Information on Loughborough

About the History of the Labrador Retriever

Pet Shops

About the History of the Labrador RetrieverBy Brooke Sunderland

The Labrador Retriever is one of the most fashionable breeds of dog in the world. They are considered as being in the class of sporting dogs, one that is generally used to hunt upland game birds and waterfowl. Labrador Retrievers were actually first recognized in England as far back as the year 1903, and first registered by the American Kennel Club in the United States in 1917.

The Labrador Retriever has always had a reputation for being devoted, loving, affectionate and for its excellent hunting and retrieving abilities. There was a Labrador Retriever Club that was established in the mid-1900s and which has recognized the importance of keeping the Lab true to its original purpose and the AKC does not put any restrictions and so the dual champions of the past have as a result been greatly reduced. The general appearance of the Labrador Retriever has basically always been the same, although the dogs seem to have slenderized somewhat in terms of their stature.

One of the most important moments in the history of the Labrador Retriever took place during World War I, when they were first imported to the United States. At this point they were appearing in the British Kennel Club's events and were very fashionable dogs around the world. They were being mainly used as gun dogs in the war. Gun dogs are a category of dog breeds that are used to assist hunters to find and retrieve game, and the Labrador Retrievers were especially useful for this because they are born with a natural knack for retrieving.

The breed actually eventually died out in Newfoundland, however since the breed had already been brought to England it therefore continued to thrive and gain intensely in terms of popularity. Today the breed continues to stand out just as it did in the past, namely for its ubiquitous practical uses. They are used for tracking, retrieving, huntingand as guide dogs for the blind and service dogs for the disabled.

It is easy to see that the history of the Labrador Retriever is very long and significant. It is important for any potential Labrador Retriever owner to be educated not only on the history of these dogs however also on what your reasons are for choosing this breed. One of the nicest things is that Labrador Retrievers are great indoor and outdoor dogs and so whether you want to have the dog indoors as a family pet or you are the outdoor type and like to hunt they are the ideal dog for you.

There are really too many advantages and benefits to the Labrador Retriever to be able to list them all in detail, and as long as you are aware of the different benefits and have a good reason for getting one of these dogs for yourself, then you should not have any problems. By being aware of the breed's history and temperament you will really be better off. Getting a dog is a long-term commitment, one that you should take incredibly seriously and ensure that you are choosing the right breed for you and your lifestyle.

Brooke Sunderland has experience dealing with canines and understands how important learning about a breed's history really is. Not only is the Labrador an attractive, statuesque dog however they also have a very long and complex history. The Internet is one of the greatest available resources when it comes to finding out further Labrador information regarding the history of Labradors.

,

Questions For Potential Labrador Retriever Breeders

Pet Shops

Questions For Potential Labrador Retriever BreedersBy Brooke Sunderland

Take a list of questions for a Labrador Retriever breeder written ahead of time when you visit them. This list will also be handy if you are going to be meeting a lot of Labrador retriever breeders at a dog or canine show. If you meet a breeder online, you are still going to want to ask a lot of questions. You will be overwhelmed by all of the cute furry faces in order to trust your memory to recall the questions you need to ask.

The questions that will tell you the most about any Labrador Retriever breeder will be what kind of contract do you require, when can I visit the kennels and are there any health warranties. If your potential breeder refuses to let you visit the kennel, say goodbye and move on. They may have something to hide. If your breeder doesn't do contracts, also move on, because they definitely have something to hide.

You can tell a lot by what a Labrador Retriever breeder is like when you visit their home and kennel. Are they messy? Did they even remember you were coming? And does the place stink of dog poop? The place should be reasonably clean, smell okay and the dogs should appear clean, happy and friendly. It is normal to see some living outside most of the time in covered kennels. If you don't like what you see and smell, move on.

You also need to ask what the breeder considers a good home for one of his or her puppies. If they don't seem to care, then they certainly do not care about dogs. They are just after your money. A good Labrador Retriever breeder will go on and on about they kind of owner he or she wishes all Lab puppies could go to. They will also quiz you about your store of Labrador information and details to see if you are anywhere close to being their ideaof a good Lab owner.

Although there are no certainties in the dog world, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting a raw deal and a sickly puppy by obtaining certain paperwork from the Labrador Retriever breeders. You need to see the health certificates of both of the puppy's parents, especially and particulary their hip dysplesia scores. If the breeder doesn't know what you are talking about, say goodbye. Hip dysplesia is the most common ailment among Labs and is carried by genes.

A contract also can help eliminate a lot of future headaches. It should list what the breed is responsible to provide and what they are not. They might even have clauses such as you having to go to them first if you are no longer able to keep the adult dog. You won't get your money back, however at least your dog will have a good home. Assume nothing. Great Labrador Retriever breeders will bring all of this up if you forget to ask.

Brooke Sunderland has experience dealing with canines and understands how important learning about a breed's history really is. Not only is the Labrador an attractive, statuesque dog however they also have a very long and complex history. The Internet is one of the greatest available resources when it comes to finding out further Labrador information regarding the history of Labradors.

,

There is No Such Thing As Golden Labrador Retriever Purebreds

Pet Shops

There is No Such Thing As Golden Labrador Retriever PurebredsBy Franklin Simanjuntak

Believe me or not, that's the plain truth. According to the various Labrador Breed Associations and national kennel clubs, Labs come in just three recognized colors - and golden is not one of them.

However, if you go browsing through advertisements for dog kennels, you can't help however notice that there are many ads that loudly proclaim that they breed golden Labrador Retrievers. And by that, they do not mean a Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever mix (which are also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers). They actually saying a golden colored PUREBRED Labrador Retriever.

Suspected Scam

The only three recognized colors of purebred Labrador Retrievers are yellow, black and chocolate (which used to be called liver). Yellow Labrador Retrievers have there are many shades of their yellow hair. Some are so pale that they are called "white", even though their papers will call them yellow. The darkest shade of yellow is sometimes called "gold". But still, even the darkest golden Labrador Retriever will not compare to the luster of a Golden Retriever.

Sadly, like PT Barnum said, "there's a sucker born every minute". These kind of people will believe whatever they are told. If they are told that there is such a thing as a purebred golden Labrador, they will break open their wallets and buy one. Even when they can clearly see that the puppy's colour is yellow, they think the "golden" label means "premium" and they will buy the so-called "golden Labrador Retriever" at higher price, over the identical-looking "yellow Labrador Retriever".

Golden Lab Is Not Always Better Than A Yellow Lab

If you do discover that your pricey "golden Labrador Retriever"is simply a yellow Lab, take it easy. Your dog will still be loyal and comical and loving. Keep the dog. But by all means, grumble to the Better Business Bureau about how the dog was represented. It would help if you had a copy of the original ad that lead you to the kennel and a copy of the contract. You did get a contract with your "golden Labrador Retriever", didn't you? If not, there's ANOTHER thing to grumble about.

If you had your lab from a rescue shelter and your lab was listed as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever, the staff just made a common mistake. Don't rip into them about it - they are doing the greatest they can. You could write a thank you letter about how well you are getting on with your rescue dog and just casually mention that, officially, there is no such thing as a purebred golden Labrador Retriever. Once that is done, concentrate on building up a great friendship with your new Lab of whatever color.

Closing Words

If you already have a golden Labrador retriever, don't stop caring for your lab even now you know that he (or she) is not a purebred. Telling about this fact you have just learned to people around you that is considering to buy a Labrador retriever would be something valuable. For them and for yourself.

Discover more about labrador retriever at labrador fans website