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The British Labrador Retriever dog was initially bred for companionship. Historically, this dog breed was mainly kept as a fishermans helper in fetching ropes, retrieving fish, and hauling nets in the chilly North Atlantic. Today, the British Labrador Retriever breed is a well natured and hardworking dog that is popular among most households. The breed is also used as a retriever for hunters, search and rescue, show competitors, and assistance, among others.
History
British Labrador Retrievers were originally found in the Newfoundland Island located off Canadas Northeastern Atlantic Coast. They were initially known as St. Johns dogs and served as helpers and companions to local fishermen in early 1700.
During this time, the dogs would spend all their time assisting their owners in retrieving all fish that escapes hook or towing lines. The dogs would then go back to the fishermens family during the evening. Their heritage is a mystery, although its believed that the St. Johns dog was an interbreed of the Newfoundland dog with other local water dogs.
People from outside noticed the dogs efforts and usefulness, where English sportsmen first imported some dogs to England for hunting. The Earl of Malmesbury was among the first people to ship the dog species to England at around 1830. Also, the third Earl of Malmesbury referred the St. Johns dogs as Labradors.
In the 1880s, the species almost became extinct, where the Malmesbury family, among other English members, played a crucial role in saving the breed. However, in Newfoundland, this dog species disappeared as a result of government restrictions and tax laws, where families were only allowed to have only a single dog. Owning a female dog was also highly taxed.
The breed, however, survived in England, and in 1903, the Kennel Club recognized it as a distinct breed. In 1917, the 20s and 30s, The American Kennel Club decided to import the British Labrador Retriever dogs back to the USA. The breed gained a lot of popularity after World War II started.
Size
The male dogs stand at 22.5-24.5 inches and weigh between 65-80pounds. On the other hand, the female dogs stand at 21.5-23.5 inches and weigh between 55-70 pounds.
Color
The British Labrador Retrievers come in 3 primary colors. The most common coat color is golden/blond, while the others are black and chocolate brown colored. The average lifespan of these dogs is 10-12 years.
Personality
The British Labrador Retriever dog is best known for its friendly, outgoing and eager to please features. Additionally, Lab dogs are brilliant and eager to please, which makes them easy to train. Training dogs is essential since theyve got a lot of exuberance and energy. To ensure that the breed is always happy, you need to ensure theres regular physical and mental activity. The pets are also faster, which makes them ideal for hunting.
Health
These hunting dog species are usually very healthy, although theyre affected by some health conditions as follows:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Elbow Dysplasia
- Osteochondrosis Dissecans(OCD)
- Cataracts
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy(PRA)
- Myopathy
- Epilepsy
- Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia
- Acute Moist Dermatitis
- Cold Tail
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus
- Ear infections
Care
The British Labrador Retriever dog enjoys staying around the family. Leaving the dog alone for many hours will probably destroy its reputation. It will make the dog develop habits such as digging, chewing, and looking for destructive outlets to utilize their energy. Although the species shows some variation when it comes to the level of activity, you need to understand that they always need physical and mental activity. Take your dog for a 30-minute walk, a daily run, and any of their activity to ensure its energy is burned down.
Feeding
Dog experts recommend that the British Labrador Retrievers should be given between 2.5 to 3 cups of dry food that has high quality components each day. This amount should be divided into two meals. However, the consumption of a dog will depend on its size, metabolism, age, build and level of activity. Typically, dogs are just like people, meaning that they require different amounts of food. Giving your dog the correct amount of food will help in maintaining the required shape.
In conclusion, the British Labrador Retriever dogs are generally good, reliable, and friendly to families, which makes them among the most popular dog breeds across the world.
