The Labrador Retriever (also Labrador, or Lab for short) is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. One notable characteristic of the breed is their webbed paws, useful for the breed’s original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Australia,Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States (since 1991). It is also one of the most popular assistance dog breeds in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States and many other countries, as well as being widely used by police and other official bodies for their detection and working abilities. Typically, Labradors are athletic and love to swim, play catch and retrieve games, are good with young children, the elderly, and for protection. They are also used as guide dogs to help blind people.
