As you begin your journey towards dog ownership, you are likely to be confronted with more breeds than you ever thought were possible.  The Labrador is currently the most popular dog in the United States, with good reason.  Still, taking some time to understand what a Lab is and where they came from can help you determine if it is the right breed for you.

Breed History

Many Labrador lovers do not realize that the original breed was indigenous to Canada.  They were more than man’s best friend – they were an important part of the fishing community, where they worked side by side with fishermen to pull in nets and catch escaped fish.  Eventually, they were crossbred with several other breeds, most notably Spaniels and Setters, to create the breed we know today.

The Perfect Owner

While every breed has unique characteristics, perhaps none demand a specific type of owner like the Labrador.  Remember that Labs are very active and social.  The perfect owner will have both the time and the energy to devote time each day to their Labs.  This is especially true during the critical ‘puppy’ time.  The ideal owner will recognize just how much affection and playtime their new pet needs and will work each day to provide them with the puppy/owner time they need.

Just What You’re Getting Into

Labradors are considered medium-sized dogs.  They are athletic, with a short coat that is partially water resistant.  They are the ideal dog for waterfowl hunting but also have sweet and temperate dispositions making them perfect family pets.

If you have the time to devote to your new pet, the Lab may be the perfect breed for you.  Full of energy and affectionate, they are ideal for both families and outdoorsmen. Consider adding one of these fun and feisty dogs to your home and see how long it takes for you to have a new best friend.

True Labs are pure-breeds, so your first consideration should be finding a breeder. It is important to carefully check the reputation of each breeder prior to selecting one. Discuss what health tests they perform on their breeding stock and ask to see records. This will help you avoid purchasing a pet that is genetically predisposed to develop one of the common Labrador ailments.

Once you have selected a breeder and a liter has been born, your next major hurdle will be picking the perfect puppy. This can be difficult and many folks make the same mistake. They choose the first puppy that approaches them. There is a belief that this puppy will be the most affectionate. This is actually often completely wrong. Instead of affectionate, these bold pups are often simply the most aggressive of the pack. Stay away from the puppy that is scared or nervous – they will likely grow into an easily frightened animal. Take some time to review the entire liter. If you see a puppy who appears cautious you’ve probably found the perfect pet. Typically it is these puppies that grow into pets that are obedient and enjoyable.

You also cannot deny that sometimes you just bond with a particular Labrador puppy. If this is the case, spend some time watching the dog interact with its littermates to see how he or she acts around other dogs, always remember that this behavior is a good indicator of their eventual personality.

Take some time when selecting your Lab puppy – it will help ensure you end up with the perfect pet.

Everyone knows that the Labrador Retriever is a beautiful, friendly animal; some may not realize, though, that this diverse canine has a rich history and fills many important roles in the lives of their owners.

Originally from Newfoundland, the Labrador Retriever comes by his/her strength honestly; at one point they were used as fishermen’s helpers, pulling nets and reeling in finned escapees from fishing lines. They became an equal friend to hunters through the years, facilitating their owners’ jobs by catching and bringing in game.

Also through the years, Labs have served far more peaceable purposes in the lives of the typical American family. Due to their even, friendly temperament, Labrador Retrievers are renowned as friends and companions whose loyalty and gentility are nearly unmatched in the canine community.

A Lab is not only a popular pet but a frequent family friend; one sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. What pet owner wouldn’t love a dog who can keep up with them on a vigorous jog or in a Frisbee game, but who also will lick their child’s face and cheer him/her up after a less than stellar day at school?

Through the years, Labs also have come to serve a number of roles in their communities and in society as a whole. They have at various points served as drug dogs (i.e., assistants to narcotics officers), search and rescue animals, therapy aides and guide dogs.

Labrador Retrievers are beautiful, and good natured creatures, whether in their purebred state or when mixed with other breeds (when you breed a Lab with a poodle, for example, you get the too cute to be believed Labradoodle). Perhaps that is why they have been immortalized on the silver screen, appearing in films like the stirring adventure “Gold Retrievers” with Steve Guttenberg. And the Lab was the focus of the 2000 documentary “Everything You Need to Know: Labrador Retriever.”

It’s little wonder, then, that—according to American Kennel Club statistics—the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States. Yet the best way to experience the magic of the Lab is to own one yourself; make the Labrador Retriever a part of your family today!

All breeds have specific characteristics, but the combination of these two dogs provide you with a medium to large size dog in stature that is good natured as well as highly intelligent.  While the physical features of these dogs tend to favor the Golden Retriever,   they tend to have many characteristics similar to both breeds.  These dogs are easy to train with large attention spans and make great guide dogs for the physically impaired as well as great hunting dogs because of their keen sense of smell.

Male Golden Labs usually weigh between 75 and 85 pounds, and females weigh 55 to 75 pounds.  These dogs generally live between 10 and 12 years, but with a healthy diet, exercise and physical and mental stimulation can live much longer. The female’s average litter is around 8 puppies.

These dogs have a keen sense of smell, are good swimmers and have great endurance so can run for a long time.  They have a dense, waterproof coat and do tend to shed.  Brushing your Lab mix will help with the shedding, however will not alleviate it.  I once read that you should choose a Labrador with a coat that matches your carpet or put in a carpet that matches you Lab.

These dogs make wonderful family pets, especially if there are children, although as a precaution, a new dog should never be left unattended with a small child.  As mentioned previously, they are strong, athletic animals that can accidentally harm a younger child just by playing with them.

Golden Labradors are extremely sensitive to sound and have loud and threatening barks that should send any intruders running. Even though they have a loud bark, they are not great watch dogs. If an intruder were to enter, they bark, but in most cases will never attack. Their bark is definitely worse that their bite.

Although this mixed breed can live in an apartment, they are active dogs and do best when there is a medium to large sized yard.  Golden Labs also love to swim, so would be in heaven to have a backyard with a swimming pool.  This breed loves to eat, so daily physical exercise is extremely important. Labradors are extremely affectionate dogs and constantly want to please their owners.  They are sweet, affectionate and love to play.

Because these dogs shed all of the time, if you or a family member have allergies you may want to consider a Labradoodle, which is a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle that doesn’t shed as much.  Like Golden Labs, they are highly intelligent, easily trained and take great pleasure in learning.

The first step when training your Labrador Retriever for waterfowl hunting is to get your dog used to the water. This is most successfully done at a very young age, as water playtime will be more easily acceptable. Try to help your dog understand that water is not something to be afraid of, and offer treat rewards when your dog voluntarily goes into the water. If your dog seems wary, try first going into the water yourself, to show your dog that it’s safe. Throw a rubber dog toy in shallow water, and give your dog significant praise if they retrieve it.

The next step is to begin accustoming your dog to the scent of waterfowl. This can be purchased at many hunting supply stores, and is best used when combined with a “decoy” (an object resembling a waterfowl, that is sprayed with waterfowl scent). Use of a decoy is one of the most important aspects of training your dog for hunting, since it is the foundation of their training. A decoy containing waterfowl scent will help your dog to connect the scent to the resemblance of a bird, and make subsequent hunting training much easier.

At first, try simply throwing the scented decoy a short distance on land, and encourage your dog to retrieve it. Provide a reward and lots of praise for prompt retrieval. It is not advised to attach food or treat items to the decoy to entice your dog, as this may make them associate the decoy with food (and you may train your dog to bring back a half-eaten duck). The waterfowl scent alone, along with your Labrador’s retrieval instincts, should be sufficient to entice your dog to retrieve the decoy.

Once your dog is comfortable with retrieving the decoy, it’s time to begin water-training. This can be a very involved process, especially if you have not extensively socialized your dog with the idea of being in the water. Try to start slowly, and use a water-resistant waterfowl scent on the decoy (it’s also a good idea to choose a decoy that floats!). Begin by catching your dog’s attention with the decoy, and toss it a short distance into the water. When your dog retrieves the decoy, be sure to give a lot of praise, as well as a treat reward. Labrador Retrievers are very loyal dogs, and will respond well to constant positive reinforcement of their good behavior. Throw the decoy again, this time throw it farther out, so your dog has to swim to retrieve it. This time, when your dog returns with the decoy offer a bigger treat, and a lot more praise.

This process may have to be repeated several times, over the course of several days. Every dog is slightly different when it comes to hunting, depending on their training level, breed-based traits, and background. The advantage is to train your Labrador from the time that they are a puppy, so that you have the strongest possible bond with your dog. This bond is a huge part of hunting with your Labrador Retriever, since the stronger this bond, the more likely they are to obey your commands. A dog that has not been sufficiently trained may ignore your wishes, or be distracted by other animals. The important thing is to reinforce that this desired behavior will produce rewards, and that it is categorized as “good dog” behavior. Labrador Retrievers are always eager to please, and repeated rewards for a behavior will make them much more likely to repeat this behavior in the future.

After your dog is sufficiently trained with a decoy, and is able to find and retrieve the decoy from deep water, it’s time to start bringing your dog hunting. As with all training programs, this should be done with caution at first, since this will be a new experience for your dog. Be sure to accustom your dog to the sound of gunshots, so that they don’t become panicked or run away. This can be done by having your dog nearby (not too close at first, and safely restrained) while you are target or skeet shooting. Eventually, your dog will associate that noise with you, and you will be able to have your dog nearby when shooting without their being afraid. This should be done gradually, because dogs have very sensitive hearing, and are much more likely to be hurt by the sound of a gunshot than a human. Some hunters even use ear protection for their canine’s sensitive ears.

Once your dog is accustomed to the sound of a gunshot, it’s time to take them hunting! Begin with one retrieval at first, and be ready to reward your dog accordingly for bringing back the downed bird. If this does not work the first time, don’t despair. It may take your dog several tries before they are able to successfully associate the bird with the decoy, and to incorporate their decoy training in the field. Be patient, but do not offer your dog any rewards. If your dog is not responding, try taking them back home for more decoy training, and then attempt to hunt with them again.

Labrador Retrievers were bred to hunt, and have a strong desire to retrieve fallen game. They are one of the best choices for a hunting “gun dog”, and have an admirable history of success with hunting training. If you are loving, patient, and give your dog a lot of positive reinforcement, you too will be able to train your Labrador to be a successful hunting dog.

The Labrador breed was created in Newfoundland, when Newfoundland dogs were bred with small water dogs that populated the continent. The result was known as the “St. John’s Waterdog”, which soon grew in popularity in England. Though the breed eventually came close to extinction in Newfoundland due to a “dog tax” (which was imposed to try to encourage sheep breeding), the Labrador excelled in aiding British hunters and fishermen, due to its water-resistant coat and loyal retrieving skills. After America was discovered, Labrador Retrievers gradually grew in popularity as a hunting dog, replacing the Chesapeake Bay Retriever as a hunting companion.

Though many of the canine skills required in hunting are instinctual for Labrador Retrievers, it is possible to enhance these skills by an appropriate training program. Labrador Retrievers have a naturally obedient and loyal temperament, so they are one of the easiest breeds to train for the hunting sport. The most important element of a hunting training program, above all else, is positive reinforcement. A dog’s biggest pleasure is derived from earning praise from its owner, and this is especially true in Labrador Retrievers. Rewards should always be given for prompt compliance to commands, and eventually the dog will have the ability to perform complicated commands with the only reward being the owner’s approval.

The hunting sport which Labrador Retrievers are best suited for, is waterfowl hunting. This is because it’s near impossible for a hunter to retrieve a fallen bird from a wetland or marshy area without considerable effort (and getting extremely wet!). Labradors have an instinctual desire to retrieve and carry objects, and their oily coat is well suited for repelling water. The most effective way to train a Labrador Retriever for waterfowl hunting, is to use a hunting decoy. This decoy can be laced with “waterfowl scent”, which is a substance sold at hunting stores. Once the dog has recognized the connection between the waterfowl scent and retrieving the decoy, they can be introduced to a real hunt. It may take several hunting trips to successfully train your Labrador Retriever to bring the fallen game back, but for most Labradors, this is not a difficult skill to learn.

One of the overlooked benefits of training and hunting with a Labrador Retriever is the social bonding between the hunter and dog. Because of the Labrador’s loving, attentive temperament, the hunting experience can help strengthen the emotional bond with your pet. Also, the act of working together with a Labrador to accomplish a given task can be rewarding for the pet owner as well.