Labradors take their origin from the countries of North America.
The breed is quite large, the weight of a male can reach 40 kilograms, height 55-60 centimeters, bitches – up to 35 kilograms, height 50-55 centimeters.
To the question of how many labradors live at home, you can answer that on average, the life expectancy of a dog is 10-14 years. Labradors are distinguished by their loyalty and calm character, they are extremely sociable and intelligent, because such a dog is brought not only in private homes, but also in apartments.
Detailed overview
Characteristics of the dog breed Labrador
Male:
Height 56-57 cm
Weight 27-40 kg
Bitch:
Height 54-56 cm
Weight 27-35 kg
Price:
Without class: up to $200.
PET class: 250-400 USD.
BREED class: 600-900 USD.
SHOW class: from $1,000.
Life expectancy: 12-13 years.
Is it difficult to take care of a Labrador?
The Labrador breed of dogs needs physical activity. Grooming is simple.
Do golden Labradors exist?
There are two different breeds – the Labrador Retriever and the golden Retriever. Do not confuse them. The labra has a short coat, which can be black, yellow or chocolate. Golden retrievers have a longer cream-colored coat.
What does Dudley’s Labrador look like?
Dudley – Labradors with reduced pigmentation on the nose, on the rims of the eyes and muzzle.
Where is it better for a Labrador to live: in an apartment or in a house?
With active walking, the dog will feel good both in the apartment and in the house. This is an unpretentious breed.
Is aviary maintenance allowed?
Labras tolerate winter wonderfully, they like to swim in the snow. They can live in an aviary, but only in a heated one. It is recommended to keep the temperature at least 15 degrees.
Does the Labrador shed?
Dogs have a double coat. It consists of a soft undercoat and a stiff outer coat. They shed twice a year.
How often do I need to bathe?
Bathe the pet only then, it starts to smell bad. Shampoo is better not to use.
Do I need grooming?
It is enough to comb the wool once a week and remove the hairs with a wet cloth.
Are all Labradors hyperactive?
Dogs with the right temperament are not overactive. But, unfortunately, hyperactive labras are becoming more common. The reason is unscrupulous breeders who, in pursuit of profit, engage in reckless breeding.
How often do you need to walk?
At least 2 hours a day.
What kind of work can Labradors do?
Pets perform search and rescue work. They can be guides, helpers of hunters and fishermen, participate in therapy.
Who does not fit the breed?
Inactive people who prefer peace.
Is it possible to buy for a child?
Labras love children, but you should not leave them unattended. Both tend not to really evaluate their strength. It is possible to engage in the upbringing of a dog for children from the age of 8.
Is the breed suitable for protection?
This is a peaceful breed that does not like to dominate. They have no aggression. They are not suitable for protection.
Is it better to choose show-line or working puppies for hunting?
Both lines show good results. If you are interested in field testing, look for breeders specializing in this.
At what age are Labradors considered adults?
Labras behave like mature dogs after reaching the age of three.
Is it possible to keep with other animals?
Pets are friends with all living things. They get along well with cats, other dogs and small pets.
Advantages of the breed
The breed was bred for work and still has a good physical shape.
This is a strong and hardy dog with good health. She is not afraid of cold, icy water, snow and blizzards.
Labradors love the cold, but they live in any climate.
They require minimal maintenance, easily adapt to various conditions of detention.
They are easily trained, quickly learn to execute commands, show good results in agility.
Has an exceptional memory. His ancestors remembered the place of the fall of game on the hunt, this ability was passed on to descendants.
They are the best at aporting items. This is an innate skill of the labras.
Pets are devoted to their family, do not try to dominate it.
They adapt well to the rhythm of family life.
Disadvantages
The Labrador is friendly with everyone, including outsiders. It is almost impossible to teach him aggression. There are no watchdog qualities. Labra won’t make a security guard.
They need constant activity and significant physical exertion.
A bored dog can cause significant damage to property.
Some individuals show hyperactivity. As a rule, it can be corrected by proper upbringing.
The breed is characterized by slow maturation. Up to three years old, the lab behaves like a puppy. Prolonged childhood hinders obedience.
It is difficult for a pet to refrain from swimming if the water is dirty, but in front of him. A water lover considers any puddle or ditch to be a reservoir.
