Table of Contents
FOREWORD
K9 EXPERT EDUCATION
Congratulations! If you are considering adding a Labrador Retriever to your home, you are the newest member of a huge and very enthusiastic fan club. The Lab is the most popular dog breed in America, and whats not to like? Handsome, sturdy, and easy to care for, the Labs devotion to his family is legendary.
Whether he is leaping into an ice-cold pond to retrieve waterfowl, performing as an indispensable guide dog to the blind, carrying out grueling search-and-rescue maneuvers, or simply stretched out at your feet as you read the newspaper or watch TV, the Labs long history of working in the service of mankind is an illustrious one. He wants nothing more than to serve you in whatever capacity he can.
While there are breeds with food issues, complicated grooming regimens, and quirky behavioral challenges, the Lab is nothing if not an easy keeper. He is intelligent yet sensible, with a hearty appetite and a spirited sense of humor; definitely not a candidate for the doggie psychiatrists couch. Happily, most Lab owners are as easygoing and low maintenance as their dogs.
Despite the breeds popularity, there is nothing glamorous, exotic, or exaggerated about the Lab. He is a handy size for most city and suburban homes with a fenced backyard. The Lab is the perfect jogging companion for active singles as well as a loving, robust pet for children. Of course, bred for endurance in the field and water, he must be given sufficient exercise or his love of food will soon catch up with him. This is no discriminating gourmet who will turn down a free meal. In fact, youd better keep those cupboard doors securely closed or hell be rummaging around for unscheduled feedings. Did we say he was an easy keeper? Thats a euphemism for chow hound! And those extra pounds will put an added strain on his heart, hips, and joints. The Lab is an athlete and a field champ. He shouldnt look like a watermelon on legs!
The American Kennel Club breed standard recognizes three acceptable colors for the breed: glossy black, rich chocolate, and shades of yellow ranging from light cream to deep fox red. Notice that we didnt say white or silver. White is basically a pale, pale cream while silver is not even mentioned in the standard. Steer clear of breeders who hype these rare and unusual colors in their advertising, hoping to reel in an unsuspecting novice. The Lab has far too many wonderful qualities to fixate on color. No serious dog owner buys a dog to match the color of the living-room sofa.
Whichever color you prefer, a quick grooming several times a week with a brush or hound mitt will remove dead hair before it ends up on your floors and carpets, and will keep him gleaming. Ears and eyes will need to be cleaned as well, and his nails trimmed. But thats it. No doggie salon needed for this sporting dude.
If youve watched agility, rally, or dock dogs (a long-distance diving competition) on TV and think you might want to give it a try, your Lab will be an enthusiastic partner. If you prefer to swim, rollerblade, or jog, hes happy keeping you company during those activities, as well. At the end of the day, hell sack out to watch a movie with you, or curl up under your desk, thumping his tail against your leg as you answer e-mails. Labs are all about the bonding; the activity is always negotiable.
JOIN OUR ONLINE Lab Club
With this Smart Owners Guide, you are well on your way to getting your Labrador diploma. But your Labrador Retriever education doesnt end here.
Youre invited to join Club Lab (
DogChannel.com/Club-Lab), a FREE online site with lots of fun and instructive online features like:
forums, blogs, and profiles where you can connect with other Lab owners
downloadable charts and checklists to help you be a smart and loving Labrador Retriever owner
access to e-cards, wallpapers, and screensavers
interactive games
Lab-specific quizzes
The Smart Owners Guide series and Club Lab are backed by the experts at DOG FANCY magazine and DogChannel.com-who have been providing trusted and up-to-date information about dogs and dog people for forty years. Log on and join the club today!
You could not find a sweeter, more loving or more versatile breed than the Lab. One look into his kind, friendly eyes will reassure you that you chose wisely. The AKC Lab standard states that good temperament, intelligence and alertness are a hallmark. How do you top those three great qualities?
Allan Reznik
Editor-at-Large, DOG FANCY
CHAPTER 1
THE LAB RESULTS ARE IN
The answer to the question Why the Labrador Retriever? too often seems to be Why not! Because there are literally millions of happy Labrador lovers around the world, why shouldnt everyone love a Lab? Given the breeds good looks, trainability, loyalty, and intelligence, why isnt this the dog for everyone on the planet who loves dogs?
Lets begin by listing the kinds of people who should not consider the ubiquitous Labrador for their lives.
Lap-Dog Lookers: The Lab is no lap dog. Sure, hell want to lap and kiss you constantly, but hes too big to sit on your lap while youre reading or spending time in front of the television. Labradors like to be close to you, thats for sure, but 60 pounds (or more) of true love is too much for anyones lap!
Couch Potatoes: Labradors love to romp and play, preferably with their trusted owners close by. Because the breed is designed for chasing birds in the swamp or swimming toward fallen ducks, Labs most definitely have energy to spare. Most pet Labrador owners do not have the time or inclination to take their dogs out on weekend duck hunts, so Labradors will need other outlets for their abundant energy.
its a Fact
In 1830, the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury imported what might have been the first St. Johns or Labrador dogs to England. He unloaded the dogs at Poole Harbor, Dorset, in southern England.
Labs are very active, and need activities to keep them busy.
No Boundaries: