The most popular dog breed in the US is Labrador Retrievers. They have been voted the most famous for an incredible 25 years in a row, and most people love them for their energetic, affectionate, and easy-going personality.
They are family-friendly, whether on the couch or in the field. This breed hails from Newfoundland and not from Labrador as the name may imply.
They initially worked as fisherman’s mates and duck retrievers before the English nobles brought them to the UK in the nineteenth century.
However, despite the wide love for Labrador Retrievers, a lot of people still don’t know much about this dog breed.
Here are 13 awesome facts about Labrador Retrievers that you need to know:
1. They love water
The Labrador Retrievers are in fact designed to do well in water. Their webbed feet help propel them in water, their thick tail works as a powerful rudder, and thick, waterproof coat helps to preserve their body temperature even in cold water.
The labs are first bred in the icy Newfoundland waters and they thrived well. This is one of the reasons why they are good competitors in Dock Diving trials.
2. Labs can do almost anything
This dog breed is super intelligent and have a willingness to work hard. In fact, it is one of the world’s most versatile workers among dogs.
They work in different fields and serve different functions including, search and rescue, service dog work, therapy dog work, and drug detection.
3. They are great hunting dogs
Lab were introduced to England in the 1800s where they were bred as game-hunting companions. But today, however, they can work in different settings, including game hunting and waterfowl hunting, usually for many hours.
4. Color does not depict their abilities
Many people believe that black Labs are the best hunters, while yellow Labs are the laziest of the breed. But this is wrong because none of these claims has any scientific backings.
Just like humans, dogs are different, and many breeders make choices based on skills in the field, while others are more concerned with conformation to the breed standard.
But dogs attributes are never a function of their skin or coat color.
5. They can smell far better than you
Labs have great schnozzes, and they can sniff out avalanche victims that have been buried for many years under 20 feet of snow.
More so, Labs can detect odors that most advanced technologies can hardly detect. This unique attribute, combined with their hardworking nature makes Labs the best dog choice for everything from search and rescue to law enforcement.
6. the most decorated dog of all time is a Labrador retriever
One British Lab called “Endal” holds was given a world honor as the only dog with the most canine commendations. Dogs Today magazine also named Lab “Dog of the Millennium.”
Endal worked with the British naval veteran, Allen Parton, and helped him accomplish his daily tasks. Endel understands over 100 verbal commands and many other hand signals.
The interesting part is that if Parton pretends to fall unconscious while bathing, Endal would pull the plug on the tub, pull Parton into a recovery position, and dial the phone for emergency help.
More so, Endel was able to help out with laundry, shopping, and could even use an ATM. What an amazing dog from the Labs breed.
7. They can carry an egg without breaking it
Labs are very popular at parties because they can carry an egg without breaking it. Besides this breed of dogs have a powerful appetite - It’s understandable as they are hard workers.
So before getting a Lab, you have to prepare your mind to feed them from time to time. They are voracious eaters and will eat almost anything that comes their way, even what most people do not consider as food.
The large appetite of Labs makes them more likely than other breeds to become obese. You need to be extra careful not to overfeed your furry friend. They do not know when to say “I am filled,” so watch it and engage them in a lot of exercise.
8. Labs are adventurous
Labs are extra smart and they tend to find ways to amuse themselves, especially when they still have enough physical and mental energy.
They can devise ways to get out of the house to explore the world, so it left for you to keep an eye on them. Besides, they’re not great jumpers and can’t go over a 6-foot fence. So if your fence is that high, you can restrain them within your home.
But you need to be sure your yard is escape-proof because Labs are known to open latches and chew through wood slats. And once they get on the street, they can be pretty awful and get involved in wrong stuff.
9. A Labrador was once enthroned as the mayor of a California town
During the 1981 election, voters of Sunol, CA overwhelmingly threw their support behind a black Lab, Bosco, over two human candidates that were undoubtedly fine in their own right.
Bosco served as honorary mayor until 1994 when he passed away. But he did his best to deliver all the promises on his campaign “a cat in every tree, a bone in every dish, and a fire hydrant on every corner.”
More so, after his death, a statue of Bosco was raised to honor him, and no one has been able to follow his pawsteps.
10. They have a kind and outgoing temperament
Labs are well known for their large hearts. This makes them one of the best family dogs, especially in home where there are little children.
Also, Labrador Retrievers have incredibly soft mouths and they have been bred to retrieve water fowl.
11. A lab went to jail
A black Lab named Pep was sentenced to life without parole after killing a cat owned by the wife of the Pennsylvania Governor, Gifford Pinchot.
The pooch served in the Eastern State Penitentiary from August 12, 1924, and did about 10 years of hard time. But during this period, he became good friends with the warden.
Prison records kept the story and Pinchot on his part said, the dog was sent to prison mainly to be the prisoner’s mascot.
12. They are amazing sporting dogs
Labs excel at a variety of dog sports, and their obedience, intelligence, and eagerness to please makes them amazing sporting dogs. They perform well in agility and rally besides hunting trials and dock diving.
Naturally, labs are made to run, swim, and work, so if you don’t allow them have ample exercise, they might end up displaying destructive behaviors like escaping the yard or chewing on objects around the house.
13. They need puppy training and obedience classes
Labrador retrievers are strong and full of energy, but they require proper training and socialization. With their intelligent demeanor, it can be so much fun for the dog and their owner during training classes.
Conclusion
Labrador retriever are the most popular dog breeds and their intelligence, strength and kindness make them stand out. You can have this dog as a pet in your home or you can train them for special functions. However, Labs are voracious eaters, so you need to be very careful not to overfeed them.