“Origins of Labradors”
The Labrador Retriever, often abbreviated to Labrador, is a breed of retriever-gun dog from the United Kingdom that was developed from imported Canadian fishing dogs.
The Labrador is one of the most popular dog breeds in a number of countries in the world, particularly in the Western world.
A popular disability assistance breed in many countries, Labradors are frequently trained to aid those with blindness or autism, act as a therapy dog, or perform screening and detection work for law enforcement and other official agencies. The breed is best known for its obedience, loyalty, and playful composure. Additionally, they are prized as sporting and hunting dogs. Ancestors include a breed used in Newfoundland as fishing dogs, that would help in bringing in the fishing nets and recapture escaped fish.
In the 1830s, the 10th Earl of Home and his nephews the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and Lord John Scott had imported progenitors of the breed from Newfoundland to Europe for use as gundogs. Another early advocate of these Newfoundland fishing dogs was the 2nd Earl of Malmesbury, who bred them for their expertise in waterfowling.
During the 1880s, the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, and the 12th Earl of Home collaborated to develop and establish the Labrador Retriever breed.
The dogs Buccleuch Avon and Buccleuch Ned, given by Malmesbury to Buccleuch, were mated with bitches carrying blood from those originally imported by the 5th Duke and the 10th Earl of Home. The offspring are the ancestors of all modern Labradors.
“Origins Of Pitbull”
Pitbull is a term used in the United States for a type of dog descended from bulldogs and terriers, while in other countries such as the United Kingdom the term is used as an abbreviation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed. The term was first used in 1927.
Within the United States, the pit bull is usually considered a heterogeneous grouping that includes the breeds American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and occasionally the American Bulldog, along with any crossbred dog that shares certain physical characteristics with these breeds. In other countries including Britain, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not considered a pit bull.
Most pit bull–type dogs descend from the British Bull and terrier, a 19th-century dog-fighting type developed from crosses between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier.
Pit bull–type dogs have a controversial reputation as pets both in the United States and internationally, due to their history in dog-fighting, the number of high-profile attacks documented in the media over decades, and proclivity to latching on while biting.
Proponents of the breed and advocates of regulation have engaged in a nature-versus-nurture debate over whether apparent aggressive tendencies in pit bulls may be appropriately attributed to owners’ care for the dog or inherent qualities.
Numerous advocacy organizations have sprung up in defense of the pit bull. A number of controlled studies have argued that the type is not disproportionately dangerous, offering competing interpretations on dog bite statistics.
Independent organizations have published statistics based on hospital records showing pit bulls are responsible for more than half of dog bite incidents among all breeds despite comprising 6% of pet dogs.
Pit bull–type dogs are extensively used in the United States for dogfighting, a practice that has continued despite being outlawed. A number of nations and jurisdictions restrict the ownership of pit bull–type dogs through breed-specific legislation.
Why Labradors may be more aggressive?
According to the AKC, the Labrador Retriever has been the most popular breed in the US for the last 5 years.
consistently hold the top spot as America’s most loved dog, it is clear that Labradors make great pets.
However, some Labrador owners still worry about the temperament of these dogs – some may wonder “are Labs aggressive?”.
To answer that, Labradors, in general, are not aggressive.
In fact, a study published in 2008 found that they were one of the least aggressive breeds of the group of dogs involved in the study.
Why Pitbull may be more aggressive?
Pitbulls get a bad rap. Because of how the media popularly portray them plus negative incidents and reports, they are seen to be aggressive and undesirable. In fact, in some places, Pitbulls are banned and owning them is strongly discouraged.
However, is it really true that Pitbulls are the most aggressive breed? Here are some data that might support this claim:
In 2009, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia released a five-year review of dog-bite injuries. The review states that 51 percent of attacks were made by pit bulls.
In 2009, another study was published by the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. The study ran for 15 years and it has concluded that pit bulls, German Shepherds, and Rottweilers are among the most common breeds that cause fatal dog attacks in Kentucky State.
In 2011, the Annals of Surgery published a study, which concluded that Pitbull attacks lead to more expensive hospital bills, higher risk of death, and higher morbidity rates compared to other breeds of dogs.
