LABRADOR RETRIEVER

It is an English breed, related to the golden retriever although there are different theories about its origin. One of them is that this dog descends from the St. John, one of the ones that went along the fishermen in the long campaigns across Greenland. Another one is that its ancestor was a Portuguese dog, the Castro laboreiro, since the Portuguese fishing boats spent long months fishing in the Nordic areas and their crews could have taken this breed when they came back. In the border areas between Portugal and Galicia the Castro laboreiro is abundant, which is very similar to the Labrador retriever. Currently, this breed is one of the most famous in the world and one of the most demanded.

PHYSICAL TRAITS of the LABRADOR RETRIEVER
This breed has a solid and strong structure, whose males weigh between 20 and 30 kg and the females are between 22 and 38 kg; in average they stand between 59 and 56 cm respectively. The fur is straight, very short and hard to the touch; it is black, yellow or reddish without spots, white hairs in the chest at the most. The skull is wide, the stop is pronounced, the medium sized eyes are brown or hazelnut and the ears are droopy and medium in their thickness and length.

The chest is wide and deep, the arched ribs form a barrel and the back is straight.

TEMPERAMENT AND ADAPTATION of the LABRADOR RETRIEVER
The Labrador retriever is a charming and active partner, kind by nature and extremely affectionate to its direct master, who it obeys pleasurably since it loves to feel useful and necessary. Its intelligence makes its training as well as its adaptation to any environment easy and stimulating tasks. It can live in a flat, however, it feels happier where it can enjoy outdoors space.

EXERCISE AND CARE required for a LABRADOR RETRIEVER
Contrary to the golden, this retriever doesn’t need too much brushing since its short hair repels filth. Being it a collection breed, it loves water, reason why it should be watched in fieldtrips because, if there is an opportunity, it will make a run for the nearest river.