Labrador retriever is a popular breed of dog trained to bring back game that has been shot. The breed originated in the 1800’s in Newfoundland, not Labrador. It was originally a fisherman’s dog and retrieved fish nets. After being brought to England, sportsmen especially liked the dog for its soft mouth, meaning shot game could be recovered without suffering harm from clamped jaws. In England, it was then modified by crossing it with other breeds.
The Labrador retriever stands 21 1/2 to 24 1/2 inches (54.5 to 62.5 centimeters) tall at the withers (ridge between the shoulders), and weighs 55 to 75 pounds (25 to 34 kilograms). The Labrador has two outstanding characteristics, its coat and its tail. The coat is thick and weather-resistant. It may be black, yellow, or chocolate. The dog’s tail is of medium length and unusually thick at the base.
The Labrador makes a great family companion. It is alert, good-tempered, intelligent, kind, and outgoing. Labradors also do well on search-and-rescue teams and in narcotics detection. They are also excellent therapy dogs and guide dogs.
