Ron Loves Training Labrador Retrievers. He is now training Sam

Almost everyone has seen a Labrador Retriever or at the very least, has heard about the wonderful hunting dog that has made it into the hearts of millions and become a valued family pet.

The Labrador Retriever is the good natured dog of the hunting world. It is an intelligent breed that is eager to please and hard working and it excels at many different areas of training. Labrador Retrievers are still used as gun dogs and actively participate in hunting and retrieving sports and hobbies.

They have also shown that they are intelligent and just independent enough to work well as guide dogs, search and rescue and even drug and bomb detection. When they aren’t hard at work, they are enjoying life as a cherished family pet and their easy nature and even temper makes them an ideal pet for all families, even those with small children.

However, that easy nature can also be very excitable and the Labrador Retriever is known as being a large puppy throughout most of its life span. This means that training should be consistent and that you will need to repeatedly correct bad behaviors such as jumping on guests.

Still, even with their negative qualities, one look at a Labrador Retriever with their athletic build, warm eyes, happy nature, and dedication to their work leaves little doubt as to why this is the most popular dog breeds in America today.

Pro’s and con’s of owning a Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States and has been since 1991. There are many traits that make these dogs a wonderful addition to any home but there are also many traits that are a definite con for the breed. It is important that you understand the Labrador Retriever completely before you purchase one and that you never purchase a Labrador Retriever simply because it is a popular breed.

The Pro’s

There are many pros that make a Labrador Retriever such a popular breed. They are hard working, eager to please and enjoy field work and sitting at home.

• They are eager to please, which can make training easier.
• They are very intelligent and can be trained to work in a number of fields such as guide dog, police work and search and rescue.
• They are very people friendly and make excellent family dogs, even in homes with small children.
• Labrador Retrievers generally do well with other pets, including other dogs.
• They can be easy to maintain. Generally, a Labrador Retriever only needs to be brushed once a week and only bathed once or twice a year.
• They have an even temper and are less likely to be aggressive or timid.

The Con’s

If you have ever read the book “Marley and Me” by John Grogan, then you are probably aware of the more negative behaviors that a Labrador Retriever can have.

• They are average to heavy shedders
• They require large amounts of exercise on a daily basis, usually requiring about 90 minutes each day.
• They are mouthy. This equates to a dog that may nip at hands, carrying objects away and chewing items around the house.
• If they are left alone for long periods of time they can suffer from separation anxiety. This can lead to barking problems and destructive behavior.
• Even a trained Labrador Retriever can become excited easily and begin jumping on guests when they greet them.
• They have been over bred. This means that many Labrador Retrievers suffer from behavior and temperament problems and they can also suffer from many health problems.
• They tend to eat everything and can quickly become overweight if their diet is not watched and they are not exercised properly.

Health Issues:

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breed of dogs and actually rank Number One by the American Kennel Club and have done so for over 17 years. For this reason, the Labrador Retriever is one of the most over bred dog breeds that are available today. If you are interested in purchasing a Labrador Retriever, it is important that you find a reputable breeder that only breeds healthy dogs that have all clearances since Labrador Retrievers have a number of hereditary health issues.

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans
• Cataracts:
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Epilepsy:
• Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia
• Hemangiosarcoma
• Gastric Torsion (Also known as Bloat)
• Acute moist dermatitis
• Cold Tail
• Ear infections

Height & Weight:

Labrador Retrievers are an athletic breed that should give the appearance of a well-built and muscular dog. They are medium sized and their length should be roughly the same or slightly longer than their height from ground to withers. They should be the essence of a versatile dog. Sturdy and short coupled with the athletic grace of a working dog yet refined enough to win in conformation rings.

The size of the Labrador Retriever is:

Males: 22.5 to 23.5 inches (57 to 60 cm) tall and 65 to 80 pounds (29 to 36 kg.)
Females: 21.5 to 23 inches (54 to 59 cm) tall and 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 32 kg.)

Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.

Grooming:

When it comes to grooming, Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom. They are considered to be average shedders, although there are times of the year when they are heavy shedders.

