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

[mel]

I simply said there are too many ads for purebred dogs in the newspaper. Whether they charge $50 or $500, I don't know. I am not looking to buy any purebred dog so I don't know anything of their surroundings or where they were born. I think there are too many ads for purebred dogs considering that thousands are killed each year. So for people who want to spend that money on purebreds go fo it. Knowing that I can give a perfectly good dog a home means far more to me than their bloodlines.

[Windsong]

Same here. Always favored Golden Retrievers over all other dogs. Maybe its just their friendliness. I had one named Ginger as a kid, but now im thinking of getting another one. Is is true that they dont know when to stop eating? As in, if given an unlimited source of food they will eat till they, uh.."die"? :)

(already know about their faces turning white as they get older.

[ZULU]

I really don't understand why people don't understand why breeds of dogs exist.

People wouldn't have spent hundreds or even thousands of years developing a dog for particular character traits if their wasn't a reason.

If you just want a dog for a companion, a mutt is probably as good as any.

But if you want to track lost hikers, guard a home, hunt quail or coons, or run rabbits, you will understand why there are so many breeds and why they were developed.

[cloud8]

That's the same pose as Aphrodite of Praxiteles though September Morn is way prettier.

OB dogs...mine loved swimming in Lake Winnepesaukee. We'd take off in the canoe and she'd swim after us. She loved riding in the canoe, too. What a goof!

[ZULU]

Nice dogs. I find them appealing along with Weimaraners and Vizslas.

[ZULU]

"They were Called Bloodhounds because only those of royal blood could own in in the early centuries - makes you wonder what the castles looked like."

Probably kept them in the kennels.

[ZULU]

NICE DOG!!!!!!

[RottiBiz]

This is Buster -- adopted two weeks ago from a Rottweiler rescue organization.

Better to light a candle for one lost dog
than to curse the darkness of man's indifference.
Saving just one dog won't change the world
but it surely will change the world for that one dog.

Author: Richard Clyde Call
Save a Homeless Puppy, Rescue an Older Dog

[AnAmericanMother]

That's fine, whatever makes you happy. But if you're actually going to use the dog for something, like hunting, it's a good idea to meet the parents and the sisters and the cousins and the aunts. I frankly like to do that even with my cats (I bred and showed Siamese for years) because if there are inherited health or temperament problems they will show up in the parents. When you get a shelter dog, you are rolling the dice. A rescue dog would be a better proposition, because they've been temperament tested and fostered for a while.

No reputable breeder advertises in the papers anyway. All the good Lab breeders I know have their pups spoken for as soon as they announce that the breeding is going to take place! Occasionally they'll have one or two where the original deal fell through, but even a field trial litter that we knew of where the mama was the proud producer of TEN count 'em TEN puppies, all but two were bespoke within weeks of birth, and they were sold at 10 and 12 weeks.

Of course the mom has her Master Hunter and the dad has gone to the National Field Trials 2-3 times . . . if you had ever seen a litter of six week old Candlewood pups go after a pheasant wing, you'd know why the hunting types want those proven bloodlines!

[thompsonsjkc]

(Is your Chocolate as nutty as my Chocolate?)

One day a couple of years ago I went outside to give them a snack. Tayan (the Chocolate) was lying in front of the door with a squirrel between her front paws, casually removing the fur from its back.

Of course, I caught Tobin (the Yellow) with the back half of a squirrel in his mouth one morning. That was funny. Two little feet and a furry tail sticking out of his mouth. Kisses were prohibited that day.

Tayan, BTW, is bionic. She's had TPLO surgery on both of her knees. Tobin is currently undergoing treatment for melanoma.

[Windsong]

Gah!!

Need a new keyboard now.

[ZULU]

Yorkies are great.

Giant dogs in little bodies.

[ZULU]

TR should know. He never lied.

I like the Irish Terrier too. They are every bit as tough - but a little smaller.

[kellynla]

Well you have one of my favorite breeds.
I had a Rottie for almost ten years when I had to put him down. He had cancer.


Semper Fi,
Kelly

[Windsong]

Is that you coming home from the law office? :P

[aMorePerfectUnion]

ALL purebread dogs are formed by a mix of other dogs.

[ZULU]

Another interesting story. A friend and I used to go hiking a lot in the woods.

One day we parked our car near a trail entrance and there was a house nearby.

As soon as we started on the trail a huge GSD came out of the house, bounding up to us. It let us pet her, then followed along with then entire hike. When we returned, the dog went back to the house.

Had a similar experience in the winter with a huskie. A guess these dogs liked to go for long walks and learned that hikers did too and so went along to enjoy the trip.

[ZULU]

I think you can overlook a few things when an animal looks like a Irish Setter can.

Orange belton English Setters are quite pretty too and a lot more stolid.

[Proud_texan]

Woah, a 105 pound Springer?!! If mine gets over 45 he goes on a diet. I can't imagine him at that weight, especially since he acts like he's a 10 pounder (in terms of wanting to sit on my lap). Doggone good dog, best I've ever had if not a bit too smart for his own good.

[Moleman]

Giant dogs in little bodies.
Isn't that the truth. The Yorkie is very loyal (like most dogs) and fearless as can be. Mine ran out of the yard once to go afer a Great Dane! Barking and giving the Dane all kinds of hell. I went over ang got him and the Dane seemed to look at me like "WTF"