Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Labrador Retrievers Are Wonderful For Families

By Toby Le Rock

Originally a hard working gun dog used to spending its days hunting the Labrador retriever has an altogether different image today. Now, Labs are considered to be ideal family pets and if you want the perfect picture of doggie cuteness than a Labrador puppy will fit the bill. Labs are loyal and faithful companions for their owners.

Very popular with dog owners around the world the Labrador retriever is a perennial favourite with all age groups. Their cute looks and playful nature make them great companions for the young and the old and they are often trusted with jobs such as police and emergency rescue work.

The Labs friendly nature and desire to please their human masters makes them ideal assistance dogs for the disabled or the deaf and they often used as therapeutic aids for people suffering from all manner of both physical and mental ailments.

Labs are tremendous swimmers and fittingly have an otter-like tail. Their coat is grown in an interweave pattern, making them ideally suited to spending time in the water.

A legacy of their gundog breeding is that Labradors are natural retrievers and they love to pick up and carry all sorts of objects. Their soft mouths enable them to carry even delicate objects with no problems and it is claimed they can even carry eggs in their mouths without breaking them. Ive not seen this myself but wouldnt be surprised if it were true. Neither would I be surprised if the Lab simply ate the egg. They do have large appetites!

Generally Labradors dont have the same problems of aggression and temperament that can surface in some other breeds and are well known for the laid back nature.

The Labs playful nature makes them ideal playmates for children and will be more than a match for even the most energetic of children. They love to chase, and of course retrieve, and throwing a ball for them to run after will give Labs amused for hours. They also love being around humans and enjoying receiving as much as giving affection.

Labs, as a breed, are exceedingly intelligent making them highly trainable though it is certainly true that they have great independence and can be quite stubborn in their behaviour.

Labs are also very curious creatures and they will happily investigate any new surroundings with great glee. If something attracts their attention, particularly the scent of food, they will determinedly seek it out. Similarly they will happily trot after a person they havent met before simply to check them out.

Because of these attributes, they sometimes can be easily go missing or be lured away from their owner. Because of this it is highly recommended that Labs be micro chipped as well as having the name, address and phone number of their owner on their collar.

Labs are basically a healthy breed, though they are highly prone to becoming overweight as they have a tremendous talent for begging or finding food. But, like all dog breeds, Labs are susceptible to certain conditions and they can be prone to hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis and other joint problems as well as suffering from diabetes.

Of course most Labs will live long and healthy lives with out any health issues and, as far as their owners are concerned, they really do make the ideal family pet.

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