History of Labrador Retrievers

Labrador have been invented, so to speak, in the fifteenth century. They were originally intended as a fishing dog for the villagers of Newfoundland. Labs met resistance against the cold waters of the North Atlantic through the development of two different layers of hair - an inner layer of short fuzzy hair for insulation, long hair and a guard for water. They also developed webbed paws for swimming. Loyalty, commitment, and a wonderful temperament came standard. Genetic colors were black, yellow and chocolate. (See history of chocolate Lab for specific information). It is assumed that Darwinists of Labrador from the Dolphin many years ago. Perhaps would explain that their playfulness.

Hunting Labs
By the 1800's Labs migrated to England and then in the United States. Here, fishing was not the required task, but retrieving ducks were at the center. Hunter loved to show their labs, and worked with them diligently to develop their skills. Selective breeding kept the desire to connect with a good nose into the lines. Hunters began to events where their labs were depending on their performance against a set standard. These tests were Hunt.

Field Labs
The development of the perfect hunting Lab was such a case, that a splinter group has this to the next level. It develops standards, if the labs were depending on their performance against other labs, instead of against a standard set. This increased competition. As a result, breeders, the more weight on the energy and intelligence, and usually less to see. These Labs has long legs, hyperactive, and wise enough, a good game of chess. Head and tail was a bit close. Today, these Labs May, and a fence to climb 30 miles jogging as a warm-up. They are fantastic, but sometimes a bit too vigorously for the family situation. Today, these labs are generally known as the "champion".

Family Labs
In the 1980s, a new category was added - that was known as the family Lab. They were bred for health, temperament, intelligence, looks, and a desire to retrieve, in that order. This led to a less hyper, very intelligent Lab, is better suited for the family situation. They did not have the monster heads of the show Labs, or the smaller field heads, but developed proportionally moderate bloc heads. Good temperament meant the large labs have been with children. They had enough energy to swim or play Frisbee, but were calm enough to crash at your feet and sleep in front of the fireplace. These labs lost the desire to migrate, and were much more comfortable at home.
As the pressure of breeding Labs to win ribbons at events has been removed, health naturally improved. Family Labs were not inbred plants, leading to a decrease of recessive traits causes dwarfism and other adverse medical conditions.
The original family Lab was by the owners of Labpups.com. They have years of experience in this field. Other growers are beginning to copy this formula.
Show Labs
Another group of people were interested in the looks of the exercise, and set forth for the perfect dog. Tail and ear length, poundage, size and other physical aspects weighed more than Hunt or Field Trial requirements. Generally speaking, those Labs developed stocky bodies, short legs, heads and mammoth. They are paraded in Show events, and sometimes at the end of Westminster. Intelligence and temperament can sometimes a backseat to see, although this does not apply to all show Labs.

White Labs
White is not a natural color, but a race of yellow, light yellow by breeding with yellow light. Whites lose the pigment in the skin, causing skin cancer, sensitive skin, or allergy-like symptoms such as open wounds.

Chocolate Labs
In the early days, black Labs with a white diamond on her chest were the most desired. (This was especially bred by the breeders show Lab). Yellow Labs have been tolerated. Chocolates, however. They were first suspected as a genetic mistake, and given derogatory names. The accepted practice of the day was to drown them, so removing them from the gene pool. In the early 1970's, genetics had shown that chocolate was just as pure as black or yellow. Chocolates suddenly one of the most desired dogs in the world. The problem was their recessive genes had almost been eradicated after 500 years of persecution, so that only very few laboratories capable of chocolates. Breeders, in the haste to meet the sudden demand, breeding started everything was brown and had four legs, calling them "Chocolate Labs." (The Chesapeake Bay Retriever seemed to be the state favored inches) Papers were a Dime a dozen, and only as good as the breeder the floor. This led to a dilution of the chocolate Lab, which led to the false impression that chocolate were stupid or temperamental. A pure chocolate was as intelligent and well-tempered than black or yellow.

Other colors
Genetics support black, yellow and chocolate. Other colors are achieved by mixing different breeds Labrador. A silver-colored dog can be achieved by a breeding chocolate Lab with a Weimeriner. These are not mere Labrador, no matter what the newspapers say.