Neither long and elongated, or short and stubby, it is in proportion to the strong yet agile looking body. Although not explicitly expressed in the standard, whilst looking at the head of a Labrador, you can definitely sense the intelligence and kindness of the breed. The eyes are the window to the soul and the soul of a Labrador is kindly and good-tempered. This should be instantly recognizable. The color of brown and hazel is almost certainly just down to aesthetics and suits the overall color and look of the breed.
The ears hanging close to the head give another level of protection to the animal when retrieving in thick undergrowth by covering the entrance to the ears. The ears not being too large or heavy prevents the ears being out of proportion with the rest of the animal or making the Labrador look a little too much like a hound. Larger ears would also more easily snag on bramble and branches when traveling through dense cover, so making the dog more easily injured whilst working.
Stating the ears must be hanging close to the head prevents the breeding of animals with pointed ears that would be out line with the look of the breed. This description ties in with the Labradors ability to easily grip and hold game that it has retrieved.
Again, this ties in with the strong and athletic build of the breed, requiring a good strong neck in balance with the body and strong enough for the dog to carry game it has retrieved with ease. Forelegs well boned and straight from elbow to ground when viewed from either front or side. Level topline. Loins wide, short-coupled and strong.
The good width and depth of the chest is to accommodate a powerful set of lungs needed by a dog that was bred for long days working and retrieving. Strength and stamina are important characteristics of the breed. The well sprung ribs refer to the Labrador look having a chest that extends out from the spine and nicely curves down into the belly giving a nice, filled out strong-looking shape.
Hocks well let down, cowhocks highly undesirable. Well developed to provide strength and stability. The hindquarters are the engines for movement and provide much of the force for power in movement.
May be carried gaily but should not curl over back. The thick, medium length tail of the Labrador gives a nice flowing and balanced line right from head to tip of the tail.
Not having a tail that curls over the back is useful in a breed that may have to crawl through thick cover, avoiding any chance of snagging on bramble or branches. A Labrador Retriever should be balanced in movement, moving steadily and gracefully with minimal effort.
The legs should not splay outward, nor splay inward There should be no weaving, bobbing, toeing out in the forequarters or elbows sticking out during motion.
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United States. For Dogs. For Cats. About Hill's. Media Press Releases Media Kit. Other Careers. Pet Care Center. Labrador Retriever At a glance. Size: Weight Range : Male: lbs. Female: lbs. So if there are some Weimaraner genes floating around in a silver Labrador, that wouldn't bother me. On the other hand, if I wanted a dog who could be counted on to look and act like a Lab, you're more likely to get that in a Lab who isn't silver, especially if the silver breeder is still using Weimaraners in his breeding program.
And based on the appearance of some silver "Labs", there are breeders who are still crossing in Weimaraners. But almost certainly silver Labrador Retrievers are here to stay. Even though they can't be shown, the AKC still accepts them for registration. However, in a funny twist, those registration papers don't say silver. Remember, the AKC says that Labs can only be black, chocolate, or yellow. So they register silver Labs as Chocolate, because they consider silver to be a dilution of the chocolate gene.
In other words, according to the AKC, your silver Lab is actually a chocolate Lab also has inherited dilution gene that washes the chocolate into a silvery gray. It doesn't end there. Some silver Labs aren't silvery gray, but dark charcoal gray. Labrador Retrievers are the most common breed in the United States, so they're very easy to find. The problem is finding one with the best chances of staying healthy through the years.
First, you need to think about the different types of Labrador Retriever we talked about earlier. You can buy a Labrador Retriever puppy from a show breeder who breeds Labradors to match a detailed standard of appearance for the dog show ring. Or you can buy one from a performance breeder who emphasizes an energetic temperament and strong working drives for hunting. But how they prioritize those two goals can vary greatly.
Or you can just hop onto Craigslist and buy a Labrador Retriever puppy from someone who "just breeds pets" or "just had one litter. Not unless the seller has done the proper health certifications on the puppy's parents. One huge difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible "puppy producer" is — health certifications.
If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk.
But then you need to be willing and able to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your Labrador Retriever ends up with cataracts and crippled joints. Labrador Retrievers are often available from dog rescue groups. Labrador Retrievers may be turned over to Rescue because they shed too much or need more exercise than the owner was prepared to give. Or perhaps they pull on the leash or jump on people. You would need to provide these dogs with the exercise and training that they are lacking.
Labrador Retrievers more often, Lab crosses and mixes are frequently found in animal shelters. However, shelter personnel can be overzealous in labeling every medium- to large shorthaired black dog as a "Lab cross. Did you know there's a quick and simple DNA test that can tell you definitively which breeds make up any given dog?
