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Labrador Retriever Dog Breed Facts
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Breed: Labrador Retriever
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Also Called:
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Height: The Labrador Retriever is about 21-24 inches tall.
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Weight: The Labrador Retriever weighs between 55-80 lbs.
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Colors: The Labrador Retriever can be black, yellow or chocolate.
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Physical Appearance: The Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-sized, short-coupled, dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables it to function as a retrieving gun dog, the substance and soundness to hunt waterfowl or upland game for long hours under difficult conditions, the character and quality to win in the show ring, and the temperament to be a family companion. Physical features and mental characteristics should denote a dog bred to perform as an efficient Retriever of game with a stable temperament suitable for a variety of pursuits beyond the hunting environment. He has a short, dense, weather resistant coat, an "otter" tail, a clean-cut head with broad back skull and moderate stop, powerful jaws, and its "kind," friendly eyes, expressing character, intelligence and good temperament.
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Temperament/Personality: The Labrador Retriever has a kindly, outgoing, tractable nature, is eager to please and non-aggressive towards man or animal. The Labrador has much that appeals to people, his gentle ways, intelligence and adaptability make him an ideal dog. He is gentle with children and the elderly. If it is intended as a pet, keep in mind that Labrador puppies are full of energy.
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Care: The Labrador Retrievers needs light brushing of their coat. The owner of a Labrador Retriever needs to be able to spend time to exercise, train and play with them.
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Health Concerns/Problems: The Labrador Retriever dog breed has known to experience the following health issues: Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Retinal Dysplasia, Dwarfism, Centroneuclear Myopathy, Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC), Megaesophagus, and Hypothyroidism.
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Training: The Labrador Retriever puppies are easy to raise and train and should be introduced to people at an early age.
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Activity: The Labrador Retriever need plenty of exercise and should not be kept in a locked space. They love swimming and should not be overfed or will become obese.
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Life Span: The Labrador Retriever lives an average life of 10-12 years.
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Litter Size: The Labrador Retriever has an average litter of 7-8 puppies.
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Country of Origin: The Labrador Retriever originated in England.
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Brief History: The ancestor of the Labrador Retriever was the St. John's Retriever, a smaller version of the Newfoundland. These dogs were brought to England, probably on fishing boats. Gamekeepers crossed these Canadian imports with various breeds of gun dogs, always striving to improve the breed's hunting and retrieving instincts. By the middle of the 19th century, the Labrador's characteristic water-resistant coat and otter tail were already apparent. By the late 1880s, the breed was sufficiently distinctive that "Labrador Retriever" became the generally accepted name of the breed. Originally black in color, the first recorded yellow Labrador appeared in a litter born in 1899. Chocolates were also recorded at about the same time, but never achieved the same level of popularity as the blacks and yellows. Originally bred to retrieve from water, the modern Labrador Retriever has proven to be one of the most versatile breeds, excelling in hunt tests and field trials, in obedience and agility events, and also as service dogs.
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