After Golden Retriever facts, we came with facts on another fantastic dog breed – the Labrador Retriever facts. Labrador Retrievers can be considered as the cousins of Golden Retrievers.
If you think that these little-less-hairy folks are less goofy and crazy than the goldies, then you are so very wrong.
Read this awesome article on Labrador Retriever facts and be bamboozled by them. Warning you may even adopt one after reading this article!
Labrador Retriever Facts: 1-11
1. Labrador breed originated from Newfoundland (England) and not Labrador (Canada). These Newfoundland dogs were prevalent in the 1700s along with St. John’s dog.
2. St. John’s dogs were named after the capital city of Newfoundland.
3. Small water dogs of the same area were bred with Newfoundland dogs. The breeding led to St. John’s Water dog.
4. St. John’s Water dog is the ancestor of our favorite present day’s Labrador Retriever.
5. So, how does the name of Labrador come into existence? The third Earl of Malmesbury was the one who called them Labrador dogs in the year 1887.
6. Many historians presume that as Newfoundland and Labrador were close and given the fact that the British had the habit of clumping the territories together, they might have called the whole area as Labrador.
7. Another possible reason is the fact that the Labrador dogs first time swam in the Labrador Sea.
8. The name Labrador became famous in the United States of America, Canada, etc.
9. There are three color variants in the dogs that are recognized – black, yellow, and brown.
10. It is generally considered that the black Labradors are the best of the lot and yellow ones are infamous for being lazy! However, there is no evidence to back these claims.
11. Just like every human, every Labrador is different and unique.
Labrador Retriever Facts: 12-22
12. England Kennel Club had registered Labrador Retriever as a breed in 1903 and American Kennel Club registered Labrador Retriever as a separate breed in 1917.
13. AKC puts Labrador Retriever in the sporting group whereas UKC puts the Lab in the gundog category.
14. These goofballs love water. They have something called ‘otter tail’. The tail and the webbed feet help them to swim fast.
15. Their short and thick coat is waterproof allowing them to swim even in cold waters.
16. They were bred to be duck retrievers. Later their retrieving abilities spread out to game hunting and waterfowl hunting.
17. They are intelligent, sensible, hard workers, and are extremely eager to please almost everyone and anyone. These attributes make them one of the most versatile workers. They can do everything!
18. They work as service dogs, police dogs, therapy dogs, etc. They are also a part of search and rescue, bomb detection, and drug detection, etc.
19. They are often called lazy or laid-back but they have immense energy in them. They have to spend this energy by either walking or indulging in any other form of exercise.
20. If they don’t get enough exercise, they start chewing on objects in the house. They may even try to escape from the house or yard.
21. Training and socialization are necessary. Training them is not that difficult.
22. They are famous for being all-rounders. They can be amazing therapy dogs and they can serve in police and army; they are pampered brats in our houses and some of them work quite hard. But if there is anything that they simply can’t do is being a watchdog.
Labrador Retriever Facts: 23-33
23. The Labs are so friendly and their lovey-dovey nature just doesn’t allow them to growl or terrify even an intruder! They are simply way too happy to invite the stranger into the house.
24. Thanks to many praiseworthy talents like high intelligence, high agility, etc. the breed emerges as victorious in many obedience and agility competitions.
25. They love to eat – their food, human food, and even inedible items like toys, plastics, etc.
26. Pet parents must be really careful about the eating habits of their Labs. Their meals must be measured properly and exercise is a must else the pup may easily become overweight and then obese.
27. Just like any other pet or animal, their activity level decreases as they age.
28. Did you know that Labs were nearly extinct in the1880’s? The credit of reviving back these wonderful dogs certainly goes to the Malmesbury family.
29. It was during World War II that labs started winning people’s hearts.
30. Males are around 22.5 to 24.5 inches tall and weigh around 65 to 80 pounds. Females are around 21.5 to 23.5 inches tall and can weigh anywhere from 55 to 70 pounds.
31. They have a lifespan of about 10 to 12 or 10 to 14 years.
32. There is another color variant of Labrador Retriever that is silver. However, this variant is not recognized or registered to date.
33. Labrador Retrievers are extremely gentle and protective of children and other pets.
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Labrador Retriever Facts: 34-44
34. It may not be surprising but Labrador Retriever is the most popular and favorite breed of the United States of America. Labs held this numero uno position for a whopping 28 years in a row!
35. They can run at a speed of 12 miles an hour. Next time you think your pooch is a lazy, race with him/her, you will know who is lazy!
36. Luckily, you can get all the three variants of color in a single litter.
37. The lyrics of Black Dog of Led Zeppelin has nothing to do with dogs. The song was named so because a black Labrador was wandering around Headley Grange studio where the album was recorded.
38. Pennsylvania jailed a Labrador Retriever. A lab named Pep was jailed for killing a cat that belonged to Pennsylvania’s Governor Gifford Pinchot’s wife.
39. Pep was jailed on 12 August 1924. He served 10 years in jail and during that time, he became good friends with the warden.
40. The prison records support the ‘a Lab being jailed’ story. However, Pinchot stated that Pep was sent to jail to be the mascot of prisoners.
41. Bosco, another black Labrador won the election and was elected as a mayor of California’s Sunol in 1981.
42. He defeated two human candidates! He was a Republican and his motto was ‘A bone in every dish, a cat in every tree, and a fire hydrant on every corner’!
43. He served as mayor for 13 years till he breathed his last. He died in 1994.
44. As per Guide Dogs of America, 70% of the guide dogs are Labrador Retrievers. Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds make up 15% each.
Labrador Retriever Facts: 45-55
45. If taught and trained, Labs can detect cancer during the early stages. It is tough to believe but the only way to know of ovarian cancer in the early stages to get sniffed by a Lab! They have high success rates too!
46. Endal, a Labrador was awarded PDSA Gold Medal (an animal bravery award) in 2002 for his commendable help and support that he provided to his owner.
47. The oldest lab in the world was Bella. She was 29 years old.
48. There is nothing called English Labs or American Labs. They both are the same.
49. According to Guinness World Records 2015, the first-ever dog to detect diabetics was Armstrong, a Labrador. In 2003, he was trained to smell out the chemical changes that take place when hypoglycemia occurs.
50. According to Guinness World Records, the largest single-breed dog walk included 700 Labs. They walked for 5 kilometers in Poland’s Warsaw on 29 August 2010.
51. This is not in any of the records but it is said that a Lab-Boxer crossbreed walked for 3,218 kilometers to reach his lost home in Australia.
52. The first surrogate dog mother of the first cloned dog was a Labrador. The puppy was named Snuppy!
53. Tubby, a Labrador got into the Guinness World Records for recycling 26,000 plastic bottles in the past 6 years in the UK.
54. Just like most of the animals, they have two layers of fur. The shorter one to keep their body warm and the longer one to keep the dog nearly waterproof.
55. Similar to the Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers have a high tolerance to pain and hence are suited well as service and police dogs.