is a breed of dog that originated in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is one of the most popular breeds in North America, due to its friendly nature, intelligence, loyalty and trainability. Labradors are often used as working dogs for hunting or search-and-rescue operations; they also make excellent family pets because they get along well with children and other animals. They have an average lifespan between 10–12 years old depending on their health conditions