About Labradors Sturdy and compact, Labradors are loved and respected world-wide for their contributions as war dogs, police dogs, shooting dogs and guides for the blind. And with their satin-smooth coats, Labradors are as magnificent in appearance as they are courageous and hard-working. These powerfully built dogs are also mighty swimmers and will plunge into even ice-cold water. In fact the Labrador, also known as the St. John's Dog, was once a valued crew member of every Newfoundland fishing boat. These dogs were trained to jump overboard when the boats neared land, gather the ends of the fish-laden nets in their mouths, and swim ashore where other members of the fishing team emptied the catch. British sportsmen who heard about these retrievers of fish wanted some as retrievers of game. So Newfoundlanders who took their catch to British ports sometimes ended up selling their dogs as well as their fish. Exceptional patience, intelligence, and gentleness make Labradors prized pets the world over. Colours They may come in three colours Yellow, Chocolate and Black. A small white patch on the chest is permissible. The colour of the puppies you get in a litter depends on the parents, grandparents etc. It is possible to have a litter of all one colour to a litter of all three. Labrador As A Family Pet Labradors make a great family pet, they have a wonderful easy going nature are friendly, intelligent and have lots of patience when it comes to children. They are as happy to live in or outdoors and will make a devoted companion. Labradors As A Working Dog Labradors have been bred to retrieve. They make excellent working dogs and will work hard to please. They are one of the easiest breeds to train and are used by guide dogs for the blind, police, the fire service and people with hearing difficulty. Training any dog up to working standard does take time. Its more work than the basic training needed for a pet but the results are well worth the effort. It helps to buy a puppy from working parents with good working lines.