Labrador: the top of the class!
Intelligent, versatile, tireless sports and playmate, the Labrador Retriever loves to please humans and is one of the most popular breeds in the world.
The Labrador represents versatility in canine guise, it is an excellent working dog, a patient darling of children, a tireless companion for sports and games, but also a placid "couch" friend, it is impossible not to find affinity with this breed, which is why it turns out to be one of the most popular worldwide.
Its origins are closely related to St. John's dog, the direct ancestor of the Labrador, a water dog whose main task was to assist fishermen in retrieving fishing nets at sea and some of the fish that escaped from the nets.
Labrador's native places are the coasts of the Canadian Peninsula of the same name, moreover adjoining the Island of Newfoundland.
In the late nineteenth century, the Labrador caught the curiosity of some Englishmen, who did not think twice and brought some specimens with them to the old continent.
In England he was immediately appreciated for his excellent reporting qualities and was used during hunting trips.
What set him apart from other retrieval dogs was his insane attraction to water, thanks to his water-repellent coat and webbed paws he was able to retrieve game in frigid English ponds without any problem, plus the "soft grip" was an additional point in the Labrador's favor, the game remained "intact."
Today these aptitudes have found a nobler occupation, that of water rescue; in fact, it is increasingly common to see some specimens on beaches waiting to serve.
He usually never says "no" to a dip in the water; if he's going to be hot, he'll even settle for a muddy puddle.
Throughout life in the Labrador there remain those typical puppy behaviors that are cause for laughter and funny situations for the family, nevertheless it is necessary to educate him, it is important for him and for living peacefully in the home.
The Labrador is a really smart dog and loves to please its human reference, and with the right positive reinforcement it will give excellent results.
It is crucial to be in control of one's dog, especially considering the vehemence with which the Labrador often attempts to show affection.
His intelligence and eagerness to please his human make the educational phase an engaging and fun experience for the owner as well, with the use of positive reinforcement he will also do jumping jacks.
He loves being helpful to others, involving him in taking care of small household chores, such as carrying the newspaper or slippers, will make him happy to be a part of daily life, he loves being around people, getting their attention and getting as many cuddles as possible.
The relationship it creates with children is magnificent; it is one of the most suitable breeds for cohabitation with young children, although perhaps some expressions of irrepressible joy may be a bit bursting for younger children, in which case it will be best to supervise.
He is an insatiable playful person, it is important to respect his sporty and dynamic nature, he needs to go for walks, runs and outdoor activities, playing with balls and dumbbells.
For happy coexistence
Lovingly attached to his family, the Labrador has an adorable character with varied qualities, but is not suitable for those who seek independence in a dog.
He would never want to be separated from his pack, loves to feel an integral part of it, but also likes to do tasks and work to help his family.
He prefers that this concept be made very clear to family members, he will demonstrate this often and often, and his manners will not always come across as gentle, in fact they may turn out to be coarse: jumping on him with his thirty-five to forty pounds of gracefulness and licking the face of anyone who gives him a little bit of confidence and shows a vague interest in him.
Aggression and shyness are not part of his character; in fact, if there is one thing he does not know how to do, it is to guard; on the contrary, he will always be willing to make new acquaintances and learn new realities and socialize with his peers.
It is essential for him to please his master, but it is equally important to provide him with a daily outlet, otherwise his exuberance will become unmanageable: sharing a sport as well as some dog-friendly discipline such as searching for missing persons on the surface, searching for people swept away by debris, or water rescue and rescue.
He is a fine working dog and needs to be busy; performing small tasks will make him a happy and fulfilled dog.
He is not a dog to be left on the couch; his wonderful mood would suffer in the long run.
In addition, activity is also essential to curb the problem of being overweight, has a tendency to gain weight, better to keep the diet under control trying to avoid industrial feeds (Report of 6.12.15) with too many sources of carbohydrates, favoring fresh and varied natural feed(barf).
A diet that respects its nature as a carnivore (the dog still has 98% of its progenitor's DNA) brings many benefits not only to health in general but also with regard to the development of "polygenic" joint diseases of a "multi-factorial" nature where, among other things, the FOOD factor, of all environmental factors, proves to be FUNDAMENTAL for the eventual manifestation of dysplastic symptoms in adulthood.
It is important not to give in (too much) to his beseeching eyes; he is adept at making his human feel ruthless, and too often we see overweight Labradors.
The Labrador is a veritable volcano of energy, positively disrupting the existence of the human family by bonding intensely, yet differently, with each family member and will improve their quality of life by providing an opportunity to spend more time outdoors.
One thing at which he is not an outlier exists: guarding; don't ask him to be territorial!
He has good intentions with everyone, with like-minded people usually does not cause problems, in fact he appreciates getting to know other dogs, but this varies from subject to subject and may depend on several factors (genetics, socialization, experience, etc.).
Turning to competent breeders is always the best choice: Labradors can suffer from certain diseases that, through responsible selection, can be avoided.
In addition, subjects derived from unserious breeding usually do not possess distinctive character traits typical of the breed.
Labrador in the service of man
The Labrador is an outstanding working dog, numerous situations in which it is used: searching for people, explosives and drugs, water rescue, support and help for visually impaired people and pet therapy.
Pet therapy originated in the 1960s from an idea of psychiatrist Boris Levinson who realized that the children with mental disorders he received in his office showed interest is curiosity toward his dog, which also attended these sessions.
This is one of the most suitable breeds: the joy, serenity and good humor typical of the Labrador are extremely infectious.
In pet therapy, spoken language is bypassed in favor of a different communication: a deep exchange of emotions made up of looks and caresses.
