The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, or Lab
for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed
characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original
purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog
by registered ownership in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States
(since 1991). It is also one of the most popular assistance dog breeds in
Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States and many other
countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for
their detection and working abilities. Typically, Labradors are athletic and
love to swim, play catch and retrieve games, are good with young children,
elderly, and for protection.
History
Nell
– A St. John's Water Dog circa 1856
The
modern Labrador's ancestors originated on the island of Newfoundland, now part
of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The founding breed of the
Labrador was the St. John's Water Dog, a breed that emerged through ad-hoc
breedings by early settlers of the island in the 16th century. The forebears of
the St. John's Dog are not known, but were likely a random-bred mix of English,
Irish, and Portuguese working breeds. The Newfoundland (known then as the
Greater Newfoundland) is likely a result of the St. John's Dog breeding with
mastiffs brought to the island by the generations of Portuguese fishermen who
had been fishing offshore since the 16th century. The smaller short-coated St.
John's Dog (also known then as the Lesser Newfoundland) was used for retrieval
and pulling in nets from the water. These smaller dogs were the forebears of
the Labrador Retriever. The white chest, feet, chin, and muzzle - known as
tuxedo markings - characteristic of the St. John's Dog often appear in modern
Lab mixes, and will occasionally manifest in Labradors as a small white spot on
the chest (known as a medallion) or stray white hairs on the feet or muzzle.
The
St. John's area of Newfoundland was settled mainly by the English and Irish.
Local fishermen originally used the St. John's dog to assist in carrying ropes
between boats, towing dories, and helping to retrieve fishnets in the water.
The Labrador's loyalty and hard working behaviour were valuable assets for fishermen.
A
number of St. John's Dogs were brought back to the Poole area of England in the
early 19th century, then the hub of the Newfoundland fishing trade, by the
gentry, and became prized as sporting and waterfowl hunting dogs. A few kennels
breeding these grew up in England; at the same time a combination of sheep
protection policy (Newfoundland) and rabies quarantine (England) led to their
gradual demise in their country of origin.
A
surviving picture of Buccleuch Avon (b.1885), a foundational dog of many modern
Labrador lineages.
The
first and second Earls of Malmesbury, who bred for duck shooting on his estate,
and the 5th and 6th Dukes of Buccleuch, and youngest son Lord George William
Montagu-Douglas-Scott, were instrumental in developing and establishing the
modern Labrador breed in 19th century England. The dogs Avon ("Buccleuch
Avon") and Ned given by Malmesbury to assist the Duke of Buccleuch's
breeding program in the 1880s are considered the ancestors of modern Labradors.
The
first St. John's dog was said to be brought to England around 1820; however,
the breed's reputation had spread to England long before. There is a story that
the Earl of Malmesbury saw a St. John's Dog on a fishing boat and immediately
made arrangements with traders to have some of these dogs exported to England.
These ancestors of the first labradors so impressed the Earl with their skill
and ability for retrieving anything within the water and on shore that he
devoted his entire kennel to developing and stabilising the breed.
Early
descriptions
Several early descriptions of the St. John's Water Dog
exist. In 1822, explorer W.E. Cormack crossed the island of Newfoundland by
foot. In his journal he wrote "The dogs are admirably trained as
retrievers in fowling,
and are otherwise useful.....The smooth or short haired dog is preferred
because in frosty weather the long haired kind become encumbered with ice on
coming out of the water."
Another
early report by a Colonel Hawker described the dog as "by far the best for
any kind of shooting. He is generally black and no bigger than a Pointer, very
fine in legs, with short, smooth hair and does not carry his tail so much
curled as the other; is extremely quick, running, swimming and fighting....and
their sense of smell is hardly to be credited...."
In
his book Excursions In and About Newfoundland During the Years 1839 and 1840,
the geologist Joseph Beete Jukes describes the St. John's Water Dog. "A
thin, short-haired, black dog came off-shore to us to-day. The animal was of a
breed very different from what we understand by the term Newfoundland dog in
England. He had a thin, tapering snout, a long thin tail, and rather thin, but
powerful legs, with a lank body, – the hair short and smooth." wrote
Jukes. "These are the most abundant dogs in the country...They are no
means handsome, but are generally more intelligent and useful than the
others...I observed he once or twice put his foot in the water and paddled it
about. This foot was white, and Harvey said he did it to "toil" or
entice the fish. The whole proceeding struck me as remarkable, more especially
as they said he had never been taught anything of the kind."
