The Character
The Labrador is a treasure
The Labrador has a very busy life. Its versatility offers it many possibilities and its character is the key to real missions.
It excels not only as a companion dog, but also serves alongside the blind and disabled..
A special education
Faithful and obedient, the Labrador is very rewarding. Its beginnings as a fishing dog have made it a docile pup, bending to its master's will, hence its effectiveness in hunting. As a puppy, it easily submits to basic orders. Obviously, the young Labrador is no exception to the rule. Its education must be conducted judiciously, with the severity that is necessary with all dogs. Its goodness must not become an excuse for letting itself go. The Labrador will only become a pleasant dog to be with if it recognises itself in the hierarchical system associated with the dog species. In short, the education of the Labrador is probably easier than that of a rebellious and grumpy dog, but it must be practical and well supervised.
If it is well trained from the outset, the Labrador has every chance of revealing its qualities. Kindness is its second nature. It is often considered to be the "crème de la crème" of dogs. It is true that its presence at the side of blind people, its patience with small children and its liveliness in livening up family life are all telltale signs. The Labrador possesses emotional intelligence.
We often talk about its intelligence tout court. An undeniable quality in the Labrador. Nothing escapes him. It is as perceptive in understanding what it is told as it is in grasping a fish as it used to do or in bringing back an object. When it comes to understanding, however, it is no longer a question of instinct but of the ability to analyse.
The Labrador can pick up the nuances of the human voice, assimilate words at lightning speed and understand situations.
Maintaining your figure
There is nothing like the regular practice of a sport to avoid roundness! The Labrador tends to put on a few kilos, which is even more noticeable if its coat is a light colour. This is a reality that you must not be afraid to face, given the negative effects that obesity has on your dog's life. It is therefore better to continue to combine the pleasures of sport and nature with the care of the body. The Labrador will only benefit.
Adaptable and good
Because it has great qualities and knows how to make itself appreciated by its owners, it makes no sense to leave it all alone in the house. Perfectly adaptable, good (if he is well behaved), capable of being discreet even when he is admired, this dog goes well everywhere: in the office, in the car, at a friend's house. When faced with loneliness, however, all its fine qualities fall by the wayside!
The Labrador doesn't know what to do with an idle life and a solitude in which he has to keep himself in check. Made for family life, playing one of his master's sports, accompanying the children in their games and finding the slippers left in some corner of the house.... these are his favourite hobbies. Bringing back everything he finds, the kids' ball on the beach, the sandals left on the sand, some walker's hat, the children's soft toys, all this either amuses or annoys us. It is the principle of the retriever. In this case, the Labrador is not the dog for us. You cannot stop this dog from following its instincts and fulfilling the mission that its true nature dictates.
Zero faults?
As far as faults go, there's not much to say about the Labrador.... apart from his insatiable appetite! This dog, which seeks nothing more than to please those around it, is simply full of qualities. It is clear that negative experiences exist and that every breed has some weaknesses. In a breed as sweet as the Labrador there are rare cases of a biting dog. However, you have to be sure that it is a Labrador, a real purebred dog, or a Labrador-like specimen. This is completely different. A Labrador that has been selected according to the standard, both in terms of morphology and character, cannot belong to that type of dog. These are not fantasies, a labrador is a treasure trove of precious qualities!
Circles on the water
When the Labrador undergoes aptitude tests, its aptitude for jumping into the water is tested. Needless to say, its passion for water is something innate. His past is proof of this: the Labrador, once called St. John's dog, spent his days searching for fish and bringing them back to the fishermen on the island of Newfoundland. So owners who live by the water or have a swimming pool rest assured.... will be as happy as a clam.
