What Should You Know About Adopting a Black Labrador Dog?
Black labs are among the most popular dogs in the United States, as well as around the world. The black Labrador dog is a great swimmer, an athletic companion, and a friendly family pet. These animals are also often used as working dogs by police and other enforcement authorities. They’re a popular assistance dog for people with disabilities, too.
Labrador retrievers originally came from Newfoundland in Canada. This breed is descended from the St. John’s water dog, also the ancestor of the dog we now call the Newfoundland. Labrador retrievers were used to help pull in nets from the water. These original dogs were black – yellow and chocolate labs developed later. The black Labrador dog was written about as early as 1814, and was common in England by 1870.
Black Labrador dogs are fairly large. Males weigh as much as ninety pounds, with females as much as seventy. There are some labs that weigh even more, but they’re considered faulty by AKC standards. There are two main lines of labs – conformation and field. The conformation dogs are stockier and shorter. They’re also calmer. Field labs are bred to be lighter and taller, and are more likely to still be working dogs. These animals have longer noses and narrower faces, and can be less placid than their cousins.
If you decide to adopt a black Labrador dog, you’ll need to know a few things. For instance, a black lab will shed at least twice a year, and some will shed all year long! This may mean a lot of combing. The coat is relatively waterproof, and can seem greasy. There’s even hair between the toes, which helps these dogs with swimming.
You’ll also need to offer these dogs plenty of attention. A black Labrador dog doesn’t want to be ignored – he or she wants to feel like part of the family. That means that you’ll be dealing with a lovable, attentive dog who wants you to feel the same way. These dogs are intelligent, so if you find them to be a nuisance, they’ll figure it out pretty quickly. Eager to please, these dogs love energetic play and lots of interaction with their owners.
A black Labrador dog needs plenty of regular exercise. Most will need at least a half to a full hour daily – half and hour in the morning and half in the evening is a great way to split this up. Make sure you vary the exercise, offering walks, games of fetch, obedience training and more. This keeps your pet from getting bored. A bored lab can turn out to be pretty destructive.
Remember to think about future health problems, as well as your new pet’s current needs. Just like other breeds, black Labrador dogs have a few diseases they’re genetically prone to. Preventative care can keep your pet from getting hip dysplasia and other major health problems. Of course, you can also decrease the chance of these issues by making sure that you choose a responsible breeder. Any puppy you adopt should have parents with no health problems, and should get a checkup immediately after you take it home.