Name
The
foundational breed of what is now the Labrador Retriever was known as the St.
John's Water Dog, St. John's Dog, or Lesser Newfoundland. When the dogs were
later brought to England, they were named after the geographic area known as
"the Labrador" or simply Labrador to distinguish them from the larger
Newfoundland breed, even though the breed was from the more southern Avalon
Peninsula.
Historical
landmarks
The
first written reference to the breed was in 1814 ("Instructions to Young
Sportsmen" by Colonel Peter Hawker), the first painting in 1823
("Cora. A Labrador Bitch" by Edwin Landseer), and the first
photograph in 1856 (the Earl of Home's dog "Nell", described both as
a Labrador and a St. Johns dog). By 1870 the name Labrador Retriever became
common in England. The first yellow Labrador on record was born in 1899 (Ben of
Hyde, kennels of Major C.J. Radclyffe), and the breed was recognised by The
Kennel Club in 1903. The first American Kennel Club (AKC) registration was in
1917. The chocolate Labrador emerged in the 1930s, although liver spotted pups
were documented being born at the Buccleuch kennels in 1892. The St. John's dog
survived until the early 1980s, the last two individuals being photographed in
old age around 1981.
History
of subtypes
Yellow
and chocolate pups, would occasionally appear (although often culled), until
finally gaining acceptance in the 20th century.
The
first recognised yellow Labrador was Ben of Hyde, born 1899, and chocolate
Labradors became more established in the 1930s.
Ben
of Hyde (b.1899), the first recognised yellow Labrador.
Yellow
(and related shades)
In
the early years of the breed through to the mid-20th century, Labradors of a
shade we would now call "yellow" were in fact a dark, almost
butterscotch, colour (visible in early yellow Labrador photographs). The shade
was known as "Golden" until required to be changed by the UK Kennel
Club, on the grounds that "Gold" was not actually a colour. Over the
20th century a preference for far lighter shades of yellow through to cream
prevailed, until today most yellow Labradors are of this shade. Also fawn has
been a common colour in the yellow lab variety.
Interest
in the darker shades of gold and fox red were re-established by English
breeders in the 1980s, and three dogs were instrumental in this change: Balrion
King Frost (black, born approx. 1976) who consistently sired "very dark
yellow" offspring and is credited as having "the biggest influence in
the re-development of the fox red shade",and his great-grandson, the
likewise famous Wynfaul Tabasco (b.1986), described as "the father of the
modern fox red Labrador", and the only modern fox red Show Champion in the
UK. Other dogs, such as Red Alert and Scrimshaw Placido Flamingo, are also
credited with passing on the genes into more than one renowned bloodline.
Chocolate
labradors
Jack
Vanderwyk traces the origins of all Chocolate labradors listed on the
LabradorNet database (some 34,000 Labrador dogs of all shades) to eight
original bloodlines. However, the shade was not seen as a distinct colour until
the 20th century; before then according to Vanderwyk, such dogs can be traced
but were not registered. A degree of crossbreeding with Flatcoat or Chesapeake Bay retrievers was
also documented in the early 20th century, prior to recognition. Chocolate
labradors were also well established in the early 20th century at the kennels
of the Earl of Feversham, and Lady Ward of Chiltonfoliat.
The
bloodlines as traced by Vanderwyk each lead back to three black labradors in
the 1880s—Buccleuch Avon (m), and his sire and dam, Malmesbury Tramp (m), and
Malmesbury June (f). Morningtown Tobla is also named as an important intermediary,
and according to the studbook of Buccleuch Kennels, the chocolates in this
kennel came through FTW Peter of Faskally (1908).
Description
A
black Labrador from English stock.
Appearance
Labradors
are relatively large, with males typically weighing 29 to 41 kg (64 to 90 lb)
and females 25 to 32 kg (55 to 71 lb). Labradors weighing close to or over
100 lb (45 kg) are considered obese or having a major fault under American
Kennel Club standards, although some Labradors weigh significantly more. The
majority of the characteristics of this breed, with the exception of colour,
are the result of breeding to produce a working retriever.
