1/11/2024 0 Comments Labs webbed feetWHAT WERE LABRADORS BRED FOR?Īs the name suggests, Labrador Retrievers were bred to be excellent at retrieving game for their humans on hunts. In the case of the Labrador’s forefather, the St John’s Water Dog, that was to be a fisherman's helper that was a super swimmer that could fetch fish and haul nets. These dogs were eventually bred to serve specific purposes. The St John’s Water Dogs were also called “Lesser Newfoundlands” and were bred as a smaller variety of the Newfoundland.Įven further back, Labs and other Canadian breeds like the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and the Newfoundland are believed to be descended from European dogs taken over by settlers. But despite their name, Labradors are actually from Newfoundland and not Labrador. St John’s Water Dogs are from Canada, which is why Labrador Retrievers earned their name. Labradors were created here in the UK when St John’s Water Dogs were brought to England and bred with English hunting dogs to create a new retriever breed. They were created from a hodgepodge of working breeds to create a new gundog that would be brill at fetching, and that’s about all there is to it.Īfter WW2 owning pets became more accessible and Labradors took off in popularity because of their dependable, kind nature and sturdy but sweet look.īy the 90s they were Britain’s favourite dog and it stayed that way until the last year or two, but now the Frenchie is trying to take their crown as top dog. There isn’t a huge heap of history behind the world’s favourite dog. The creation of a new retriever type dog began in the early 1800s, but the name “Labrador Retriever” only became widely used in the 1870s, and they didn’t become a recognised breed until 1903. So if you’re looking at getting a Lab be prepared to share your house with hair! It seems a small price to pay though when you get a loyal, loving canine companion. Given their straight, short fur it can be a surprise to Labrador parents that their dog sheds quite a lot and needs regular brushing. However, time spent with a Lab is joyous and you’ll soon be won over by their bubbly, bouncy personality. Their intelligence and desire to work mean they can get bored easily, which is why they need so much activity to keep them happy. However, Labs are actually an active breed that needs plenty of daily exercise and enrichment, and they’re well suited to active homes. Some people expect Labs to be couch potatoes and are used to seeing them look pretty chunky. Don’t be fooled by their size either because Labs are convinced they’re still puppies well into adulthood and will try to crawl onto your lap despite being a bit too big, which is usually very endearing but it does demand patience from their parents. One job they aren’t suited for is being a guard dog because these butterballs greet most strangers like old friends. They’re the breed most often used as guide dogs, but they’re also used as sniffer dogs, assistance dogs, search and rescue dogs, and even therapy dogs. Their trainability and patient personality, and eagerness to work all make Labs a super candidate for dogs with jobs. Plus, they’re good with kids, friendly towards people and dogs, and super easy to train. It’s easy to see why the loveable Lab has won over the world, with their sweet expression, playfulness, and their gentle and affectionate personality. Labradors have been the top dog around the world for decades, and this pooch is the most popular purebred dog in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia, and well within the list of favourite breeds elsewhere such as India.
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