The Labrador, the most popular breed of dog in the world today, is the archetypal family dog, being well suited to a home with older children who can compete with its high energy levels. It has a very responsive nature.
HISTORY
The origins of this breed lie in the Canadian state of Newfoundland, where its ancestors worked as fishermen's companions. One of their characteristics, still apparent in Labradors today, was a readiness to enter water. The short coat of the breed, which is easy to care for, is also a feature that dates back to its earliest days. A longer coat would have attracted ice in the freezing winters of its Canadian homeland. During the 1800s, the first Labrador Retrievers were brought to Britain, where they rapidly found favour as sporting companions, as the demand for gun dogs that were bred to work on a one-to-one basis grew rapidly. Crossbreeding with other retriever breeds occurred, especially towards the end of the century as it became harder to obtain further stock from Canada. This served to improve their scenting skills.
Adaptability
Part of the reason for the Labrador's popularity today probably relates to its attractive appearance, but a more significant underlying explanation is the breed's adaptability and enthusiasm to work alongside people. Labrador Retrievers are used for a diverse range of tasks, from helping to locate survivors buried under rubble after earthquakes to seeking out drugs and explosives at airports and other localities. Even if you have not trained a dog before, training is quite straightforward with this breed because Labradors are so responsive, having been bred over generations to work closely with people.
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