As
with some other breeds, the Conformation (typically "English",
"show" or "bench") and the Field (typically
"American" or "working") lines differ, although both lines
are bred in both countries. In general, however, Conformation Labradors tend to
be bred as medium-sized dogs, shorter and stockier with fuller faces and a
slightly calmer nature than their Field counterparts, which are often bred as
taller, lighter-framed dogs, with slightly less broad faces and a slightly
longer nose; however Field Labradors should still be proportional and fit
within AKC standards. With field Labradors, excessively long noses, thin heads,
long legs and lanky frames are not considered standard. These two types are
informal and not codified or standardized; no distinction is made by the AKC or
other kennel clubs, but the two types come from different breeding lines.
Australian stock also exists; though not seen in the west, they are common in
Asia.
The
breed tends to shed hair twice annually, or regularly throughout the year in temperate
climates. Some Labradors shed considerably; however, individual Labradors vary.
Labrador hair is usually fairly short and straight, and the tail quite broad
and strong. The webbed toes of the Labrador Retriever make them excellent
swimmers. The webbing between their toes can also serve as a "snowshoe"
in colder climates and keep snow from balling up between their toes- a
condition that can be painful to other breeds with hair between the toes. Their
interwoven coat is also relatively waterproof, providing more assistance for
swimming.
Official breed
standards
There
is a great deal of variety among Labradors. The following characteristics are
typical of the conformation show bred (bench-bred) lines of this breed in the
United States, and are based on the AKC standard. Significant differences
between UK and US standards are noted.
Size:
Labradors are a relatively large breed. They should be as long from the withers
to the base of the tail as they are from the floor to the withers. Males should
stand 22.5 to 24.5 inches (57 to 62 cm) tall at the withers and weigh 65 to 80
lb (29 to 36 kg). Females should stand 21.5 to 23.5 inches (55 to 60 cm) and
weigh 55 to 70 lb (25 to 32 kg). By comparison under UK Kennel Club standards,
height should be 22 to 22.5 inches (56 to 57 cm) for males, and 21.5 to 22
inches (55 to 56 cm) for females.
Coat:
The Lab's coat should be short and dense, but not wiry. The coat is described
as 'water-resistant' or more accurately 'water-repellent' so that the dog does
not get cold when taking to water in the winter. That means that the dog
naturally has a slightly dry, oily coat. Acceptable colours are black, yellow
(ranging from ivory or creme to fox red), and chocolate.
Head:
The head should be broad with a pronounced stop and slightly pronounced brow.
The eyes should be kind and expressive. Appropriate eye colours are brown and
hazel. The lining around the eyes should be black. The ears should hang close
to the head and are set slightly above the eyes.
Jaws:
The jaws should be strong and powerful. The muzzle should be of medium length,
and should not be too tapered. The jaws should hang slightly and curve
gracefully back.
Body:
The body should be strong and muscular with a level top line.
The
tail and coat are designated "distinctive [or distinguishing]
features" of the Labrador by both the Kennel Club and AKC. The AKC adds
that "true Labrador Retriever temperament is as much a hallmark of the
breed as the 'otter' tail."
Colour
The
three primary color varieties of the Labrador Retriever
Labrador
Retrievers are registered in three colours: black (a solid black colour),
yellow (anything from light cream to "fox-red"), and chocolate
(medium to dark brown). Some Labrador retrievers can have markings such as
white patches on their chest and other areas, but most commonly they are one
solid color.
Puppies
of all colours can potentially occur in the same litter. Colour is determined
primarily by three genes. The first gene (the B locus) determines the density
of the coat's eumelanin pigment granules, if that pigment is allowed: dense
granules result in a black coat, sparse ones give a chocolate coat. The second
(E) locus determines whether the eumelanin is produced at all. A dog with the
recessive e allele will produce only phaeomelanin pigment and will be yellow
regardless of its genotype at the B locus. The genes known about previously
have had their number increased by the introduction of the K locus, where the
dominant "black" allele KB is now known to reside. Black
or chocolate Labradors therefore must have the KB allele. Yellow
Labradors are determined at the E locus, so the K locus is irrelevant in
determining their colour. Variations in numerous other genes control the
subtler details of the coat's colouration, which in yellow Labradors varies
from white to light gold to a fox red. Chocolate and black Labradors' noses
will match the coat colour.
