Traits - Labrador Retriever

The brave saga of a black Labrador retriever named Sabi may leave many readers wondering what makes a Lab so useful for sniffing out bombs, booby traps, and other explosive devices that endanger our troops fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  This breed of dog is a natural for military service.  They are innately intelligent, loyal, adaptable, highly trainable, and very eager to please.  Just the kind of soldier I'd want next to me during a combat mission.

Labs are a large breed of dogs, weighing between 55 and 75 pounds when fully grown.  They typically stand between 21 and 25 inches tall.  The expected life expectancy of a Labrador retriever is 10 to 12 years.

High energy levels mean Labs need plenty of regular exercise that best includes swimming and, well, retrieving.  They like to play, exercise, or work in large open areas where they have plenty of room to romp and roam. Their natural playfulness, coupled with their sense of loyalty, make them excellent choices for families with children.

The Labrador retriever's personality makes this dog an ideal choice for service environments, such as the one Sabi enjoys with her Australian Army unit.  Labs are great for policing in all sorts of situations; Sabi detects explosive devices but other Labs are trained to detect narcotics.

Since Labs are short-haired dogs, grooming needs are minimal.  A good brush a couple of times a week does the job just fine.  Labs are commonly black, like Sabi, or yellow or chocolate brown; their coats are almost always mono-colored but a small white spot on the chest is not uncommon either.  All labs have a short, dense coat of straight hair with an undercoat that is soft and weather resistant, keeping them warm and dry when the weather is cold and wet.

In spite of their name, Labrador retrievers actually originated in Newfoundland.  Labrador is a coastal region in the easternmost part of Canada and Newfoundland is a large island off the Labradorian coast.  Both areas were united as one Canadian province - Newfoundland and Labrador - in 1949.  In the 19th century, when the breed originated, Labrador retrievers were instrumental in helping fishermen pull in heavy nets filled with fish.  The Labs would hop into the chilly water, grab hold of the cork floats attached to the nets, and swim them back to the boat for retrieval.

Missing Bomb-Sniffing Dog Returns to Her Post in Afghanistan

Sabi, a black Labrador Retriever, went missing from her Australian Army patrol unit 14 months ago.  Sabi is trained to sniff out roadside bombs and other explosive devices planted as dangerous booby traps in the Afghan province of Uruzgan.  She was last seen by her handlers during a particularly fierce ambush of a joint Australian-Afghan patrol unit that left nine troops wounded.

Months of search followed, with no sign of Sabi anywhere.  Most of the soldiers who knew her never expected to see her again.

Sabi didn't meet a tragic fate, however, as her Australian unit recently learned.  She's recently enjoyed a happy reunion with the soldiers she served so bravely.

A US soldier found Sabi in a remote area also in the Uruzgan province.  Once her identity was discovered, she was returned to her Australian military home base.  Her military friends will probably never know the details of her whereabouts during her 14-month absence but they are grateful that Sabi was found in good condition, a sign that she's been in good hands during her odyssey.

Sabi's unit is one of many involved with training Afghanistan security forces.  Many of the 1,500 military troops from Australia work with explosive detection dogs like Sabi.

It is unclear at this time if Sabi will stay in Afghanistan.  If tests prove she is disease free, she may be returned to Australia.