, you should look for good breed ring kennels.)
This split is unfortunate, but it does occur
since both field trials and conformation trials are essentially highly specialized
sports. Very few breeders have the resources to
compete seriously in both venues.
No matter which lines you are interested in, you should try to find the puppies
that are well balanced with correct structure and
conformation as the base. Whether you are interested in pet, show, hunting,
etc., will determine the other characteristics that you
want. But an unsound dog does not make a good show dog, hunter, obedience dog,
nor pet!
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/english-american.html
Do they make good guard dogs?
Labradors are not reliable guards. Some can be protective and most will probably
bark if they hear or see something they don't like --
particularly if it is near their yard. If your main purpose in getting a dog
is to have a guard dog, a Labrador is not a good
choice, but if you want an "alarm" barker, most Labradors are fine.
What kind of
work can Labradors do?
Besides hunting, doing field trials, and being terrific pets? Quite a bit. Many
Labradors are used as Service and Therapy dogs, for
example. Still others do very well in Search and Rescue work, as well as making
excellent Bomb, Narcotic, and Arson dogs. Their
nose, disposition, and trainability make them particularly suitable for these
types of activities and the breed has a distinguished
history in these endeavors.
Interestingly, in comparison to other breeds, such as Goldens, there are relatively
few Labradors in obedience competition. No one
is quite certain why, although of course several theories have been advanced,
from Labradors are a little too "disobedient" (a
necessary ability in Service work -- to disobey an unsafe command), to most
people with Labradors being involved in other activities
such as Hunting Tests.
How are they
with children?
As a breed, Labradors tend to be good with children. However, as with any dog,
it is not a good idea to let puppies and children
play unattended. Both puppies and children tend to be unaware of their own size
and strength and could accidentally injure one
another. Labradors aren't likely to intentionally hurt anyone, but could knock
a child over when they thought they were playing. By
the same measure, children can inadvertently hurt a puppy if they aren't supervised.
As a parent of a young child and the owner of a
young Lab puppy, realize that you will have to spend time teaching both the
child and the puppy how to behave around one another.
Note that a Labrador that is not well trained nor properly exercised is much
more of an accidental hazard to children than one
who is kept firmly under control.
Do Labradors
like to swim?
Labradors love to swim. In general, they take to swimming quite naturally. But
don't be alarmed if your little pup is unsure about
swimming the first time--they have to learn about swimming just like anything
else. Never throw a young puppy into the water! If
you have an adult dog around that enjoys swimming, the pup will probably follow
it in happily. You could also wade in yourself and
have the pup follow. Be aware though that pups have sharp nails which can be
painful if they try to climb up on you in the water.
The pup's first introduction to the water should be at a spot where there is
a gradual entry, rather than a sharp drop off, and there
should be no current at all. Let the pup explore the water at his own pace;
if he just wants to splash and wade for now, let him. As
he gains confidence, he will go in deeper.
Another important caveat is that dogs should not be allowed unattended access
to a swimming pool unless you know that they know
how to get out. Dogs often cannot easily pull themselves out of the pool and
even strong swimmers will tire if they can't find an easy
way out of the water. And if you do let your Lab in your swimming pool, check
that filter often! Dogs shed much more than people do.
Are there golden
Labs? What is the difference between golden and yellow Labs?
Labradors come in three colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. Yellow Labradors
are often mistakenly called "golden Labradors."
The term yellow refers to a range of color from nearly white to gold to fox-red.
The Golden Retriever is a separate breed from the
Labrador, although there are similarities. Sometimes the term is used informally
to refer to a Labrador / Golden Retriever mix.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/yellows.html
Are there any other colors of Labradors?
No. Black, chocolate, and yellow are the only correct colors. While mis-marked
purebred Labradors are possible, http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/mismarks.html
be wary of those selling "rare" Labradors of other colors at exorbitant
prices. There are yellow Labradors that are so pale they appear white, but they
are still considered to be yellow and will usually have some color, even if
it is only on the ear tips. These lighter yellows
not unusual nor rare and should not command a significant price hike. The same
goes for "fox red" Labradors. Variations in the
color of yellow Labradors are not penalized, but treated the same as any other
yellow Labrador; however the lighter shades tend to
predominate in the ring at this time.
"Silver" Labradors are purely a scam and are either crosses with Weimaraners
or very light chocolates. An actual silver Labrador
(possibly a dilute chocolate) would be treated as a mismarked dog and not command
a high price. To our knowledge, "blue" Labradors
(dilute blacks) have never been offered, but if they were, the same caveats
as the silver Labs would apply. It's possible the silver
Labs are actually dilute blacks; no one has done any test breeding to verify
and the owners of the silver kennels are remarkably
secretive about their dogs. However, based on a comparison with Doberman Pinschers,
it seems reasonable to speculate that silvers
are dilute chocolates ("fawns" in Dobermans).
