#1:  Labrador Retriever

The Labrador Retriever, sometimes shortened to Lab, is the most popular breed of America.  The Labrador Retriever is originally from Newfoundland and was used by the fishermen to pull nets and catch the fish that would escape from the fishing lines.  Today the Lab is used in all kinds of hunting and as a family pet.

If you are looking into getting a Labrador Retriever keep in mind they need an adequate amount of exercise or they can become destructive.  They will also need at the LEAST Obedience training as they are not small dogs and can become out of control!  If you have an active family and know that they will need at least 1 hour a day of exercise, then the Lab is a perfect fit for you.  They are very intelligent and want to please their owners.  That will make them easy to train.

Grooming a Labrador Retriever is fairly low maintenance since they have a short coat.  They do have an undercoat as well that will cause them to shed seasonally.  As long as you brush them on a regular basis the amount of shedding will be minimal.  Labs have floppy ears which can be more prone to ear infections because of the moisture.  Make sure you clean the ears with a soothing ear cleaner at least once a week, and keep them dry during swimming and bathing.  Other than ears, nails and coat there’s not much to worry about with grooming.

Remember, as long as you keep your intelligent Labrador Retriever exercised and trained it will be a wonderful pick for your family!