According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador retriever is the most popular dog breed in the United States. This does not come as a surprise due to the loyal and loving nature of the Lab that makes it an excellent family dog, as well as a great hunting dog, giving you many uses for a Labrador in your family.
History
The Labrador retriever history dates Labs back to Newfoundland where they were used as companions for fishermen, aiding in pulling in nets and catching spare fish. The Labrador learned its hunting skills after being exposed to various other retrievers and setters along the way, making the Labrador what it is today. The Lab quickly become known as a hunting dog and used for those purposes, as well as a loyal family dog.
Colors
The most common Labrador colors are yellow and black. Yellow Labs can range in color from blonde or white to an almost reddish color. The chocolate Lab has been increasing in popularity and ranges from dark brown to light brown in color. All three colors can be present in the same litter, depending on the presence of the three genes that make up a Lab’s color. In order to be AKC certified, each color needs to be pure color without any distinct markings to break up the continuous color.
Appearance
The Labradors that are AKC certified meet certain requirements for breeders to be considered AKC breeders. Height is of utmost importance. The male Labs are within 22 ½ to 24 ½ inches and for a female, 21 ½ to 23 ½ inches after 12 months of age. AKC Labs also have proportionate amount of pigment in their nose and around the eye rims. The tail should have a thick base and taper to the end. The tail should not curl or be altered in any way to be AKC certified. The tail continues the flow of gorgeous balance throughout a Labrador’s body.