According
to a 2011 study, 13 out of 245 Labradors studied were heterozygous for the
M264V mutation responsible for the melanistic mask, and one was homozygous.
Within the breed, this trait is not visible.
Nose and skin
pigmentation
Because
Labrador colouration is controlled by multiple genes, it is possible for recessive
genes to emerge some generations later and also there can sometimes be
unexpected pigmentation effects to different parts of the body. Pigmentation
effects appear in regard to yellow Labradors, and sometimes chocolate, and
hence the majority of this section covers pigmentation within the yellow
Labrador. The most common places where pigmentation is visible are the nose,
lips, gums, feet, tail, and the rims of the eyes, which may be black, brown,
light yellow-brown ("liver", caused by having two genes for
chocolate), or several other colours. A Labrador can carry genes for a
different color, for example a black Labrador can carry recessive chocolate and
yellow genes, and a yellow Labrador can carry recessive genes for the other two
colors. DNA testing can reveal some aspects of these. Less common pigmentations
(other than pink) are a fault, not a disqualification, and hence such dogs are
still permitted to be shown. The intensity of black pigment on yellow Labradors
is controlled by a separate gene independent of the fur coloring. Yellow
Labradors usually have black noses, which may gradually turn pink with age
(called "snow nose" or "winter nose"). This is due to a
reduction in the enzyme tyrosinase which indirectly controls the production of melanin,
a dark coloring. Tyrosinase is temperature dependent—hence light colouration
can be seasonal, due to cold weather—and is less produced with increasing age
two years old onwards. As a result, the nose color of most yellow Labradors
becomes a somewhat pink shade as they grow older.
A
colouration known as "Dudley" is also possible. Dudleys are variously
defined as yellow Labradors which have unpigmented (pink) noses (LRC), yellow
with liver/chocolate pigmentation (AKC), or "flesh coloured" in
addition to having the same colour around the rims of the eye, rather than
having black or dark brown pigmentation. A yellow Labrador with brown or
chocolate pigmentation, for example, a brown or chocolate nose, is not
necessarily a Dudley, though according to the AKC's current standard it would
be if it has chocolate rims around the eyes (or more accurately of the genotype
eebb). Breed standards for Labradors considers a true Dudley to be a
disqualifying feature in a conformation show Lab, such as one with a thoroughly
pink nose or one lacking in any pigment along with flesh coloured rims around
the eyes. True Dudleys are extremely rare.
Breeding
in order to correct pigmentation often lacks dependability. Because colour is
determined by many genes, some of which are recessive, crossbreeding a
pigmentation non-standard yellow Labrador to a black Labrador may not correct
the matter or prevent future generations carrying the same recessive genes. For
similar reasons, crossbreeding chocolate to yellow Labradors is also often
avoided.
Show and field lines
Head
and muzzle appearance: American or field (left), and English or show (right),
showing the shorter muzzle length, more solid appearance head, and
"pronounced" stop of the latter.
There
are significant differences between field and trial-bred (sometimes referred to
as "American") and show-bred (or "English") lines of
Labradors, arising as a result of specialised breeding. Dogs bred for hunting
and field-trial work are selected first for working ability, where dogs bred to
compete in conformation shows are selected for their conformation to the standards
and characteristics sought by judges in the show ring.
While
individual dogs may vary, in general show-bred Labradors are heavier built,
slightly shorter-bodied, and have a thicker coat and tail. Field Labradors are
generally longer legged, lighter, and more lithe in build. In the head, show
Labradors tend to have broader heads, better defined stops, and more powerful
necks, while field Labradors have lighter and slightly narrower heads with
longer muzzles. Field-bred Labradors are commonly higher energy and more
high-strung compared to the Labrador bred for conformation showing, and as a
consequence may be more suited to working relationships than being a
"family pet".Some breeders, especially those specialising in the
field type, feel that breed shows do not adequately recognise their type of
dog, leading to occasional debate regarding officially splitting the breed into
subtypes.
