Page 44 - The Labrador Retriever

Introducing
THE LABRADOR RETRIEVER
DHISTORY
espite the contradic- tion in name, the Labrador Retriever’s origins can be found in Canada. Early in the 19th century an
Englishman, Lord Malmsbury, purchased several Labradors (Lesser Newfoundland or St. John’s Dogs as they were called) from Newfoundland. He was attracted to the dogs because of their highly developed retrieving instinct and their willingness to please, and he developed a breeding pro- gram to preserve those characteristics.
From this early beginning the dog devel- oped into the Labrador of today—one that excels in a variety of uses beyond the hunt- ing field. The adaptability and trainability of the breed finds it utilized in many dog guide and assistance programs, as well as excelling in substance detection or search and rescue work. And, of course, with proper training and socializing, Labrador Retrievers are wonderful family companions.
Because the Labrador is a dual-purpose dog, the breed soon attracted the attention of sportsmen in the United States and it came back to this continent in the early part of the 20th century. Today the Labra- dor Retriever is the breed with the largest number of annual AKC registrations in the United States, and it has held that position since 1992.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
A Labrador Retriever is a strongly built, medium-size, short-coupled dog possess- ing an athletic, well-balanced conforma- tion that enables it to function as a retriev- ing gun dog for long hours under difficult conditions. The most distinguishing char- acteristics of the Labrador Retriever are its short, dense weather-resistance coat; an 􏰗􏰘􏰙 􏰁 􏰎􏰚􏰓􏰛􏰎􏰜􏰝􏰚􏰞 􏰟􏰠􏰝􏰠􏰡􏰜􏰢􏰣􏰤 􏰓􏰂􏰞􏰓􏰥􏰣􏰦 􏰧􏰙􏰨􏰗
By the Labrador Retriever Club
“BECAUSE THE LABRADOR
IS A DUAL-PURPOSE DOG,
the breed soon attracted the attention
of sportsmen in the United States and it came back to this continent in the early part of the 20th century.”
“otter” tail; a clean-cut head with broad back skull and moderate stop; power- ful jaws; and its “kind,” friendly eyes that express character, intelligence and good temperament.
Labrador Retriever coat colors, as rec- ognized in the official AKC Standard for the breed are, “black, yellow and choco- late. Any other color or a combination of colors is a disqualification.” A small
white spot on the chest is permissible, but not desirable. White hairs from aging or scarring are not to be misinterpreted as brindling (a mixture of white or tan and black hairs). Blacks are all black. Yellows may range in color from fox-red to light cream, with variations in shading on the ears, back, and under parts of the dog. Chocolates can vary in shade from light to dark chocolate.