Golden Retriever - the happy golden friend

Golden Retriever is a large-size dog breed with a wavy coat (see dog breed). This dog breed is used primarily as a gundog and a retriever for wildfowl and bird hunting, but Golden Retrievers also become one of the most popular family pets because of its natural character: friendly, kind, and intelligent. In 1925, this dog breed is officially recognized by the AKC, in Sporting Group.

In the mid-19th century, in Scotland, wildfowl hunting was a popular sport for the wealthy Scottish elite, but the existing retriever dog breeds were inadequate for retrieving the downed preys from both water and land. Retrieving from both land and water was necessary because the hunting grounds of the time were pocketed with marshy ponds and rivers - the wildfowl's habitat. In addition, the improvements of gun during the 1800s resulted in more fowls being downed at greater distances and over increasingly difficult terrain, leading to a need for a specialist retriever, Golden Retriever was bred in this situation.

The Golden Retriever was first developed near Glen Affric in Scotland, at "Guisachan", the highland estate of Dudley Marjoribanks, 1st Baron Tweedmouth. For many years, which breeds were crossed was disputed, but in 1952, the publication of Marjoribanks' breeding records from 1835 to 1890 dispelled the myth concerning the purchase of a whole troupe of Russian tracker sheepdogs from visiting circus, instead it details a careful line-breeding program. Commonly, the breed is said to have originated from the Russia tracker (also called Russian Retriever).

Russian Tracker

The original cross was of a yellow-colored retriever, "Nous" with a Tweed Water Spaniel female dog, "Belle". Nous was purchased from an unregistered litter of otherwise black wavy-coated retriever puppies. In 1869, this cross produced a litter that included four puppies. These four pups became the basis of a breeding program which included the Irish Setter, the sandy-coloured Bloodhound, the St. John’s water dog of Newfoundland, and two more wavy-coated black retrievers. The bloodline was also inbred and selected for trueness to Marjoribanks' idea of the ultimate hunting dog - a more vigorous and powerful dog but still gentle and trainable.

The ancestry of the Golden Retriever is all sporting dogs. This dog is active, powerful and had a gentle mouth for retrieving games while on hunts.

Labrador Retriever - Exercise, Health, Feeding, Grooming

Source: dog breeds

Having a dog first time is not easy for everyone. What should we feed them,? What should we do to keep them healthy? What is the potential health problems?... There are many things to learn for a new dog owner, it's hard but nothing is happier living with a unconditionally loyal and loved friend. Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the world, not only because they are friendly, they are a great choice for new dog owner because they are friendly, easy to train, intelligent, willing to please their owners, not a picky-eater...

Let's start your life with a Labrador with some information you should know. A post to remind myself and everyone who read this blog ;)

1. Exercise

Labrador Retriever is very active. They need daily exercise and best-suited for houses with a yard. They should be walked twice a day for at least half an hour to maintain a lean body shape and avoid anxiety. Labradors often enjoy retrieving a ball endlessly and other forms of activity, so agility, frisbee or flyball may be suitable for them.

With puppies, because their bones are still growing, they shouldn't take a long walk, only five minutes of exercise per day is enough.

2. Coat and Grooming

Labradors have a dense, short and straight coat. Their coat is also waterproof, which help him keep warm in the winter and in water. The recognized colors are black (solid black color), yellow (from cream to fox-red) and chocolate (medium to dark brown). There may be some silver coat Labradors, but the purity of these bloodlines is currently disputed. Occasionally, Labradors will exhibit the small amount of white fur on their chest, paws or tail and rarely a purebred Labrador Retriever will exhibit brindle stripes or tan points similar to a Rottweiler.

They shed regularly so grooming should be performed weekly to keep their coat smooth, soft and reduce shedding. The owner also can trim Labrador's nails to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. Labrador Retriever has folded ears - the best place for debris, moisture and heat build up the environment for bacteria and dirt. Their ears should be cleaned regularly. The owner also should brush the teeth regularly.

3. Health

Labradors are somewhat prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, especially the larger dogs, though not as much as some other breeds. Labradors also suffer from the risk of knee problems, eyes problems, hereditary myopathy, or autoimmune diseases and deafness, either congenitally or later in life… They are all some inherited disorders may happen with a small rate.

Labrador Retriever is an active dog breed, but they like to eat, so if they are not exercised properly, they may become obese.