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/silverlabs.html
Can you get
yellow Labradors from black ones? And vice versa? What about chocolates?
Yes, you can get yellows from blacks and blacks from yellows. Similarly, you
can get chocolates from blacks or yellows and
vice-versa. It all depends on what color genes the parents carry. The only absolutes
are that if both parents are yellow, the
resulting puppies are always yellow, never black or chocolate; if both parents
are chocolate, you can get yellow or chocolate puppies
but never black ones.
Are there differences between Labs of different colors?
Aside from the color itself, there are no differences. Many people feel that
black Labs are better hunters, yellow dogs are lazier,
and chocolate dogs are hardheaded and stubborn. None of this is true. The reason
is pure genetics. Coat color in normally colored
Labs is determined by two genes unrelated to anything else about the dog. It
is perfectly possible to get all three colors in the
same litter, therefore the notion that there is a color based difference in
temperament and/or ability is absurd.
Alright, so what is the nitty gritty on coat color inheritance?
Two sets of genes, not one, control a Lab's coloration. One set of genes controls
whether the Lab will be dark (either black or
chocolate) or light (yellow). Dark is dominant over light. Thus a Lab whose
genotype is EE (homozygous dominant) or Ee (heterozygous)
will be dark; only Labs that are ee (homozygous recessive) can be light.
The second set of genes only come into play if the Lab is dark (either EE or
Ee). This set controls whether the Lab is black (the
dominant trait) or chocolate (the recessive trait). Thus, a dark dog (ie. EE/Ee)
that is BB (homozygous dominant) or Bb
(heterozygous) will be black, while the only way a dog can be chocolate is for
it to be dark (EE/Ee) AND bb (homozygous
recessive).
So now, the possibilities for black dogs are EEBB, EEBb, EeBB, or EeBb. The
possibilities for a yellow dog are eeBB, eeBb, or eebb.
And the possibilities for a chocolate dog are EEbb or Eebb. Remember that puppies
will get one E/e from the dam and one from
the sire, as well as one B/b from the dam and one from the sire to make up their
complete "code". If you had two parents that were
both EeBb (black in appearance), you can get all three colors in the resulting
litter! Furthermore, when you realize that a pair of
yellows can only give their puppies the ee combination, you understand why two
yellows only produce yellows. In a similar
fashion, two chocolates can only bequeath bb to their puppies, so two chocolates
can never produce a black puppy.
The eebb is an interesting case, as this is a yellow dog with chocolate pigmentation
on its nose and eyerims. A dog that is bb
always has this pigmentation. Under the current standard, a yellow with chocolate
pigmentation is disqualified.
If the Lab is mismarked, for example Black and Tan, or brindled
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/mismarks.html
there are other allelles present in that dog's makeup. If you are interested
in a further discussion of these genes, do look up
Clarence C. Little's classic book, The Inheritance of Coat Color in Dogs.
Traditionally, the way to determine a dog's genetic background for color is
to examine the whelping box: a dog that produces yellows
and/or chocolate carries those genes. And dogs carry what their parents have;
a black with one yellow or chocolate parent must
carry the yellow or chocolate gene. But for those who really want to know for
certain can now make use of a simple cheek swab test to
determine their dog's genotype. VetGen (1-800-483-8436) has such a test for
$85.
http://www.vetgen.com
http://www.blueknightlabs.com/color/coatcolor.html
What is a Dudley?
This is a yellow Labrador with chocolate pigmentation (eebb). It can also refer
to a Lab with absolutely no pigmentation on the nose
or eyerims (all pink in color), but in actuality, this is extremely rare, and
probably a genetic abnormality. Please be aware that,
while this trait is considered undesirable, it does not indicate some sort of
genetic abnormality. There is no known correlation
between Dudley noses and poor health.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/yellow-pigment.html
But I see some Labradors with a pinkish nose.
Yes, this happens with many breeds, actually. It is called "winter nose"
or "snow nose." Many yellow Labs will have dark noses in the
summer that fade somewhat in the winter and repeat the cycle the next year.
It is not understood why this happens. You can see it in
many northern breeds such as Huskies and Malamutes as well. This is not considered
a fault in any of these breeds and is not penalized.
To differentiate between Labs with faded noses and Dudleys, check the eyerims
and gum tissue of the dogs. A Dudley will have only
light pink or tan skin; the other dogs will have black pigment in these areas.
Do they jump fences? Are they good escape artists?