The Golden Retriever is similar to a Labrador in being a great all-around family dog and a great choice for first-time owners. Compared to Labs, Goldens tend to be even more outgoing toward everyone and more eager to please. Goldens do shed more than Labs and have a greater risk of health issues. Compared to Labs and Goldens, the Flat-Coated Retriever needs more exercise and interesting activities to keep them busy.
This is not a good breed for a casual or couch potato owner. Flat-Coats also suffer from serious health issues. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a great dog for experienced owners.
Compared to the Lab, a Chessie has a stronger temperament, needs more exercise, is more reserved with strangers, and can be bossy toward strange dogs. Well-regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines. In humans, allergies to pollen, mold, or dust make people sneeze. In dogs, rather than sneezing, allergies make their skin itchy. The feet, belly, folds of the skin, and ears are most commonly affected.
Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year. Licking the paws, rubbing the face, and frequent ear infections are the most common signs of allergies.
The good news is that there are many treatment options available for these conditions. Hemangiosarcoma is a type of bleeding tumor that affects Labrador Retrievers at greater than average incidence. These tumors commonly form in the spleen, but can form in other organs as well. Unbeknownst to a pet owner, the tumor breaks open and internal bleeding occurs. Some tumors can be volleyball-sized or larger before signs of sickness show.
We often find clues that one of these tumors is present during senior wellness testing, so have his blood tested and an ultrasound performed at least yearly. Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is a type of cancer that afflicts Labrador Retrievers more than other breeds. This disease makes the body form abnormal lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. Because white blood cells can be found throughout the body, this cancer can show up almost anywhere.
Lymphoma is a very treatable form of cancer with an excellent success rate in dogs receiving chemotherapy. Luckily, lymphoma is one of the few types of cancer that can often be found with a blood test, so we may recommend a complete blood count twice yearly. Not many things have as dramatic an impact on your dog's quality of life as the proper functioning of his eyes. Unfortunately, Labrador Retrievers can inherit or develop a number of different eye conditions, some of which may cause blindness if not treated right away, and most of which can be extremely painful!
We will evaluate his eyes at every examination to look for any signs of concern. Cushing's Disease is a malfunction of the adrenal glands that causes them to produce too much steroid hormone. This is a common problem in dogs, and your Lab is more likely than other dogs to be affected.
The condition usually develops slowly, and the early signs are easily missed. Symptoms include drinking and urinating more than normal, increased appetite, and reduced activity level followed later by a potbelly, thin skin, and hair loss. Treatment usually includes oral medications and requires close coordination with us to ensure correct dosing. There are three types of seizures in dogs: reactive, secondary, and primary. Reactive seizures are caused by the brain's reaction to a metabolic problem like low blood sugar, organ failure, or a toxin.
Secondary seizures are the result of a brain tumor, stroke, or trauma. If no other cause can be found, the disease is called primary or idiopathic epilepsy.
This problem is often an inherited condition, and Labrador Retrievers are commonly afflicted. If your friend is prone to seizures, episodes will usually begin between six months and three years of age. An initial diagnostic workup may help find the cause. Lifelong medication is usually necessary to help keep seizures under control with periodic blood testing required to monitor side effects and efficacy. If your dog has a seizure, carefully prevent him from injuring himself, but don't try to control his mouth or tongue.
It won't help him, and he may bite you accidentally! Note the length of the seizure, and call us at or call an emergency hospital. Some breeds like your Labrador can be born with a variety of heart defects. Defects can also cause problems with heart valve function or the electrical signals that control the heartbeat. Special testing will be recommended if we hear a heart murmur or if you notice any unusual symptoms such as tiring easily, coughing, a swollen belly, or fainting.
Exercise induced collapse, or EIC, is just what it sounds like — a young, apparently healthy Labrador collapses to the ground suddenly while exercising. After a few minutes, the weakness passes and he is able to get up again. Dogs affected with EIC cannot run or exert themselves for long periods of time, especially not in hot weather, so a day of hunting or strenuous hiking is not a good idea for these pets.
Heat stroke can also occur in conjunction with EIC. Genetic testing can be done to diagnose this disease and to screen dogs before breeding. Labrador Retrievers may develop a disease of the muscles called myopathy between three and seven months of age. Physical signs of myopathy include bunny hopping, loss of muscle tone in the limbs, a stiff gait, and carrying the head low. Typically, affected pets are treated through reduced stress and occasionally with medication as well.
Most dogs with myopathy are stabilized by twelve months of age and are able to have a normal life span.
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