According to registration statistics recently released by the American Kennel Club® (AKC), the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America for the 21st straight year. More than twice as many Labs were registered than any other breed making it a likely leader for many years to come.
In a recent article, a licensed professional counselor for more than twenty-five years, explained how owning a Lab can help produce healthier, happier, more well adjusted children. Here is an excerpt from her article:
Dogs boost children’s confidence and self-esteem.
First and foremost to benefit children’s self-esteem is the experience of being loved unconditionally. As your children get older and are capable of delivering commands to the dog, they will quickly learn to be strong and confident, or most dogs just won’t listen. Furthermore, telling a dog to sit, and then watching the dog do what he was told, provides children with tons of confidence.
Having a dog who will always listen, a non-judgmental companion, and a friend who is always excited to see him/her increases your child’s self-esteem, studies say. Dogs can also help improve your child’s reading skills, as little ones often associate a dog’s enthusiastic ear and wagging tail with positive encouragement. By giving children the confidence needed to consistently practice reading, they become better readers by virtue of the practice. Dog-owning children have fewer sick days off school, and children who own them often have better self esteem. Daily contact with animals and responsibility for their care offers the children a sense of self-worth that doesn’t merely happen because someone tells a child how wonderful he/she is.
Be sure to read the rest of her seven part article, Ten Reasons to Own a Dog.
At Twin Lakes Kennel, we have been breeding and training world class Labrador retrievers for more than thirty-five years. Our Labs can be found across the states from Hawaii to Maine, from Alaska to Florida. Our second-to-none Puppy Guarantee makes buying a pure-bred Labrador retriever one of the wisest decisions you will ever make.
But don’t take our word for it. Read the personal testimonials from prominent Lab owners from around the country. And visit our Puppy Page or call Woody or Judi for up-to-date puppy information at 910.462.3246.
Did you know…
- Russian sailors entered Alaska’s mainland in 1741. By 1778, others had followed from Britain, Spain and America, including Captain James Cook. Cook’s navigator’s map showed Cook’s River, now known as Cook’s Inlet, as a spot suitable for dropping anchor. Hence, the name of Anchorage.
- Later, in 1867, the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia. Several gold strikes in Alaska, one in 1887 and one in 1922 brought more development to the territory. The new residents wanted the name of Alaska City for their new community, but the government refused their name change. Anchorage incorporated on 23 November 1920.
- Fort Richardson and Elmendorf Air Force Base, along with the discovery of oil on the Kenai Peninsula in 1957 led to this explosion in population. The Port of Anchorage was finished in the early 1960s.
- The distance from Anchorage to Washington DC is 3638 miles. The distance to the Alaska state capital is 592 miles. (as the crow flies).
Source: USA Cities Online