The Dog Series: Part II - Labrador Retriever

This is the second part of my feature about dogs.  My tribute to my favorite animal of all.  Man's best friend - dogs.

My most favorite dog, another one that I can't afford to buy... the Labrador.  I hope this information will be of use to you dog lovers out there!
                

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

Life Expectancy:  About 10 - 12 years

Litter Size:  Average 7 pups

Black Lab, Yellow Lab, Choco Lab

The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, or Lab for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. There are two types of Labradors, the English Labrador and the American Labrador. The English bred lab comes from English bred stock. Their general appearance is different. The English bred labs are heavier, thicker and blockier. The American bred Lab comes from American bred stock and is tall and lanky. Coat colors come in solid black, yellow, or chocolate. The double coat is smooth and does not have any waves.

Appearance:

Coat colors come in solid black, yellow, or chocolate. There is also said to be a rare silver or gray color that is referred to as a shade of chocolate. The head of the labrador is broad with a moderate stop. The nose is thick, black on black and yellow dogs and brown on chocolate dogs. The nose color often fades and is not considered a fault in the show ring. The teeth should meet in a scissors or level bite. The muzzle is fairly wide. The neck is proportionately wide and powerful. The body is slightly longer than tall. The short, hard coat is easy to care for and water-resistant. The medium sized eyes are set well apart. Eye color should be brown in yellow and black dogs and hazel or brown in chocolate dogs. Some labs can also have green or greenish yellow eyes. In silver dogs the eye color is usually gray. The eye rims are black in yellow and black dogs and brown in chocolate dogs. The ears are medium in size, hanging down and pendant in shape. The otter tail is thick at the base, gradually tapering towards the tip. It is completely covered with short hair, with no feathering. The feet are strong and compact with webbed paws which aid the dog in swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. This and their subsequent use as hunting companions, gave them the name retriever.

Characteristics & Temperament:

The dogs of this breed are very loving, kind and compassionate to their master. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog (by registered ownership) in the world. It is also the most popular breed of assistance dog in Canada, the United States, Australia, United Kingdom 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, and are good with young children.

Grooming:

The smooth, short-haired, double coat is easy to groom. Comb and brush regularly with a firm, bristle brush, paying attention to the undercoat. Bathe or dry shampoo only when necessary. These dogs are average shedders.

Photo & information lifted from:  Google, Yahoo