Call us870-805-6039
Call us870-805-6039
If you’re a dog lover, then it’s safe to say that you know exactly what it means to fall in love with a cute, fluffy, playful, loyal, loving ball of fur that brings a smile to your face every time you walk in the door. In the same breath, you know just what it feels like to put a smile on your dog’s face, too!
If you’re a dog lover, then it’s safe to say that you know exactly what it means to fall in love with a cute, fluffy, playful, loyal, loving ball of fur that brings a smile to your face every time you walk in the door. In the same breath, you know just what it feels like to put a smile on your dog’s face, too!
Here in America, we’re a country full of dog lovers. And with hundreds of different breeds that share space in our homes from the shores of the Atlantic, all the way to the Pacific coastline, it might come as a shock to hear that the title for America’s favorite dog has been held by a single, common breed for nearly 30 years!
For 29 years, the Labrador has been the number 1 dog in America – and for good reason! Labs, particularly White Labradors and English Labradors, have become well known for their fun, loving, happy-go-lucky personalities that make them just so much fun to be around. In addition, their calm, peaceful temperament, their level of intelligence, and their interesting and unique color variations make this breed super popular amongst Americans.
We bet if you could think really hard, you probably grew up in a neighborhood that had AT LEAST one Labrador, right? We know we did!
When it comes to intelligent dogs, you might automatically begin to think about dogs like Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, and others. But it turns out that the English Lab was bred for endurance and intelligence alike!
Remember, Labrador Retrievers are meant to retrieve – this means that they need to know how to track, how to locate, and how to bring something back to their master – that’s a tall order.
When Labradors were being bred hundreds of years ago in Newfoundland, they were bred for their ability to endure the environment. This gave them an active, intelligent mind that demands a high level of activity and mental stimulation. So, while your White Lab back at home might love to relax with you, the chances are high that he or she is listening to every word that you say, watching every move that you make, and staying alert just in case you give him or her a command.
English Labradors and White Labradors alike are known for their personalities. While they’re quite intelligent, active, and strong, Labradors are also known to be a little clumsy! At least at first. As Labradors mature into their adulthood, they begin to demonstrate the level of intelligence that has made them so popular not only in the States but in Canada as well.
Remember, Labradors were bred to retrieve, which means that they’re built for adventure. As Labradors get older, they begin to become more curious about the world around them. They like to search, sniff, and listen, and they do it all with a calm, happy, fun-loving smile on their face. In fact, this is what makes them such great family pets. Labs are well-natured dogs and are always looking to form a bond with their owner(s).
English Labs are popular family pets for a number of different reasons – their temperament and level of loyalty is certainly a major talking point, but there’s still more to the argument! According to the American Kennel Club, Labradors are friendly dogs that love to love, and they love being loved. They’re outgoing, and they love meeting new people. They’re active too! Labradors love going outside, playing fetch, taking a walk, or rolling around in the grass on a warm summer afternoon.
And while some Labradors can get quite big in size, their gentle, patient, and playful nature makes them the perfect dog for a family with young children. And trust us, they’ll make an individual bond with each and every member of the family because they absolutely love to please their owners.
Going back to their intelligence, some of the world’s most trainable dogs include the smartest breeds – again, Border Collies, German Shepherds, etc. However, Labradors are entirely trainable too! Remember, Labradors were bred to retrieve; this means that they were bred to listen, to comprehend commands, and to carry out actions for their owners.
In the hundreds of years since the first Labradors were developed, this level of intelligence and trainability hasn’t diminished one bit! In fact, Labradors love to learn and they are always looking to learn something new. This doesn’t have to translate into tricks; it can be simple things like manners, responding to verbal cues, and more.
Did you know that Labradors are natural swimmers? They are! You might be thinking to yourself, what does swimming have to do with the ways in which I care for my dog? Well, maybe not too much on the surface – that’s because it’s all below the fur! You see, Labradors have short hair, but they were bred to swim in water and retrieve birds, ducks, and other fowl for their owners.
Throughout time, they’ve developed a thick overcoat and an undercoat. The rough, short topcoat is thinner during the warmer months and helps to protect the dog from overheating. The soft, warm undercoat actually repels water to keep them dry and warm during the colder months. This double coat makes your Labrador easy to clean, to dry off, and to brush year ‘round.
So, now that you know everything that there is to know about a Labrador, are you ready to join the bandwagon? Labradors are wonderful dogs – and they have been for centuries. From their loving temperament to their intelligence and trainability, to their ease of care, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Labrador hold the title for another 30 years!
Tom Massey has owned and operated Snowy Pines Labradors for over a decade. They have become the leaders in English Labradors in the US. He and his team serve customers all over the US and Europe. They house their "dog family" in a state of the art facility on a large farm in the Ozark Mountains. With an obsession for genetics and temperament they raise and train dogs known across the globe for health and personality. Tom serves the pet industry in many forms campaigning for ethical breeding, training, and pet ownership.