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July 15th
Chances are you’ve spent some time around Labrador Retrievers. They are smart, gentle, and social dogs that can melt even the coldest heart.
Originally bred as working dogs in northeastern Canada, Labs are now by far the most popular dog breed in the United States. They offer the perfect blend of energy, intelligence, and friendliness, and they form strong bonds with the humans around them.
Here are some reasons you should consider making a Lab the next addition to your family.
Labs are one of the most selfless dog breeds out there. They will do just about anything for their family, making them a loyal companion for as long as they live.
There are hundreds of stories of Labs going out of their way to help humans, even preventing kids from drowning. They are also excellent guide and service dogs, helping people with a range of disabilities.
Labs are the perfect breed for people who live an active lifestyle. They were originally bred to help fishermen, and they still have the same instincts whenever you play with them. They love to play fetch and other sports, making them great for families with kids.
Training a dog can often be a headaches. Fortunately, Labs have all of the traits you want while training. They are smart, curious, and alert dogs, so they learn quickly. They also love to please humans, and will do everything they can to bond with humans.
Labradors are not your standard guard dogs. However, they are still excellent security dogs, as they can smell just about anything.Labs are commonly used by US agencies as drug dogs, helping detect contraband as it enters the country. They also make great rescues dogs, as they can quickly and accurately track a scent.
If you run, it’s always nice to have a companion next to you. Labs are the perfect workout buddies for active people.
They have excellent stamina, allowing them to keep up with you on long runs. They are also quite agile, so they can keep up with even the most athletic humans.
Many dog owners dream of taking their puppy to the beach on hot summer days. Labs are descended from working dogs that helped fishermen, making them natural swimmers.
Most Labs will run into the water on their own, cooling off in pools, lakes, or in the ocean.
Labs are in the sweet spot when it comes to size. Averaging around 75 pounds, they are big enough to play with, but not so big that they take up half your home.
This makes them well suited for a range of different environments. They can live in apartments or in a house with a large yard. They are popular farm dogs, but you’ll still find millions of them living comfortably in cities.
Labradors are one of the most commonly used breeds for service and therapy dogs. They have the right blend of traits, as they are smart, alert, social, and engaging. They also have a great sense of smell, making them useful as service dogs.
Labs also form extremely close emotional bonds with the humans around them. This makes them excellent therapy dogs, as they can console people as they go through hard times.
As long as you get your Lab from a reputable breeder or shelter, they tend to have few health problems. Although they can suffer from health issues like any other breed, you can expect your Lab to live a long, healthy, and happy life.
Labs are one of the most popular breeds for people with families. They know how to interact with kids without putting their safety at risk. Although they are fairly large, Labs are gentle and calm, and rarely bite or bark at children.
Like every dog, Labs need to be properly trained and socialized when they’re young so that they learn how to interact with people and other animals. Fortunately, this process is simple with Labs, and most of them grow up to be gentle, loving dogs who will treat your kids like their own family.
Labs are known for their soft, cuddly coats, making them the perfect dog breed to snuggle up to.
Just be sure to keep up with regular grooming, as Labs do shed a lot of fur. They should be brushed at least once a week, and preferably two or three times if you can.
Labs live just about everywhere, and are well suited to most climates. They have a shedding cycle, allowing them to lose extra fur when the temperature begins to rise. Their coat is also water resistant, and they do great in cold environments.
Labs are the most popular breed in the United States. That means that they’re also one of the easiest breeds to find, giving you plenty of options when picking out a puppy. They are also quite affordable, as there are plenty of sources to choose from.
This wide availability, however, does come with downsides. Because Labs are so popular, many disreputable breeders have popped up, breeding and raising puppies in unsafe conditions.
Always take extra caution when dealing with Lab breeders. There are plenty of great ones out there who are committed to ethically raising their dogs.
If you want to support shelters, you’ll find plenty of abandoned Labs in need of a home.
Have you been sold on a Lab as your next dog? Then head over to our puppy finder. At Uptown Puppies, we connect you to some of the best breeders and companies around.
Every Lab breeder we work with raises their dogs in safe conditions, following strict ethical obligations. That means none of their dogs come from puppy mills or from backyard breeders.
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