🐾 Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Canis lupus familiaris
• Family & relatives: A breed of domestic dog, related to all other dogs and, far back, to the wolf.
• How to spot it: A friendly, sturdy dog with a short shiny coat, floppy ears, and a thick 'otter' tail, often yellow, black, or chocolate brown.

Its body & abilities

• Size: About 55 to 62 cm tall at the shoulder.
• Weight: Usually about 25 to 36 kg (55 to 80 lb).
• Body & adaptations: It has webbed toes for swimming and a water-resistant coat that keeps it warm and dry in cold water.
• Top speed: A healthy Labrador can run up to about 30 km/h (20 mph).
• Strength: Strong and full of energy, it loves to swim, fetch, and play for hours.
• Senses: It has an excellent sense of smell and good hearing, which make it a wonderful helper and search dog.
• Growing up: Puppies are born tiny and helpless, open their eyes in about two weeks, and grow into adults by around two years.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Family homes, yards, and farms, happiest close to the people it loves.
• Where in the world: Kept as a beloved pet all over the world; one of the most popular dog breeds.
• Territory: It thinks of its home and family as its own and greets almost everyone as a friend.

What it eats

• Diet: An omnivore that eats balanced dog food and always needs a bowl of clean water.
• Favorite foods: Good-quality dog food, plus healthy treats; Labradors love to eat, so gentle portions keep them fit.
• How it hunts: It was first bred to gently carry, or retrieve, ducks and birds back to hunters without harming them.

How it behaves

• How it moves: It runs, trots, and swims with joy, using its tail like a rudder to steer through water.
• When it is active: Active by day, it loves walks and play, then curls up to rest near its family at night.
• Family life: Very social and gentle, it enjoys the company of people, children, and other pets.
• How it talks: It barks, whines, and wags its tail, and its happy eyes and wiggly body show how it feels.
• Babies: After about two months a mother dog has a litter of around six to eight puppies, which she nurses and keeps warm.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: A trusted family friend and helper, working as a guide dog, service dog, and search-and-rescue dog.
• Conservation: Domestic breed.
• Dangers: With healthy food, exercise, and regular vet visits, most Labradors enjoy long and happy lives.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: Usually about 10 to 13 years.
• In our culture: Famous as one of the friendliest and most loyal dog breeds, and a favorite in many families.
• Where to see it: In homes and parks everywhere, and helping people as guide and service dogs.
• Fun fact: Labradors love water so much that many will happily jump into a pond or pool just to splash and swim.