Top Dog Why Americans love Labrador retrievers.

Slate ^ | July 14, 2005 | Brendan I. Koerner

[libstripper]

Not too long ago, Labrador retrievers were considered a tad exotic. In the 1950s, the sporty mid-size breed was a suburban rarity, popular mainly among upper-crust Anglophiles who liked the idea of owning a dignified hunting dog. Today, however, Labs are the Levi's jeans of purebred dogs. They've topped the American Kennel Club's list of registered canines for 12 years straight. And not just topped, but dominated: The number of registered Labs is nearly three times the number of golden retrievers, the second most popular dog on the list

[Mr Rogers]

We got a mostly black lab pup 2 weeks ago.

The best dog I've owned was a German Shepherd/Collie/something mix - 100 pounds of easy going, intelligent & friendly dog.

The next best was a pure-bred Border Collie. VERY smart, friendly - 'tho more of a one person dog than the mutt - but tended to be a bit obsessive about things. We tried to have her bred once, but there were cows nearby and both Border Collies were too interested in herding to finish the act.

This one:

seems a lot like the GS/Collie mutt. Based on 2 1/2 weeks, she is smart, wants to obey & very friendly. We had discussed breeds - my only criteria was one that would be 50-75 pounds and friendly. Short hair was preferable - we live in Tucson and long hair inside can be painful to clean.

As to why dog breeds become popular: I think breeds become popular from people seeing a breed and liking it. Sometimes it is uninformed - Border Collies are great dogs, but you need to keep them busy.

But years of popularity bring bad breeding in - poodles may have been smart at one time, but all the ones I've met in the last 20 years were painfully stupid. Hopefully labs haven't been ruined yet as family dogs - although I don't doubt there are many labs with little or no retreiving instinct left. In our case, we don't care about retreiving. We just want an energetic, friendly dog big enough to survive roughhousing with kids and small enough to transport in an Explorer.

All indications are the mostly lab we've got will fill the bill. She loves everyone, loves to play, was easy to housebreak, knows sit, come, hurry up (code for go poop now! - 'tho potential exists for confusion), and we're working on stay - all of which isn't bad for 10 1/2 weeks. She's easy to clean and adores our youngest daughter (the only kid left in the home). She didn't cost a thing (until we got her home), is mostly lab but no one knows who the father was...and is pure pleasure to own.

BTW - we have a 2600 sq ft house and like running and hiking.

[oceanperch]

Chris and the Boyz Morning Theraputic Greetings
Address:http://community-2.webtv.net/YaquinaBay/ChrisandtheBoyz/"


Chris' 4th of July 2005
Address:http://community-2.webtv.net/HunterPorter/Chris4thofJuly2005/

[Moleman]

Labs are very good dogs. Personaly I love Yorkies and have had two. Great Dogs Oscar and Gizmo.

[Alkhin]

Hi Corin!

A couple of years ago, I got it in my head that I wanted a Scotty dog : a dog small enough to live well inside a house, and with a personality. I found a local woman who rescued Scotties. She had a very good reputation, so I didnt worry about her. She had come across one stray little dog that she found in Dallas that looked as if he might be a cross between a Scotty and a Lhaso Ahpso, but I tend to think he has no Scotty in him at all. Still, it was love at first sight when I went to go check him out. He is the funniest dog I have ever come across, because he will wag his tail mightily while growling at you, will chase his tail, and loves to play tug-o-war and fetch. His front paws are really neat because they are really furry.

I never was into dogs until I came across him. I wanted to name him Blackbeard because he loves to growl so, like a pirate, but the daughter wanted to name him Gizmo. Guess who won the name contest!?

[HairOfTheDog]

We got him for our oldest son before we knew another kid was coming along. We might have reconsidered getting such a big dog. BUT, Sam was always gentle with the baby. Even when as a toddler, our son would play pretty rough.

That's why, contrary to most people's instincts, big dogs (labs in particular) are much better for kids, as a rule, than little dogs. Little dogs bite more often because they are more easily hurt by kids that poke, pull and fall on them. It's hard for a kid to hurt a lab so much that the lab wouldn't still love the attention.

[Terriergal]

Top Dog Why Americans love Labrador retrievers.

Give me an airedale any day.

The Airedale can do anything any other dog can do and then whip the other dog. -- Teddy Roosevelt

[HairOfTheDog]

Your pictures of your crew are always great, oceanperch!

[eyespysomething]

Hey now! She's just a little too good to actually jump in after the stick, besides, why should she when the others bring it to the shore where she promptly swipes it from them.

[Corin Stormhands]

My brother and his wife used to have a part-Scotty. He was a great dog. But very hyper.

[Ditter]

What are you asking? How did they die? The first one was lost and I never found him 15 years ago and I have just now stopped looking. Two died last year at age 13. One died last fall at age 14 and one died in Feb 05 at age 1 1/2 years and three are still living at ages 12 years, 1 1/2 years and 4 months. Three of the 8 dogs were JR rescue dogs that we took in. Got it?

[iconoclast]

Yup, Shepherds are very much 1-man dogs. (And 1-woman.) Or at least, 1-family.

I suppose there's always the exception. I had thought your opinion correct and always had more than a little bit of fear of them.

Then I met Lady. I had a part-time delivery job a while back and, after parking in a farm yard and proceeding to the door, a HUGE Shepherd came bounding around the corner of the house right for me and shaking the earth with barks.

I froze and held out a hand. I got a sniff and and she turned and retreated.

This turned out to be a regular stop and the next time she ran out without barking and jumped up on me for some petting. The next time she did the same, but returned with a frissbee. After that as soon as she got around the corner of the house and saw it was me she turned and went back to get one of her toys.

She made a Shepherd convert out of me. I told the folks to never get rid of her without calling me!

[Ichneumon]

Sometimes when I'm sitting at the computer monitor at home, he'll come into the room and stare at me, as if he is trying to communicate to me telepathically.

The message is, "feed me".

[Corin Stormhands]

At one point we considered adopting a 4-year-old Dalmation, but after checking into it, thought the better of it. Maybe if we raised one from a pup. But I figured that they're not known for having the best personalities and this guy must've had a reason for wanting to get rid of it.

[CedarDave]

I have had two dogs. One a black lab/golden mix.

Yup, a good mix. Mine was 14+ when he passed.

Current is a black terrior mix which was wandering the neighborhood for a week before I took him in (but the vet bills for a stray with external and internal parasites, fleas, etc. can be horrendous!).

[js1138]

There's a business down the street from me named Black Dog Labs.

[iconoclast]

just look at the Irish Setter, there has been so much inbreeding that the dogs are STUPID!

Yep, had one of those. Beautiful but REALLY dumb.

[Alkhin]

LOL - know what you mean. Gizmo is only hyper when a ball comes into view...and then he wants you to throw it for him until he is ready to drop. He is especially hyper after a bath. But he looks up at me so adoringly and is so eager to be with me, my heart just goes out to him.

[colorcountry]

This is my dog. He is a standard poodle...just the most intelligent dog I have ever seen. We use him as a water retriever and he's great. (I hesitate to post this picture because of all the teasing I get, but I tell you he AIN'T NO SISSY).

[Ichneumon]

I mean, my Rott is a wimp and a princess

Heh -- sounds just like ours. Contrary to the stereotype, all of the Rottweilers I've actually known have been gentle and timid and loving. Our nickname for her, based on her overall personality, is "Cupcake".

[PissAndVinegar]

You people and your lanky, long-legged, clunky dogs....

Gimme a Welsh Corgi any day - he'll run rings around (and under :) them whether on land or water! They have the cutest little webbed feet!