Page 262 - (DK) The Dog Encyclopedia

CATALOG OF BREEDS | GUNDOGS

Labrador Retriever

HEIGHT WEIGHT LIFE SPAN Chocolate
22in 55–82lb 10–12 years Black
(55–57cm) (25–37kg) May have a small, white spot on chest.

This family favorite owes its popularity to its kind and even
Characteristic
temperament and its enthusiasm for sports and swimming otter tail, round
and hair-covered
One of the most familiar dogs, the Labrador Today the Labrador Retriever is still widely
Retriever has been topping popular dog lists used as a gundog and has proved efficient at
for at least two decades. The dogs from other types of work, such as tracking for
which the present-day Labrador Retriever police forces. In particular, its steady
descended were not from the Canadian region character makes it a superb guide dog
of Labrador, as is commonly supposed, for the blind. However, it is as a family
but from the province of Newfoundland. dog that this breed has gained great
Here, from the 18th century onward, black popularity. The Labrador Retriever
dogs with waterproof coats were bred by local is loving and lovable, easy to train,
fishermen and used to help tow in catches and anxious to please, and reliable with
retrieve escaping fish. Dogs of this early type children and household pets—but
no longer exist, but a few were brought to it has too amiable a character to
England in the 19th century and these led make a good guard dog.
to the development of the modern Labrador This breed has energy to
Retriever. By the early 20th century the breed burn and needs to be kept
was officially recognized and continued to mentally as well as physically
be much admired by field sportsmen for its active. Long daily walks are
excellent retrieving skills. essential, preferably with the
chance to have a swim along
the way. If this dog sees
THE COTTONELLE PUPPY water, it will plunge
straight in. Underexercised
For many years the Cottonelle Puppy and left to its own devices,
has symbolized the Cottonelle® brand of toilet a Labrador Retriever may
paper in the US. This vital but unglamorous be prone to excessive
item has been given a soft, fluffy, appealing
image thanks to the golden Labrador Retriever barking or become
puppies. The puppy has also become a feature destructive. It tends
in Australia and more than 30 other countries, to gain weight easily,
where it is known as the Kleenex puppy. and lack of exercise
Andrex in the UK and Kleenex Cottonelle combined with its
in Australia now use the puppy to promote
insatiable appetite can
charities that train dogs for blind people
and others with disabilities. lead to weight problems.

Round,
compact feet

PUPPY

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