4. Nutrition and Feeding

Depending on the size and age of your dog to choose a formula that will cater to their digestive needs. Many dog food companies have breed-specific formulas for a medium-sized breed as Labrador Retriever. Owners can work with veterinarian or breeder for the best formula feeding to increase his longevity.

Labrador Retriever is voracious, the owner needs to control their meal, not over-feeding or else they will be obesity. Clean and fresh water should be available at all time.

Although dry and canned food are really convenient, the owner should feed Labrador Retriever homemade food, with a proper nutrition, ingredients for the size of their dog. A healthy meal should include protein, complex carbohydrate, and vegetables. They also need calcium to support bone strength. Meat, vegetables, organ meat, bones (for their teeth), rice... are all good for them. You can cook the food to eliminate possible harmful bacteria, raw meat or fish are also acceptable but it has to be safe.

After all, your dog will be besides you no matter who you are, if you can't buy them high quality food, you can cook them food, share your meal with them, as long as don't include food which may harmful for dog, and the meal should include meat.

Colors and Temperament of Labrador Retriever

• Colors

Labrador Retriever are registered in three colors: black (a solid black color), yellow (considered from cream to fox-red), and chocolate (medium to dark brown).

Some Labrador Retrievers are sold as silver pure-bred Labradors, but the purity of those bloodlines is currently disputed by breed experts. Occasionally, Labradors will exhibit small amount of white fur on their chest, paws, or tail, and rarel a purebred Lab will exhibit brinding stripes or tan points similar to a Rottweiler. These markings are a disqualification for a show dogs but do not have any bearing on the dog's temperament.

• Temperament

Labrador Retriever is friendly, loyal, tractable and outgoing, they can be familiar with the children quickly, friendly with everyone, intelligent in training… an ideal choice for house pet. Because they are retriever dog and love outdoor activities, Labrador need to be taken to go out at least 1 hour per day. Labs are also well-known as a appetite dog breed, they are persistent in requesting food, so they need regularly proper exercise to avoid obesity and other health problems.

The Labrador Retriever like water and swimming, they are good and indefatigable swimmers with webbed feet and waterproof interwoven coat. Labradors are also very gentle and really suitable for family with children, especially when they grow up with children, Labrador will be the best companion. Labrador Retrievers also have good-reputation in living with other animals.

Source: Dog Breeds Db

Beautiful Wallpaper for Labrador Retriever

A collection of Labrador Retriever wallpaper that will warm your winter.

The Origin of Labrador Retriever

Where does the most popular dog breed in the world - Labrador Retriever come from? The origin of Labrador Retriever is a now extincted dog breeds - St. John's water dog from Newfoundland, now is Newfoundland and Labrador of Canada.

St. John’s water dog (or St. John’s dog or Lesser Newfoundland) is believed to be the ancestor of Labrador Retriever. St. John’s water dog was brought from Newfoundland to to England in or around 1820 and quickly become popular due to their retrieving and scenting ability. They could retrieve anything within the water and on shore, so the dog was bred widely to serve the nobility in hunting and small game. In addition, St. John’s dogs also worked in fishing boat to help their owner retrieve the drag ends of fishing nets to the shore.

When the dogs was brought to England, they were described both as Labrador and St. John's dog, because they was known for "retrieving" in the Labrador Sea or simply Labrador to distinguish them from the larger Newfoundland breed.

However, a combination of the sheep protection policy in Newfoundland and rabies quarantine in the United Kingdom, led to the gradual demise of the St. John's water dog. Until the 1830s, the 10th Earl of Home and his nephews the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and Lord John Scott, had imported progenitors of the breed from Newfoundland to Europe for use as gundogs. Another early advocate of these Newfoundland dogs, or Labrador Retrievers as they later became known, was the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury who bred them for their expertise in waterfowling.

During the 1880s, the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, the 6th Duke of Buccleuch and the 12th Earl of Home collaborated to develop and establish the modern Labrador breed.

By 1870, the name Labrador Retriever became common in England. Early description about Labradors is a thin, short-haired, black dog, yellow and chocolate puppies would occasionally appear but they are often culled, until finally gaining acceptance in the 20th century.

The first recognized Yellow Labrador was born in 1899, in fact it's a dark, almost butterscotch color. Over the 20th century, people prefer far lighter shades of yellow to cream, until today most yellow Labradors are of this shade. Fawn also has been a common color in the yellow Labradors variety. In the 1980s, darker shades of gold and fox red are interested in lead to the re-establishment of these shades in England.

Chocolate Labradors were also well established in the early 20th century as a distinct color.