He does not know the measures in food. He is not averse to eating everything he finds on the street, likes to dig in landfills.
He likes to play with all his relatives. He starts games with stray dogs and animals of all sizes.
The dog can become unmanageable if you do not engage with him. This is especially evident during walks, when the animal pulls the owner. From the outside, it is not entirely clear who is walking whom.
You can get rid of these bad habits if you consistently and competently conduct educational classes with your pet. Then the negative sides of the breed will not appear at all.
Practical tips
The desire of Labradors to learn, playfulness, affectionate nature and affection for children make retrievers candidates for the role of a pet. But it is important to plan the behavior of the whole family a few days in advance before the puppy appears in the house:
- it is necessary to think about who will be with the dog during the holidays;
- it is important to find a veterinary clinic somewhere nearby, preferably around the clock, which, if necessary, will be convenient to contact;
- for the first time, you should definitely get pet food;
- it is recommended to collect an emergency first aid kit, sorbents, cotton wool, vitamins for dogs, iodine;
- think of a place for a labrador, as well as provide a place for bowls for food and water.
By following these recommendations, the owners will greatly facilitate the first days of a new family member in their apartment.
Labrador: dog’s character, behavior
This is the smartest and kindest creature, able to charge everyone around with its energy. Labras subtly sense the mood of the owner. They won’t bother him if he’s in a bad mood or he just wants to be quiet. However, a violent temperament should be directed in the right direction, while avoiding unnecessary punishments.
Experts of the breed note that there are such features in the character of the pet:
- good-natured and optimistic;
- reliability and loyalty;
- high activity;
- innate intellectual abilities;
- great ability to work.
Behavior in the house
The best companion is a Labrador. The description of the breed, the nature of his behavior, suggests that his canine happiness lies not in the protection and protection of his family, but in the ability to accompany a person at any time of the day or night. He will share all the joys and troubles and cheer up by wagging his tail. Such a manifestation of joy can lead to chaos in the apartment. With his tail, the dog sweeps away all objects around. As a rule, three-year-old dogs become more sedate.
Behavior on the street
Pets love to swim, run and just walk with the owner everywhere. They need constant attention. As a rule, they do not have jealousy and aggressiveness. They are always open to communication. They do not attack outsiders, except for the purpose of playing. They like to learn and master new teams. This is one of the few breeds that can be trained at home.
Attitude to strangers, protection of the owner and home
His loud barking will be heard quite often. But this does not mean that the dog is guarding the house. This is how he expresses his joy. The pet is glad to everyone who looks into the house or meets on the street. He is ready to be friends with everyone: children, dogs, cats. The exception is birds. The breed was bred for hunting birds. Sometimes the instinct of the earner wakes up in domestic sissies.
Is it suitable for keeping in an apartment?
Active dogs, which include a Labrador, need a full physical activity. First of all, the state of health, both psychological and physical, depends on it.
At home, you can keep any breed of dog, if it is given due attention. Frequent long walks, active outdoor games and training.
If the Labrador is not loaded, then in the first years of his life he will dump excess energy on the pogrom of the dwelling. And how else, if he is locked in four walls?
Over time, the dog imitates the lifestyle of the owners. Lazy people are not recommended to have Labradors. Without activity, dogs quickly gain weight due to metabolic disorders.
They become as sluggish as the owners, which contradicts the nature of this breed.
Pros and cons
Before you start keeping a Labrador in an apartment, you should note several disadvantages of this solution:
- the need to provide daily active load;
- the dog is recognized as a source of infections;
- the presence of long wool – during seasonal molting, wool needs to be combed every day,
- intensive cleaning of the room, cleaning of furniture will be required;
- the need to devote a lot of time to the process of education.
But all these disadvantages are fully compensated by certain advantages:
- the appearance of a loyal friend;
- the labrador is happy to go out for a run with the owner in the morning;
- gets along well with children and can become a babysitter;
- will not offend family members;
- with proper training, it performs protective functions, although it is considered a completely non-aggressive dog.
Labrador care: fur, eyes, ears
The breed is distinguished by cleanliness. Dogs take care of their own fur. The owner only needs to clean it with a special brush or with a glove. During molting, the fallen hairs are conveniently cleaned with a damp towel.