lab types?

[carmalee]

Question for all the dog experts out there cos has got me flummoxed! A friend has a heavy set Lab and was told by a person he met when walking the beastie that she recognised it as a Canadian Ridgeback Labrador - now I do know that ridgebacks and labs are crossbred a lot in Canada but this dog is a rather fine example of the lab breed and is definitely not a cross. Is there a 'type' of lab known as CRL or is the lady misinformed? Many thanks in advance.

[wolf63]

Like you I thought that a Lab was a Lab.

They do seem to come in skinny and more muscular varieties but they are all Labs.

A CRL is a mutt. But it does sound like a nice mix.

[carmalee]

Exactly what I thought Wolf but do like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt!

[lankeela]

The 'working' bred Labs (i.e. genuine gundogs) tend to be far more leaner and fitter than the show bred or pet ones, which are heavier set and often fatter. Thats not to say the show dogs can't work to the gun if given the opportunity, just that they are bred for looks rather than ability, unlike the working gundogs which are bred for how they perform and not what they look like. Same in a lot of breeds these days, some breeders seem to have forgotten the original function of some breeds.

[carmalee]

Agree with your comments Lankeela about dogs being bred either for appearance or performance - regretably this has to have a bearing on breed standard accecptance. Such a shame because old fashioned dogs were just so much better than todays specimens - tougher,more intelligent and not in any way subjected to the 'wobbles' a lot of dogs have today. They were proper dogs and just got on with the job. (I'm involved with Border collies - lots of probs there!!!) - guess the answer to my question is that the person who approached my friend was misinformed. I've trawled the internet to find a Canadian Ridgeback Labrador.just in case she was right but can;t come up with anything.I

[woofgang]

I think the person she met was having a laugh

[carmalee]

think you may be right.