A fashionable breed also for its versatility, the labrador is one of the most popular dogs around today. A breeder and a canine trainer talk about the breed and its world, to help us get to know it better.
The labrador is currently one of the most popular dogs in Italy and abroad. A versatile breed that adapts to various situations in a wholly natural way, it was selected with the aim of working alongside human beings. It is also true, however, that the St. John's dog – the ancestor from which the labrador we all know today is descended – is described as a dog tireless in its work, yet equally eager to play and socialise.
"It can be said that these characteristics are still strongly present in modern labradors," explains Sergio Severgnini of the St. John labrador retriever breeding kennel. "The breed is instinctively inclined to try to please people, always and in every situation. And it is precisely this element of the labrador's character that makes it easy to train and has led to it being preferred for many activities with a social dimension, such as search and rescue in rubble or avalanche scenarios and as a drug-detection dog. Not to mention the use of these dogs as guides for the blind and as subjects for pet therapy."
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One activity the labrador most certainly cannot be assigned to is guarding. "Since it is not a territorial or aggressive dog," the breeder continues, "the only reaction it will have when strangers approach will be the excitement that comes from wanting to play and socialise."
"Its characteristic adaptability means that the labrador has no particular requirements, other than the company of people or other dogs. Therefore, having a garden is not a necessary condition for choosing it as a life companion," adds Severgnini.
In practice, for this dog to feel at ease, it absolutely needs to be part of a group, whether that group is made up of people or animals. "Even if you have an enormous garden, therefore," the breeder points out, "it is essential to take your labrador out as much as possible from an early age, to allow it to encounter a variety of social and environmental experiences, thereby ensuring healthy and balanced physical and psychological development."
On the subject of training, Stefania Marchitelli, canine trainer and animal behaviour therapist, adds: "If properly trained, as an adult it will be a dog that has no difficulty living in the house, playing when the time is right, staying home alone when we go to work, lying under the desk when we work at the computer — always ready, however, for a long walk in the park."
Playful and tireless, it is therefore well suited to active, sporty people who have the time to share their daily life with it. Indeed, its greatest joy is running and spending time outdoors, always with its human friend by its side. Leaving a dog of this breed to sleep all day alone on a sofa is a genuine crime.
Veterinary literature recognises the labrador as one of the breeds susceptible to hip and elbow dysplasia, though it is equally true that the latter is a developmental condition in which environmental factors play a predominant role over hereditary ones.
"This means," Severgnini clarifies, "that if an individual born of unaffected parents grows up subjecting its joints to excessive strain, it may still develop this condition." In Italy, in order for an individual to be declared suitable for breeding, it is compulsory for the puppy to be screened for dysplasia at one year of age and for the result to fall between grade A and C for the hips and between 0 and 1 for the elbows.
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"The code of ethics that a breeder signs when applying for official recognition of their kennel from the Enci," the breeder continues, "requires that individuals declared unsuitable be excluded from breeding. It is also true that this is a very restrictive rule specific to Italy, but one that will certainly not help to eliminate the problem of hip and elbow dysplasia from the breed, given that the aetiology of these conditions is not exclusively genetic."
Furthermore, evaluation systems across the world vary considerably — it is worth noting that in the United Kingdom alone, the British Veterinary Association (Bva) uses a system for determining dysplasia grades that differs from the Italian one, and is widely regarded as more "generous"; the results of assessments carried out in England are also accepted in Italy.
In addition to dysplasia, there are other conditions to which the breed is susceptible, which may affect the cardiovascular, respiratory or ocular systems. Some of these conditions are genetic and can therefore be definitively ruled out through tests to which breeding animals should be subjected.
The labrador is a hardy dog, and there are few issues relating to its daily coat care and hygiene. "Only during moulting periods is it advisable to brush it regularly to help remove dead hair and encourage new growth. Brushing outside of moulting periods can lead to thinning of the undercoat, the essential layer that allows the labrador to protect itself from cold, bad weather and water," explains Sergio Severgnini.
Dogs of this breed secrete a natural grease that keeps their coat waterproof. Excessive and frequent washing with unsuitable detergents risks depleting, if not entirely removing, this important characteristic, with the imaginable consequences.
"The labrador has its own smell," the breeder continues, "and even washing it every day will not fully eliminate this olfactory trait. It is therefore advisable to accustom our nose to its smell rather than trying to eliminate it with shampoos or deodorants." A dog of this breed is often a great eater that would happily spend its life waiting for a biscuit or a sausage. This breed characteristic, however, calls for caution.
Labradors do indeed tend, as they get older, to put on weight and become overweight. A carefully calibrated and well-portioned diet, combined with an absolute ban on titbits or treats between meals, will help keep our labrador healthy and vital for a long time. "The labrador is a lethal mix of sweetness and exuberance," adds Stefania Marchitelli. "It is important from the outset to be patient, but also firm in decisions and consistent in behaviour — especially, it should be added, when it comes to food."
"The colours permitted by the breed standard are three: black, chocolate or liver, and yellow — the latter can range in shade from cream-white to fox red," explains Sergio Severgnini. "When a yellow labrador has a coat with a tone very close to fox red, it is referred to as fox red. Some people mistakenly regard fox red as a fourth colour, but this is not the case — it is still a yellow labrador."
In black and chocolate coats, a white patch on the chest is permitted, and its size may vary. In some parts of Europe this is known as a hunting spot. "The white patch," the breeder adds, "as well as white-tipped toes or the appearance of white hairs on the muzzle, are a legacy of the St. John's dog. You often hear about Dudley and Silver individuals too. In the first case we are talking about labradors in every respect, but with a combination of coat and mucous membrane colouring that is not accepted by breed standards; in the second case, however, we are dealing with a genetic cross between the labrador breed and the weimaraner, and therefore a new breed with its own characteristics that is not officially recognised. At least for now."
It is important to stress that there is an absolute equality between the chocolate colour and the others in terms of character and physical characteristics, with the obvious exception of coat colour. In any case, the labrador, beyond the colours prescribed by the standard, remains the most popular urban dog for years now. Sporty types and young couples, large families and city-dwelling singles have all chosen it for its innate qualities of sociability and adaptability. With the promise of a bright future in a world that, increasingly, tends to return to nature and to a simpler, more straightforward way of living.