Labs And Other Retrievers

Topic: Most Popular Breeds for Children

Filed under Dogs

Tags:

 

As a group the hunting breeds of dogs tend to be excellent companions for children. While they are active dogs with lots of get up and go they are also patient, kind and very loving towards kids, affectionate and playful almost to a fault. Within most of the Labrador and Retriever breeds there are actually two different groups, a show line and a working or hunting line. Hunting lines tend to be more active, smaller dogs that are typically more energetic and more focused while the show lines tend to be calmer, larger and slightly less focused on hunting or tracking. The difference between the two lines is often very minimal and may be more directly related to how the dog is raised rather than the direct lineage. Show dogs may be excellent hunting dogs and likewise the hunting lines can place top in a show.

Retrievers are one of the groups of dogs that need to feel that they have a purpose in life to be happy. Since most retrievers are no longer used as hunting or scent dogs, they do need to be given a task to keep themselves mentally and physically engaged. Retrievers that become bored can turn to destructive types of behavior such as chewing, digging and barking, or they can simply become huge couch potatoes that want nothing more than to just lie around the house.

Kids provide retrievers with something to do since children are typically active and moving about. In addition the dogs provide the children with a companion to go exploring, for a walk, or even to endlessly fetch a stick or ball. These dogs absolutely adore human interaction and they also bond very closely with those people that do spend time in these interactions.

Some of the more common retrievers and their general breed descriptions are found below. Remember that each dog will have his or her own personality but most will be more like the breed than dislike the characteristics.

Labrador Retrievers

The Labrador Retriever, more commonly known as the Lab, has been the most popular breed of registered dog in the USA since 1997 according to the American Kennel Club. Labs can be any number of colors including black, chocolate and yellow with some breeders claiming a color variation of silver or gray.

A large breed of dog the Lab can mature at over 80 pounds, especially for males. They have a short, dense water resistant double coat that sheds moderately year round. The tail is very thick and tends to resemble that of an otter and is actually used in helping the dog change directions when they are swimming. They also have webbed toes, again to assist in moving through the water. The head is rounded, the moderately long and folded over, and the eyes are large and friendly. The muzzle is squared off with a large nose that is colored to match the coat.

The Lab is a terrific dog with children and simply loves to play. These dogs are always up for more and never seem to tire of being around kids and getting into the center of the action. They tend to be very good with other dogs and household pets and get along very well with cats, especially when raised together.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever is strong and muscular like the Lab and also enjoys swimming and fetching, ideally combined together. They are a slightly wavy coated short haired breed that comes in all colors from a light straw color through to a reddish brown. The coat is a double coat with a harsher, coarser outer coat and a wooly undercoat that are slightly oily to repel water.

The Chessie loves children and will enjoy playing and spending time with kids. They can be somewhat headstrong and require an experienced trainer to get them started and to avoid bad habits from developing. These dogs are very intelligent and will quickly learn who they can ignore. Generally they respond very well to children and kids should be involved in working with the Chessie as a puppy to positively establish this relationship. Unlike most other retrievers the Chesapeake Bay Retriever is a good watch dog and can be highly territorial. Without regular socialization they can become dog aggressive so they need to have routine exposure to other dogs to prevent this from happening.

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Although not a common breed in all areas the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is an excellent match for households with children. Their name is derived from their ability to "toll" or play along the water, attracting ducks for the hunters. They are often described as being a smaller sized version of the Golden Retriever, however they come in a variety of coat colors including an orange and a red variation. Most have white markings on the chest and the feet and some have white on the face.

The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever is an active dog that loves to be involved in what the family is doing. They have boundless energy and need to be with an active family, especially when kids are outdoors and playing with the dog. The Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever will fetch for hours and they adore any games that include balls, water or running. This Retriever is smaller in size and less prone to being as boisterous as the Lab, but more social than the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. They can stay outdoors but really prefer to be with the family at all times.

Golden Retriever

Perhaps the most gentle and affectionate of all the retrievers, the Golden Retriever is an excellent companion dog for children of all ages. They have medium length, fringed coat that can be any variation of colors from a lighter cream to a darker gold. They are moderately large dogs, maturing at between 60 and 80 pounds, but they are so well behaved they are usually not a challenge even in a smaller living space.

These dogs simply love to please their owners, including children. They are excellent for children to compete with or simply take for a walk. Not dog aggressive or aggressive towards people, the Golden is a friendly, happy and active dog that needs a lot of attention to be happy. They will watch what children are doing and often learn how to play with kids just by observing what the children are doing. Golden Retrievers are naturally gentle dogs that are often used as therapy dogs and guide dogs, both outstanding uses of their intelligence and gentle personalities.

Other articles under "Most Popular Breeds for Children"

comments powered by Disqus