Generally, a Labrador Retriever only needs to be brushed once or twice a week to keep their coats healthy and free of dead hair. However, it may be beneficial to brush them on a daily basis, especially when they are shedding their coat.

Other grooming steps that should be done on a Labrador Retriever are cleaning their ears since they can be prone to ear infections. Make sure that the ears are free of debris and wax and that the ears are not red or inflamed. After your Labrador Retriever has been in the water, it is important to dry the ears to prevent ear infections. Nails should also be kept short and should be clipped about once a week.

Lastly, it is important to be aware of your Labrador Retriever’s anal glands. Many Labrador Retrievers can suffer from impacted anal glands so occasionally; you will need to clear them during a grooming session.

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years, although up to 16 years is not unheard of.

History:

The Labrador Retriever was developed in Newfoundland, Canada and was first discovered by English Sportsmen in the early 1800’s, although the breed was seen as early as the 1700’s.

Although the Labrador Retriever was quickly identified as a viable and valuable hunting dog, its history is linked with fishermen and it was, in fact, used by the fishermen of Newfoundland to pull lost nets, fishing lines and even fish out of the cold Atlantic Ocean. When they weren’t hard at working helping their human counterpoint, Labrador Retrievers showed that they were the ideal family dog by interacting with the fishermen’s families whenever they weren’t working.

In 1814, the Labrador Retriever was finally mentioned in the “Instructions to Young Sportsmen” written by Colonel Hawker. Although he coined the dogs as Labradors, in actuality, they were the St. John’s Dog, which is the foundation breed of the Labrador Retriever. The breed was primarily black and had white on its muzzle and toes.

Shortly after the dogs were “discovered,” the St. John’s Dogs were quickly imported to England where some avid sportsmen began breeding the dogs to produce a versatile and hard working Retriever. It is actually the imported St. John’s Dogs that saved the breed from extinction and more specifically, three breeders; the third Earl of Malmesbury, the twelfth Duke of Home and the sixth Duke of Buccleuch, that ensured that the breed survived and became what it is today.

In Canada, the St. John’s Dog began to see decline under the high taxes that dog owners had to pay. For this reason, the original St. John’s Dog became extinct in 1981 when the last two dogs from the line passed away.

Still, the breed came close to extinction even in England but in the early 1900’s people began to see the wonderful qualities’ that the breed had to offer and efforts were re-established in securing the longevity of the Labrador Retriever.

Although the Labrador Retriever and St. John’s Dog were primarily black, yellow and chocolate were both seen in the foundation breed but many of the miscolored puppies were culled from the litters. The first chocolate Labrador Retriever was not born until 1932 in the United States and 1892 in England. The first yellow Labrador Retriever was born in 1929 in the United States and 1899 in England and since then, the colors have been accepted by kennel clubs around the world.

The Labrador Retriever was accepted by the 1917 and the United States Labrador Retriever Club was formed in 1931.

Grouping:

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition:

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR

For more infomation on Labrador Retrievers click here

A flat Coated Retriever Resting With A Lab

If you are looking for an dog breed than can be both the ideal hunting companion and the perfect family pet, then you may have found everything you are looking for in the Flat Coated Retriever.

Originally developed from the St. John’s Dog, Water Spaniels, Setters and Labrador Retrievers, this breed has become a favorite for many sportsmen (or women) that is looking for a breed to work with in the field.

They are easy to train and have a happy approach to the world around them. They are often referred to as the “Peter Pan” of the dog world and they will happily approach their work with the exuberance of a puppy, even into their senior years.

Pro’s and con’s of owning a Flat Coated Retriever.

The Flat Coated Retriever is an active breed that is full of life, spirit and has a good natured temperament. They are the quintessential puppy that enjoys playing around at home as much as they enjoy working in the field. While this breed is energetic and has been ranked as an ideal field dog, it is not for everyone. They have a variety of pros and cons and it is important to weigh each one before you choose whether a Flat Coated Retriever is the right breed for you.