They are not renowned for this as a breed, although individual Labradors can
be clever at escaping. Some can be good at opening
doors and latches. A six-foot fence properly grounded will keep a Labrador from
jumping, although many Labradors will never jump a
four-foot fence perimeter. Because they can chew a lot, take care that your
enclosure cannot be chewed through. They can also be good
climbers, so check for possible footholds the dog could use to haul himself
up (for example, check if a doghouse provides a platform
from which to jump a fence).
A Lab that is bored and/or underexercised may turn into an excape artist par
exellence.
Do they bark a lot?
Bored Labradors can, but excessive barking is not generally typical of the breed.
Labradors often give a warning bark in response to an
unusual event that they feel needs your attention, such as "Hey, a car
pulled into the driveway!"
Will a male or female Labrador make a better pet?
Both sexes make good pets. In general, male Labradors are more dependent and
females are somewhat independent. For example, if you
are at home working on your computer, your male Labrador will probably sleep
right under your feet while your female will
probably sleep in the other room and just come in and check on you periodically.
For most people, a male Labrador will probably make the best pet!
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/sexes.html
Where should I get my dog?
You have to first decide if you are getting a puppy or an adult Lab. If you
choose to get an adult dog, you could get one from the
pound, from a Labrador Rescue organization, or from a breeder who is looking
for a home for an adult Labrador. There is more about
Rescue organizations at the end of this file. If you decide to get a puppy,
you should do some research and find a reputable breeder
you trust.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/breeding/index.html
http://www.greatlakeslablovers.com/breeder.html
How do I choose
a puppy?
You need to do some homework before you start talking to breeders and certainly
before you look at any puppies. You need to make some
decisions about what sex and color you'd like. What you plan to do with the
dog. What kind of temperament you'd like. Once you have
some answers to those questions, you should discuss your concerns and ideas
with breeders. After you have found a breeder you like,
then allow the breeder to help you select your puppy. Most breeders have a pretty
good idea of what the puppies' personalities are like
and will guide you to a good choice.
What health problems are Labradors prone to?
Hip and elbow dysplasia can be a problem, so be sure to look for breeders that
certify their dogs through OFA or Wind-Morgan.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy and Retinal Dysplasia are both problems in this
breed, so dogs being bred must be examined yearly by an
veterinary ophthalmologist.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/clearances.html
Labradors are prone to mild skin allergies in some regions of the US, notably Southern California. Ear infections are always a potential problem with hanging ears. You can minimize the potential for health problems by choosing the breeder of your puppy carefully.
What is this I hear about the lawsuit with the AKC?
Over the past five years or so, the national breed club for Labrador Retrievers
(the LRC) has been trying to revise the
standard for the breed. Many bench, or show, people objected to the revisions
being made. The AKC took the unprecedented step, because
of the amount of controversy on the subject, of returning the first submitted
revision in 1993. The LRC resubmitted the revised
standard, still over the objections of the bench community, and the standard
took effect April 1, 1994. As the new standard included
disqualifications for height, some breeders are now unable to show their dogs,
and six of them put together a lawsuit based on the
Sherman Anti-Trust Act, claiming that the LRC rewrote the standard to admit
their dogs to the ring while excluding the objecting
breeders' dogs.
It is important to remember that a large part of the controversy revolves around
the fact that the LRC has a limited membership --
the most popular AKC breed in the US has a national breed club composed of 700
members, down from 900 several years ago. Most of
these members are oriented toward field trials. Many show oriented fanciers
greatly resented the lack of involvement allowed them
throughout the revision process. On the other side of the issue, the LRC and
the AKC have stated that they do not feel the standard
provides any hardship to Labrador breeders and have asked that the suit be dismissed
due to lack of merit. There is a good deal of
acrimony on both sides that has contributed to the overall issue.
The lawsuit has been settled with the LRC prevailing.
http://www.thelabradorclub.com/library/standard_appeal.html
History
The Labrador Retriever
was developed in England in the mid 1800s by a handful of private kennels dedicated
to developing and refining the
perfect gundog. That many such kennels were pursuing their own vision of such
a dog is the reason behind the variety of today's retriever
breeds.
Early ancestors
It's fairly clear that there were no indigenous dogs in Newfoundland when the
first fishing companies arrived. If the native Americans of
the time had any, the explorers never observed them. Thus it's quite likely
that the St. Johns dogs themselves come from old English Water
Dogge breeds, insofar as fishermen were the primary people on Newfoundland for
centuries. There is also some speculation that the
old St. Hubert's dog might have been brought over as well -- illustrations of
the breed show a black, drop-eared dog with a certain
resemblance to the Labrador. But it is unknown if the fishermen going to Newfoundland
would have had hound dogs used for game rather than
water dogs.
