The black Labrador is a breed of dog that has won the admiration of all due to the fact that is a rescue dog, guide, police and that he is also extremely loyal, apart from the fact that the kindness and desires of service of this pet are incomparable.
He creates a very special bond with his owner and is always ready to please him. The intelligence of the labrador is exceptional and shows great discipline and poise when required. This active and agile pet only needs the care and attention of its master, along with the channeling of all the energy it possesses.
Origin of the labrador
The black lab is also known as the labrador retriever, labrador retriever, or labrador retriever. His place of origin is Newfoundland, Canada, but the origin of the race is a different matter. Although it owes its name to the Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador, this breed has English origins. Their ancestors are water dogs that were taken by fishermen to San Juan or St. John of Newfoundland to help with the hard work of fishing.
The black Labrador exists in both the American and English lines, but both come from Newfoundland or water dog, a small name that was given to differentiate it from the greater Newfoundland with characteristics of the Saint Bernard and belonging to a giant race.
It should be noted that the dogs that came to Newfoundland during the XNUMXth century were originally from other parts such as England and Ireland and were located on the island of Newfoundland called San Juan. Hence comes the race of labrador retriever or black lab. As his popularity grew in the old world, Canada said goodbye to the breedBoth from high taxes levied on canine owners and from a plague that decimated pets.
Characteristics and temperament of the black Labrador
To determine the physical traits that define the Labrador it is necessary to differentiate the English variety from the American one. The English Lab is wider and heavier than the American and the defined standards are the same as for gold or chocolate. The average height for the breed is 54 to 60 centimeters at the withers, the weight varies between 27 and 40 kilos depending on whether it is male, female, English or American, with proportions that place it as a medium to large breed dog. Its musculature is strong, with a rounded morphological structure.
It has a broad head with a defined nasal depression, the muzzle is long and wide with a black nose in dogs with this color of coat. the nose may be yellow or brown in chocolate specimens and the eyes are medium, expressive, sweet and hazel or brown in color. The ears are medium in size and hang to the sides of the head, the wide neck is inserted between the shoulders giving way to a straight back. The limbs are strong, with a webbed foot, a characteristic that helps them to be excellent swimmers. They have the so-called otter tail heavy, strong, hairy and round.
The hair is quite dense, double-layered and short, since the inner coat is usually softer and the outer coat is rough, both are waterproof. This breed is not color-matched, so they must be all black, gold, or chocolate. The character of this pet is incredibly helpful, being preferred for rescue functions, police or guide dogs. They are very cheerful and intelligent, a condition that allows you to train them and teach them new knowledge even when they are not puppies.
They are also restless in temperament, so they must channel energy. They are sociable especially if they they educate from puppies and they are protective of children and friendly to strangers as long as they do not see them as a threat. They are not violent thanks to their balanced character.
Health, care and diseases
The first thing to know when adopting a black Labrador retriever is that it is not a cheap dog, apart from that requires space, walks and games to drain its incredible energy and diet is an important issue and must be appropriate to their age and activity. The appearance and health will depend on the quality of the food and discipline in the daily rations required. He eats a lot because of his size and build, but he also likes to eat, so will not hesitate to get more food than it should, so the owner must be strict to avoid self-defeating obesity.
Regarding hygiene it is necessary to accustom the pet from puppy to brushing its teethThis will directly influence their life expectancy, which ranges from 11 to 14 years. Dental health will prevent periodontal, liver, kidney and heart disease. Brush the coat two to three times a week to remove dead hair, being necessary to bathe them once a month, an activity that can be a lot of fun. In summer you can use a hose if you have a garden and in winter a bathtub with warm water.
Once the bath is finished, dry it with a towel to finish with a dryer at a safe distance and at a low temperature. Lastly, brush the fur. As part of the care you should go to the vet once a year or when deemed necessary. Vaccines must be up-to-date and appropriate breed-appropriate dewormers must be applied. The products recommended for this will always be used.
Although they are a very strong and healthy breed, they do not escape the common diseases of size, such as the hip and elbow dysplasia. Both are prevented with a adequate nutrition that includes the required nutrients and that the pet maintains its weight. Gastric torsion is also common in the breed and the best way to avoid it is by feeding the pet several small servings during the day and not two large ones. Some dogs can present lipomas that if they become bothersome are solved with surgery.
Recommendations
Despite being a large breed dog has the character of a lap dog, making it ideal as a companion pet. He is deeply adaptable and loyal, but not because he is complacent should he neglect the needs he requires for his physical and emotional balance. It is necessary use quality products for both hygiene and food and physical activity is essential, since even if they adapt to a flat they need to go out, run and play.
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