LITMIR.BIZ

      (© Jean Michel Labat)

      Worldwide, this is the most popular Retriever of all. Almost the perfect Gundog, the Labrador Retriever has a natural inclination to retrieve on land and water, a desire to please and the ability to learn easily. They have a need for love and understanding. Their natural desire to play makes them good family pets. A wonderful companion dog.

      History

      The seventeenth century saw trade between Britain and Newfoundland – slates out and salt fish back. An all-purpose water dog helped the fishermen to retrieve dropped articles, haul carts and retrieve game. Called St John’s Dogs, they were originally brought to Poole, England, by sailors. The Earl of Malmesbury, recognizing their skills, developed them as Gundogs.

      Description

      Labrador puppies may look small and cute but they grow up into large, powerful dogs – the Labrador has a broad, deep chest and a distinctive short, dense coat that can withstand the cold and wet. Coat colours are chocolate or liver, yellow or black. Stimulating their brains prevents destructive habits forming; owners should invent search and retrieve games and involve them in all family activities.

      Fact File

      Group: Gundog

      Country of Origin: Canada

      Male:

      56–57 cm (22–23 in)

      Female:

      54–56 cm (21–22 in)

      Coat: Short, dense coat that can withstand the cold and wet.

      Life Expectancy: 10–12 years

      Guarding Instinct: Will warn but friendly.

      Temperament & Grooming

      Temperament: Cool and laid back, the Labrador Retriever is tolerant and easy-going with dogs and human beings, enjoys the company of children and will allow them to take liberties. However, it is easily upset by shouting or harsh treatment of any kind.

      Grooming: Grooming is minimal; all you need to do is just clean the ears and brush the coat weekly to rid it of dead hairs.

      Exercise & Feeding

      Exercise: As much as possible. The Labrador is an active, country dog needing plenty of exercise, free running and play.

      Feeding: Labradors have a voracious appetite and a tendency to become over-weight, so monitor your dog’s diet carefully.

      Health Problems

      Hip dysplasia. Some eye conditions: multi-focal retinal dysplasia (MRD), progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), hereditary cataracts and entropion (see here). The best breeders test their breeding dogs.

      Golden Retriever

      (© Jean Michel Labat)

      Delightful family pets, Golden Retrievers are happy to be the Gundog for the father, an elegant companion for the mother and a playmate for the children. Their versatility and intelligence have led them to becoming great guide dogs for the blind and assistance dogs for the disabled. They are easily trained to be all-purpose Gundogs and work with great enthusiasm, braving the thickest cover and the coldest water.

      History

      In 1825 Lord Tweedmouth mated his ‘Yellow’ Retriever to a Tweed Water Spaniel (now extinct). One of the resulting progeny was mated to another Tweed Water Spaniel, the progeny of which was mated back again. It is rumoured that a Bloodhound was added together with a Sheepdog from a troupe of performing Russian circus dogs with which his Lordship became enamoured and bought. And thus today’s Golden Retriever evolved.

      Description

      This medium-sized dog is strongly built and muscular with a gentle, loving expression in the eyes. The coat is dense with good feathering and a water-resistant undercoat. The colour varies from a cream to a rich, lustrous gold. Mainly a country hunting dog, the Golden Retriever needs frequent exercise and plenty of mental stimulation. These excellent retrievers have a soft mouth and a good nose for finding lost game.

      Fact File

      Group: Gundog

      Country of Origin: Scotland

      Male:

      56–61 cm (22–24 in)

      Female:

      51–56 cm (20–22 in)

      Coat: Dense, with good feathering and a water-resistant undercoat.

      Life Expectancy: 10–12 years

      Guarding Instinct: Will warn of approach but no aggression.

      Temperament & Grooming

      Temperament: A gentle dog of kindly disposition that is highly intelligent and capable of combining the best working qualities with those of a near perfect pet dog. A great companion.

      Grooming: These dogs should always be brushed and combed twice a week to rid the coat of dead hairs and tangles from the feathering.

      Exercise & Feeding

      Exercise: Being mainly a country hunting dog, the Golden Retriever needs frequent exercise and plenty of mental stimulation.

      Can never have enough.

      Feeding: There are no special feeding requirements.

      Health Problems

      Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia (here) and some eye problems. Buy from tested stock.

      Airedale Terrier (Roman Zhuravlev)

      (Ashley Western/www.phodographer.biz)

      (© John Daniels)

      (© John Daniels)

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