Labrador Retrievers – A Very Versatile Breed

The Labrador Retriever, or Lab for short, is one of the most lovable and loved dogs in South Africa. They have engaging personalities and love to be with people and other pets. Labs are used in many different activities and events including:
• Guide dogs for blind and handicapped individuals
• Field trials
• Hunting waterfowl
• Police dogs for drug detection
• Tracking dogs for law enforcement
• Search and rescue dogs
• Carting
• Agility events
• Obedience competitions

Appearance of Labradors
There are three different colors of Labs recognized by the Kennel Union of South Africa and they are chocolate, yellow and black. There's also a coat color that rarely appears that is known by some associations as silver, but this is not recognized by KUSA. Some breeders believe that this is an emerging color whereas others believe that the Lab line has been crossed with a Weimaraner to produce this variation of coat color.
Labs are large dogs, with males weighing between 27 and 34Kg when fully grown, and some even reaching closer to 45Kg. Females typically range in weight from 24 and 31Kg. Average height for males is 58cm, and for females 55cm. Labs have a very short, thick double coat that makes them easy to groom and care for. They require weekly brushing with a pin brush or wire brush and occasional dry grooming or bathing. Labs love water, so bathing is usually a fun activity for them. Labs are average shedders with usually two shedding periods a year, one in the spring and one closer to the fall.
Labs are very muscular dogs with highly expressive eyes, an appearance of a smile on their face and medium sized ears that frame their face. They're strong dogs with very straight body lines and a thick tail that gradually tapers down to a point. Labs are energetic tail waggers and will carry their tail higher when tracking or scenting than when playing. Labradors also have webbed toes that make them excellent swimmers.


Training Your Lab
Labradors are very gentle dogs and interact wonderfully with children and other pets provided they are socialized as puppies. They're not true guard dogs but are very protective of their families and will bark when strangers approach. Labs require firm and consistent training but are very intelligent and learn quickly. Unlike some breeds, Labs tend to enjoy repetitive activities such as fetching and obedience. They respond very well to positive praise and attention and usually only require a slight change in the owner’s tone of voice to realize that they are being corrected or disciplined. Labs, like all large dogs, often don’t realize that they are able to knock people over when they jump up or play, especially when they are puppies. Teaching your Lab to stay down and sit when greeting people rather than jumping up will prevent any accidents or possible problems.
A Labrador is a wonderful and loving breed for people with children, and individuals looking for an intelligent dog that is suitable for many activities. Labradors have a great love of being outdoors and enjoy long walks and romps with the family.



Behaviors
Labs have certain types of behaviors that are natural and even desirable. Unfortunately there are also some behaviors that become problematic and even potentially dangerous. Teaching your Lab at an early age how to play and interact or socialize with people, pets and children is a great way to prevent any negative behaviors from becoming a problem.
Puppies naturally bite and chew as they hit the stage of teething. This happens between about four to five months of age, and the behaviors can continue until they reach a year. Some Labs continue to chew and bite as they get older, usually because bad habits have been allowed to form. Be prepared for teething, chewing and biting, and provide a wide selection of chew toys. Puppies may also not realize that biting and chewing is painful and need to be told, with a loud “Ouch” or “No”, when they bite and cause pain. Their mother and littermates usually teach puppies this, as they will yelp when bitten too hard. Puppies removed from the litter before 8 weeks do not always have this experience and need to be taught by their human caregivers.
When a puppy bites or chews, immediately the “Ouch” or “No” should be said, followed by the substitution of a chew toy. The puppy or dog should then be rewarded with praise for chewing or biting the toy.



House training
House training a puppy or older dog is not necessarily a challenge, nor does it have to be traumatic for the owners (or the dogs). Crate training is a wonderful strategy that is quick, effective, and prevents soiling of the carpet or living area. Immediately after eating or drinking the puppy is placed in the crate. The crate should be the appropriate size, and in an area where the puppy can still see people and not feel punished or isolated. Toys and a soft blanket should be in the crate at all times.
About 15 minutes after eating, take the puppy out of the crate and take them outside and place them in the area you wish them to use as a restroom area. If the puppy does urinate or defecate, praise them and bring them back into the house for some attention. If they do not, return them to the crate for another 5 minutes, and try again. Repeat the process until the dog relieves itself. Follow with lots of praise and attention. Since puppies and dogs are clean and do not like to soil their “den” areas, they will learn control. Be sure to take the puppy or dog out regularly, though, as they can become very stressed if not given proper opportunity to get outside.

Digging
One of the best options is to prepare a digging area in the yard and teach the dog to dig there. Bones and toys can be hidden in the dirt to teach the dog to dig in this area only. Reward “correct digging” and make other areas less desirable to dig in. Dogs generally don’t enjoy digging in wet areas so filling up holes with water can detract from digging. A fine mesh just under the surface of the ground can also be effective.
Providing lots of toys and exercise is one of the best ways to keep digging dogs busy. Often dogs dig or bite and chew out of boredom, so balls, sticks, and even other dogs to play with during the day is often enough to provide a distraction.
There are many professional trainers and obedience classes that can help dog owners understand the reasons behind some of the more difficult to correct behaviors that their dogs may exhibit.