Labrador Retriever.

Labrador Retriever. Labrador Retriever, breed of sporting dog, trained to discover and fetch killed or wounded game, principally aquatic birds or pheasants. The breed originated in Newfoundland, Canada, at some unknown time and was imported into England early in the 19th century. It was known as a type of Newfoundland dog until about 1887, when it received its present name, probably to distinguish it from various types of Newfoundland dogs used as retrievers. The Kennel Club of England recognized it as a separate breed in 1903. The male is 58 to 64 cm (23 to 25 in) high at the shoulder and weighs 27 to 34 kg (60 to 75 lb); the female is somewhat smaller. The dog has a short and exceedingly dense black, yellow, or chocolate-colored coat that is almost impervious to water. It has a wide skull, medium-sized ears hanging fairly close to the head, eyes that are usually black or brown, a wide, deep chest, and straight legs. The characteristic "otter" tail of the Labrador retriever is of medium length, very thick at the base, and tapering gradually to the tip. The tail is covered thickly with the same kind of short, dense hair that is found in the coat. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.