Meet the Labrador Retriever: The Perfect Blend of Loyalty, Playfulness, and Love
Fun Fact
Labradors have webbed feet which makes them great swimmers!
The most common and goofy dogs that the world adores!
Labrador Retrievers were originally from Canada and were called water dogs because they were used to retrieve hunted game in rivers. They were imported by the British through trading ships in the early 19th century and made them an established breed. They were then used while hunting to retrieve land games. They were also kept as companion dogs. They are excellent guide dogs and experiments have proved that the could be trained faster than most dogs. They were used by Vietnam’s military to find dead and injured soldiers. They would locate enemy positions making it easier for the soldiers to be prepared.
Appearance
Labradors are medium-sized dogs. Males weigh between 30-35 kilograms and females between 26-32 kilograms. They have broad heads with pronounced eyebrows. Floppy thin ears that fall down from the side of the head. Bones are dense and they have a muscular figure. They have strong teeth and jaws. The snout is usually medium sized and broad. They have extremely expressive eyes which make them look very cute to most people! Toes are webbed which makes them excellent swimmers. This makes the coat almost waterproof. They have a short but dense coat. The skin is usually oily to protect them from cold temperatures. The most common colours are Yellow, Black and Chocolate.
Temperament
Labradors are high energy dogs. They love playing and running. They are always ready for more exercise! They usually have a very kind and gentle mind set. They are extremely loving and hence making them one of the most loved family dogs in the world. If you are a first time owner, this is the breed to go for because they can be trained quickly as they are extremely intelligent. They love being in the company of other dogs.
LifeSpan/Health
The average life span is between 10-12 years. For reasons unknown, they are prone to getting chronic hepatitis during the latter years of their life. They are also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. It is very common in Labradors to get this from their genetics. It is also due to improper diet and obesity. The most common disease that Labradors get affected by is ‘Progressive Rod-cone Degeneration’ This affects cells in the eye involved in both night and day vision. The cells of the retina involved in low light vision, known as rods, are affected first, resulting in night blindness. The key to try and increase their life expectancy is to make sure they have a proper diet, required exercise/walk, timely medication, yearly Vaccinations, Deworming tablets every three months and regular blood tests with Vet regarding the overall health. Feeding Chicken feet Broth on a regular basis decreases the risk of Hip Dysplasia.
Maintenance
Since they are a very active breed, they need a minimum of 1 hour’s walk a day. Failing to do this results in energy build up in the body and they get destructive. If you do not want your household items to be bitten to shreds, you better give them the exercise they need! They prefer cold temperatures so make sure you leave them a surface that is cold and suitable for them. They love toys, make sure you have enough of them. Since they have a short dense coat, it’s required to be brushed everyday to keep the coat clean and free from Ticks and Fleas.
Good food and nutrition is significant. Awareness of what to feed and how much to feed is extremely important. Processed food is not ideal due to the chemicals used causing increasing effects on the gut. Bloating, digestive issues, stinky stool, diarrhea, obesity and dehydration are some of the most common issues faced.
Canine diet requires a blend of fresh and natural ingredients. It should include the right amount of protein, fibre, fat and carbohydrate. We understand that it is not easy to make fresh food at home on a daily basis which meets all the nutritional requirements.
We at Genie Pet Meal understand the nutritional requirement of each dog because we customise the food according to the requirement. 100% fresh and natural ingredients like Chicken, 7 types of Vegetables, Rice, Egg white, and other ingredients combined in the right quantity make our food extremely healthy! It’s tailor made for your dog as we keep in mind the importance of giving the best to your fur ball.
