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The Labrador Retriever: An Intelligent Working Dog
from:As the breed name clearly points out, Labrador Retrievers were bred originally to assist in the hunt by retrieving downed game. However, as years passed, their roles did not change but rather expanded to include numerous tasks and services.
No service rendered by a dog can surpass the role of Guide Dog. Through the work of these highly skilled animals, a blind individual is able to move in the mainstream of life, guided by the "eyes at the end of the lead." Such a human-dog bond reaffirms the valued place canines have assumed in our modern world. A Guide Dog and his owner share a special relationship, a dog that lives to serve and an owner who is able to live life to his fullest aided by the service of a life-long companion and friend.
The Guide Dog program originated in Switzerland in the 1920s under the leadership of Mrs. Dorothy Eustis. The original Guide Dogs were strictly German Shepherd females, bred by
Mrs. Eustis at her Fonunate Field Kennels. Over the years, Labradors as well as Golden Retrievers were also recruited into the program. In Great Britain, approximately 70% of the Guide Dogs are Labrador Retrievers, and Australia uses only Labradors for this task.
In the United States, The Seeing Eye was the driving force of the Guide Dog movement. This organization started in 1929 by Mrs. Eustis and is currently headquartered in Morristown,
New Jersey. It has maintained its own breeding kennel since 1941, producing 327 puppies in 1986, 117 of which were Labradors. Of a breeding stock of 40 adults, there are 15 female Labradors and four male Labrador dogs. Only the very finest dogs are selected for this special breeding kennel. They must have successfully completed the rigorous training program designed by The Seeing Eye and exhibited stellar qualities in temperament and conformation. Labradors are commended as easy breeders producing large litters.
The Labrador Retriever excels as a Guide Dog primarily because of his size, working ability, well-rounded temperament, and ability to get along so well with people. The Labrador also
has a small streak of stubbornness that the people at The Seeing Eye find useful. While this makes the Labrador slightly tougher to train, this quality sets the breed apart from most in that
a Labrador can take charge and refuse a command when confronted with an emergency situation—such as when a blind owner commands the dog to move forward and a hazard apparent only to the dog lies in the way.
Labrador Retriever News
Labrador Retriever mix looking for a good home
This female Labrador Retriever mix, ID No. A054370, is six months old and available for adoption at the Onslow County Animal Shelter. Hours for the shelter, located on Georgetown Road in Jacksonville, are: Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m....
Read more...Trust Me, I'm an Expert: Smothering by Labrador Retriever
As I have begun to chronicle in my ongoing "Trust Me, I'm an Expert" series of posts, courts have not hesitated to deem people experts in fields such as "smell" and "lap dancing." On the other hand, courts have refused to accept proposed experts in the field of "shit" and "pimping." Now, I've learned that in a criminal trial where the defendant is alleged to have strangled his wife, but contends ...
Read more...Pocono Record Pet of the Week Video: Nora the Labrador retriever
Meet Nora, a Labrador retriever mix and is looking for a forever home.
Read more...A dog’s tale: Local veterinarian describes dock diving
By Carole Walker Correspondent Colby, Alisa Wayland’s 8-year-old Labrador retriever, has had his 15 minutes of fame and then some. Now the top-ranked veteran dock diving dog in New England, he was featured on the David Letterman show in 2008 as one of the top three dogs in the Purina Incredible Dog challenge. Wayland, a veterinarian at Milford Animal Hospital who lives in Seymour, is also an ...
Read more...Dog joins East Texas district attorney's office
TYLER, Texas (AP) — An East Texas district attorney has moved to keep a four-legged member on his staff. Sophie is a 2-year-old full-blooded, yellow Labrador retriever. Smith County District Attorney Matt Bingham has put her on the job as a successor to Macy, who died of bone cancer last month at the age of two. Sherry Magness, who's the county's victims' service director, says Sophie is trained ...
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