The Labrador Retriever is widely considered to be the most popular breed of dog in the world. This is prompted because they are the most registered breed in the United States, the UK and several other countries. Because these dogs are easy to train and highly intelligent, these dogs are also the most popular breed of assistance dog.

The Labrador originated in Labrador, Canada and Newfoundland. The breed is a descendent of St. John's Water Dog. The St. John's Water Dog was used to develop two breeds, the Labrador and the Newfoundland. The St. John's Water Dog was originally used to pull in the fishing nets of the fisherman by swimming out and grabbing the floating corks and then hauling them back to shore. The shorthaired dogs were preferred for this task because the longhaired dogs would become encumbered with ice in the freezing waters. From these dogs, the Labrador Retriever as we know it has been developed.

There were three original colors of the St. John's Water Dog including yellow, chocolate and black. Black was the preferred color of the breed up until the 20th Century, as the yellow and chocolate dogs were culled. Eventually, these colors gained acceptance as well. It took some time for the breed to become widely recognized in the United States. In 1928 there were only twenty-three registered Labs in the country. After World War II, the breed became well recognized as hunting dogs and gained recognition as game finders and water dogs.

The Labrador is a relatively large dog with males weighing between sixty-five and eighty pounds and females weighing fifty-five to seventy pounds. The coat of the Lab is smooth and short and they have powerful tails. There are differences between the English and American lines. The English dog is typically a medium-sized dog that is shorter and stockier. They have fuller faces and tend to be calmer. The American bred dog is leaner, taller and more energetic. Australian versions of the breed are prominent in that country and Asia.

These dogs shed twice a year and often regularly shed throughout the year in temperate climates. These dogs are also unique in that they have webbed toes to help them swim and the interwoven coat provides is almost waterproof. These dogs have a natural love of water as well.

These dogs are loving, affectionate and great for dog obedience training . They are incredibly intelligent and high-spirited dogs. They have a true love for the water and love to swim and play in it. They also crave attention from their family and truly desire to be with them. They are great with children and other dogs. These dogs are often considered watch dogs, but not guard dogs. Depending on the dog, they may be energetic and destructive if not kept busy. These dogs have several talents including:

• Retrieving
• Tracking
• Hunting
• Narcotics Detection
• Police work
• Assistance and guide dogs
• Search and Rescue
• Sledding
• Agility
• Sledding
• Competitive obedience