What You Need To Know About The Labrador
submitted: Aug 25th 2008 |
by: BrookeSunderland |
Total views: 1 |
Word Count: 502 |
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The breed standard of the Labrador Retriever is not based on any actual dog. It is a theoretical ideal that no dog will likely ever reach. This breed standard is used to not only help dog show judges pick a winner in the ring, but can help you identify a Lab or Labrador cross breed in your local animal shelter. Labrador genes tend to be dominant when they mix with nearly every other breed. Knowing your rescue dog is a Labrador or part Lab can help you take care of him better.
Getting a general idea of the breed standard is one of the best pieces of Labrador information that you can learn, especially if you are shopping for a show dog or for breeding stock. Fortunately, the breed standard also rewards an ideal temperament just as much as it rewards an ideal body shape. Labradors are very strong for their size, so being a friendly dog is necessary both in and out of the show ring. A Lab with behavior problems should be neutered.
A Labrador's head looks very much like a blunt version of most other dogs. On a profile, their heads look like a big oval attached to a square (the square being the muzzle). Their tongues are always pink and sometimes their noses are, too, even though the breed standard frowns on pink noses.
Labrador Retrievers can't get enough of food, and this often shows in their weight. Ideally, they should not be shaped like a seal. They should only be fifty five to seventy five pounds. (Bigger Labs will naturally weigh on the higher end of the scale). They have a very square body and a naturally long, straight tail, sometimes referred to as an otter tail. Their thick coats reflect that they can put up with a lot of time in the water and rain. It should be short, a bit harsh and drip dry.
All Labrador information agrees that Labs are generally blocky dogs, with a square-ish head, a level backbone and strong, thick limbs. They should not have a body built like a Boxer - although this sometimes happens in purebred Labs.
There is some variation Between American Labradors and English Labradors, however. The English version is a usually chunkier and shorter than the American. Their facial expression and temperament are exactly alike. It's hard to find another breed that is so reliably friendly and intelligent.
Common faults seen in a lot of pet Labs only mean that they do not meet the breed standard, but they can still be purebred Labs. These faults include being too small, too big, too heavy, having a limp, having a body like a Doberman or Boxer in shape, eye rims that lack color, splayed feet, knock-knees, wooly coats, coats that are thin like a Greyhound's, walking like a Hackney horse and showing aggression. Being a friendly, easily trainable breed is paramount to this breed standard, fortunately.
About the Author
About the author: Brooke Sunderland is a passionate lover of the Labrador and has a popular website where you'll discover how to have a happy, healthy and well behaved Labrador. Among other topics there, you can also learn all about Labrador Types plus a whole lot more.
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