In
the United States, the AKC and the Labrador's breed club have set the breed
standard to accommodate the field-bred Labrador somewhat. For instance, the AKC
withers-height standards allow conformation dogs to be slightly taller than the
equivalent British standard. However, dual champions, or dogs that excel in
both the field and the show ring, are becoming more unusual.
Temperament
A
Labrador participating in dog agility
The
AKC describes the Labrador's temperament as a kind, outgoing and tractable
nature. Labradors' sense of smell allows them to hone in on almost any scent
and follow the path of its origin. They generally stay on the scent until they
find it. Labradors instinctively enjoy holding objects and even hands or arms
in their mouths, which they can do with great gentleness (a Labrador can carry
an egg in its mouth without breaking it). They are also known to have a very
soft feel to the mouth, as a result of being bred to retrieve game such as
waterfowl. They are prone to chewing objects (though they can be trained out of
this behavior). The Labrador Retriever's coat repels water to some extent, thus
facilitating the extensive use of the dog in waterfowl hunting.
A Labrador playing
fetch in the water.
Labradors
have a reputation as a very even-tempered breed and an excellent family dog.
This includes a good reputation with children of all ages and other animals.
But some lines (particularly those that have continued to be bred specifically
for their skills at working in the field rather than for their appearance) are
particularly fast and athletic. Their fun-loving boisterousness and lack of
fear may require training and firm handling at times to ensure it does not get
out of hand—an uncontrolled adult can be quite problematic. Females may be
slightly more independent than males. Labradors mature at around three years of
age; before this time they can have a significant degree of puppy-like energy,
often mislabelled as being hyperactive. Because of their enthusiasm,
leash-training early on is suggested to prevent pulling when full-grown.
Labradors often enjoy retrieving a ball endlessly and other forms of activity
(such as agility, frisbee,
or flyball).
Although
they will sometimes bark at noise, especially noise from an unseen source
("alarm barking"), Labradors are usually not noisyor territorial.
They are often very easygoing and trusting with strangers, and therefore are
not usually suitable as guard dogs.
Labradors
have a well-known reputation for appetite, and some individuals may be highly
indiscriminate, eating digestible and non-food objects alike. They are
persuasive and persistent in requesting food. For this reason, the Labrador
owner must carefully control his/her dog's food intake to avoid obesity and its
associated health problems (see below).
The
steady temperament of Labradors and their ability to learn make them an ideal
breed for search and rescue, detection, and therapy work. They are a very
intelligent breed. They are ranked # 7 in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence
of Dogs. The AKC describes the breed as an ideal family and sporting dog.
Their primary working role in the field continues to be that of a hunting
retriever.
Exploration
Chocolate
Labrador in the water at the beach
They
do not typically jump high fences or dig. Because of their personalities, some
Labradors climb and/or jump for their own amusement. As a breed they are highly
intelligent and capable of intense single-mindedness and focus if motivated or
their interest is caught. Therefore, with the right conditions and stimuli, a
bored Labrador could "turn into an escape artist par excellence".
Labradors
as a breed are curious, exploratory and love company, following both people and
interesting scents for food, attention and novelty value. In this way, they can
often "vanish" or otherwise become separated from their owners with
little fanfare. They are also popular dogs if found, and at times may be
stolen. Because of this a number of dog clubs and rescue organizations
(including the UK's Kennel Club) consider it good practice that Labradors be microchipped, with the owner's name and
address also on their collar and tags.
Use as working dogs
Labradors
are an intelligent breed with a good work ethic and generally good temperaments
(breed statistics show that 92.3% of Labradors who were tested passed the
American Temperament Test) Common working roles for Labradors include: hunting,
tracking and detection (they have a great sense of smell which helps when
working in these areas), disabled-assistance, carting, and therapy work.
Approximately 60–70% of all guide dogs in Canada are Labradors; other common
breeds are Golden Retrievers and German Shepherd Dogs.