The Pro’s

There are many good points about the Flat Coated Retriever breed and at one time they were the preferred breed for field work and conformation. If you are looking for an energetic gundog that enjoys his work and remains the eternal puppy, then this is definitely the breed for you.

• They are intelligent and easy to train if you use positive reinforcement.
• They get along with other pets and do well in multi-dog homes.
• They are great with kids, although they are better suited for older children since they can knock down younger children with their antics.
• They generally love people and are very friendly.
• They work well as retrieving dogs and can work on both sparse and thick foliage and in water.
• They are a versatile breed and do well as both hunting dogs and pets
• They are sweet tempered and can be very funny.

The Con’s

As with all dog breeds, there are a number of cons that should be taken into consideration before you purchase a Flat Coated Retriever. The breed has a number of serious health issues, listed in the section below, and they have an active and bouncy personality that does not work for everyone.

• They are average to heavy shedders
• Although they are known for their eager to please personality, some Flat Coated Retrievers can be very stubborn.
• They have high energy levels, which make them unsuitable for apartment living.
• They require large amounts of exercise on a daily basis, usually requiring about 90 minutes each day.
• Flat Coated Retrievers are very sensitive and while this can be a wonderful quality in some ways, it can also be difficult when it comes to training and other areas. They are more likely to shut down and refuse to train if any type of training is used except positive reinforcement.
• They are the “Peter Pan” of the dog world and you can expect to have a happy, bouncy and exuberant puppy until your dog reaches old age.
• If they are left alone for long periods of time they can suffer from separation anxiety. This can lead to barking problems and destructive behavior.
• They are mouthy. This equates to a dog that may nip at hands, carrying objects away and chewing items around the house.
• They are prone to Coprophagy, which is eating their own feces.

Health Issues:

Flat Coated Retrievers can have a number of hereditary health issues so it is important to research the breeder that you are purchasing a puppy from. Make sure that all health checks have been done on the parents and that the breeder is using healthy breeding stock. If you doubt at any time that they are, look for a new breeder.

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Osteochondrosis Dissecans
• Epilepsy
• Many types of cancers and tumors:
o Fibrosarcoma
o Osteosarcoma
o Hemangiosarcoma
o Malignant Histiocytosis
o Adenocarcinoma
o Lymphosarcoma
o Mast Cell Tumors
o Melanoma
• Hypothyroidism
• Patellar Luxation
• Gastric Torsion (also known as Bloat)

Height & Weight:

The Flat Coated Retriever is a medium sized dog that should be the epitome of an athletic breed. It should be slightly longer than it is tall and the lines of the body should be clean. It is important that this breed does not carry excessive weight and that it has a lean and well conditioned appearance.

The size of a Flat Coated Retriever is:

Males: 23 to 24.5 inches (58 to 62 cm) tall
Females: 22 to 23.5 inches (56 to 60 cm) tall

Both Males and Females range in weight from 55 to 70 pounds (25 to 31.8 kg).

Note: Height is always determined from the ground up to the withers, also known as the highest spot on the shoulders, of the dog.

Grooming:

Despite the beautiful coat of the Flat-Coated Retriever, they are actually very easy to maintain. Generally, all they need is weekly brushing to remove any dead hair or burrs from their coat. The Flat Coated Retriever is an average shedder and there are periods in the year when they are considered to be heavy shedders.

In addition to grooming the coat, it is important to trim the hair on your dog’s feet and the tip of the tail but you should make sure that the coat looks as natural as possible. This can keep the burrs and other debris from becoming embedded between your dog’s toes and twisted into his tail.

Ears are a very important area for grooming since the breed can suffer from chronic ear infections and you should take extra care at keeping them dry and clean. Wash the ears with a damp cloth on a regular basis and also make sure that you dry them after your dog has been in the water.

Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years

History:

Developed in England during the late 17th Century, the Flat Coated Retriever can accredit its development to S.E. Shirley who also founded the Kennel Club of England.

While it is not clear what dog’s S.E. Shirley used to create the breed, it is believed that he used St. John’s Dogs, the foundation breed for the Labrador Retriever, and combined them with Water Spaniels. In addition, he may have introduced Scotch Collies into the breed. During the breed’s development, it is believed that Setters were introduced into the lines but this was not done by S.E. Shirley.