We can only speculate what happened, but we do know that the cod fishermen sent
out from Britain practiced "shore fishing." Small
dories were used for the actual fishing, and they worked in teams of four --
two in the boat and two on the shore to prepare and cure the
fish. They would have needed a small dog to get in and out of the boat, with
a short water repellent coat so as not to bring all the
water into to the boats with them. They would have bred for a strong retrieving
instinct to help retrieve fish and swimming lines, and a
high degree of endurance to work long hours. If the runs were heavy, the fishermen
were reputed to go for as long as twenty hours to haul
the fish in.
The dog developed for this early work could be found in several varieties: a
smaller one for the fishing boats, and a larger one with
a heavier coat for drafting. The smaller dog has been called, variously, the
Lesser St. John's dog, the Lesser Newfoundland, or even
the Labrador. These dogs came from Newfoundland; it is unknown why the name
"Labrador" was chosen except possibly through geographical
confusion. Charles Eley, in History of Retrievers at the end of the 19th century
comments:
The story [...] was that the first Labrador to reach England swam ashore from
vessels which brought cod from Newfoundland [...] It
was claimed for them that their maritime existence [...] had resulted in webbed
feet, a coat impervious to water like that of an
otter, and a short, thick 'swordlike' tail, with which to steer safely their
stoutly made frames amid the breakers of the ocean.
Part of the confusion over the names is that "St. John's dog" and
"Newfoundland dog" were used interchangeably for both the greater
(larger) and lesser (smaller) varieties. And the term Labrador has also been
used to refer to the lesser St. John's dog, especially in
the latter half of the 19th century. The greater is commonly held to be the
direct ancestor of today's Newfoundland, while the lesser was
used to develop many of the retrieving breeds, including today's Labrador.
The exact relationship between the two varieties of the St. Johns dog (and some
19th century writers listed up to four varieties) is also
unclear; we don't know which came first, or to what degree they were related.
Certainly the greater St. Johns dog was first imported to
England nearly a hundred years earlier, and many contemporary and modern day
writers assume that the lesser was developed from the
greater but we have no real evidence one way or another. Newfoundland has been
used for fishing and other activities since approximately
1450 so there has been plenty of time for the development of the St. Johns dog
and its varieties.
Development in England
From the time these dogs were first imported back to England in the early 1800s
to 1885 when the combined effects of Newfoundland's Sheep
Act and Britain's Quarantine Act shut down further importation, a handful of
kennels regularly imported lesser St. Johns dogs and
carefully bred them for gun dog work on their estates. These kennels include
those of Buccleuch and Malmesbury, each of which imported
lesser St. John's dogs throughout the 19th century for their private lines.
The second Earl of Malmesbury (1778-1841) and his son the third Earl (1807-1889)
imported the dogs and kept their lines going until the
third Earl's death. In a letter he wrote in about 1887 he noted:
"We always called mine Labrador dogs and I have kept the breed as pure
as I could from the first I had from Poole, at that time
carrying on a brisk trade with Newfoundland. The real breed may be known by
their having a close coat which turns the water off like
oil, above all, a tail like an otter."
At about the same time, the fifth Duke of Buccleuch (1806-1884), his brother
Lord John Scott (1809-1860) and the tenth Earl of Home
(1769-1841) embarked on a similar but independent program. They lived within
a 30 mile radius and developed the Buccleuch line. The eleventh
Lord of Home (1799-1881) continued his dogs, but the line was nearly extinct
about the time of his death.
However, a chance meeting between the third Earl of Malmesbury and the sixth
Duke of Buccleuch and the twelfth Earl of Home resulted in the
older Malmesbury giving the two young Lords some of the dogs from his lines.
From these dogs, given in 1882, the Buccleuch line was
revitalized and the breed carried into the 20th century. Buccleuch's Ned and
Buccleuch's Avon are generally agreed upon as being the
ancestors of all Labradors.
That two different kennels, breeding independently for at least 50 years, had
such similar dogs argues that the Labrador was kept very
close to the original St. John's breed. Thus it is probable that today's Labrador,
of all the modern retrievers, is the most closely
related to the original St. John's dog and by extension, as closely related
to the modern Newfoundland as to the other retriever breeds
such as Golden Retrievers, Flat Coat Retrievers, etc.
The Twentieth Century
By the turn of the century, these retrievers were appearing in the British Kennel
Club's events. At this point, retrievers from the same
litter could wind up being registered as different retrievers. The initial category
of "Retrievers" included curly coats, flat coats,
liver-colored retrievers and the Norfolk retriever (now extinct). As types became
fixed, separate breeds were created for each and the
Labrador Retriever finally gained its separate registration under the Kennel
Club in 1903.
