9781422279373

everyone’s trustworthy friend to the end. Quite simply, the Lab is a dog who will give years of pure devotion. Retrieving is a passion, and this is not confined to toys. Books, papers, the TV remote, abandoned shoes, and the contents of the laundry basket—all may at some time be found neatly collected to- gether in your Lab’s bed, hopefully not chewed. The Lab is one of life’s great enthusiasts. He will literally bowl you over when he greets you, unless he is properly trained, and his ever-wagging tail will sweep the contents of a coffee table onto the floor in seconds. Water is an irresistible attraction. The Lab has an uncanny gift for detecting it from miles away and plunging in before you can stop him, so traveling home with a wet dog in the car is part of a Lab owner’s way of life. One thing you must watch throughout a Lab’s life is his waist- line. A Lab adores food and can melt your heart with one implor- ing look. He will easily convince you that he is suffering extreme hunger and needs just one more treat. Unfortunately, where food is concerned, Labs are morally challenged. But otherwise, he is canine perfection and rightly the choice of millions all over the world. Tracing back in time It is intriguing to look back over the centuries to discover how the breed evolved; the exact origins are far from clear. Some 200 years ago, the Labrador Retriever’s ancestors came to Britain from Newfoundland Island, which is situated just south of Labrador on the rugged east coast of Canada. Evidence suggests that about the year 1000, Viking explorers sailed to mainland Labrador and to Newfoundland Island. In later centuries, the island was occupied by Beothuck Indians. However, there was no record of any resident dogs in the area during these times.

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