12 fun facts about Labrador Retrievers

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular breeds worldwide. Not only that, they are one of the most common breeds chosen as working dogs. Of course, there’s a reason why the Labrador Retriever is so beloved. They have a rich history and a great skill set that makes them great companions. If you’re not already convinced that Labs are a fantastic dog breed, read along to find out some more fun facts about Labrador Retrievers that make them extraordinary.

Although both places are in Canada, Newfoundland is the origin place of Labrador Retrievers. The present-day Labrador Retrievers come from a line of the now-extinct St. John‘s water dogs.  

Labrador Retrievers were originally bred as waterdogs, and their features reflect this. Labs have a waterproof double coat, webbed feet, and an otter-like tail. Not surprisingly, most Labrador Retrievers absolutely love swimming and dock-diving.

There was a heavy dog tax in Canada that accounted for the near-extinction of Labs. The original St. John‘s water dogs in Canada went extinct because of this tax. The breed survived in Great Britain and eventually soared to popularity in the 1990s.

After the breed rose to the top in the 1990s, Labrador Retrievers have remained the most popular dog breed in America for over 20 years. It‘s a nationally loved dog breed, and for a good reason.

The Labrador Retriever is the most common breed used as working dogs. Due to the breed‘s versatility, Labs work asdetection dogs, service animals, search and rescue dogs, and many other jobs. They are not only intelligent but they are built to be resilient.

Labs can reach up to 12mph in three seconds. They are built for speed and power and have the high intelligence to make them perfect working dogs that never back down from a challenge. Labrador Retrievers excel as both sporting and show dogs. This breed can do almost anything you could ask for from a dog.

Labrador Retrievers come in three different coat colors that the AKC recognizes: yellow, chocolate, and black. Other coat colors, like red and silver, are not recognized by the AKC. You can also get multiple colors within one litter, and color does not affect the Lab‘s behavior.

Labrador Retrievers have a gene that doesn‘t allow them to feel full while eating. This gene is also why Labs are prone to obesity because they have a hard time gauging how full they are. This gene is also why Labs are not typically grazers.

The Lab‘s keen sense of smell allows them to detect different stages of cancer among other diseases such as Parkinson‘s, malaria, or diabetes.

Jake was a Labrador puppy who had a rough start in life but became a national hero. Jake was abandoned as a puppy. He grew up to aid in the 9/11 search and rescue, searching for survivors in the debris of the World Trade Center. He later would help in the search and rescue of Hurricane Katrina victims.

Many fictional characters in TV, movies, and books are Labrador Retrievers. Clifford The Big Red Dog is a red lab, andFamily Guy‘s Brian Griffin is also a Lab. Disney‘s famous Old Yeller is another movie where a Lab is one of the main characters.

The song name “Black Dog“ was inspired by a black Lab that wandered the grounds of the recording studio where the Led Zeppelin album was recorded.

We hope you enjoyed these fun facts about Labrador Retrievers. There‘s a reason this breed is a national favorite, and these facts are only just scratching the surface. If you‘re looking for a Lab puppy, we at Barkd want to help match you with that pup and breeder! Check out our app (Apple, Android) to help make your searching process easier.

Sources:

AKC, “Labrador Retriever.“

AKC, “8 Things To Know About Labrador Retrievers.“

Mental Floss, “12 Friendly Facts About Labrador Retrievers.“

Wag!, “Fun Facts for Labrador Retriever Owners.“

Wikipedia, “List of Labrador Retrievers.