While there have been strains of Labradors bred pure up to this time, it is
unknown how many of these cross-bred dogs were folded into
"Labradors" or into other breeds as the registrations began to separate.
Many breeders feel that crossbreeding at this time accounts
for much of the poor type that can appear today; however claims about the use
of Pointers or Rottweilers can probably be safely discounted.
The first two decades in the 20th century saw the formation in Britain of some
of the most influential kennels that provided the basis for
the breed as we know it today. Lord Knutsford's Munden Labradors, and Lady Howe's
Banchory Labradors are among several. At this time, many
dogs distinguished themselves in both field trials and conformation shows; the
high number of Dual Champions at this time attests to the
breed's versatility.
Labradors were first imported to the United States during World War I. At this
point, the AKC still classified them as "Retrievers;" it was
not until the late 1920's that the retrievers were split up into the breeds
we know today in the AKC. The Labrador Retriever has been used
heavily in the US as a gundog; the American Labrador Retriever Club, Inc. (LRC,
Inc), is to this day primarily a field trial organization,
and it was instrumental in forming the AKC field trials.
The two World Wars greatly diminished the breed in numbers (as it did many others).
After the second World War saw the rise of the Labrador
Retriever in the United States, where Britain's Sandylands kennel through imports
going back to Eng CH Sandyland's Mark influenced the
shape and direction the show lines took in this country. Other influential dogs
include American Dual CH Shed of Arden, a grandson of
English Dual CH Banchory Bolo, especially evident in field trial lines.
This return trip to the Americas resulted in the widely expanded use of the
Labrador as a gun dog. In Britain, the Labrador was, and still
is, used primarily for upland game hunting, often organized as a driven bird
shoot. Typically, separate breeds were used for different
tasks; and the Labrador was strictly for marking the fall, tracking and retrieving
the game. But in the United States and Canada, the
breed's excellence at waterfowl work and game finding became apparent and the
Labrador soon proved himself adaptable to the wider and
rougher range of hunting conditions available. The differences between British
and American field trials are particularly illustrative.
Yellows
Many old articles on gun dogs make it clear that yellows and livers were evident
and even common before any recorded breeding
was the rule. Spaniels, Poodles, Setters, Retrievers, and even pointers occasionally
displayed yellow and liver coloring. In fact,
calling a dog "liver" one or two hundred years ago could mean any
color from yellow to red to liver or brown.
In the earliest years of the Labrador, yellows were simply culled. The first
registered yellow was Ben of Hyde, out of two black dogs,
themselves from import stock. Ben produced many yellows when bred to black bitches;
if the genetics were the same then as now, this
indicates that many blacks were actually heterozygous for black. Oddly, his
yellow littermate Juno produced few if any yellows when she
was bred to blacks. However, bitches produce few puppies compared to dogs so
chance probably stepped in with homozygous dominant black
mates for Juno.
The anti-yellow sentiment was so strong that in the 1920's experienced breeders
reported being directed to the Golden Retriever ring! At this
point, dogs of this color did suffer a wide variation of incorrect type -- it's
easy to find pictures of old yellow Labradors with very
houndy features. A separate standard was briefly drawn up to address this problem,
but eventually it was felt that yellows should simply
adhere to the same standard as blacks. Today, you will find as many, if not
more, yellows as blacks of the same quality. Only in some
hunting circles will you still find the erroneous opinion that "blacks
make better hunters."
Chocolates
Chocolates, like yellows, have also been present all along in the breed. In
fact, the well known story of the origins of the Chesapeake
Bay Retriever refers to an 1807 shipwreck involving two St. John's dogs probably
destined for Poole and hence to Malmesbury or Buccleuch:
one black and one liver. Some believe that the chocolate color was introduced
into Labradors around the turn of the century by crossing
with Pointers. This is unlikely for several reasons:
* Prior documented presence of livers in the St. John's dogs.
* The presence of the liver color in many other closely related
breeds, such as the Flat-coat, Chesapeake, and Newfoundland.
* Since liver is recessive to black, it is perfectly possible to "hide"
the gene in many generations of black, especially if the
occasional liver is quietly culled.
Chocolate Labradors have gained favor much more slowly than the yellows have,
although culling of them probably declined about the
same time. They did well in early field trials at the turn of the century but
it was not until 1964 that Britain had its first chocolate
bench champion, Cookridge Tango.
Chocolates are by far the rarest color in the ring, whether show or field. They
are increasing in popularity steadily, though, and in
another 10 years may equal the other colors in numbers, acceptance, and quality.
Prejudice against chocolates in both show and field
arenas is still widely present today. They are either "too ugly" for
the show ring or "too stupid/stubborn" for the field.