Labradors
are powerful and indefatigable swimmers noted for their ability to tolerate the
coldest of water for extended periods of time. Their ability to work quietly
alongside hunters while watching for birds to fall from the sky, marking where
they land, and then using their outstanding nose to find and retrieve dead or
wounded birds has made them the king of waterfowl retrievers.
A
fox red English line Labrador retriever returns successfully from a pond
retrieve.
They
are also used for pointing and flushing and make excellent upland game hunting
partners.
The
high intelligence, initiative and self-direction of Labradors in working roles
is exemplified by dogs such as Endal, who during a 2001 emergency placed an unconscious human
being in the recovery position, retrieved his mobile phone from beneath the
car, fetched a blanket and covered him, barked at nearby dwellings for
assistance, and then ran to a nearby hotel to obtain help. A number of
Labradors have also been taught to assist their owner in removing money and
credit cards from ATMs with prior training.
The
breed is used in water rescue/lifesaving. It continues in that role today,
along with the Leonberger, Newfoundland and Golden Retriever dogs; they are
used at the Italian School of Canine Lifeguard
Health
Many
dogs, including Labradors such as this twelve year old, show distinct whitening
of the coat as they grow older; especially around the muzzle.
Labrador
pups generally are not brought to the home before they are 8 weeks old. Their
life expectancy is generally 10 to 12 years, and it is a healthy breed with
relatively few major problems. Notable issues related to health and well-being
include:
Inherited
disorders
Labradors
are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially the larger dogs,
though not as much as some other breeds. Hip scores are recommended before
breeding and often joint supplements are recommended.
Labradors
also suffer from the risk of knee problems. A luxating patella is a common
occurrence in the knee where the knee dislocates and goes back into place.
Eye
problems are also possible in some Labradors, particularly progressive retinal
atrophy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy and retinal dysplasia. Dogs which are
intended to be bred should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist for an
eye score.
Hereditary
myopathy, a rare inherited disorder that causes a deficiency in type II muscle
fibre. Symptoms include a short stilted gait or "bunny hopping," and
in rare cases ventroflexion of the neck accompanied by a kyphotic posture.
There
is a small incidence of other conditions, such as autoimmune diseases and deafness
in Labradors, either congenitally or later in life.
Labradors
often suffer from exercise induced collapse, a syndrome that causes
hyperthermia, weakness, collapse, and disorientation after short bouts of
exercise.
Obesity
Labradors
like to eat and without adequate exercise, can become obese. Laziness also
contributes to this. Obesity is a serious condition, and can be considered the
number one nutritional problem with dogs. A study shows that at least 25% of
dogs in the United States are overweight. Therefore Labradors must be properly
exercised and stimulated. A healthy Labrador can do swimming wind sprints for
two hours, and should keep a very slight hourglass waist and be fit and light,
rather than fat or heavy-set. When they are fat, they usually develop hip
dysplasia or other joint problems and get diabetes. Osteoarthritis is common in
older, especially overweight, Labradors. A 14 year study covering 48 dogs by
food manufacturer Purina showed that Labradors fed to maintain a lean body
shape outlived those fed freely, by around two years, emphasizing the
importance of not over-feeding.
Appearance
around the world
In
the United States, the breed gained wider recognition following a 1928 American
Kennel Gazette article, "Meet the Labrador Retriever". Before
this time, the AKC had only registered 23 Labradors in the country, in part
because US and UK hunting styles had different requirements. Labradors acquired
popularity as hunting dogs during the 1920s and especially after World War II,
as they gained recognition as combining some of the best traits of the two
favourite United States breeds as both game finders and water dogs.
Outside North America and Western Europe, the
Labrador arrived later. For example, the Russian Retriever Club traces the
arrival of Labradors to the late 1960s, as household pets of diplomats and
others in the foreign ministry. The
establishment of the breed in the Commonwealth of Independent States (former
USSR) was initially hindered by the relatively small numbers of Labradors and
great distances involved, leading to difficulty establishing breedings and
bloodlines; at the start of the 1980s, home-born dogs were still regularly
supplemented by further imports from overseas. Difficulties such as these
initially led to Labradors being tacitly cross-bred to other types of
retriever. In the 1990s, improved access to overseas shows and bloodlines is
said to have helped this situation become regularised.
