5 Facts About Labrador Retriever You Probably Didn’t Know: Since 1991, the Labrador retriever has been the most popular dog in the United States. The breed is known for having a friendly, loyal, and helpful personality.
A lot of them are family pets, but some work as service dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, or hunting dogs. For the same reason, they end up in a lot of animal shelters and rescues. Check there first if you choose one.
5 Facts About Labrador Retriever You Probably Didn’t Know
1. They’re not from Labrador
Labradors aren’t from Canada’s Labrador. Instead, the breed came from Newfoundland, which is south of Labrador. There, water dogs from the area bred with Newfoundland dogs. The result of these matings was the St.
John’s water dog, a black dog with white markings on its face that is no longer around. These dogs are the dogs that came before Labradors. The Labrador retriever we know today was made by crossing them with other dogs and making improvements.
2. The breed was named by the Earl of Malmesbury
The second Earl of Malmesbury was the first person in England to bring the breed there from Newfoundland. In the early 1800s, he brought the first St. John’s dogs to England. The third Earl of Malmesbury, his son, always called his dogs Labradors.
Even when the breed became popular again in North America, the name stuck. The third Earl of Malmesbury gave the sixth Duke of Buccleuch a dog that all chocolate Labradors are descended from.
3. They almost died out
Before the Labrador became famous, the breed was almost extinct. People in Newfoundland were told by the government to raise sheep. Families could only have one dog, and people who owned dogs had to pay a tax. Higher taxes were put on female dogs by the government, which meant that female puppies from litters were culled.
The breed was almost extinct in Canada by the 1880s. In the 1980s, these laws made it so that the St. John’s water dog could no longer live. There were still Labradors in England, where they were becoming popular as hunting and family dogs. For the first time, the Kennel Club recognized Labrador retrievers in 1903. The American Kennel Club did the same in 1917.
4. They’re made to be wet
- People know that the Labrador loves water. At first, they helped fishermen by getting nets and rope or pulling fish out of the cold water.
- Labrador retrievers are known for having webbed feet that they use to swim, but most dogs have some webs between their toes.
- Labradors have big feet and a lot of webbing on their feet, which makes them stand out.
- Their flat, otter-like tail helps them stay balanced and steer while they swim.
5. They don’t let much water in.
- Labradors are ready for even the coldest water because they lose their double coat twice a year.
- The breed’s coat is unique. It has a layer of dense, straight, longer hairs on top and a layer of soft, downy fur on the bottom that keeps the dog warm.
- This undercoat keeps heat in and water out because it lets the dog’s natural oils keep water away, which makes the coat almost waterproof.
If you like this Article about 5 Facts About Labrador Retriever You Probably Didn’t Know please share this Article with your friends and family members.
Leave a Reply