The Labrador Retriever, affectionately known as a Lab, or a Labby by their owners, was originally bred as a hunting or gun dog but are now considered by many to be the perfect family pet. Lovable and excitable by nature the Lab is highly dependable, extremely obedient and of course gifted with a multitude of doggy talents.

Labrador retrievers are statistically one of the most popular dog breeds in the world with a huge proportion of dog owners having a lab at home. Its friendly, placid, bright, and bouncy good nature makes it a wonderfully delightful companion as well as being perfectly suited for other tasks outside the home such as police work.

The Labs friendly nature and desire to please their human masters makes them ideal assistance dogs for the disabled or the deaf and they often used as therapeutic aids for people suffering from all manner of both physical and mental ailments.

Labrador retrievers typically love water and they are incredibly strong swimmers. Their coat and otter like tail make them feel right at home in the water and they like nothing more than splashing around in ponds, rivers or in the sea.

Unsurprisingly Labs are great retrievers and their breeding as gun dogs has left them with the ability to carry even the most fragile of objects in their mouths without damaging it. My Lab often brings me my reading glasses without a problem and it is said that they can carry an egg in their mouths without breaking it. Though they are likely to eat the egg as they do have quite ferocious appetites!

Though they were bred as hunting dogs Labs do not have the inherent aggressiveness and poor temperaments of some other breeds and have very few, if any, negative traits in their nature.

Labrador retrievers are especially wonderful with children because the Lab has an intense desire to not only please, but its desire to play is almost equal with its desire to eat! Children can spend hours playing catch with a ball, or a Frisbee, and the dog will appear to be tireless. They seem to literally thrive on human interaction, affection and attention.

As a general rule Labs are very easy to train as they are highly intelligent and adaptable. But they can also be stubborn and more than a little mischievous ” which I suppose makes them all the more lovable!

Labs are also very curious creatures and they will happily investigate any new surroundings with great glee. If something attracts their attention, particularly the scent of food, they will determinedly seek it out. Similarly they will happily trot after a person they havent met before simply to check them out.

Because of their friendly nature and tendency to roam they can often go missing or, worse, be tempted away from their homes. It is highly recommended therefore that Lab owners arrange for their dogs to be micro-chipped or, at the very least, to have the owners contact details on their collars.

Labs are basically a healthy breed, though they are highly prone to becoming overweight as they have a tremendous talent for begging or finding food. But, like all dog breeds, Labs are susceptible to certain conditions and they can be prone to hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and other joint problems as well as suffering from diabetes.

Thankfully, most Labs will not encounter any health problems and will prove to be the perfect companion for all members of the family from the youngest to the eldest.

For more information on Labrador Retreivers visit the Labrador Retriever Guide the ultimate resource for lab owners searching for hints, tips, articles and advice on everything Labrador from health to Labrador Retreiver training tips

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