Labrador

It goes without saying that this dog is remarkably gentle and affectionate towards members of his social group, but not only. In fact, being the extremely sociable creature that he is, he makes friends easily. As long as much care and affection is bestowed upon him, he gives (almost) everyone the benefit of the doubt! 

This is one of the most friendly, playful and jovial dogs in the world. Notwithstanding his excellent working aptitudes, his mind is usually only set on having fun… and being happy. He is a potent, natural anti-depressant. 

This dog adapts to and is dependant on his owners’ mood. His personality will in fact be determined by the way he has been reared. 

For example, if his owner is rather calm, trusting and fair in the training he implements, and if he meets the dog’s needs with respect, the Retriever will have no problem being calm when necessary. 

As is the case of all Retrievers, he is a tireless worker- very gentle and easy to train. Even if he has been incredibly popular as a companion dog for many years now, he is also a perfect assistant to hunters, and the go-to choice for a service dog. 

Particularly skilled in retrieving wild game, this dog can just as well keep his owner’s company during hunting expeditions as he can take part in Retriever competitions or challenges that address his natural instinct. At any rate, you may engage him in retrieving and fetching activities. 

Never aggressive, this dog is extremely friendly, even towards strangers. He welcomes them with open arms, which could even be problematic at times (in the case of intruders, for instance). 

The Lab, as one might prefer to call him, is born to please his master. This is his number one priority, and this sense, he is very dependent on his owner. 

Very attached to members of his social group, being alone is not this dog’s ideal predicament. He can, however, tolerate solitude if he has been exposed to his owners’ short absences from a young age, and if he is provided with activities that can keep him occupied during said absences. 

Though it is true that the Labrador pup’s energy is particularly difficult to channel at times, once an adult, he is a very pleasant dog to work with. 

Some basic dog-training and discipline must of course be implemented early on, but this remains relatively easy. Do not forget that he is ‘made to serve’, after all, and it is not in vain that he is considered the go-to choice for a guide dog to the blind. 

In order for the training methods to really be productive and to ensure best results, they must rely on playfulness and games.

This dog barks, but within moderation… Save for when he is left in the garden for too long with no way of getting back inside. 

He can be a ‘runaway dog’ if his needs for exercise have not been fully satisfied or if an interesting trail beckons to him. You must indeed never forget that he is, by nature, an unmatched prey retriever. 

He can quickly turn the household topsy turvy if left alone for too long or if he does not receive the amount of attention and care he merits. 

This dog is a real ‘gorger’! He could spend his days eating without an end in sight. It is therefore key to supervise his consumption in order to prevent obesity. 

Very friendly, even with strangers, he is not his species’ best watchdog. Given how attached he is to his family, however, he could transform into a deterrent if he feels they are in danger- but never to the point of staging an attack or becoming aggressive. 

He can, in theory, live in a flat, but when still young… well- let’s see if the flat can handle the puppy stage! Once an adult, he does become slightly calmer, but his natural and tireless ‘joie de vivre’ rather tips the balance towards a house with a garden. 

Having said this, whether he resides inside or outside most of the time, he still requires daily walks that will allow him to fully deplete his stores of energy and keep him content. 

You should never forget that the Retriever is first and foremost a work dog. He truly is an excellent asset to any hunter. And even if he is more commonly used as a companion dog these days, you must never see him as a simple lapdog. 

He needs to be stimulated physically, mentally, and socially, and his sense must be put to use from time to time, if he is to remain fully content. 

What’s more, this breed can take up the practice of many, more or less demanding canine sports such as: cani-cross, dog hiking, agility, musical freestyle, trick learning, hunting, trailing, etc.

Since he is very sociable, it is only the Lab’s size that could potentially inconvenience travel. Otherwise, the Labrador is indeed known for his seamless adaptability to many situations, as long as he has been properly trained and socialised from a young age.

Even though the breed’s predatory instinct is quite pronounced in certain individuals, it remains quite ‘easy’ to rein in. Cohabitating with a cat is therefore generally unproblematic, and especially so if the Labrador pup has been habituated to the cat’s presence from a young age.

Nothing is more priceless than a proper, precocious socialisation, which will serve to bring out this dog’s inborn affection, as he adores playing with fellow dogs. He would actually be more than happy to share his home with another dog, if their introduction takes place in due time and in positive circumstances. 

This dog is absolutely harmless to relatively grown children, but can inadvertently be a little rough with the littlest ones on account of his significant strength, which he is not always fully aware of. You will have to ensure that the children be versed in dealing with dogs to ensure that both sides to live together in perfect harmony.

Even though he can adapt to many situations, a sedentary lifestyle is not at all compatible with this active and playful dog that requires a lot of attention and exercises to feel good in his skin. 

This breed is often chosen for a first adoption. It is a particularly popular choice for families wishing to have a dog that is playful with children, kind towards guests, and active enough to go for a run with.