This DogAppy post includes some chocolate lab facts that will tell you more about their history, temperament, appearance, and health.
Labrador Retrievers or Labs, as they are commonly called, come in three colors; yellow or golden, chocolate, and black.
Before going into the details about the size, the temperament, the faults etc., of the dog, it’s best that we take a brief look into the history of these dogs.
History
These dogs have originated in Newfoundland during the 18th century. It was said that the Labradors are a cross breed between the Newfoundland dogs and the St. Johns Dog, which is now extinct. During the period of colonization, in the 19th century, the Labradors came to England and then moved across rest of the European countries. People used this dog breed as retrievers. They would accompany their people on a hunting trip and when a bird was shot, these dogs went and retrieved the hunt, thus the name ‘retrievers’. The origins of the chocolate labs can be traced back to 8 original bloodlines. But it was only in the 20th century that this color was seen as a distinct color.
Appearance
The first thing that we need to learn about is their appearance. These dogs have a thick water resistant coat that protects them from harsh winters and also keeps their fur dry in the rains. They are usually excellent swimmers. They are large in size, with the male dog weighing 60 to 90lbs and the female weighing 50 – 80lbs.
The head of the dog is broad, with a pronounced brow. The color of the eyes can be either brown or hazel and like most of the dogs. They also have a strong and muscular body.
Temperament
This dog might be big, but can be extremely gentle at the same time. They may also be very intelligent, hence they can be easily trained to retrieve items. They are often used as service dogs. If well socialized and well trained they can be well-balanced and friendly.Did you know that if taught to, a lab can carry an egg in their mouth without breaking it at all? When they are brought into the family, they become a part of it very fast. They can adjust to things quickly and gel with children of all ages, if socialized to do so..
Labs love the company of humans. Since they were originally bred to work hand in hand with humans, they can get attached quickly. Labs are well known for their appetite. They love to eat. It is rare to meet a lab that isn’t hungry. Or at least trying to convince you that they are! If well trained, using only positive training, and well socialized, they do well with people and other dogs.
Health Problems
Some health problems that these dogs have inherited are the hip and the elbow dysplasia. They are also prone to suffer from various eyes and knee problems such as arthritis or maybe even from a rare case of deficiency of type II muscle fiber.
Ear infection is common among these dogs, given the kind of floppy ears they have. You also have to make sure that you don’t over feed them as they can be prone to obesity. This can lead to various problems such as diabetes, or heart disease. With proper care, these dogs can live to the age of 10 to 13 years.
Labrador retrievers are full of energy and they need lots of exercise. The new puppies weigh around 1 lb and they grow very quickly. By the time they are 26 weeks old, they weigh around 50 to 60 lb.
