With there being hundreds of dog breeds from which to chose, have you ever wondered which one is the most popular worldwide and why? In the past, Labrador Retrievers established themselves as the breed to beat.
Today, we share with you how and why the current overall #1 breed is the most popular family dog in virtually every part of the world.
WHEN AND WHERE IT BEGAN
Since 1990, when the American Kennel Club launched their study ranking which dog breeds were most popular, Labrador Retrievers maintained their first-place ranking.
Yes! They have been the most popular family dog for the last 29 years. Anyone who has ever owned a Lab will agree that they deserve the title.
Labrador Retrievers, affectionately called Labs, originated from the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada where they traditionally accompanied fishers and worked on ships.
A Few Facts About Labrador Retrievers
Saint John’s Water Dog is the recognized foundation breed from which the Labrador retriever was developed.
Males usually weigh 65 to 80 lbs. While females weigh 55 to 70 lbs, they have short, straight, dense hair.
Their coats are water-resistant to keep them warm in water or during the cold winter season. Color standards are black, yellow, and chocolate.
You can expect to spend an average of 12 years with a Lab. However, some Labs have been known to live as long as 19 years. No one ever thinks their dog lived long enough.
With proper nutrition, adequate exercise, and lots of love, their life span can be maximized. They are so lovable, we want to keep them around as long as possible.
Choosing dogs that come from a line of ancestors that lived longer than average increases the chances that your beloved pet will as well. It helps to have good genes, right?
Labradors are known for their gentleness and high intelligence. They have the reputation of being an even-tempered breed that gets along well with children and other animals.
Except for occasional alarm barking, Labradors are usually quiet and non–territorial. They are easygoing and trustful, even with strangers.
Due to their calm nature, which makes them the perfect family dog, Labradors are not typically suitable as guard dogs.
A Few Challenges For Labrador Retrievers
Despite the calm nature of Labs, they can be destructive during their younger years. Therefore, it is important to start training as soon as you bring them home.
Being bred to retrieve, they tend to be a bit “mouthy” and love to put things into their mouths. Labs also love to eat. They may grasp onto anything that resembles food to them.
Because of this, you better put away anything you prefer not to have chewed up. Not only do they chew on things, but they will also eat almost anything at any time.
Vets often call them “Flabradors” because obesity seems to be a common health challenge for this breed. The problem, as with humans, often peaks once they reach their middle age.
To keep them healthy, fit, and out of trouble, feed them a balanced diet and make sure they get plenty of exercise daily. Further, restrict the treats to a reasonable amount.
A Few Of The Reasons That Labrador Retrievers Are So Lovable
- Although Labradors no longer help fishermen as much as they did in the past, some modern-day Labs are still working. The most common occupation of a Lab includes the following:
- assisting the disabled as a seeing-eye dog
- therapy dog
- police/military dog
- search and rescue dog
- and the most popular of all, man’s best friend!
Labs love playing fetch, jogging, swimming, and hiking. If it’s an outdoor activity with his family, he is always willing, ready, and eager to participate.
If dogs could talk, we know what they’d say: “Bring it on!” They always seem to enjoy interacting with people, family, or not.
Labradors are highly active unless they’re sleeping. Labs inspired the saying, “A tired dog is a good dog.” So when it comes to hiking they are the right dog for the job.
They’d beat you in swimming. They can run alongside while you ride on your bike. He will make you proud in any category of dog sports – agility, obedience, tracking, etc.
Calm, gentle, friendly, trusting, good–looking, smart, fun-loving, playful, goofy, athletic – we might just run out of adjectives to describe them.
But the bottom line is, Labrador Retrievers will surely win your heart. They have won the hearts of thousands of families over the years.
You will want to have many photos of the memories you made with your dog. They are so photogenic. You should be able to get some great pictures. Here are some tips on how to make that happen. https://happymutt.org/terrific-tips-for-taking-photos-of-your-pup/
Photos courtesy of Pixabay
UPDATE: AKC 2020 list of most popular breeds: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/the-most-popular-dog-breeds-of-2020/