Labrador Dogs - Friendly, Enthusiastic, and Popular

Labrador dogs, also called Labrador retrievers, are among the most popular dogs in America. There are more of these dogs registered than any other breed. They are well known for being ready to please, energetic, intelligent, and gregarious. Their excellent temperaments make them extremely popular as family dogs, though the breed was originally bred for work.

Labradors have been used while hunting for many years. They are well suited, with their waterproof coats, for retrieving waterfowl shot down over bodies of water. Before that, they were used to help Portuguese fishermen haul in nets. These energetic animals would plunge into the water in search of the cork floaters that were attached to the net ends. Seizing the floaters, the dogs would then help their masters pull in nets full of fish. These uses have caused Labradors to be a breed that loves the water and adores retrieving thrown items. Among Labrador dogs' favorite games is fetch.

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Since there are so many Labrador dogs in the United States, they're also one of the most widely crossbred. This means that most Labrador dogs you encounter will be a mix of some kind. There is a very small percentage of these dogs that are actually purebred. This means that individual dogs with some Labrador in them can vary wildly in size and appearance. However, they tend to be between twenty and twenty four inches at the withers. Compact, they are heavy for their size, weighing in at between fifty-five and eighty pounds. They are not, however, as heavily muscled as some of the mastiff breeds, like the Great Dane.

Labradors have short, dense coats in a wide variety of colors. The most common of these colors are chocolate, black, and yellow. Yellow Labs can be anywherefrom a deep ocher to a gold so light as to look like silver. There are some other, less frequent coat colors as well, due to the extensive crossbreeding that has happened in this breed.

Labrador dogs are particularly well known for their good temperaments. They're good natured and tolerant, even around small children. They're easily trained, both for obedience and reduced aggression. This means that they can endure kids' rough play without complaint or danger.

Another thing that Labs are well known for is their energy. This means that they're great to take with you if you go hiking or jogging, and that they love to play. Thrown Frisbees and baseballs are among their favorite toys, especially if they can get into the water to retrieve them. However, this means that many people feel Labrador dogs are hyperactive. It's true that these dogs need a lot of attention. They will decline if left alone too much and confined, and require enough food to fuel their energetic temperaments. However, their active behavior makes them a great friend to kids, and good company for people who like to spend a lot of time being active themselves.

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