Labradors

The first registration of Labradors by the AKC was in 1917; many English dogs were imported post World War I and these formed the foundation of the American variety. In early 1993 a three-year pilot-breeding program commenced using Labradors purchased from the Royal Guide Dog Association of Australia and leading Labrador breeders. Photographs of early Labradors show slight changes to the breeds coat and appearance over the past 100 years. Orgins for the name include the Spanish or Portuguese word for rural/agricultural workers, Portuguese "lavradores" or Spanish "labradores", and the village of Castro Laboreiro in Portugal whose herding and guard dogs bear a striking resemblance to Labradors.

Labradors come in three colors: black, chocolate, and yellow. Silver Labradors are purely a scam and are either crosses with Weimaraners or very light chocolates. The earliest advertisements for "silver", "blue" or "gray" labradors date back to the 1950s in the western United States. While mis-marked purebred Labradors are possible, be wary of those selling rare Labradors of other colors at exorbitant prices. To date, "silver" labradors have not appeared outside of the United States from the breeding of native chocolate Labradors. Breeders, either established or novice, who may consider breeding for silver will most likely find many doors closed to them in terms of breeding to the best Labrador bloodlines. Some believe that the chocolate color was introduced into Labradors around the turn of the century by crossing with Pointers. Yellow Labradors, unlike the other color variants, have a wide variety in the phenotypical outcome; ranging from cream to fox red. There are yellow Labradors that are so pale they appear white, but they are still considered to be yellow and will usually have some color, even if it is only on the ear tips.

Labradors have a reputation as a very mellow breed and an excellent family dog including a good reputation with children of all ages. Labradors are a very popular selection for use as guide dogs being good-tempered and very agile. If your main purpose in getting a dog is to have a guard dog, a Labrador is not a good choice, but if you want an "alarm" barker, most Labradors are fine. Alarm barking Labradors often give a warning bark in response to an unusual event that they feel needs your attention, such as "Hey, a car pulled into the driveway!". This kind of barking is known as 'alarm barking', and is common within a variety of breeds.

Labradors have a reputation for appetite , and individuals have been described as willing to eat anything that isn't nailed down.

Labradors mature at around three years of age; before this time they can have a significant degree of puppyish energy, often mislabelled as being hyperactive .

In the U.S., there are two distinct lines of Labradors: field lines and show lines. Field line Labradors have been bred with an emphasis on field or hunting ability, and show line Labradors have been bred with an emphasis on conformation and temperament. In some lines, particularly those that have continued to be bred specifically for their skills at working in the field rather than for their appearance are particularly fast and athletic. Labradors are easy to train which makes obedience work a fun way to interact with your dog. With the steady increase of popularity of the breed in recent years, more and more Labradors are being bred by people who have less regard for temperament than established breeders. This means that there are a lot of people out there breeding Labradors hoping to make a few quick bucks and not concerned with improving the breed. Labradors with poor temperaments are often the result of thoughtless breeding and will not appear in Labradors from either show lines or field lines that have been conscientiously bred. It appears that backyard bred Labradors have by far the worst temperaments.

With their drop ears and their love of swimming, Labradors can be prone to ear infections. Labradors are also at risk for several eye problems including: PRA ( Progressive Retinal Atrophy ), cataracts, and retinal dysplasia . Labradors are prone to mild skin allergies in some regions of the US, notably Southern California.

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