Over the past 18 months, many of us have welcomed a new four-legged friend into our homes, as the Kennel Club saw the number of dog owners increase by almost eight percent from 2020.
But with 221 different purebred dog breeds to choose from, there is a lot of thought to be done before selecting your perfect puppy.
There’s even academic advice to seek out, with psychologist Stanley Coren’s book “The Intelligence of Dogs†categorizing breeds by instinct, obedience, and adaptability.
One dog that often appears at the top of people’s canine wishlists is the Labrador Retriever – they were the UK’s most popular pet in 2020 and have a range of positive attributes that make them a great pet to play with. company.
Here are 10 fun and interesting facts about the breed.
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The ancestors of the Labrador Retriever were the now extinct St John’s Water Dog. They were a common breed in the Newfoundland region of Canada, where they were used by fishermen to retrieve ropes, nets and even fish in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. It is a skill that is still innate in modern laboratories, which can happily spend hours picking up sticks thrown into the sea.
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The first Labrador Retriever was born in the UK in the 1830s, when St John’s Water Dogs arrived in Britain on merchant ships sailing between Canada and Poole Harbor. Several members of the nobility, including the Earl of Malmesbury, the Duke of Buccleuch and the Earl of Home bred them with hunting dogs to create the new breed.
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The average Labrador Retriever lives 10 to 12 years, but some dogs have lived much longer. The oldest recorded laboratory was called the adjutant, who died in the UK on August 14, 1936, at the age of 27 years and 98 days. Only four dogs lived longer.
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It’s no wonder that Labrador Retrievers are such good swimmers – they have webbed feet perfect for propelling them through the water. They are also handy in cold climates as they act like snowshoes, preventing the dog’s feet from sinking into the snow.
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