The Standard is
the physical "blueprint" of the breed. It describes the physical appearance
and other desired qualities of the breed
otherwise known as type. Some characteristics, such as size, coat quality, and
movement, are based on the original (or current) function
for the dog. Other characteristics are more cosmetic such as eye color; but
taken together they set this breed apart from all others.
The Standard describes an ideal representive of the breed. No individual dog
is perfect, but the Standard provides an ideal for the
breeder to strive towards.
http://www.thelabradorclub.com/standard/officialstandard.html
Recognized (this list is incomplete)
American Kennel
Club
http://www.akc.org
Australian National Kennel Club
http://www.ankc.aust.com
Canadian Kennel Club
http://www.ckc.ca
FCI
http://www.fci.be
Kennel Club of UK -
http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk
United Kennel Club
http://www.ukcdogs.com
Special Medical Problems
Hip Dysplasia
Labradors are susceptible to hip dysplasia as well as other joint problems.
All breeding stock should be x-rayed and certified clear of
hip dysplasia by OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) (see
below) and/or by the PennHip methods. Most breeders will use OFA or PennHip
as an adjunct. The breeder should be able to provide you with copies of certifications
done on both sire and dam.
http://www.offa.org
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/pennhip1.html
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/clearances.html
Eye Problems
Labradors are also at risk for several eye problems including: PRA (Progressive
Retinal Atrophy), cataracts, and retinal dysplasia. All
breeding stock should be examined annually by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist.
Most responsible breeders will turn that
evaluation in to CERF for tracking of various eye problems in the breed and
thus have a CERF number for their dog, good for one year.
You should ask to see a copy of the paperwork that is turned in to CERF, though,
because this form will report on other things that may
not deny the dog a CERF number but could be of further interest.
Diagnosis of PRA is not easy. The dog may be diagnosed via an Electroretinogram
(ERG), which will give advance notice by about two
years from actual blindness. However, unless PRA is known to show up early in
the individual dog's lines, it is not recommended unless the
dog is at least five years old. In addition it is a very difficult test to administer.
Not all ACVO veterinarians are qualified to do a
diagnostic ERG because of the delicate skill necessary and it requires anesthesia
of the dog.
Because PRA often does not appear until the dog is older (as late as 8 years
or more), this disease has been difficult to eradicate.
Dr. Gus Aguirre has been working on identifying the genes responsible for PRA
in Labradors (and other breeds; the markers for Irish Setters
have already been identified) for several years now. It appears from his reports
that a DNA test may be available within a few years. Optigen is the place
to send blood for testing.
http://www.optigen.com
You can also contact VetGen at 800-4-VETGEN http://www.vetgen.com ; their
research team is trying to locate the gene that
causes PRA and need DNA samples from affected dogs and their families. Only
with complete information can we begin to remove this problem
from the breed.
Optigen A &
B list
http://www.uplandlabradors.com/optigen.html
Joint Problems
Labradors are also prone to other joint problems such as OCD and arthritis.
Look for breeders who not only OFA hips but also elbows.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/clearances.html
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia (TVD)
Breeders are beginning to recognize a new problem in the Labrador breed, a defect
of the heart termed Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia. After a
stud dog on the west coast produced a number of young puppies dying of this
disease, he was tested and found with a very mild case,
detectable only through an echocardiogram, an auscultation (stethescope) exam
was not adequate. It is NOT known at present what
the mode of inheritance of this disease is, or how widespread it is in the breed.
At the moment, very few dogs are so cleared as we know very little about this
problem.
Some further sources of information:
http://www.gglrc.org/articles/tvd.shtml
http://www.labbies.com/tvd.htm
Cold Tail
Also called "wash tail" and "limber tail", "cold tail"
occurs when your dog's tail goes limp and he bites at it as if it were a foreign
body attached to him. This condition is not serious and should go away in two
or three days. It seems to be associated with swimming in cold
water (hence the name). It's thought to be a reaction on the part of one of
the glands at the base of the tail, or perhaps a sort of muscle
spasm. It is not typically listed in veterinary handbooks.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/coldtail.html
Ear Infections
Because of their drop ears and their love of swimming, Labradors can be prone
to ear infections. Not all Labs get them, but many that do
can be chronic about it unless you take regular preventive steps.
It's a good idea to check your dog's ears regularly. You are looking for two
things. First the ear's appearance: should be light pink or
flesh-toned (yellow Labs will have pinker skin) and clean. Second, the ear's
general odor: should not smell anything from the ear or the
canal.
If the ear is dirty, use a tissue or cotton ball and wipe the ear out. Because
of the shape of the dog's ear canal, you will not injure him
by swabbing down there, but use only your fingers, never a Q-tip or something
similar. If your dog seems to generate a lot of waxy
material, you may want to put him on regular cleaning program. You should not
have to wipe out the ear very often, perhaps once a month
or less, unless he's been out swimming.
