labrador retriever dog

History of origin

The history of this breed has long been a mystery. To survive, the ancient people hunted, and on the hunt they needed an assistant – to “deliver” a bird into his hands.

What was needed was a dog of good build, medium bone, it should have round paws with thick pads and thick hair. Of course, they had to love water and be able to swim even in the coldest, icy water. For this purpose, the retriever was also bred – it also required a good nose, ready to catch the smell for many distances.

Newfoundland setters took part in the creation of the retriever by crossing. Three breeds of retrievers were bred by selection: curly-coated, Labrador Retrievers, and wavy or straight-coated retrievers. By 1885, retrievers were considered the king of sporting hunting dogs.

Breed description

Height – 56 – 60 cm (male), 50 – 56 cm (female). The head is proportional to the body, the parietal part is wide. The nasal lobe is large black. The eyes are dark brown, set wide apart. The ears are set at eye level and are medium in size. The tail is long and never curled.

The coat is straight or wavy. Color: white, any shade of golden, cream.

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Character

Retrievers were bred for hunting, but now they have become family dogs, guide dogs and companions. By purchasing them, adults make a friend for themselves, and children a nanny. Retrievers are also used for medicinal purposes because of their beautiful nature. These dogs are engaged with “special” children after they have been trained in specialized schools.

Goldens are very kind. They are devoted, people-oriented. Dogs want to be useful, they always try to be close to their master. If you are constantly on the road and work a lot, this dog will not suit you. She is very bored, and used to lead an active lifestyle. You can always take a dog with you – it will gladly endure a day by car to the sea, climb a mountain, and calmly walk with you on Red Square.

Retrievers are able to calm down, relieve stress, because this breed has a lot of positive energy that is transmitted to humans. Dogs of this breed will be very happy to replenish the family, because they love children very much. They can spend hours on the playground.

Care and maintenance

Keeping a golden is not so difficult – you need to monitor its appearance and feed it properly.

Retrievers shed frequently, and to avoid these problems, the dog needs to be brushed every day. Nails should be clipped regularly, about once every two weeks. Overgrown claws interfere with dogs when jumping and cause pain when walking on asphalt.

Ears need to be cleaned regularly and checked for various infections. Wipe them with a cotton pad dipped in warm water.

Bathing your dog is recommended only as needed. Goldens love to get dirty, swim in a puddle – it is better to wash off these contaminants with water without shampoo. Use of funds is recommended only in extreme cases.

You can feed the Retriever natural or super premium dry food for large breeds. Natural includes meat, offal, eggs, dairy products and vegetables with fruits. Of the cereals, it is advisable to give the retriever only buckwheat. Pork and chicken bones are contraindicated for dogs. The diet should contain only raw beef bones, with the exception of tubular and ribs. There should always be clean water next to a bowl of food.

Education and training

Retrievers are highly trainable. Dogs of this breed serve in the police, at airports they are used to search for prohibited items. Retrievers also work in the Ministry of Emergency Situations – they are looking for victims under the rubble. They are very smart and grasp everything on the fly, so you need to start training as early as two months.

You need to start with simple exercises – “Sit”, “Lie down”, “Give a paw”, “Voice”, “Come to me”. The dog must not be allowed to pick up from the ground, this must be stopped immediately.

Health and disease

Retrievers are a generally healthy dog ​​breed. But often they have elbow dysplasia and food allergies. The first disease is mostly inherited, so you need to check the parents when buying a puppy.

Also, goldens are often diagnosed with volvulus, epilepsy, diabetes, dermatitis, paralysis of the larynx.

Popular questions and answers

Answered our questions about Labrador Retrievers Irina Makarenkova, author of a book on keeping and training dogs, cynologist.