Source: Dog Breeds Db

Famous Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever is known as the most popular dog of America for 25 years. They are friendly, happy, active and loyal, a best choice for family pet, especially family with children. Could you believe your dog can take care of the kid for you, protect your children, play with them and even know about your kid's health better than you. Labrador Retriever is trained to be police dog, guide dog for blind, service dog for disabilities... There are some dogs who trained to check their owner health, detect cancer, blood sugar level... There are many Labrador Retriever make their marks in history for their bravery, loyalty, intelligence, sacrifice and contribution. Let's check the list of famous Labrador Retriever.

1. Assistant Dog
   Endal - the male service dog in Britain. He was an service dog and the ambassador for service dog charitable work. He received PDSA's Gold Medal for Animal Gallantry and Devotion of Duty - the highest award available to an animal, was described as "the most decorated dog in the world", "Dog of the Millennium" and many other awards with a number of world "firsts" as an assistant dog to his credit. Endal was able to respond to over one hundred instructions, as well as hundreds of signed commands.
   
   
2. Police, military, rescue and detection dogs
   Zanjeer ("Chain", or "Shackles") is a detection dog who served with the Mumbai Police in Maharashtra state of India. He detected arms and ammunition used in 1993 Mumbai (Bombay) serial explosions. He helped recover 57 country-made bombs, 175 patrol bombs, 11 military grade armaments, 242 grenades and 600 detonators during his service. Zanjeer's biggest contribution was the detection of 3,329 kg of RDX - a type of explosive. He also helped detect 18 Type 56 rifles and five 9mm pistols. He was honoured with a full state funeral in 16 November 2000 after a fight with bone cancer.
   
   
   
   Lucky and Flo, twin Black Labrador are notable for being the first animals trained to detect optical discs by scent. They became famous in 2007 for "Sniffing out nearly 2 million counterfeit DVDs" on a six-month secondment to Malaysia. Lucky and Flo were awarded Malaysia's "outstanding service award".
   
   
   Sarbi was a female black Labrador cross trained in explosives detection and served in Australian special forces explosives detection dog. She spent almost 14 months missing in action in Afghanistan before being recovered safe and well in 2009 by a soldier who noticed her and determined by voice commands.
   Jake - a American black Labrador who served as a search and rescue dog following the September 11 attack and Hurricane Katrina. He helped search for human remains at Ground Zero - World Trade Center site for 17 days. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2015, Jake, along with his Utah Task Force, drove over 30 hours from Utah to Mississippi to help search for survivors and victims.
   Sirius - an explosive detection dog who lost his life in the 9/11 attack while on duty.
   Guiness, Tuff, Abigail, Moxie, Red, Hoke, Merlyn, Bailey... are search and rescue dogs who deployed to the World Trade Center for many days to search for trapped survivors.
   
3. Pets
   Former President of the United States Bill Clinton's Labradors "Buddy" and "Seamus".
   Russian President Vladimir Putin's black Labrador "Koni"
   
   
4. Fiction and media
   Brian Griffin - a white Labrador Retriever from the animated TV sitcom Family Guy.
   
   Bouncer of Neighbours, and Luath in The Incredible Journey.
   Marley is an American Labrador featured in Marley & Me - a best -selling book and a subsequent film.
   Digger - a yellow Labrador puppy in children's televison series Big Barn Farm.
   Rowdy - a taxidermy golden Labrador Retriever involved in various gags on Scrubs.
   Vincent - a white Labrador on Lost
   Pharaoh, Isis and Tiaa - three yellow Labrador Retrievers in the televison series Downton Abbey.
   Brandeis - a yellow Labrador Retriever - is a minor character on Sesame Street who finds employment as Mobility assistance dog.
   
5. Mascots and advertising
   Since 1972, Andrex Puppy - a yellow Labrador puppy has been an advertising symbol for Andrex toilet tissue.
   Michigan State University has an ongoing tradition of Zeke the Wonder Dog - a black Labrador.

Source: http://www.dogbreedsdb.com/breed/labrador-retriever

Source: Dog Breeds Database

Labrador Retriever - the most popular dog

Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the USA with good-natured temperament. They are kind, trainable and very friendly with human. Labrador Retriever, or Labrador is considered as a good water retriever, hard-working and obedient long ago, at the present, Labrador is trained for police dog, therapy dog, guide dog for the blind and disabilities and family pet. In 1917, Labrador Retriever was officially recognized by the AKC and classified in Sporting Group.

Source: Dog Breeds Database