After 100 years labrador is top dog

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 08/14/03 | Sally Pook

[Pokey78]

The bulldog may be a symbol of Britishness but the British, it seems, worship a rather more loveable breed.

It is officially 100 years since the labrador was recognised by the Kennel Club, and for at least the past 10 years it has topped the polls for the nation's most popular dog.

Far more likely to be found hogging sofas in the Home Counties than its nearest rival, the alsatian, the labrador has permeated every aspect of British life, from the royal household to advertisements for lavatory paper.

Prince William owns a black one called Widgeon, a dog with a true royal heritage, as it is a descendant of Brae, one of the Queen's favourites.

The pop star George Michael has one called Hippy and the singer Scary Spice named hers Lord. Different coloured varieties can often be seen trotting alongside home secretaries, former rugby captains and film stars.

Americans are also great fans of the breed. The former president Bill Clinton encapsulated the love and affection with which they are held when he said the death of his chocolate labrador, Buddy, was by far the worst thing to happen to him after he left office.

"If you want a friend in Washington, you need to get a dog," Mr Clinton said, quoting the former president Harry Truman.

Phil Buckley, of the Kennel Club, said: "Labradors have consistently been the most popular breed over the past 10 years.

"They are good, all-round dogs. They make ideal pets because they have such good temperaments, they get on with other dogs, cats, and of course humans, they are easy to train, eager to please and very intelligent."

The Labrador Retriever originated in Newfoundland, where they worked for fishermen, dragging nets on to the shore. The breed was imported to England in the early 1800s to a few aristocratic sportsmen.

The second Earl of Malmesbury started the first official kennel of labradors and was instrumental in keeping the breed alive when, by the 1880s, it had all but died out in England.

However, in a survey in this month's Country Life, labradors were found to be losing their traditional position among "country gentlemen".

Although they still adorn some of the grandest houses in Britain, 62 per cent of country houses were found to be doing without them. Happily, the magazine reported that their allure was intensifying lower down the social scale.

Labradors have also become indispensable to the blind, bomb disposal experts, fire investigation teams, drug detection officers and overwhelmingly the nation's dog-loving families.

Confirming its reputation as the archetypal man's best friend, a labrador named Endal was voted dog of the millennium by Dogs Today magazine for helping Allen Parton after the Royal Navy sailor was injured during the first Gulf war.

Endal can carry out 100 tasks to order, including withdrawing money from a cash machine and switching off lights.

[StatesEnemy]

Woof!

[Zipporah]

Too bad really.. how to ruin a breed..name it most popular.

[gitmo]

The bulldog may be a symbol of Britishness but the British, it seems, worship a rather more loveable breed.

No breed is more loveable than the Bulldog.

[CedarDave]

True enough. And being a popular breed leads to abuse also. Check out this thread I posted earlier this week for a group that rescues abused and abandoned labs. It's in my backyard so when I'm ready for another dog, I'll visit them and take two. In the meantime, they have my donation.

Dog Ranch Gives Labradors Another Chance ^

[sep·ten·tri·on XX]

Bulldogs most lovable?

Yeah. The snorting/snuffling, running slobber at the mouth, and acres of superfluous skin are irresistible.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

So you had one?
So sweet!

Times being what they are, I favor Rottweilers these days.
My little Eastie rules.

[EggsAckley]

You sign up today to post an insult about someone's favorite dog?

Death wish? We CAN accommodate you; Viking Kitties ready at stage left.

[EggsAckley]

In April I "inherited" a 5-year-old black female. She seems awfully overweight to me; weighs close to 80 pounds. Of course, I'm pretty accustomed to my 25 pound terrier. But Sheba (the lab) is HUGE, and when she barks (frequently) it is like a bomb going off in your house. Sweet personality, but food is waaaay too popular with her.

[sep·ten·tri·on XX]

Whose insulting?

I simply adore the long loopy strings of drool.

[anatolfz]

A good Lab can actualy save a man if he goes overboard. (Fishermen in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia don't drown if they go overboard, they die of hypothermia in 5 minutes or so.)

[chadwimc]

Labs are notorius for stealing lunches. Our black lab "Raven" used to sucker me in for a second breakfast. My wife would get up first, feed the cats and Raven, then go about her routine. Raven figured out that by acting "hungry time"(jumping, wagging, smiling and pushing her dish)I would assume my wife didn't feed her.The sad part is, she worked this angle for several weeks before we caught on...

[CedarDave]

Put a cigar in his mouth and he would look like Winston Churchhill!!

[Freebird Forever]

The snorting/snuffling, running slobber at the mouth, and acres of superfluous skin are irresistible.

It's all in the eye of the beholder.

[yarddog]

Someone dumped a pregnant dog off here in the country. She was a real good natured dog so we decided to keep her.

She had 8 beautiful pups and was an exceptional momma dog. I gave all away except for one. He looks a lot like a lab, is all black except for white feet and a white pattern on his chest. He is the best natured dog I have ever seen. I think he is going to be a good one. His head is a little larger than most labs and I think he has a little bulldog in him.

I once took an internet test to decide what was the perfect dog for me and the answer was "labrador retriever". I think this mutt is going to be even better.

[sep·ten·tri·on XX]

LOL

Good one.

[CedarDave]

The one I had continually injured small children -- his fast wagging tail knocked them over, and I had to warm them about that characteristic!!

[LibKill]

No breed is more loveable than the Bulldog.

At least one cat agrees! :)

[CedarDave]

Mine was a hybrid black lab fence jumper and a purebred golden retriever.

[CarmelValleyite]

I like labs a lot, but they are shameless beggars.

I knew two yellow labs who ripped up the back of a LEATHER sofa in a fit of pique when their owners were out for a short while. They seem so docile and sweet, but look out if they're hungry!