Labrador retriever Kudo & gooseAccording 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.

The good people of South Carolina are in the 72nd percentile in Internet searches for Labrador retrievers, according to Google search statistics. Apparently, the Lab is a very popular dog in the state.

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.

“For many children whose nurturing has been faulty, taking care of an animal can interrupt the cycle of abuse repeating itself over generations,’’ said  Dr.  Samuel Ross, Executive Director of Green Chimney’s Children’s Services in Brewster, New York,  “They can learn to be care-givers, even if they haven’t been well cared for themselves.’’  Children who were regularly given the opportunity to care for a puppy at their preschool, as well as those with dogs at home were found more socially competent. They were more popular, felt better about themselves and were better able to understand other children’s feelings.

Many other life lessons are learned by living around a wonderful dog.  Some of them are learning to be gentle, benefits of companionship, importance of faithfulness, the safety and security of home and appreciation of the needs of others.  Above all the lessons, dogs are just  great fun. They can make us laugh, even after a terrible day. They are always there wanting a reassuring hug. A dog’s primary wish in life is to make you, its owner, happy. How noble—and cool—is that?

Caring for a dog takes a great deal of responsibility. Children learn to be less focused on themselves and more patient with others. Responsibility is a key factor in leadership development in children, and one of the best ways of learning responsibility is in the home with the family dog. Being responsible for a dog teaches children valuable life lessons. The lessons that children learn from having a dog are priceless and may just help in being successful in life and in a career.

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…

  • Founded in 1670 as Charles Towne in honor of King Charles II of England, Charleston adopted its present name in 1783. It moved to its present location on Oyster Point in 1680 from a location on the west bank of the Ashley River known as Albemarle Point. By 1690, Charles Towne was the fifth largest city in North America and it remained among the ten largest cities in the United States through the 1840 census.
  • The early settlement was often subject to attack from sea and land, including periodic assaults from Spain and France (both of whom contested England’s claims to the region), and pirates. These were combined with violent resistance to further expansion by raids from the Native Americans as well.
  • Nickname(s): “The Holy City”, “Chucktown”
  • Motto: Aedes mores juraque curat (Latin: “She guards her buildings, customs, and laws”)

Source: USA Cities Online

Call Woody and Judi Thurman at (910) 462-3246 for more information.