If the ear smells bad, you should take your dog into the vet to be treated for
it. There are a variety of types of ear infections.
Thereafter, you should clean your dog's ears regularly to prevent further infections.
Many Lab owners commonly use a solution like the following:
* 2 tablespoons Boric Acid
* 4 oz Rubbing Alcohol
* 1 tablespoons Glycerine
Shake well. Put 1 small eyedropperfull in each ear. Rub it around first, and
then let the dog shake. Do this once a week and you
shouldn't see any ear infections. It works by raising the pH level slightly
inside the ear, making it less hospitable to bacteria. This
will NOT clear up an existing infection, this is a preventive remedy only. If
the dog's ears are presently infected or sensitive, this
solution may further irritate the ear tissues.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/ears.html
Common Injuries
For whatever reason, Labradors appear to be especially prone to ruptured cruciate
ligaments. This injury is usually sustained during
some type of activity involving twisting the legs -- jumping to catch an object
in mid-air, for example. Treatment involves any of a number
of surgical options and extremely restricted activity for at least 6 weeks after
surgery. It can take up to 6 months for performance dogs
to fully rehabilitate.
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/darbydiary.html
Laryngeal Paralysis
Laryngeal paralysis occurs when one or both sides of thelarynx do not open and
close properly. Depending on the severity of the paralysis
will impede the dog's ability to get oxygen. This can lead to overheating, as
dogs pant to cool themselves down, but a dog with
laryngeal paralysis cannot pant effectively. Labs seem to develop LP mainly
as a function of old age although some younger dogs come down
with it. Labs are not congenitally disposed to LP as some other breeds are,
however.
The earliest sign of LP is a change to the sound of the dog's bark and a rough
sound in the breathing. To diagnose LP, the dog must be
lightly anesthetized and the movement of the larynx studied. It does take some
experience to correctly diagnose this, so ask for a referral
if your vet suspects LP, but has not much experience with the condition.
The only treatment for Laryngeal Paralysis is surgery to tack open at least
one of the laryngeal folds. However, while oxygen is now assured
to the dog, the dog is also at increased risk for aspiration pneumonia as food
or water can now be more easily inhaled. LP patients are
typically fed from raised bowls and prohibited from swimming in non-chlorinated
water. In addition, LP patients no longer bark
normally, and sound as if they had been debarked (in fact the surgery is similar).
The other option is no treatment. Several owners report that with no treatment
and careful monitoring of the dog's condition (especially on
warm days), some dogs do well for a while longer. Discuss all possibilities
with your vet, as there are varying levels of severity of LP which can factor
into your decision about treatment.
http://www.godivalabs.com/LP.html
Miscellaneous Problems
Other issues to discuss with breeders are epilepsy, skin allergies and thyroid
function.
http://www.canine-epilepsy.com
http://www.labbies.com/foodreactions.htm
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/thyroid.html
Rimadyl should be administered with due caution. Most of the major side effects
(liver toxicity) to this drug have been observed in
Labradors, although it is unknown if that is due to the proportion of dogs needing
such medications being Labradors, or if Labs as a breed
are subsceptible to it. Discuss this issue thoroughly with your vet.
http://www.labbies.com/rimady.htm
Resources
Books
Breed books - Available at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/woodhavenlabr-20
The Versatile Labrador Retriever by Nancy Martin
Reaching for the Stars by Mary Roslin Williams
Your Lab's Life
: Your Complete Guide to Raising Your Pet from Puppy to Companion (Solid Information
Pet Owners Can Trust)
by Virginia Parker Guidry
Labrador Tales : A Celebration of America's Favorite Dog by John Arrington, Labmed, Walt Zientek
A Dog Owners Guide to Labrador Retrievers by Marjorie Satterthwaite
Labrador Retrievers Today by Carole Coode
The Labrador Retriever: The Dog That. Does It All by Lisa Weiss Agresta
Book of the Labrador Retriever by Anna Katherine Nicholas
The Ultimate Labrador Retriever by Heather Wiles-Fone
Love of Labs : The Ultimate Tribute to... by Todd R. Berger (Editor), Bill Tarrant
A New Owner's Guide to Labrador... by Mary Feazell
The Proper Care of Labrador Retrievers by Dennis Livesay, Pat Livesay