In the end, the result was an exceptional gundog that became popular with a number of sportsmen in England; however, the occurrence of two world wars saw a significant decrease in the number of Flat Coated Retrievers alive and the breed came close to extinction.

To keep the breed viable, many breeds crossed Flat Coated Retrievers with the Labrador Retriever and through their efforts; the breed was saved from extinction.

Although S.E. Shirley is credited with developing the breed, it was actually H. Reginald Cooke who had a strong influence over the Flat Coated Retrievers that we see today.

The Flat Coated Retriever was recognized by the AKC in 1915 and it has been gaining popularity as a wonderful hunting dog since the 1960’s.

Grouping:

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition:

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, CCR, APRI, ACR

For More Infomation On Flat Coated Retrievers You Can Go To The FLAT COATED RETRIEVER SOCIETY’S WEBSITE

The Labrador Retriever Is The Most Popular Gundog Throughout The World, But Is It The Best?

If you want a good all round gun dog then a Labrador Retriever could be your number one choice, Indeed Ron Mann the guy who taught me how to train my cocker spaniel Charlie, said in his opinion the Labrador Retriever made the best all round gun dog. Ron knows his stuff he has trained 100’s of bird dogs over the last 30 years.

Like all breeds of gun dogs Lab’s have good and bad points, Here are some of the Pro’s and Con’s of training and owning a Labrador Retriever.

The Pro’s
• Of all the hunting dog breeds the Labrador is the strongest swimmer, which makes him excellent at duck hunting. The breed was originally bred and trained to jump off fishing boats to bring the fishing nets to shore. Most Labs have webbed feet that aid in swimming

• They are affectionate and patient dogs. They are known for being good natured, loyal, intelligent, and friendly. They are also great as a family pet as they are great with children.

• Talents include tracking, retrieving, hunting, police work, They also do excellent work as guide dogs for the blind and the disabled. Other activities they are used for are sledding, competitive obedience, and search and rescue.

The Con’s

• There is not much not to love about Labradors, maybe the only problem is their love of food. You need to moderate food intake, Labs are big eaters, and may Quickly Become Overweight (TAKE TO NUTRITION PAGE OR IF NOT DONE SALES PAGE FOR CLICKBANK PROD) if given the wrong diet.

• Another problem is they need regular exercise. They love long walks and also like to swim whatever the weather, so if you have a lake in your local park it will love a swim a few times a week. Plus plenty of exercise.

• The Labrador Retriever may become nervous and destructive if their human owner does not act as “pack leader” or if they do not receive enough exercise, it is best if you at least have a large yard to own one of these great hunting dogs.

There may seem a lot to worry about here but most Lab’s turn into wonderful gundogs and/or family pets. More things you may want to know about the Labrador are below:

Height and Weight

Adult males are usually between 22-24 inches tall and weigh around 60-75 pounds.
Adult females are usually between 21-23 inches tall and weigh around 55-70 pounds.

Life Expectancy

The average life of a Labrador retriever is about 12 years.

Grooming

Their smooth double coat is easy to groom with a brush with firm bristles. Pay attention to the undercoat, and bathe only when necessary. Even when they swim their skin stays dry due to the undercoat. They are also moderate shredders of hair.

History

As I mentioned earlier the Labrador Retriever was breed by fishermen in the 1700’s, originally from Newfoundland and known as St. John’s Dogs, They are now one of the most popular breeds in the U.S. and throughout the world.

Grouping

Gun Dog, AKC Sporting

Recognition

CKC, AKC, KCGB, ANKC, NZKC, CCR, ACR, UKC, CKC, NKC, APRI, FCI

Training:

The great thing about a Labrador Retriever is the ease with how you can train him as a gun dog. We find the best way to train is to train your Labrador is by doing it in short bursts maybe only 10 minutes twice a day. The only thing to beer in mind is not to many treats if you use treat training as your dog may put on to much weight.