Austin Vet Clinic

The Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever, is a “gun dog,” and the most popular breed of dog in the world, with good cause. Its friendly, energetic demeanor combined with its intelligence make them excellent companion dogs, and they are commonly used as seeing-eye dogs or police dogs. Because they are slow to anger and very loyal, they tend to be good dogs for households with small children.

Behavior

Labrador Retrievers are a very easy-going breed, who rarely become aggressive or territorial. As their name would suggest, they are excellent “retrieving” dogs, and as such, tend to enjoy holding objects in their mouth. They are very gentle, in spite of this habit, although they can be quite prone to chewing objects. Although they are well-behaved, their abundance of energy requires some degree of discipline in order to ensure that this energy does not grow out of control.

Health Problems

Labrador Retrievers are generally healthy dogs that do not tend to have many serious health problems. As with other larger breeds, they are susceptible to dysplasia of the hips and elbows. Additionally, many Labrador Retrievers tend to suffer from eye problems later in life. It is recommended that you bring your Labrador Retriever in for regular eye exams by an experienced veterinary opthamologist. Because of their floppy ears which can trap water and moist, warm air, they can develop ear infections, so regular examination of their ears is necessary for good health.

For more veterinary care, breed specific, and other general pet health care questions, contact your Austin Vet Clinic.