The New Complete Labrador Retriever by Helen Warwick, Thomas W. Merritt
The New Labrador Retriever by Janet I. Churchill
The Labrador Retriever by Dorothy Howe
The Labrador Retriever : An Owner's Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet by Lisa Weiss-Agresta
Guide to Owning
a Labrador Retriever : Puppy Care, Retrieving, Training, History, Health, Breed
Standard (Re Dog Series)
by Richard T. Burrows
Labrador Retrievers for Dummies by Joel Walton, Eve Adamson
101 Uses for a Lab by Dale C. Spartas (Photographer)
Training Your Labrador Retriever by September B. Morn, Pam Tanzey (Illustrator)
Just Labradors by Dale C. Spartas (Photographer), Steve Smith
Hunting/Training Books - Available
at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/woodhavenlabr-20
Dogs
for Dummies by Gina Spadafori
Puppies for Dummies by Sarah Hodgson
The Dog Whisperer : A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training by Paul Owens, Norma Eckroate, Michael W. Fox
Don't Shoot the Dog : The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor
Getting Started : Clicker Training for Dogs Including a Dog & A Dolphin by Karen Pryor
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With by Clarice Rutherford
The Art of Raising a Puppy by The Monks of New Skete
Mother Knows Best : The Natural Way to Train Your Dog by Carol Lea Benjamin
Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson (Paperback - January 1997)
Clicker Training for Obedience : Shaping Top Performance--Positively by Morgan Spector, Karen Pryor
Dogs are from Neptune by Jean Donaldson
Civilizing Your Puppy by Barbara J. Wrede, Michele Earle-Bridges (Illustrator)
Dog Training in 10 Minutes by Carol Lea Benjamin
Surviving Puppyhood: Teaching Your Puppy the Right Way to Live by Kay Guetzloff
Dog Training for Dummies by Joachim Volhard, et al
How to Housebreak Your Dog in 7 Days by Shirlee Kalstone
Training your Retriever by James Lamb
The 10-Minute Retriever: How to Make an Obedient and Enthusiastic Gun Dog in 10 Minutes a Day by John I. Dahl, Amy Dahl
Training the Hunting Retriever by Jerome B. Robinson
Retriever
Training for the Duck Hunter by Robert Milner
Videos
- Available
at Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/woodhavenlabr-20
It's Not the Dog...Training You to Train Your Dog
Beginning Training for Your Retriever
Advanced Training for Your Retriever
Water Dog
Periodicals
Just Labradors
Magazine
http://www.justlabsmagazine.com
The Labrador Quarterly
http://www.hoflin.com/Magazines/The Labrador Quarterly.html
The Labrador International Newsletter
http://labradorsiln.com
Retriever Journal
http://www.retrieverjournal.com
Field Trial News
http://www.fieldtrialnews.com
Other Publications
of Interest
Julie Brown's
Directories
http://pedigreebook.com/directories.html
Online Resources
for Lab Owners
Labrador Retriever Email Lists
http://www.yahoogroups.com
Adopt-a-Lab
Black Labradors
CanadianLabRescueList
Chocolate-Lab-Lovers
ChocolateLab
Chocolate Labrador Lovers
Christian Lab Lovers
Lab-H
Lab-L
Labs
Labs Are Great Dogs
Labrador BARF
Labrador Breeders
Labs Florida
LabradorKennelClub
LabLaffs
LabsnStuff
Labradors Online
Labrador Pedigrees
LabRelief
Labradors in the Netherlands
Labradors in the Philippines
Labsr4u
Labsr4u Therapy Service
Labsr4me
Labsrus
Labs We Love
LoveableLabs
NortheastLabRescueNetwork
Packerdogs Lab Rescue
Scottish Labrador Lovers
Scottish Lab Lovers
Show Labs
Working Labs
Labrador Bulletin Boards
Labrador
Retriever Chat Board
http://www.lab-retriever.net/board
Labrador Retriever Breeders Forum
http://pub12.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=976632990&c
Just Labradors
http://www.justlabradors.com
Labbyworld
http://www.labbyworld.com
World of Labradors
http://www.workfromhomemillionaire.com/forums/upload/index.php
Breed Rescue Organizations
Rescue
Links
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/lablinks.html#rescue
Labrador
Retriever Clubs
Club Links
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/lablinks.html#clubs
Breeders
Breeder
links by location
http://www.woodhavenlabs.com/labkennels2.html
Breeder links by name
http://www.wiscoy.com/kennellinks.html
Field & Hunting
Retriever
Forums
http://www.retrieverforums.com/forums/index.php
Retriever Training Net Forum
http://www.retrievertraining.net/forums/
Working Retriever Central
http://www.working-retriever.com
Refuge Forum
http://www.refugeforums.com
Waterfowl Hunting
http://www.waterfowlhunting.com
Water Dog One
http://pub135.ezboard.com/fonlinelabsfrm1
Hunting Retriever Club
http://www.huntingretrieverclub.org
Nahra - North American Hunting Retriever Assoc.
http://www.nahra.org