Labrador Retrievers | Commonly Found Health Issues With Labradors

Labrador Retriever overview:

The capital city of Newfoundland formed the original name of the Labrador Retriever: ‘St. John’s Water Dog’. It was here in the North-Eastern Atlantic coast of Canada in the 1700s that the trusty Lab helped the local fishermen to haul in their fishing nets to retrieve any fish that had escaped. It was much later that the breed was renamed the Labrador Retriever, after the Labrador Sea, which became the location of their development. Most of todays Labradors will avoid work if they can to enjoy a pampered life with a family, but they still make great guide dogs for the blind, and are regularly used as assistant dogs for the disabled. In some areas Labradors are still used for search and rescue, or with hunters to retrieve game. They can be trained to do almost anything, as they have a very keen sense of smell; however, they do not make good guard dogs as their nature is too friendly.

Temperament of a Labrador Retriever:

Labrador Retrievers have a very patient personality and like young children, which is why they make such great family pets. They will endure getting pushed and pulled around, but children should be taught not to approach them while they are eating or to pull their tail. Very rarely will a Labrador Retriever bite, but supervision is still needed, especially around food. They do tend to get lonely and will bark and get up to mischief if left alone for longs periods of time. Their activity levels can vary from dog to dog; but regardless, exercise is very important for this breed to keep them healthy, both physically and mentally. Labrador Retriever’s live to serve, which is why they love meeting people and adapt well to training. They will need to be trained to walk on a lead though, otherwise they tend to develop ‘selective deafness’ and wander off following their noses. Most Labs enjoy a swim in the sea and a good game of fetch, plus they will happily join you pottering around the garden and offer assistance. The breed is also known to mix well with other animals, so should be fine if you have other pets such as cats, rabbits or other dogs.

Ongoing Maintenance of a Labrador Retriever:

Labrador Retrievers can be quite active and need regular exercise, so if possible, it helps to have a big fenced garden they can roam around in. It is best to feed them measured quantities a few times a day, rather than all at one big sitting, as they are prone to bloating and weight gain.

Most Labrador Retrievers need a good daily brush to keep the shedding under control, but grooming is fairly easy. They need a bath at least every two months, unless of course they have found something to roll in! Labs tend to be patient when being bathed and generally enjoy the extra attention.

There are also other maintenance requirements they are generally necessary, such as regular ear checks, as bacteria and dirt can tend to build up inside, which causes a bad smell and inflammation. However, it’s important that you never insert anything deep into the ear canal and only clean the outer ear. If possible, teeth brushing should be done daily using an appropriate pet toothpaste; but never use a human toothpaste for your dog. Usually a busy Labrador Retriever’s nails will keep short naturally, but if you notice that your dog is clicking their way across the floor, then the nails probably need trimming; this will prevent any scratching on hard floor surfaces or if they jump up on visitors. To make it easier, it is best to try and make grooming a positive experience for your Labrador Retriever, filled with praise and rewards.