You don't hear many people saying bad things about the labrador. It has a much better PR machine working for it than the rottweiler or dare I say it the pit bull terrier. Labradors are one of the world's most popular breeds.

Labradors have traditionally been used for work with blind people because of their size and gentle nature. But they won this honour by default when guide dog organisations couldn't find enough good German shepherds, the labrador was chosen instead and it has since been a tireless worker in this field. But the labrador is above all the quintessential family dog.

They come in three colours with golden and black more common and chocolate more uncommon. Golden labs tend to shed more hair than the black labs which is why it pays to keep vacuuming the house. One constant habit with the labrador is it's love of food. This breed looks on every meal as if it were it's last. This appetite can cause health problems and for guide dogs it can cause many other problems. Sometimes sighted people will offer snacks without the blind owner knowing. The labrador being what he is just can't refuse which can lead to dangerous situations.

While they're generally hardy animals they do seem to suffer from a number of complaints. Arthritis and dysplasia are quite common and have a lot to do with too much exercise while they're puppies. They also have more than their share of eye problems, so if you have bad luck you can expect some heavy duty vet bills.