Why does everyone have Labs?

Question

Everytime I hear about a dog, its a Lab. I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback, but no one talks about them. I had labs and loved them, but it gets old.

Ridgebacks are easy to train to. I did with mine.

Answer 1

Everyone has a lab because they are all around dogs. They can be used as working dogs, or they can just make great pets. They have the energy to go hiking, and play all day. They love to go have fun on a lake. They can be easily trained. There are a ton of reasons people choose a lab. I personally would not own a lab. I like dogs with enough energy to go on walks and play hard. But labs just have TOO much energy for me, and they stay puppy-like for many years. I know 8 year old labs that act like 2 year olds. While I think they can make wonderful pets, they are just not for me.

I have only met a few rhodesian ridgebacks. As you said, they are not that common. But the few that I have met are very smart dogs, and they are more calm than labs. I like that about them. Plus they are beautiful sleek dogs. I would prefer a ridgeback to a lab. But it is not bad for the breed to be less popular. This means less backyard breeders and puppy mills. Ridgebacks are more likely to come from a good breeder than a lab. This is good for the dog. When a dog becomes too popular, people who have them think they can make a lot of money off the puppies, and don't care about their health. Dalmations got very popular very quick. A lot of backyard breeders and puppy mills showed up, and this created a lot of health problems, AND behavioral problems. Be proud of your rare breed.

Answer 2

Labs are popular because they interact with families well and are relatively easy to raise. I had a Rhodesian Ridgeback as a child, they are really cool as well,but not very well known in the pet world. Most people don't know how many varieties of breeds there are, or the fabulous traits the "unknown dogs" have. Labs are the most popular breed,that's why you hear so much about them,I bred Labs for awhile and do love them,but I agree with you that other breeds aren't given the same opportunities as labs.

Answer 3

It's my personal opinion that labs are not the BEST family pet. At least not these days. They are so over bred and being bred by shady breeders who do not do Temperament testing, in turn to be snatched up by unknowing, uneducated customers and having aggression issues. Same with Golden Retrievers, they have a worse passing rate on Temperament tests than my breed, an American Pit Bull Terrier.

There have been 4 attacks by Labs in my town in the last 14 months.

It's fatal for the public to think that just because the breed has been known to be gentle in the past that they have to discontinue purchasing from non reputable breeders and turning a once loved and gentle dog into a biter/killer.

Answer 4

Labs are incredibly overbred! They are everywhere, simply because people believe the misconception that they make the "perfect family dog". People do not understand that they need LOTS of exercise and playtime. They also need strong leadership because even though they are incredibly intelligent, they need someone to help them curb that intelligence in to obedience.
Labs are so overbred because so many have them, and those same people believe their dog ought to be bred simply because he is "the best dog ever" or that she is "the cutest Lab ever".

Any dog at the top of the AKC most popular dog in America list worries me because that breed usually is overbred and there are far too many of them in existence. The list refers to the fact of how many of that breed are registered, not to a fact of popularity based on people's opinion.


Also, most of the Labs today are NOT breed standard Labs, simply because two labs are bred together.
Show Labs and Field Labs should not be too tall or lanky, nor too heavy or svelt.
Good muscle build-up and a strong frame define a field/show Labrador.
Unfortunately, most of the Labradors I meet, such as those who are my clients, are either obese or skinny, not just from their diet, but because of their genetic build.
Ugh, I wish Cocker Spaniels or a true ideal family dog would become the number one dog in America because at least they can actually be described as that.

Answer 5

Labs are the most popular breed in the U.S. and England. I absolutely adore mine and would never be without one. Rhodesians are great dogs as well but not as popular or as common. Maybe in time there will be more and then you will hear more about them.

Answer 6

i admire them because of the fact they are clever, pleased, enthusiastic, keen to delight, and staggering to make certain. they prefer human beings, yet are sufficiently massive to furnish some risk-free practices and could supply it in the event that they experience that is referred to as for, yet do no longer bypass overboard with it quite often. Are they uncomplicated to coach? i think of so, while in comparison with many different canines. after all, Labs have been bred to paintings heavily with human beings, unlike some breeds which particularly lots do their own ingredient. i'm attempting to think of of an much less complicated canine to coach and am having difficulty doing so. i can think of of multiple breeds that are very truthfully no longer for a popular time proprietor. Sorry, can not consider you. What breed do you propose, then, for a popular time proprietor? I see many canines that are actually not very nicely experienced yet am having difficulty remembering the final time I observed a Lab from hell. The badly-behaved canines I see out on my walks and someplace else are hardly Labs.

Answer 7

Labs are so comoon, cause plainly put they are just gret dogs. They are great with everyone, smart loving, playful, pretty easy to train --at least some are. They are just very popular cause of those reason, they are easy to take of, and juast great for familes.
I have a 1yr old now, and I have had other breeds , from now on it will only be labs-- they are jsut great!!

Answer 8

i don't know but they're not as friendly as people say, my retriever hates alot of people and has almost had to be put down, not because of me but of poor temperment test by the breeder we got her from and has never liked any sort of kids, execpt me and my sibblings, i've been attacked by a black lab, well acttually mauled. in my opion my pitt/bullmastiff is a way better dog, she loves everyone and would lick you to death before she bit you

Answer 9

Labs are great dogs, thats why. They're loyal, friendly, great with kids, very smart, easy to train....

Answer 10

Rhodesians are wonderful aren't they? Labs are simply abundant, and they are wonderful with kids...I woldn't get worked up about it.