Referred to as America’s Favorite Dog, the Labrador Retriever, is commonly seen in one of three colors – the yellow lab, chocolate lab, and black lab. They were bred to be hardworking dogs, while also being fun-loving companions. Early labs worked hard beside fishermen helping them with a variety of tasks. Labs continue to earn their reputation as hardworking pups by fulfilling roles as service dogs, military dogs, and police dogs.
These loving pups can grow up to 80 pounds and usually live around 10-12 years. Labs have earned a reputation of being highly active, and even a little rambunctious. While they may calm a bit as they age, they will remain pretty active throughout their life. They are friendly with kids, as well as other pets, making them wonderful family dogs.
Some other interesting things you may not know about this breed:
- Labs love to eat and can quickly become obese.
- They need at least 30-60 minutes of intense exercise every day or they will release pent up energy in destructive ways.
- Labs originated in Newfoundland.
- They were introduced into the United States in the 20s and 30s.
- The breed’s popularity started picking up after World War II.
Source: “Labrador Retriever” http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/labrador-retriever