These are just some of the studies in recent years that have supported the claim that pit bulls are an aggressive type of dog breed.
However, if you ask pet owners about their pit bulls, you’ll most likely get a different answer. They would tell you how happy, sweet, and loving their pit bulls are.
Not only that but notice how the ASPCA website endorses Pitbulls. They give pit bulls a description that could easily be given to other desirable breeds such as Golden Retrievers.
ASPCA says, “a well-socialized and well-trained pit bull is one of the most delightful, intelligent, and gentle dogs imaginable.”
So, we want to go back to our original question, “Are pit bulls really have the highest tendency to become aggressive?”
The answer is obviously, no. It is not right to make a blanket statement for a particular dog breed. We need to realize that every dog is an individual rather than a breed.
Pitbulls are just like any other dog. If they are trained and treated right, behavioral problems can significantly be avoided and that includes aggression. They can be as problematic as any dog breed, but they can also be as loving and caring at the same time.
Labrador Retriever Temperament
Labrador retrievers are sweet-natured, warm, loving, friendly, outgoing and intelligent. They have plenty of energy.
They enjoying eating an abundance amount of food, even though it is not necessary to meet their nutritional needs.
Owners have to put restrictions on the amount of food they consumed daily to prevent obesity.
Their high intelligence combined with their eagerness to please makes them suitable for working as therapy dogs, guide dogs, handicap-assistance dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs.
Labrador Retriever Behavior Toward Owners.
Labrador retrievers are loyal and loving toward human companions. They get along well with people, dogs, and animals.
Labrador retrievers love kids and enjoy being around them and participating in activities such as playing and running around outdoors.
Most Labrador retrievers have the patience to be dressed up in clothing and adjust well to it. Although the labs are devoted to the owner and family, they do not have keen watchdog or protective skills.
For this reason, they are not recommended to act as a family protector.
Pit Bull Temperament
The pit bull is fearless, friendly, outgoing and happy.
Pit bulls seek human attention and are welcoming and accepting towards adults and children, especially their families.
When visitors arrive, the pit bull will greet them at the door without aggression, even if they are strangers.
This reaction is due to their people-friendly nature. Pit bulls are common companion and family pets.
Pit Bull Behavior Toward Other Dogs
Pit bulls are a dog-aggressive breed: Friendly as they may be to people, they’ll try to dominate other canines.
Even if they grow up in the same house with other dogs, they may sporadically or regularly behave aggressively toward other dogs.
Pit bulls usually show aggression toward other dogs by the age of 1 year. Depending on the personality of the individual specimen, a pit bull may not show aggression early in life but it becomes present in adulthood.
Pitbulls can be trained to tolerate other dogs; however, they should never be left unsupervised around other dogs at any age.
Can a labrador beat a Pitbull?
It’s a question that’s been asked for decades, and probably centuries before that – the age-old battle: Pitbull vs Labrador.
Labrador vs Pitbull: A Battle of Stamina Labradors are bred to be both strong and friendly – they’re born natural retrievers and love to be close to their owners.
Pitbulls, on the other hand, are bred to be both strong and aggressive – and while they do make great family pets, they are not as reliable around strangers.
Which Dog Can Beat A Pitbull?
A German Shepherd can beat a Pitbull.
In fact, German Shepherds have a size and weight advantage, as well as a stronger bite force.
However, Pitbulls are bred to be fighting dogs, so a well-trained, well-fed, and aggressive pitbull can also beat a German Shepherd.
Are Pit Bulls Considered Bully Dogs like other breeds?
Yes, pit bulls are often considered bully dogs due to their muscular build and history as working dogs. However, it’s important to note that there are many different types of bully dogs, each with their own unique characteristics and traits.
Can a Labrador protect your family from a Pitbull attack?
The answer to “Can a Labrador protect your family from a Pitbull attack??” is not really.
Labs have been bred to be unaggressive, friendly, and slow to bite – all traits that are not suitable for guard dogs.
If you get a lab, you should not expect him or her to be a very good guard dog.