One of the most popular choices the world over is the Labrador Retriever. Labradors come in only three colours: black, yellow, and chocolate. Yellow Labradors can range in hue between the palest cream (almost white) to deep, rich fox red - and they are always referred to as yellow and not golden.

Labradors are medium sized, stocky dogs with a loyal nature and an oversized appetite. When buying a puppy, he should be well covered by but not fat. He should feel heavy for his size which denotes good substance and bone but he should not appear overly roly poly. “Historically, Labradors had to fend for themselves in cold conditions and it was survival of the fattest,” Lyndsey Wilson from Lyndridge Labradors said when Rural Living visited her recently.

 His coat should be clean and free from fleas and should not look dry or staring. A bloated stomach could indicate worm infestation. Puppies must be wormed fortnightly in the early months and all puppies should have been given a preliminary vaccination before leaving the breeder to their new homes.

Their eyes and ears should be free of discharge. Check the mouth to ensure the puppy has a correct bite, i.e his teeth should be like a human’s in that the top teeth should overlap slightly the bottom teeth. If a puppy’s jaws are under or overshot at eight weeks the bite may not be correct as an adult. Ensure that the environment in the breeder’s kennels is clean and odour free.