The Labrador possesses numerous endearing traits — intelligence, easy to train and being an excellent family companion. They require moderate exercise, but if not provided, or if left alone, Labs can be destructive. Labrador Retriever At a glance The Labrador retriever matures moderately fast, reaching adult height from six to 12 months, but possibly still filling out up to 2 years of age. Male: 65-80 lbs. Female: 55-70 lbs. Exercise Requirements: 40 minutes/day. Energy Level: Average Longevity Range: 10-12 yrs. Tendency to Drool: Low. Tendency to Snore: Low. Tendency to Bark: Low. Tendency to Dig: Low. Length: Short Characteristics: Flat, double coat, dense. Colors: Black, yellow, chocolate. Overall Grooming Needs: Low AKC Classification: Sporting UKC Classification: Gun Dog Prevalence: Common Labrador retrievers are sturdy, solid dogs. They are almost square in appearance, with a strong body and sturdy legs. The maximum height for a male is 24 inches, which puts them in the medium-size dog category, but their sturdy build can make them seem much larger.

Weights range from 85 pounds for a large male to 55 pounds for a smaller female. Field line bred dogs are often taller and somewhat thinner in build. Labrador retrievers are easily recognized by their broad head, drop ears and large, expressive eyes. Two trademarks of the Lab are the thick but fairly short double coat, which is very water repellent, and the well known "otter tail." The tail is thick and sturdy and comes off the topline almost straight. The feet are described as "webbed," with longer skin between the toes to aid in swimming. Color can range from black through chocolate to a red/yellow or even almost white. The Labrador retriever is a moderately fast maturing breed, reaching adult height from six to 12 months, but possibly still filling out up to 2 years of age. Many Labs reach 12 to 14 years of age. In general, Labrador retrievers are excellent family dogs, as long as you keep in mind their need for exercise and training. These are dogs bred to work and work hard and they love to have jobs to do, particularly retrieving.

Labs are usually good with other dogs, other pets, and children as long as training has toned down their natural exuberance. They are strong dogs and need some obedience training at an early age or they can be seen dragging their owners down the street at will.Hot Tub Deck Blocks Owing to their energetic nature, Labradors who are left alone or not well exercised can become destructive — chewing, digging and barking to excess.Gothic Wedding Dresses Usa The field line dogs are especially high-energy dogs, while some of the show line dogs become perfect couch potatoes at an early age. Teak Outdoor Furniture Fort LauderdaleChewing can be a problem because the strong retrieve urge gives them an oral fixation. Sturdy chew toys, exercise and training all help with this.

Obviously, Labradors have a number of endearing traits or they would not be so popular. They are intelligent and fairly easy to train, partly from their desire to work with people. They are "easy keepers" and can become overweight if they are not exercised and food portions adjusted as needed. Labs are excellent family dogs because they do want to be with people and many do not do well as kennel dogs. Labradors do tend to be protective of their families and homes but are usually happy to greet company, too. With the strong retrieving instinct, they can develop into destructive chewers if not given appropriate toys and guidance. Labs may tend to "mouth" people and the solution is often simply to give them a toy to carry around, so their mouths are already full! These are very strong dogs and early training is necessary to have a dog that walks nicely on lead. The wonderful double coat that keeps the Labrador warm while retrieving in icy water also gives this breed top billing as shedders.

Normally, their coats do fine with a quick weekly grooming, but at shedding time daily grooming is needed. The amount of exercise they need varies with the different lines: field line dogs can run all day, whereas show line dogs only need moderate exercise. Early in the 1800s, some of the multipurpose dogs used in North America (mostly Canada) by hunters were shipped back to England. Many of these "water dogs" were of the Newfoundland type, but the smaller ones were often designated "St John's" dogs. In England, the breed was developed and refined (probably with some flat-coated retriever input) into the breed we recognize today. As is evidenced by their name, Labrador retrievers were bred and selected for their outstanding retrieving abilities, particularly in water. They have worked as partners with duck hunters in all kinds of weather and conditions. Their intelligence and desire to work as a partner with man has led to many other jobs, and to their current status as popular pets.

Today, Labradors excel as service and guide dogs, family pets, scenting dogs for the military, customs and arson task force dogs, search and rescue dogs as well as hunting companions and performance dogs. The breed's good nature has propelled it to the number one ranking in popularity in America, a position it intends to keep. Despite their fame as indoor pets, they are even more at home outdoors. It should always be remembered that Labradors are water retrievers at heart and from early on, puppies show a strong desire to carry things around with them and a strong attraction to water, even puddles!The requested URL /subpages/show_contents.php?page=Selecting+A+Puppy was not found on this server.The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.Happy-go-lucky labs can learn to be gentle with cats. While some Labradors are hostile to cats, most can be trained to get along with your kitty. The dogs' playfulness and size can seem threatening at first, but when they get used to each other, labs and cats often can become best friends.

Making the Match An older cat might be confident, asserting himself with an energetic puppy, but would find an adult lab scary and overwhelming. On the other hand, a kitten might approach any lab boldly, but her crazy antics could get the dog so worked up that your home ends up in a shambles. When you choose the new member of your household, whether it's the kitty or the lab, consider the personality of the pet you already have, and look for an animal with a complementary temperament. Early Interactions Pay close attention to how the kitty and lab act around each other. Many cats have no qualms about letting the pooch know when he’s overstepped, such as hissing, growling and even smacking him. Labs often don't realize how big they are; as adults they stand two feet at the shoulder and can weigh 55 to 80 pounds. So, what's a good-natured game to them might be threatening to a cat. You don't want either pet to be scared of the other, so separate them right away if you see signs of tension or if they get too riled up.

Lab Traits that Affect Life with Cats While labs have a prey drive, it’s not one of their primary characteristics, because the breed was developed to fetch and retrieve, rather than hunt. That’s good news for your cat -- except your playful lab might try to “retrieve” the kitty by carrying him in her mouth! Fortunately for all of you, labs tend to be smart, want to please you and respond well to structured, formal training. They’re also very motivated by treats, so teaching your lab to play gently with the cat or at least ignore him shouldn’t be too much of a challenge. Helping a Cat Adjust to Life with a Lab Your kitty needs safe places away from the dog. If you don’t already have a cat tree, consider getting one so she can observe the goings-on from a high spot where she feels secure. Also, provide her with a dog-free room or closet, where she can eat, drink and use the litter box without being interrupted. A baby gate often works well to keep the pup out while allowing the cat to come and go as she pleases.